1958 Minot Phone Book #3

Minot Building Addresses – One of the last pages in the white page section was a listing of building addresses in Minot. Many businesses used the building as their address, such as : Located in the Scofield Block located at 11A South Main Street. The Kresge Block in 1958 was located at 108 South Main and the Fauchald Building was at 4A South main …Apartment buildings were also listed… the Mackley Apartments were located at 425 2^nd St. NW (which is now North Broadway).  The Dwire Apartments (shown below) were and still are at 223 South Main St.

Minot Phone Book 1958 #2

Dial Service Instructions – One of the first pages in the 1958 telephone directory had a complete set of instructions on how to use a rotary dial telephone. I believe this was about the time the dial phones came into existence. The instructions also explained the different signals one could hear over the phone lines…. The phone ringing signal was described as a “burring” sound…. The Busy signal a “buzz-buzz-buzz” sound.  Instructions were also there on the use of “party lines”. Long distance and out of town calls had to go through the operator. In 1958 all phone numbers were 5 digit. Example: the phone number for Steenstrup Jewelers was 36-221

Minot Phone Book 1958

The 1958 Minot telephone book was published by Northern States Power Company, the parent company to the phone company. The picture on the front cover was of a field and a large sun behind it. The words printed across the sun were “Why Not Minot?”. Below the picture was the slogan – “ The City with a Future”. What I thought was a bit unusual is the Minot Genie is not pictured on the cover. Instead the phone book has a farmer or maybe a cowboy standing in front of the field with the sun in the background.

Past Business - 1927 #1

The Brunswick Shop – Located next to Anderson Drug Co. in Downtown Minot. The sold phonographs and records. The Brunswick Shop also Sold New Panatropes which I believe were a type of phonograph or record player. Benno Drug – Located in Downtown Minot – Their phone number was 42, so they were an early phone user. They were running a 1 cent sale. Buy one item for regular price and get the second for 1 cent. Items included Witch Hazel – 50 cents – 100 ct aspirin – 50 cents – Foot Powder – 25 cents and Zinc Oxide ointment – 20 cents

Blaisdell Motor Company

Located at 419 South Main Street – This location would later become Main Motors and is now the Main Medical Building.... Blaisdell Motors was the Chrysler Dealer in 1927. On November 1, 1927 they were advertising the New Chrysler “52”.  The ad claimed the “New 52” was head and shoulders above the rest of the industry in comfort and luxury. The wood and Steel body was larger, the seats were wider and more comfortable and the car could achieve speeds of 52 miles per hour. Blaisdell Motors was selling, your choice, a Coupe or a Roadster with a Rumble seat for $725.00. Or you could step up in luxury to the De Luxe Sedan for $875.00. If you were in the market for a used car – Hupmobile Touring - $150.00 or an Overland Touring car for $75.00

Elks Kermess

1927 – through the internet I found that a Kermesse is a fun festival, usually denoting the celebration of some event or anniversary. The Elks Kermess (as it was billed) was held in the Armory, (now the Minot Board of Education Building) from October 29^th through November 5^th . Although sponsored by the Elks Club, the event was open to the public. I believe tyou could purchase Kermess money to be used at the event. One ad read -  “ Kermess money at $500.00 for 50 cents. It seems some of the stores in town would give you “Kermess Money” if you purchased items in their business.

Minot Elks Lodge - 1954

The original Minot Elks Lodge #1089 was dedicated in 1909. It was located on the southwest corner of  Main Street and 2^nd Avenue in Downtown Minot. On Wednesday, October 27^th, 1954 the new Minot Elks Lodge opened on 2^nd Avenue and Broadway, about a block west of the original Elks Club. The grand opening events were limited to Elks members only, except for an open house from 2 pm to 8 pm so non-Elk members could see the new building. The Elks Club in 1954 boasted of having about 1750 members and the new building was built at a cost of about $500,00.00. Below is the original Elks club... I have a picture of the new club someplace.... will post it when I find it