Minot Normal School

In 1911 there apparently some debate over where to build the Minot Normal School. Some wanted it built on South Hill and the other location was in North Minot. Residents of the town of Flaxton sent a telegram to Martin Jacobson (Jacobson Hardware) urging the city to build on south hill and start construction as soon as possible…. Well as history shows, the Minot Normal School was finally built outside of Minot on the north side of town. The Normal School later became known as the Minot State Teacher’s College , then Minot State College and now Minot State University…..

Laying the Corner Stone of Old Main - McCulloch Hall

Minot Jaycee Men's Chorus

At one time in Minot there was a very active Jaycee organization.. in the 1940’s the organization had a men’s chorale group. This group did a number of concerts. Some included guest performers from the Minot State Teachers College. Some of the members who’s names  may be familiar are: Don Shirley, Zollie Gordon, Norman Diamond, Leslie Maupin, Ty Haugeberg. Also in the group were L.E.Clute and Russel Widoe as conductor.

 1940

1941

American Legion Club – Downtown Minot

The American Legion Club was located in Downtown Minot on 2^nd St, (Broadway) just south of the Rex Bar and Café. The American Legion Club moved into this building in 1952 after purchasing it from the Minot Daily News. The News moved to its new location at 301 4^th St. SE.  The American Legion Club moved to a new location on Minot’s north hill, now the home of Don Bessette Motors. The old American Legion Club location in Downtown Minot is now part of the parking lot west of Bremer Bank. I was in the old American Legion Club many times during my stint of driving a delivery truck for Coca Cola Bottling. It was always noted for having great food.

Events At Auditorium - 1979

Royal Lipizzan Stallions – Friday, September 28, 1979 the Lipizzan Stallions put on a show at the Minot Municipal Auditorium
Larry Gatlin – Sunday, October 14, 1979 Larry Gatlin was in concert in Minot at the Minot Municipal Auditorium. The show was hosted and presented by KCJB Radio. All seats were reserved and either $6.50 or $7.50….. the ad did not state whether the Gatlin Brothers were with Larry in that concert.

 

Tunnels #3

There were also many rumors about tunnels under “High Third”, Minot’s Red Light District. One hears rumors about bars and clubs that had escape tunnels in the basement for quick evacuation in case of a raid by the police. Again, in interviewing people back in the mid 80’s for the Ward County Centennial, I was told that “High Third” in its hey-day had many such tunnels. I was also informed that at one time a person could start at 4^th Avenue (Burdick Expressway) and go to 1^st Avenue or Stearns Motors (now I. Keating’s) without ever going outside. The route would consist of basement tunnels between houses and businesses as well as above ground passages between buildings. I have been investigating the history of Minot’s High Third. I very seriously doubt if this was true. In the days of prohibition, most of the addresses on Third Street were houses inhabited by regular law abiding citizens. True or not about the tunnels, I don’t know BUT some of the people I interviewed 25 years ago are no longer with us to ask. One thing that did come out is the fact that most of the time the places to be raided were warned ahead of time about a pending raid, hence tunnels were probably not really needed. It appears that many establishments of Third Street had “escape” passages out the back or through the basement if the need arose.

Dee Dee's Bar and Grill

Tunnels #2 - Steam Tunnels

For many years a number of downtown buildings were heated by steam which was piped into them by steam pipes for the NSP Steam Power plant. The steam pipes had to be maintained so they ran through tunnels below the streets and buildings. These tunnels were large enough to accommodate men who may need to repair or do other maintenance. Many people confuse these tunnels with tunnels rumored to be running into Minot for the purpose of running contraband in and out of town. Most of this was in the form of alcohol smuggled in from Canada and other points. The Steam tunnels under Minot, while large enough to walk through were separate form any booze smuggling tunnels. However there was a rumor that a tunnel ran from Stearns Motors to the Rex Motel and another tunnel that ran from Stearn’s Motors to the old Flatiron Building. Possibly, only the people working on the Broadway Project in 1960 would know if this were true.

 

 

Tunnels #1

 Before WW II there was a pedestrian tunnel under the railroad tracks on Fourth Avenue (Burdick Expressway). It was probably built about the same time as the overpass. The tunnel was well lighted and dry. Cars no longer had to worry about trains, nor did pedestrians. Cars went over the top and people went underneath. After WWII the lights were broken by vandals. Women were afraid to use the tunnels. Because of liability the railroad boarded up the entrance.