Tales From the Old Timers

1915 – Tales From Old Timers 1a-- from the Independent in July 1915 The North American Publicity Bureau has just issued a very unique booklet, "Tales from Old Timers," dealing with the early comic history of Minot, together with some facts concerning the city as it is today , (1915 ). The cartoons were drawn by H. J. Linney, who has displayed unusual ability. Associated with Mr. Linney is T. S. Kipping, who had charge of the descriptive matter and the advertising. Many of the business and professional men are represented in the advertising columns. Many of these books will be distributed between Minot and San Francisco. Mr. Kipping and a partner will leave in ten days for the west by motorcycle, stopping enroute, to dispose of these books.

1915 Sponsors #1 – Tales From Old Timers Russel Miller Milling Co – The “Occident” Guarantee – Buy a sack of “Occident” flour and make as many bakings as you wish. If you are not satisfied that it is better than any other flour you have ever used, return the sack or unused flour and Get Your Money Back!!.. Cost more --- Worth it! ….. LC Smith & Brothers Typewriter Co. – Featuring LC Smith Typewriters with Ball Bearings … a longer lasting machine …. Rental and second hand machines available.

Inside front cover of book

1915 Minot History - Story 1

From the 1915 History of Minot

Minot is a thriving city of 10,000 population, situated in the beautiful Mouse River valley, surrounded by fertile farming country and the center of the greatest grain producing country in the United States. 

In the early days, before the advent of the railroads, a few hardy and courageous settlers found their way into the Mouse River country. It was in 1883 that people really began to settle in and around the present site of MInot. The nearest railroad center was Bismarck, 120 miles to the south. Small bands of Indians journeying from the Turtle Mountains to the Berthold Reservation would stop and make their encampment on what is now the site of the new Federal Post Office (the Federal Building on 1st Street and 1st Avenue SW). This led to an Indian Trading post and Government Agency. for many years the main industry was trading with the Indians. This was before North and South Dakota became separate states. The two combined were known as the Dakota Territory.

The Picture with this story

Next Week - Back to 1915

I was able to procure a comical history of Minot written in 1915. Starting next week I will be using that for the source of Minot Memories. It is interesting to say the least

Back in the “old days” many grocery stores offered full sets of dishes or a “Kitchen Ensemble” for only low prices per piece with every $3.00 you spent on groceries…  in 1970, the three Piggly Wiggly stores offered Anchor Hocking  Fire King dishes. Each week you were offered a different serving piece for the low price of 99 cents. Some of the other specials included completer pieces like 5 inch cereal bowls – 4 for 99 cents ….. 1 to 3 pound canisters ranged 99 cents to $1.39 …. Of course the most popular color at that time was “Avocado”. At that time Piggly Wiggly had three locations … Town & Country Shopping Center,… Oak Park Shopping Center and Highway 2 East (across from the Fair Grounds)

Past News Events

1944 – Police Magistrate Court – In the Police Magistrate Court a total of 1,031 cases were tried compared to 896 cases the year before. 862 cases for drunkedness, 29 cases for vagrancy and 140 cases for “Other” charges. A total of $8,866.15 was collected by the court. Of that $3,683.00 was for fines of various types.

 July 1972 -- Top stories on the front page of the newspaper…. The US Senate voted to increase the hourly minimum wage to $2.20 which would give much bigger paychecks to many people however the House wanted a minimum wage of $2.00 per hour  ….. Speed Limits were being painted on some streets in addition to the standard metallic signs….. the State Fair attendance had surpassed 100,000

Mercy Hospital

In 1935 Minot’s Mercy Hospital was located at 505 9^th Avenue NW. The phone number was 114 and the resident surgeon was Dr. E. C. Stone. The first appendectomy performed was in a sod house in 1905. Mercy Hospital was regarded as a modern hospital that offered facilities equal to the best in the land. The patients received necessary care from doctor and registered nurses at a minimum expense. From June 1, 1934 to Jun 1, 1935, 697 surgical operations were performed at Minot’s Mercy Hospital. In addition to that, 536 medical cases were done during the same period. The total number of patients cared for was 1233. Prior to moving to the location on 9^th St. NW. Mercy Hospital was located on Main Street in Downtown Minot.

SS Minot Victory Ship

 Victory Ships were a type of cargo ship which were mass-produced in the United States during World War II.  They Victory Ships were part of the Merchant Marine. The United States Merchant Marine transports goods and services in wartime as an auxiliary to the U.S. Navy.  During military conflicts, the Merchant Marine operated civilian-owned merchant ships as well as vessels maintained through government entities like the Military Sea Transportation Service or Military Sealift Command.    The S.S. Minot was launched on October 7, 1944.  The Victory ships were predominantly cargo vessels but they were armed. On April 11, 1945, a fleet of 15 merchant ships arrived at Okinawa, the USS Minot was one of these. On April 12, the USS Minot brought down a Japanese plane which had strafed the ship. The plane crashed into her No. 4 kingpost wounding 5 seamen.

Apparently in May of 1967 the USS Minot ran aground on a coral reef the in the Paracel Islands off the coast of Vietnam. This was about 240 miles northeast of Danang. She was carrying 6000 tons of machinery and supplies for the military forces in Vietnam. After  7 days of offloading much of the freight the Minot was floated and with help of tugs pulled off the reef and with an escort was able to continue the journey to Danang. The damage to the hull was minimal. 

Communicable Disease Control – 1944

 Home visits by health authorities numbered 3,027 because of communicable diseases. The visits were to make sure that homes were properly quarantined, that sick family members were receiving proper care, that a family member was taught to care for the sick and non-infected family members were protected. In a 3 month period in 64 cases of diptheria were reported in Minot and 48 carriers were found. Diptheria was an acute, highly contagious bacterial disease causing inflammation of the mucous membranes, formation of a false membrane in the throat that hinders breathing and swallowing, and potentially fatal heart and nerve damage by a bacterial toxin in the blood. It is now rare in developed countries because of immunization. The outbreak of Diptheria stimulated an immunization program. As many as 600 people a day were vaccinated.   Also about 140 cases of Scarlet fever were reported throughout the year.