MInot Federal and More Past Business

Past Businesses of Minot #14 – Family Furniture – located ½ block north of the old YMCA on 1^st Street in Downtown Minot …..   Wylie Piano Company – 117 West Central Avenue – Authorized Baldwin dealer for western North Dakota …..  Minot Federal Savings & Loan – 24 West Central Avenue – established in 1935  ….. Mr Steak Restaurant – on top of Minot’s North Hill – Next to North Hill Bowl ….. Big Bear Store – located on North Main Street – next to what is now 10 North Main – sold western clothing and sporting goods for the hunter and fisherman. Big Bear then moved out to South Broadway at the intersection of 31^st Avenue, where the Gas Stop is now.

PW Miller Co.

PW Miller Co. – Ad Jan 1959 – In 1959 the PW Miller Company was located in the Grand Hotel Block on West Central Avenue – This is the parking lot across the street o the north of Tom’s Coin Shop. Prior to this location PW Miller was located on the west side of Main Street north of Central Avenue. In 1959 the ad for PW Miller stated “Our Inventory is up and our bank account is down”. They were advertising – boy’s suits - $6.00 … Men’s work shoes - $2.99 ….. Full size blankets - $1.00 …. Men’s Sweatshirts - $1.00 ….. Used British Parkas - $8.88 …. Marine Corps insulated boots - $6.66 pr …. PW Miller called themselves “The jacket headquarters of the Northwest” . They also sold usd items and military surplus … Later the PW Miller Company moved to 1^st Ave. SE  just west of the Clarence Parker Hotel. This location is now the home of the Olson Law Offices

 PW Miller Original Store

American State Bank and More

Truax-Traer Coal Company – Office in Minot, at one time in the First Avenue Building. Coal mine near Velva ….. Top Valu Market – 4^th Avenue and 21^st Street NW – Meats, Groceries, Frozen foods and open on Sundays – (Eventually became Heislers Market) …..  American State Bank – (now Bremer Bank) in Downtown Minot ….. Johnson Chevrolet  - Became Auran Chevrolet and then Ryan Chevrolet ….. The Corset Shop – Located at 16A South Main – either up or down a stairway between Minot Drug and Buttrey’s – The shop obviously catered to women – Hulda Hoskins was a Registered Corsetiere. 

1915 Minot History - First Buildings

1915 Tales From Old Timers #15B – First Buildings in Minot – The first bank occupied the site of Jim Johnson’s Law Office. At that time the city limits extended two blocks North, South, East and West of the Fountain on Main Street. (the fountain was in the middle of the intersection of Main St. and Second Ave.) The Fire Department was not quite up to the standard of the modern equipment, and in case of fire, the building was blown up to prevent the spread of the flames. An enormous fire occurred about this time (early 1890’s I believe) that practically wiped out the entire village. But nothing could daunt the spirit of those old timers and bigger and better buildings were erected to take the place of those destroyed. (side note: This was also the time in Minot’s history where ordinances were passed allowing only brick buildings to be built on Main Street to hinder loss due to fire.)

The First Buildings in Minot - From the 1915 History

1915 Tales From Old Timers #15A – First Buildings in Minot – The first frame hotel was managed by Mrs. W.A. Parker, and was situated on the site now occupied by the Elks home. (the southwest corner of Main St and 2^nd Ave.- now the Wells Fargo Building). Mrs. Parker is the mother of the present proprietor of the Leland Hotel. The Leland was originally started as a tent and now stands on some of the most valuable property in Minot. ( the corner of Main Street and Central Avenue – Now Artspace). The first brick building was erected by W.E. Mansfield, and used for a drug store. The first residence built is now (1915) situated opposite the Methodist Episcopal Church on the corner of First Street and Second Avenue (now the northwest corner of Minot High – Central Campus).

1915 Minot History - City Ordinances

1888 Minot City Ordinances – In 1888 it was illegal to ride or drive horses in the city limits faster than a trot or 8 mph – while it sounds funny today, with no traffic signals a galloping horse was a threat to public safety …. There was a “vice” ordinance prohibiting anyone from owning or visiting a “bawdy house” or a house of “ill fame”…… Drunken or disorderly conduct was subject to a fine of not more than $19.00 and/or 9 days in jail ….. it was also illegal to keep horses, mules, cows, sheep, goats or swine (pigs) within the city limits ……

1915 Minot History - How to Overcome Boredom

1915 Tales From Old Timers #13 – The Dull Seasons --  For a number of years after the Great Northern passed through the town of Minot was very quiet. Times were dull and the citizens resorted to many strange pranks to pass the time. Mock trials were held, the prisoners were always found guilty and the penalty was usually cigars and refreshments for the entire crowd. When the boys wanted a barbecue they would shake dice and the loser had to catch one of Tompkins pigs, kill it, and prepare it for the roast. Chasing the “Pig” is popular today, but it is of a somewhat different breed. If the needed a little money to buy whiskey they would appropriate anything that was lying around and peddle it over at the bar. One day, W.E. Mansfield missed the youngest member of his family. He searched everywhere without success, so the police department took up the mystery. Imagine Mansfield’s surprise when he found the child had been peddled to a saloon-keeper for a round of drinks for the boys. He took the joke good naturedly and paid the bill before he could redeem his offspring. Thus the citizens managed to relieve the monotony of the dull period of Minot’s history.