Skateland Fire

Skateland was located in the auditorium portion of the old Parker Motor building located at 113 1^st Avenue SE. Early in the morning of Sunday, Sept 23, 1962, the upper portion of the building was destroyed by fire. About two years previously the building had been purchased from the Parker Corporation by Dr. Ringo. The building also house the California firm of Ets-Hokin-Galvin Inc. They were involved in laying cable for the Minute Man missile project in the area. By the time the firefighters arrived there was to chance to save the roof and upper story. Damage to the rest of the building was limited as the auditorium had a double layered wooden floor. There had been a dance in Skateland the evening before which may have contributed to the cause of the fire. The buiding is still there and is used as a parking garage. Pictured below is the auditorium on top story of the Parker Garage. This is where skateland was located and this floor was lost in the fire.

50,000 hits

I would like to thank all my Blog followers. This past weekend Minot Memories achieved over 50,000 hits. This is in a 16 month time frame.

Jundt's Westland

Grand Opening - Jundt’s Westland Gas Station – An article in the newspaper on Thursday, September 27, 1962 proclaimed the opening od a new Westland gas station on the magic Mile in Minot, (the Magic Mile being South Broadway). The proprietor of the new station was Leo Jundt. Prior to operating this location, Jundt operated a Westland Station on East Central Avenue. The new station on South Broadway was built at a cost of $85,000.00. It featured a 25 foot canopy in the front that extended over the gas pumps. The station also housed two service bays, each with a single post hoist. The “Selectane” gas pumps were new in design and could dispense nine different grades of gasoline to match the gas to the octane requirements of the vehicle.

Past Business - 1960's & 70's

Past Businesses – Arrowhead Record Discount Center – Besides Records they also sold stereos – many in furniture styled cabinets ( in the 60’s – before the days of  cassettes, cd’s and mp3’s) ……. Diamond’s Department Store – Mainly clothing in two Minot locations – Arrowhead Shopping Center and 437 2^nd St NW (N. Broadway) …… Arrowhead Drug – in 1963 – Minot’s newest drug store ….. H&H Variety – located at 109 South Main St …. Coast to Coast Store – 14 1^st Ave SW – Northwest Piano Co. 121 South Main St …. Also sold radios and TV’s and had a complete radio and TV service Dept…..Shark’s Mens Store – corner of 1^st Avenue and Main St. – home of Rick’s Jewelry repair …. Deardurff’s Hobby House – 111 West Central Ave.—used to hold model contests – 3 Divisions – Cars, Ships and Airplanes …..

Ward County - Minot wins County Seat

Minot becomes County seat for Ward County – Through some rather underhanded maneuvers by Minot officials and the railroad, Minot edged out Burlington as the county seat of Ward County. It appears that when the vote was to be taken by county residents, Minot officials demanded a polling location at Lone Tree, which is west of Des Lacs…. The Lone Tree precinct was approved as the railroad had dropped off an old boarding car and plugged it into the telegraph line to prove its existence. At election time, 143 votes were cast at the Lone Tree location where two weeks previously, no inhabitants could have been found. The vote went in Minot’s favor 499 to 134 for Burlington

King Leo's Grand Opening

King Leo’s opens in Minot ….. the ad in the newspaper on January 22, 1963 proclaimed that King Leo’s was open for business. They billed themselves as the “Aristocrat of Hamburgers)…. King Leo’s was open Sunday through Thursday from 11 am to Midnight and Friday and Saturday from 11 am to 1 am… The opening menu featured Hamburgers - 15 cents …..  Cheeseburgers – 19 cents ….. French fries – 12 cents …. Soft drinks 10 and 15 cents ….. hot chocolate – 12 cents and triple thick milk shakes – 20 cents …. All burgers were made with 100% US Gov’t. inspected ground beef…. King Leo’s was located on the Magic Mile (south Broadway – where Arby’s is now). The picture is of a King Leo's but not the Minot restaurant

Restaurants - 60's & 70's

Larry’s Palm Café – US 83 South …. Open 24 hours a day – Henry’s Drive –In – on Highway 83 North – across from the Airport – Featured 15 cent hamburgers and A steak dinner for 74 cents….. Hansen’s Drive-In at the junction of hwy 83 and Hwy 2&52—Featured Henny Penny fried chicken – ½ chicken meal for $1.00 ….. Miyo’s Restaurant – located 1 ¼ miles east of the fairgrounds featuring Chow Mein and Chinese food…. Benny Mar – owner……. The Taco Shop – Home of Sam – Mr. Taco – 1514 South Broadway – MSC Homecoming Special – 3 tacos for $1.00 ….. The Village Inn – 1929 North Broadway – home of Food, Fun and Flicks (they showed old time movies) – “where pizza is always in good taste” …..