Henry's Drive-In

Henry’s Drive-In—King Leo’s Drive-In – an ad in the newspaper in September 1964 for Henry’s Drive-In boasted they were the “Home of the Bigger, Better Fifteen Cent Hamburger.” Apparently Henry’s also featured family dinners…. A chicken dinner – 82 cents…. Shrimp dinner – 83 cents and a Steak dinner – 74 cents. Every dinner included a generous portion of French fries, onion rings and a roll. Henry’s Drive-Inn was locate at the intersection of Highway 83 North (North Broadway) and 21^st Avenue. On the other end of town was King Leo’s Drive-In. , home of the 15 cent hamburger on South Broadway.

Groucho’s Circus Lot – November 1954 – Here is a car dealer in Minot in 1954 that I had not heard of…. Groucho’s Circus lot located 1 block west of the Courthouse and Groucho’s Jr. Circus lot at the foot of North Hill.  I discovered the Groucho’s was actually Main Motors in Minot. Groucho’s was advertising – “Coming Soon! The new 1955 DeSoto and Plymouth. The Most radical changes of them all”.   Main Motors was the DeSoto and Plymouth dealer. Groucho’s also carried used vehicles. In 1954 they were advertising a 1947 Pontiac for $195.00… a 1947 Chevrolet coupe for $175.00 and 1951 Nash 4 door for $695.00.

The Valker-Christensen Co.

The Valker-Christensen Company – This was a wholesale-retail seed and feed business, operating  one of the largest seed houses in the state, eventually making a specialty of processing and distributing grass seeds throughout the United States and many foreign countries. It was founded in 1920 by George Valker and A. M. Christensen. Christensen, who became sole owner in 1928, came to this state in 1910 as a teenager. He walked from Chicago to his uncle’s farm west of New England, North Dakota and then got a summer job at the Dickinson experiment station. The boy became so interested in his work there that he devoted much of his life to the seed business. Later in his career, he also served as president of the Dakota Transfer and Storage Company and the Minot Building and Loan Association (now Midwest Federal), as well as the Minot Association of Commerce.

North Hill Merchants Assoc.

Sept 25, 1964 – North Hill Merchants Association – A double page newspaper ad promoting the development of North Hill sponsored by the North Hill Merchants association. The ad included a map of with the 26 North Hill Businesses involved and a map of the neighborhood. The Hill Top Bottle Shop was under construction. Harry’s Tire Service had a warehouse, Henry’s Drive In was open, Poor Rog’s Surplus and the Starlite Club were there. The Westland 83 Truck Stop was 1 mile north of the Airport and there were two gas stations…. North Hill Texaco and Jerry’s Standard Service. National Car Rentals could be found at Jerry’s Standard.  The ad also proclaimed that north hill now had “fine paved streets in every direction”.

Empire Theater

Empire Theater – The Empire was located next to the Thomas Funeral Home. It was one of the last theaters of its type with the screen situated as it was, behind you as you enter the theater itself. The Empire also had a balcony, reportedly the home of many budding romances. At one point they also sold a Movie Series Package that provided a strip of 10 tickets for $2. Each ticket got you into a Saturday movie. They had the line-up set in advance with the movie name on each ticket. Among the movies shown as part of the series were "Five Weeks in a Balloon", "Zotz" and some of the "The Three Stooges Meet..." movies. As a Child, you could save the medallions form your milk cartons and redeem them for tickets to the Saturday show. At times various churches used the Empire Theater for their services when their church was going through construction or other mishaps. The Empire also held “live’ concerts at one time. In the late 60’s, my name was on a list of people banned from the Empire and at that time Oak Park Theater. One of my friends lit a cigarette in the balcony and inserted the fuse of a Cherry Bomb, (a very large firecracker) in the cigarette. When it burned down, the Cherry Bomb exploded. We could not go to the movies unless we found someone to open the back door so we could sneak into the theater. The site is now a parking lot for Trinity Hospital.

Montgomery Wards

Montgomery Wards – The building that was home to Montgomery Wards started life in 1933 when construction began. It is on the Northwest corner of Main Street and 1^st Avenue . It replaced two smaller buildings that over the years, housed a lodge hall, a meat market, telephone exchange, a bank, post office, department store, and drugstore, among others. It became Montgomery Wards in May 1934. All floors with the exception of the top floor were used for retail. There was also an automotive repair department on the south side, near the alley. The Greenberg Men’s Store was next door. Greenberg’s exploded and burned in 1947. In 1958 Montgomery Wards added 25 feet to their building, expanding into the former Greenberg’s location. At that time they moved their automotive repair department to 3^rd St Northeast, next to the White Ice Cream Building. The building was known as the Emporium and was owned by James McClintock of Edina, Minnesota. In September of 1982, the building was purchased by local business men and renovated to what it is today

Montgomery Wards - 1930's

Minot Auto Club

 The Minot Auto Club was organized to promote road building and maintenance, to better regulate traffic and to prevent Auto thefts. It held its first annual picnic at Rice Lake in June of 1921. It was attended by over 4000 people and more than 512 cars. In 1930 after his sixth accident, Judge William Murray considered issuing himself a restraining order prohibiting his diving an automobile anymore. Traffic signals were tried in various locations, but most drivers ignored them. They did not use them again until 1939. The city installed a signal at 2^nd St NW and 4^th Avenue and also in downtown Minot. In 1935 the State Patrol came into existence and drivers licenses were required. The new Patrol Superintendant and his four officers went to county seats like Minot and issued drivers licenses to reluctant drivers for payment of a small fee.

Early Minot Automobile

Minot Elks Lodge

Elks Lodge – The Minot Elks Lodge Number 1089 was chartered on July 12, 1908. The first location was on the Southwest corner of Main Street and 2^nd Avenue. The cornerstone for this building was laid on May 22,1909. The First Exalted Ruler was LJ Palda. The Palda Family is the only family in Minot to have had father, son and grandson serve as Exhalted Rulers. The Elks Lodge eventually moved west to a new home on the Northwest corner of Broadway and 2^nd Avenue. This building was 2 floors and a bar and parking in the basement. The upstairs ballroom was home to many parties and wedding receptions.

 Elks Lodge 1910 - Note Presbyterian Church in background

Elks Lodge - 1964

1964 - Color TV Arrives in Minot

Color TV to Debut in Minot – September 1964 – KMOT-TV in Minot was expanding . They were introducing color TV to the area. KMOT was also expanding its coverage area by 32% and increasing their power by 500%. The evening would start with a kick-off pre-color show at 6:15 pm followed by “The Virginian” at 6:30 pm. All shows that evening were broadcast in color with the exception of the 10 pm news.  In the beginning there was to be 40 hours of color programming per week.

Minot Radio License

Super Fair Foods

Fairway – Super Fair Foods – In 1964 there were two Super Fair stores in Minot. One at 338 2^nd St NW (North Broadway) and the other at 1609 4^th Ave. NW. Some of the specials in August were…. Frozen French fries – 9 cents foe a 9 oz package…. Frozen strawberries – 5 10 oz pkgs for $1.00 …. Sardines – 8 cents a can …. 5 fresh cantaloupe for $1.00 ….. ½ gallon of ice cream only 49 cents…. Super Fair stores also gave out Magic Stamps. A full book could be redeemed for $2.00…. The weekly dinnerware offer for the week was a coffee cup for only 9 cents. Super Fair also offered free delivery with a $5.00 order.

1968 Dining Specials

June 1968 Tuesday Night Specials – The Holland House Cafeteria in the Town & Country Center featured a complete Golden Fried Fish Dinner for $1.00 – all you could eat….. The Sweden House smorgasbord featured the Family Night Special. Henny Penny fried chicken, Swedish Meatballs, Liver and Bacon or Ocean Baked Perch … your choice, complete dinner for only 99 cents…… The Sweden House later became The Viking Table … then Jakes Spice & Spirit … and the Marketplace Dollar Store

Asplund Motors

Asplund Toyota – Wendall Asplund started his first service garage and body shop on Minot’s north side in 1927. The first franchise Asplund had was the Pullman Coach. Through the years Asplund also sold Kaiser vehicles, Willys and finally in 1955, Studebaker. Asplund eventually became the Toyota dealer. When I first had dealings with Asplund Toyota they were located on South Broadway, just south of the old Frosaker Motor building. The service/shop entrance was located on Broadway. Driving in was no problem. To back out, you needed someone to watch traffic as you exited. Asplund eventually built a dealership on north hill. The Toyota franchise was purchased by Ryan Chevrolet and then by Minot Chrysler.

Bombers Arrive at MAFB

B52’s Coming to Minot – The headlines in the Minot Daily News on October 31, 1958 we: 15 B52’s to be based in Minot. The article goes on to state that 15 giant B52 bombers and 10 KC135 aerial tankers will be stationed at the Minot Air force Base. The total number of planes was expected to be about 60 including interceptors, bombers, tankers and auxiliary planes. The base was expected to combine both SAC, Strategic Air Command and ADC, Air defense Command.

Union National Bank

Union National Bank began its existence in Minot in 1905, in the front of the Jacobson Hardware building. The second floor was home to Offices and the Post Office. The ground floor housed Martin Jacobson’s Hardware Store. In 1923 the building, bank included was gutted by fire. Within eight months a new building had been erected on the northeast corner of Main Street and Central Avenue, the same location as the old building. Union National Bank remained at that location until 1963 when they built a new bank at 17 First Avenue SW. The bank is in the same location but became First Bank and is now known as US Bank. US Bank also has drive through tellers on South Broadway.

Card Table Ads #3

Minot Glass Company – 217 South Main …. Union National Bank – At that time still in their location on Main and Central – Now the Taube Museum …. Minot Federal Savings and Loan ….. City Market – quality meats and groceries – Tyler Haugeberg proprietor …. Swenson Furniture – Highway 83 South (now CompuTech Computers) …. Harry R Cook and Sons – 9^th Street and Burdick Expressway – (now home of Big Boy Toys) …. Hugh Nelson Motors – 8^th Ave and 2^nd St. NW ( now the Home of Westlie’s Tire Center ….. Harry’s Variety Store – 329 2^nd St NW ( North Broadway – across from what is now Watne Realty

Ads on a CArd Table #2

Card Table Ads #2 – JB Reed Transfer – Agent for Mayflower Moving and Storage …. Ace Cab Company – Licensed for out of town trips …. Oppen’s Grocery – Your Local home owned markets …. Northwest Sales and Service – dealer for Stan-steel Quanset buildings …. Minot Business College – Northwest’s finest – located at 17 1^st Ave SW – You could enroll an any Monday …. KCJB radio and KCJB TV - …. Ferguson Beverage Company – 1520 2^nd St SW – bottled Squirt drink …. Steenstrup Jewelers – 20 West Central Avenue – Anderson Central Pharmacy – 19 West Central Ave. …. Mitchell Hardware Hank Store – 222 West Central Avenue – now the home to Val’s Cyclery …. Farmers Union Creamery – Magic City Milk – featured Betsy the Cow and home delivery.

KCJB Radio

Advertising on a Card Table #1

Card Table Ads #1  – A listener brought me a card table from a past Minot Club that had advertisement s on it. Some of the Businesses are still around and some are not. I thought it was unusual but I suppose selling the ads on the top of the table is no different than on menus or anything else. Businesses on the table are: First National Bank – the oldest and largest bank in Northwest North Dakota…. Anderson Blacksmith Shop – General blacksmithing and building trailers and hitches …. City Bakery – 210 South Main …. Novak’s Cleaners – 10A Central Avenue West and Alm’s Milk Products with three stores to serve you.

Grand Ole Opry in Minot

Grand Ole Opry – On Wednesday, March 25, 1959 the Grand Ole Opry made an appearance in Minot at the Municipal Auditorium. They put on one show. The headliners included Minnie Pearl, Bobby Helms, Jean Shepard,  Hankshaw Hawkins and Red Sovine. Red Sovine performed his hit “Why Baby, Why.” There was also an extra attraction with the Echo Valley Boys. Admission for adults was $1.25 in advance or $1.50 at the door. Children were admitted of 35 cents.

Poster from 1962 Show

Campbell Brothers Consolidated Shows

July 6, 1912 Minot Daily Optic– Campbell Brothers Consolidated shows – On July 8, 1912 this circus was coming to Minot. The day would start with a big parade on Main Street at 10:30 am. This circus, museum, and menagerie featured the following: 500 of the finest horses on earth, 42 double length railway cars for transportation, 20 world famous bareback riders, 40 European and American Aerialists, 30 acrobats and 20 clowns, over 700 people altogether to put on the show. This was to be the only circus coming to Minot in 1912.  Two performances daily – not sure what admission was.

Main Street 1900

Wild West Show - 1912

July 6, 1912 Minot Daily Optic – 101 Ranch Real Wild West Show – On July 10, 1912 the Wild West show was coming to Minot. 50 cents was the admission and they featured two shows, rain or shine. 101 Ranch Wild West Show claimed to be the largest exclusive western show in existence showing the west as it was. The show featured Dusky Demon of Oklahoma, the only man in human history who fought barehanded a Spanish Bull. The show also had Cowboys, wild west girls, Indians, homesteaders, pony express, senoritas, vacqueros, buffalos, bucking horses and long horned steers. It claimed to show the history of frontier life. The Wild West Show also held a parade in the morning of the day of the event.

1908 Harvest Festival

Paul McCoy & Co.

1912 Minot Daily Optic – Paul McCoy & Co.  – This store was located in the Leland Block on Main Street in Minot. In a newspaper ad in 1912 in the Minot Daily Optic they were featuring the following: Men’s black or tan socks 11 cents a pair, Silk stockings so men – 38 cents a pair, men’s union suits for 94 cents. Paul McCoy & co. also had on sale an Eastman Kodak postcard camera for only $20.00,  Sherwin Williams and Masury’s house paints for $1.50 a gallon and box candies that originally sold for 35 cents to $1.00 on sale for 17 to 50 cents

Main St - 1912

2nd National Bank

1912 Minot Daily Optic – 2^nd National Bank. – The Second National Bank ( later it would become the 1^st National Bank we know today) had an ad in the paper featuring their safe deposit boxes. The safe deposit boxes were in Second National Bank’s “fire and burglar proof vaults”. The cost to rent one started at $2.00 per year. The bank chartered as Second Nati0onal Bank as there were two 1^st National Banks previously that had gone under and they did not want any association with them.