PAst Business in Minot

Carousel Village – Located at 224 20^th Ave SE – across from Kmart ( now the home on Minot Lumber. Carousel Maytag appliances as well as many other brands. …. Sebby’s Carpet-area – located at 1839 South Broadway – Carl Sebby started the business in 1946, working out of his garage prior to moving to his location on South Broadway. Sebby’s carried many lines of carpet, vinyl flooring, hardwood floors in addition to wallpaper, window treatments and Eureka vacuum cleaners. … Rex’s Auto Wreckers – 1200 16^th Ave SW claimed to have the most complete line of Late model car and truck used parts.

1956 - New Residential District in Minot

Bel-Air Addition – In February, 1956 developers were starting to sell lots in the newest Minot Residential District. Bel-Air Addition. The area was just west of 23^rd Street NW and North of 4^th Avenue NW, (at that time referred to as the Country Club Road….. the lots were 90 X 100 and the minimum size on houses in the addition was to be 1000 square feet. The price of a lot was $2950.00. this price included curb and gutter, sidewalk, paved streets, sewer and water…. The developer was Lloyd Construction of Minot.

1914 - Minot Opened The Zoo

Minot’s Zoo – in 1914 the decision was made to open a zoo in Minot. The Park Board decided to purchase two buffalo from South Dakota, a bull and a cow, at a cost of about $600.00. Five acres was to be fenced for the buffalo. A Menagerie will be started in the area. Some of the animals will be coyotes, foxes, bears and raccoons. A monkey cage will be added and the park already has a number of squirrels in the park, however, boys are shooting the squirrels. Fines and jail terms were to be levied on anyone carrying guns in the parks. $1.00 to $19.00 and 1 to 15 days in jail. 

The original Bear Castle - 

Minot’s First Outdoor Pageant – By Susan Gessner --

 The first big outdoor pageant was performed on the evenings of July 21 and 22, 1922. The performances were part of the “Fortieth Anniversary Celebration” of Northwestern North Dakota. The very first white settlers located in 1882 near what is now Minot. Each day there was a “Parade of Progress” at 2pm and the pageant at 8 pm. There were also baseball games, cowboy roping, riding exhibitions and band performances. The pageant was referred to as the “Historical Pageant”, “Pageant of Progress” or the Pageant of Minot. The location was a coulee four blocks south of the Post Office. Attendees sat on the hillsides and the stage was at the foot of the slope to the west. The Post Office in 1922 was what is now known as the Federal Building on First Street SW. Four blocks south would put the location close to the site of the present Post Office. The stage in the general area of the Scandinavian Heritage Park

Pictured below is the construction of the Post Office in 1914 - (now the Federal Building)

Pioneer Bowl – State Fair Grounds by Susan Gessner –

The Pioneer Bowl was a significant new addition for the 1936 Northwest Fair. It was close to the Pioneer Settlement which placed it just south and east of the Fair Grounds. A WPA project turned a natural depression or slough into an amphitheater. A large stage was built on the east end of the amphitheater and a pond was developed in the middle of it. Trees added to the setting: “about two thirds of the Bowl has around it a background of stately elms and sturdy ancient oaks.” The Pioneer Bowl was used for pageants, mass meetings, old time dances and an occasional wedding. The Pioneer Bowl did not survive the 1969 flood.

Westlie – Truck Assembly Line –

In May of 1927 the Ford Motor Company stopped production of the Model T Truck to retool their plants for the new Model A. The conversion was going to be a 2 year process. During that time, Westlie Motors set up an assembly line on the top floor of its business here in Minot. The parts were ordered directly from Ford Motor Company. Westlie Motors was the only dealer in the country to do this. In the fall of 1927, 38 trucks rolled off the assembly line.  In 1928, 50 trucks were assembled. When the Model A trucks came out in late 1928, the demand for the Model T ceased as did Minot’s first and only automobile assembly line .

James Cash Penny – Visits to Minot – 1916 –

Research By Susan Gessner

In a surprise visit on Monday, November 27, 1916, Penny inspected the Golden Rule Store and spent the evening with the manager and his wife. 1933 – Penny visited on Friday, May 26, 1933. He checked out the store; selling shoes at one point. He spoke to the Minot Senior High students and visited stores in nearby towns. 1960 – At the time of his visit on Friday, January 8, 1960. The JC Penny chain had 1700 stores. The 84 year old Penny came to inspect the newly remodeled Minot Store. He spoke about his personal philosophy at the store and as a guest at a luncheon for Minot service clubs. He then went on to visit the Penny store in Harvey, ND.