Like most cities, Bismarck experienced a massive boom following the end of World War II. Its population nearly doubled from 1940 to 1960, reaching more than 27,000 citizens in Bismarck alone with the micropolitan population pushing beyond 60,000 citizens by 1960. In response to the sharp population rise, construction activity repeatedly broke records from public facilities to infrastructure to private development.
The discovery of substantial oil reserves near Tioga in 1951 diversified exports and stimulated the region’s first oil boom. As the largest city nearest to the oil fields, along with the opening of the Mandan Oil Refinery two years later, in 1953, Bismarck benefited greatly. Mandan benefited greatly by new jobs spurred by the refinery. The boom peaked in 1984 before crashing until new drilling technologies ignited a second oil boom in the early 2000s. Today, North Dakota is second behind only Texas in national oil production.
Bismarck greatly expanded its reaches outside of its core for the first time. To the north, development pushed north of Boulevard Avenue to slightly north of Divide Avenue, and east of 16th Street to about 26th Street. It was during this time that the first planned housing developments took root in the city. Perhaps the most notable of these included Highland Acres, the Casey Additions, Homan Acres, and the Fisher Addition.
In particular, the population boom necessitated additional educational facilities. Seven public schoolhouses, two higher education campuses, a private elementary, and a private high school were all completed in the 1950s. That rapid expansion of educational facilities will continue into the next decade as well.
- 1952: Will-Moore Elementary, Saxvik Elementary, and Saint Mary’s Central High
- 1954: Northridge Elementary and Pioneer Elementary
- 1955: Bismarck Junior College (replaced in 1961)
- 1956: Cathedral School, Riverside Elementary
- 1958: Hughes Junior High and Highland Acres Elementary
- 1959: Shared campus for Annunciation Priory High School and Mary College
Local hospitals also witnessed unprecedented expansion, beginning with Saint Alexius adding a $1.15 million five-story addition in November 1948 and Bismarck Hospital completing a $306,000 addition in 1950.
The closure of Garrison Dam in April 1953 ended rampant flooding and allowed extensive development south of Front Avenue for the first time, which accelerated in the 1970s. To the west, the Heart Butte Dam helped flooding the Mandan side, along with other improvements that included channeling the river around the city. Prior to this, the Heart River would back up right to Mandan’s Main Street.
The most important commercial development was the construction of Bismarck’s first shopping center, Arrowhead Plaza, in 1953. The center would nearly double in size seven years later. Another sizeable commercial project was the six-story Provident Life Insurance Building, which opened in October 1954 to house North Dakota’s largest privately-owned institution at the time.
1946: Sears replaces Webb Brothers
Long-time department store Webb Brothers shuttered at the end of 1945 after 61 years in business. The building immediately underwent renovation to house Sears, who occupied the building on September 11, 1946. Sears remained there until relocating to Gateway Mall in 1979. Conlin’s Furniture occupied the building until 2004 when it too relocated to Gateway Mall. During Conlin’s occupancy, the white facade added by Sears was removed, restoring most of the building’s original appearance. Today, the building is home to Zimmerman’s Furniture.
Bismarck Bowling Center
Joe and Helen Zahn founded Bismarck Bowling Center in 1946 at 119 N 5th – now the site of the Parkade. In about 1956, the alley relocated to 305 N 23rd Street. At the time, it operated 12 lanes – the most in North Dakota – and was the only bowling alley in the state with an automatic pin setter. It expanded to 20 lanes in 1960 and closed in 1983.
Sioux Sporting Goods
H.A. Jones, Dr. J.O. Thorson, Jack Harris, and Everrett LaFrance originated Sioux Sporting Goods in March 1946. The Thompson family acquired the business in 1953 and maintained ownership until its closure in the summer of 1998.
Sioux Sporting Goods began at 206 Broadway Avenue. It moved to 114 N 5th Street before its long-time home at 510 E Broadway Avenue. That store remodeled in 1980 and 1996. Medcenter One acquired the property in 1999, who razed it in 2000 to turn it into parking.
The Thompsons also owned Sioux Cycles in Mandan, which continued after the sporting goods store closed. As well, the Thompsons co-founded a cooperative buying group that consisted of 350 store across 40 states, as of 1998 when Sioux Sporting Goods shuttered.
1947: Pioneer Family Statue
Bismarck celebrated its 75th anniversary in 1947. In coordination with the Jubilee celebration, the Pioneer Family Statue (originally known as the McLean Pioneer Monument) was permanently emplaced on the south grounds of the State Capitol in August 1947. The $50,000 bronze monument was sculpted by Avard Fairbanks and his two sons, Elliot and Justin. The statue was donated to the state by Harry McLean in honor of his father, John McLean (Bismarck’s first elected mayor). It was first dedicated in September 1944 before getting its permanent emplacement and rededication three years later.
1948: Street and traffic improvements
1948 ushered numerous street and traffic improvements, including widening Main Avenue between Washington and 9th Streets as well as 6th Street between Rosser and Main Avenues to eight feet to allow parking on both sides in Bismarck’s core business district. Traffic signals were also installed at seven new intersections: 4th Street & Broadway Avenue; Main Avenue at 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th Streets; and Broadway Avenue at 4th & 6th Streets. Another location considered was 6th & Avenue C, however this was never done.
Saint Alexius expansion
Saint Alexius completed a $1.15 million five-story north wing in November 1948. It added 54,000 square feet of floor space to the 1915-built hospital. A future sixth floor was planned but never built.
1949: Record commercial construction
As the population neared 20,000 citizens, 1949 was a record year for commercial building permits, topping $2 million for the first time. The city also implemented $650,000 in sewer upgrades and installed 269 new street lights.
Perhaps the biggest of the private projects was the $300,000 renovation of the Hoskins-Meyer building, home to its namesake floral shop and KFYR. The project included a 50×150-foot two-story with basement expansion, built to support an additional five stories at a later date. The radio studios were renovated and street-level enhancements accommodated up to six tenants.
The building’s distinctive street-level granite and upper blue-gray porcelain panels were installed at this time, encasing the multi-building structure to appear as a single unit.
A.W. Lucas Expansion
Across the street, A.W. Lucas commenced adding nearly half an acre of additional space. Characteristic of the era, the Lucas store added gold-tinted porcelain panels to its exterior, which will remain in-place for more than seventy years.
Bismarck’s first Dairy Queen
Dairy Queen opened Bismarck’s first location at 230 W Broadway Avenue. To this day, this location continues to operate seasonally. A second Dairy Queen later opens along State Street in 1961. Today, there are 3 Dairy Queens in Bismarck and one in Mandan.
Rockstad and Leary: Bismarck (Dan’s) Supervalu
The incubation of what would become Dan’s Supermarket commenced when Roy Rockstad & Eugene “Bus” Leary purchased the local Piggly Wiggly at 621 Broadway Avenue and converted it to Bismarck Supervalu. Mrs. Cleo Berger was its first customer. Henceforth, she becomes the ceremonial first customer at each of the company’s store openings and remodels until Gateway Supervalu opened in 1981.
Previously, Rockstad and Leary were coworkers at National Tea Store, where Rockstad was market manager and Leary the store’s general manager. Prior to purchasing Bismarck’s Piggly Wiggly, Leary operated his own grocery store, Leary Grocery, for 3 months before selling.
Bismarck’s Piggly Wiggly had opened in 1931 at 502 E Broadway. It was purchased by Willie W. Oliver in 1939, when it relocated. In 1949, Supervalu purchased the Piggly Wiggly locations in Bismarck, Dickinson, and Mandan before reselling the Bismarck store to Rockstad and Leary. The nearby Mandan store was sold to Emily Moos and William Joersz, who also retained the Supervalu name (Bill’s Supervalu).
Bill’s became Miracle Mart (in 2003) and Central Market (in 2005) before closing in 2013. Dan’s remained locally owned until SpartanNash acquired it in 2015, who retained the brand.
Admiral Hotel
The Admiral Hotel opened at 113 N 6th Street on the site formerly home to the Lamborn Hotel – the original home of St. Alexius. It was the first new hotel built in Bismarck since 1917. The $100,000 “steel, granite and concrete hotel” stood three stories and housed twenty rooms. Plans included a future 3-story addition.
Corral Theater
The Schultz brothers of New England established Corral Theater, Bismarck-Mandan’s first drive-in theater, on April 22, 1949, premiering “Homestretch.” Construction estimates were more than $70,000. The movie screen was 60-feet high, with the picture itself being rough 42×31 feet. The 12-acre plot could accommodate 520 vehicles. Initial admission was 50 cents per person.
The theater was located on U.S. Highway 10 near where present-day Main Avenue bisects with Bismarck Expressway – then 1 mile east of Bismarck city limits. Corral closed in fall 1968.
Other 1949 Highlights
- Fleck’s Garage is constructed on corner of 3rd Street & Main Avenue (destroyed by fire in 1977)
- Baptist Old People’s home (yes, that’s what it was called) is completed at 11th & Boulevard. The 42×108 2 1/2 story building could accommodate 80 residents.
- Dakota Tractor & Equipment completes a new $170,000 plant at 1505 E Main Avenue.
- Bell Telephone office at 220 5th Street undergoes $375,000 expansion, including a 20×75 foot extension at the rear of the building.
- Ressler’s Cafe is established at 210 N 6th Street. The restaurant relocates to 2219 E Main Avenue in 1956. Its former downtown home houses Big Boy/KFC from 1970-1976.
- Stumpf’s Superrette opens at 15th and Thayer. The 30×70 foot store later becomes (Stoner’s) Stoner’s Save-Way Superette before closing in the late 1990s.
- Schultz Creamery completes new 30×85 foot ice cream plant at its 1221 Front Street facility, at a cost of $35,000. The plant can produce 3,000 gallons of ice cream a day.
- St. George Episcopal Church completes new building on the northeast corner of 4th and Avenue B. The $160,000 church consists of 44 stained class memorial windows and hand-carved wood furnishings. The original St. George’s Episcopal Church, also known as the Bread of Life Church, now sits at the Camp Hancock Historic Site.
- New First Lutheran Church at 7th and Avenue D is completed for $70,000.
- $75,000 remodeling completes at Presbyterian Church, 303 N 2nd.
- Knowles Jewelry, 119 N 4th
1950: 2nd-consecutive $2 million building year
The growth that kindled in the 1940s exploded in the following decade. For the second consecutive year, Bismarck approved more than $2 million worth of new building projects. That seemingly unbreakable figure was surpassed the next year at $3.34 million and dwarfed in later years.
School, health, and public improvements were among the top projects of the decade. In fact, more than $1.6 million of the permits issued in 1950 included public buildings, the largest of which were St. Mary’s Central High and Will-Moore. That same year, Bismarck Hospital concluded a $306,000 addition. Zion Lutheran Church commenced construction of its $110,000 building as well.
A&W Rootbeer Drive-in
The iconic A&W Rootbeer drive-in opened in June 1950 at 1207 Memorial Highway. It was the city’s second fast food restaurant, following Dairy Queen and predating Big Boy.
The original A&W closed in either 1991 or early 1992 after attempts to sell the restaurant were unsuccessful. Its assets were auctioned off in 1995. The building later housed Doc’s Veterinary for many years. In 2019, it became home to Harvest – Bismarck’s first medical marijuana dispensary.
The A&W brand returned with a Hot Dogs & More kiosk inside Kirkwood Mall later in the 1990s, followed by a full drive-through operating inside the new Cenex on East Divide Avenue in 1997. A standalone location opened at 304 E Front Avenue opened soon after (later Reza’s Pitch, now First Western Bank & Trust) with a planned location off State Street that never materialized (now Wendy’s).
1951: Population tops 20,000
Bismarck’s estimated population topped 20,000 residents for the first time in 1951, a year that surpassed the previous $2 million record building permits with $3.34 million.
Public facilities and infrastructure continued to top building projects. Preparation commenced on widening Main Avenue between 9th and 26th Streets, adding 12 feet in width to a total of 68 feet. The project used a combination of local, state, and federal funding. The plan called for a traffic light to be installed at Airport Road, with conduits installed for future lights at 12th, 17th, and 22nd. 17th and 22nd Streets never do receive traffic signals.
Dakota Theater
Dakota Theater opened in October on the northeast corner of 4th and Rosser.
1952: Cash reserves top $1 million
On the heels of multiple consecutive years of record-breaking growth, Bismarck’s official cash reserves topped $1 million for the first time in 1952. With construction commencing the previous year, two new schoolhouses opened at the beginning of 1952: Will-Moore Elementary and Saint Mary’s Central High, with a third, Saxvik Elementary, opening that November.
Will-Moore Elementary
Will-Moore Elementary opened in January. The hyphenated name is a combination of the two schools it replaced: Will School and William Moore School, the latter of which stood adjacent to the current Will-Moore school.
Saint Mary’s Central High, Carnival
About that same time, Saint Mary’s Central High School opened to classes on the southwest corner of 2nd Street and Boulevard Avenue. To commemorate its opening, Saint Mary’s held a grand opening carnival from February 20-23. The first Saint Mary’s Carnival attracted approximately 5,000 visitors and has become an annual tradition.
Today, the building continues to house middle school students while the senior high was relocated to its own facility in 2019.
Saxvik Elementary
The third school to open in 1952 was Saxvik, opening that November with 124 pupils in the first four grades. It was named for former Superintendent H.O. Saxvik, who died that January. Saxvik served in the role for twenty years.
Built at a cost of nearly $134,000, Saxvik originally housed only four classrooms and an activity room. It had no kitchen with students expected to take lunch at their own residence. The school expanded several times before closing in 2019.
1952 Flood; Garrison Dam
Caused by ice jam buildup, the Missouri River crested at 27.9 feet at about 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 6th. The level is nearly twelve feet above flood stage. It remains the fourth-highest crest on record and resulted in one of the worst localized floods to-date.
On the day of cresting, the river rose 5 feet in just 2 hours, increasing from 20.2 feet at 11:30am to 25 feet at 1:30pm. Nearly everything south of Front Avenue was affected. 200 houses were destroyed and the Wachter Family reported the loss of 300 cattle.
The closure of Garrison Dam the following April, in 1953, ended local widespread flooding from the river and created other lasting impacts. President Eisenhower attended the dam’s dedication, stopping in Bismarck on July 11th while en route. Garrison Dam was official completed the following year.
The resulting dam closure created Lake Sakakawea, the nation’s second-largest manmade lake by area and third-largest by volume. It wiped out entire towns whose residents, mostly Native Americans, were forced to relocate, primarily to the newly-founded New Town. Locally, the dam’s closure permitted significant city expansion south of Front Avenue for the first time. Major flooding wouldn’t be seen again until Spring of 2009, with lesser flooding two years later.
Other 1952 highlights
- Fleck Motors opens new showroom at Broadway Avenue & 1st Street, replacing old structure destroyed by fire on same site (April)
- Fleck Motors completes new 2-story sales and garage at 3rd and Main, measuring 90×100 feet at a cost of $75,000.
- Philip J. Meyer dies of a heart attack. The businessman was a partner in Hoskins-Meyer and founder of KFYR and Meyer Broadcasting.
1953: Arrowhead Shopping Plaza
Arrowhead Shopping Plaza was Bismarck’s first shopping center
1953 smashed previous building records at a whopping $7.1 million valuation. Arguably the most significant development of 1953 was Arrowhead Shopping Plaza. Opening November 11th, Arrowhead was Bismarck’s first shopping center.
Housed inside was the first true “Dan’s Supervalu,” which supplemented Bismarck Supervalu in downtown. The original Dan’s was housed inside the later long-time home of Ben Franklin’s.
In 1960, Arrowhead roughly doubled in size by expanding northward to its present 60,000-square-foot footprint. The $249,800 expansion brought with it a relocated and significantly larger Dan’s Supermarket store, at approximately 14,400 square feet, where it remained until its 2018 closure. A bank (now U.S. Bank) and hardware store (noted to later be Scheels) was also added at this time.
A $300,000 exterior renovation concluded in late 1980, extending the public sidewalk and adding an overhang. The decorative “corner towers” were also implemented at this time.
In 2011, the center modernized its exterior, including a warmer color scheme from the greenish hue of the 1980 renovation, to its present-day appearance.
Local television arrives: KFYR-TV
KFYR began official television broadcasting on December 19, 1953. KFYR-TV originated local content until its first national network broadcast – the World Series on September 28, 1955.
KFYR-TV has held an affiliation with NBC since inception, but previously held secondary affiliations with all of the national networks of the era… ABC, CBS, an DuPont. The FCC originally granted four television channels for Bismarck. KFYR elected channel 5 to correspond with its 550 AM signal. KFYR’s original estimates for adding TV broadcasting were $280,000.
The resulting Meyer Broadcasting, parent company of KFYR and its partner entities, eventually evolved into one of North Dakota’s largest privately owned companies, encompassing several North Dakota radio and television stations, along with Bismarck-Mandan’s cable provider.
In 1998, the Meyer Family sold KFYR-TV and its sister stations to Sunrise Television for $63.75 million, splitting KFYR with its radio sibling. Since then, the station group has been sold three times. Its current owner, since 2014, is Gray Television, who also acquired the local FOX affiliate, KNDX (AKA West Dakota FOX), at the same time. The company launched a nine p.m. newscast on the newly acquired FOX network soon after, originating from KFYR-TV’s studios.
UFOs and aliens?
Decades before space aliens landed in a Bismarck restaurant, locals reported UFO sightings the nights of August 5th & 6th, 1953. The so-called Ellsworth Case, named for the South Dakota base that first detected the object, is noted as being one of the most significant UFO sightings due largely to Air Force documentation.
The object, described as being a “red glowing light making long sweeping movements,” was witnessed by at least forty-five people and detected on radar by the Air Defense System.
Prior to being spotted in Bismarck, similar glowing objects were reported throughout western North and South Dakotas. Two F-84 Thunderjets were dispatched by Ellsworth Air Force base in Blackhawk, South Dakota to investigate the phenomena. The jets engaged in a small chase of the object.
Shortly after, radar picked up the object hovering over Bismarck. The pilot of an Air Force Globemaster C-24 witnessed the object hovering over the capital city at 1:09am on August 6.
Other 1953 highlights
- Mandan Oil Refinery is constructed by Standard Oil Company (now Tesoro)
- First National Bank Building construction commences ($350,000)
- Professional Building construction commences ($200,000)
- Eagles Lodge construction commences ($250,000) – dedicated in January 1955
1954: Record residential construction
While overall building permit valuation decreased from the previous year’s record, 1954 did establish record residential building activity as the city’s estimated population topped 23,000.
Pioneer and Northridge Elementary
The former Will School was demolished in 1954 while two more elementary schools opened that year: Northridge and Pioneer.
The original intent was to name Pioneer after a single impacting pioneer. However, after too many suggestions were recommended, a generic name was chosen instead. Coincidentally, many of the nearby streets are named for pioneering citizens.
Named for its geographic location west of the Northridge Addition, Northridge opened with five classrooms. Northridge may be the elementary school to have received the most expansion over its years of existence. Its footprint more than doubled in 1961, adding 13 classrooms to the east, and to its west, a gymnasium, administration offices, and a play/multipurpose room known by pupils as the lower gym. A janitor’s apartment was also added, and the basement was remodeled for the cafeteria.
Another addition in 1966, to the northeast, added nine more classrooms and a library, which itself was relocated and expanded in 1986.
Harley McDowell: Big Boy, KFC
Considered a local landmark by many, Bismarck’s Big Boy was founded in 1954 by traveling salesman Harley McDowell, who was inspired after seeing one in another state. While technically Bismarck’s third drive-in restaurant, it was its first drive-through restaurant while still referred to as a drive-in.
Initially, McDowell operated without a formal licensing agreement from Big Boy. Robert C. Wian Enterprises – the franchising arm of Big Boy – sued McDowell in 1959 for his unauthorized use of the name and concept. The suit particularly focused on McDowell’s use of the iconic Big Boy double-decker sandwich. The suit requested that McDowell cease use of the Big Boy name and for a judgment to be filed for retroactive payment. The suit was settled, allowing McDowell to operate as a formal franchisee.
In 1957, McDowell became the fourth franchisee of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC). For years, both restaurant brands operated jointly in a hybrid format. While its formal affiliation with KFC has since been dissolved, Big Boy continues to serve similar offerings.
McDowell sold the Bismarck restaurants to Stan and Bonnie Rothenberger in 1978, who continued ownership until at least the late 2010s. A total of five bids were submitted for consideration. Rothenberger, then manager of the Municipal Country Club, was not the highest bidder, but McDowell selected him for “his established reputation for honest business and quality food service.” The agreement called for McDowell to remain on the board for seven years. As of 2019, it is owned by Chad Wachter. Since acquiring the restaurant, Wachter has launched several improvements, including an easier-to-read menu board and an improved drive-through exit.
McDowell Dam, dedicated in June 1980, is named in McDowell’s honor.
Provident Life Insurance Building
The Provident Life Insurance Building opened in 1954.
The only local building with a poem that many residents can recite from memory opened in October 1954, when Provident Life Insurance completed construction of its new headquarters on the southwest corner of Rosser Avenue and 5th Street. Provident Life was the largest privately-owned institution in North Dakota at the time. The Provident Building is well known for its iconic 60-foot tall weather beacon, which has been operated by KFYR Radio almost continuously since the completion of the building.
Weather Beacon white as snow, down the temperature will go.
Weather Beacon red as fire, temperature is going higher.
Weather Beacon emerald green, forecast says no change foreseen.
When colors blink in agitation, there’s going to be precipitation.
1955: KBMB-TV (KXMB-TV)
KBMB-TV became Bismarck’s second television station when it signed on the air on November 19, 1955. KBMB operated at 39,000 watts with its first live broadcast originating from Valley City’s KXJB-TV at 8:15 p.m.
It was the third television station launched by John W. Boler, president of North Dakota Broadcasting Company. The “MB” portion of its callsign are an homage to John’s wife, Mary Boler.
At launch, KBMB originated local broadcasts from a studio located on the 17th floor of the state Capitol and held administrative offices on the sixth floor of the Provident Life Building.
In April 1956, KBMB opened new studios inside the Rusco Window Building at 1322 Front Avenue. Construction began on today’s present facility on North 15th Street in June 1957, where it featured a studio measuring 40×60 feet in its lower level. KBMB completed its relocation there in May 1958.
Boler began a partnership with Chester Reiten of Minot the following year, when the duo purchased Minot’s KCJB-TV. Its call letters where then changed to KXMC-TV, with “MC” referencing Minot’s Magic City nickname.
Upon merging the Bismarck and Minot operations, KBMB’s call letters were changed on December 31, 1960 to KXMB, starting the group’s shared “KX” moniker. KXMD, in Williston, launched in 1969. The Reitens purchased Dickinson’s KNDX in 1985. At first, the call letters were to be changed to KXME, but after objection from Prairie Public Television the call letters instead became KXMA.
Boler sold his interest in the western North Dakota stations to Reiten in 1970 (closed in 1971 after FCC approval). Three of Chester’s children – David, Tim, and Kathleen – continued owning and operating the station group after his retirement. After sixty years of family ownership, Nexstar Broadcasting Group announced that it intended to acquire Reiten Television for $44 million. The sale was concluded in February 2016 after regulatory approval.
Higher Ed Improvements: University of Mary; Bismarck Junior College
Mary College began offering two year degree programs in 1955 while Bismarck Junior College relocated from Bismarck High School to its own building at 900 Boulevard Avenue – southeast of the Capitol. BJC only remains in the building until 1961 when it relocates to its present-day campus. More on BJC’s history is explored in that section.
Cowan Drug Building Expansion: Two Stories to Five
In 1955, the Cowan Drug Building added three additional stories to its original two as part of a $250,000 renovation project. The expansion was considered so risky that only one insurance company – Lloyd’s of London – was willing to insure the contractor. Even then, it was at such a high premium that they proceeded without insurance and, fortunately, finished without issue.
It was this remodel that turned the Cowan Building into its present appearance, cladding the original brick work with paneling, rounding the canted Broadway-facing corner, and adding the continuous window bands.
Other 1955 highlights
- Bismarck begins infusing public water with fluoride (January).
- State legislatures approves $200,00 to construct new Governor’s Mansion.
- Anderson Ace Hardware plans new store (May)
- Bismarck plans for air raid warning system (May)
- Children through the first four grades receive Salk polio vaccine inoculations (May).
- Super Valu confirm plans to build distribution warehouse in Casey Industrial Park (September).
- Fargo Gain Terminal collapses on May 13, total loss estimated at more than $1.5 million.
- Williston-founded Conlin’s Furniture arrives in Bismarck upon purchasing Reff Furniture
- Marcus Fleck establishes the MF Motel at 4524 Memorial Highway in Mandan. It is renamed the Modern Frontier in 1961. It later becomes the Rivertree Inn prior to closing. It was demolished in or around 2013 to make room for the Memorial Square Shopping Center.
- City Motel opens at 2316 E Broadway. It has been known as Mark V Studio Apartments since 1979.
- Carter Service Station opens at 6th and Rosser. Today, this continues to operate under the Arco banner.
1956
Bismarck’s telephone system was converted into the traditional dial system in February 1956.
Save-Way Superette
Save-Way Superette opened in 1956 at 223 N 15th Street. It was operated by Leo Materi until 1982 when it closed. The building sat empty until Bob Stoner re-opened the store as Stoner’s Save-Way in 1990. Stoner was previously manager of Warehouse Market, of which Nash-Finch shuttered after opening Econofoods in 1989. The former Warehouse Market is now occupied by Conlin’s Furniture. Nash Finch terminated Stoner for violating a company policy regarding the acceptance of donations and prizes from vendors. Jerry Marquart acquired the grocery in 1998. The store closed not long after.
J.C. Penney Relocates
In October 1956, J.C. Penney relocated to the northwest corner of 5th and Broadway Avenue from 115 N 4th. The $565,000 two-story brick building was built by Webb Realty specifically for Penney’s, who signed a 20-year lease. The second floor warehouse is converted into sales space in 1960, when the store also adds Bismarck’s first escalator. A second location at Main & 6th later opens in 1964 before Penney’s relocates to Kirkwood Mall in 1980.
Cathedral School
First announced in spring 1955 with groundbreaking that May, the current Cathedral School opened for classes in fall 1956. The L-shaped school contained 16 rooms and a 70×40-foot gymnasium. It was expected that 500 students would enroll that fall, compared to 153 spread across four classrooms when the school first opened in 1945.
Other 1956 highlights
- Bismarck’s telephone system converted to the traditional dial system (February)
- Ressler’s Cafe relocates from 210 N 6th Street to 2219 E Main Avenue.
- Riverside Elementary opens (closed in 2013)
1957: Osco Drug
Osco Drug opened its first Bismarck store on June 14, 1957 inside the recently vacated J.C. Penney storefront at 115 North 4th Street. It was the 23rd Osco Drug location nationwide.
Osco later establishes itself as an original tenant for both Kirkwood Plaza (in 1971) and Gateway Mall (in 1979), serving as a junior anchor for both shopping centers. National pharmacy chain CVS purchased Osco Drug in 2006. Both locations have since been replaced with freestanding stores.
1958: More Record Construction
February 1958 witnessed unusual weather even by local standards. On February 16th, temperatures bottomed out at -31 degrees, marking the coldest February reading since 1944. Nine days later, on February 25th, the official temperature reached 68 degrees – then an all-time high for February. Two days later, the season’s worst winter storm struck.
With valuations totaling almost $7.3 million, 1958 exceeded 1953’s record building permit activity by about $200,000. 73% of the new building permits were residential. Despite this, there were several major commercial projects that commenced in 1958:
- McCabe Methodist Church ($346,373)
- Universal Motor Company ($175,000)
- International Harvester Company storefront ($100,000)
- Roosevelt Elementary addition ($69,584)
Highway 10 Relocation
Also commencing that year was a $1.8 million project to relocate U.S. Highway 10, also known as Main Avenue, between Washington Street and the Liberty Memorial Bridge. The road was shifted north to align with Rosser Avenue west of Washington Street and turned into a four-lane divided highway. The Northern Pacific Railway overpass across Main Avenue was relocated to its present-day location. The project concludes in 1960. That same year, development of Rosa Young Park began north of the realigned road. Rosa Young was dedicated in 1962.
Today, the former Highway 10 route is an extension of Front Avenue. It is officially designated as Memorial Highway.
Annunciation Priory High School; Mary College
In March 1958, the first $1 million phase in a multi-phase construction project commenced at the Convent of the Annunciation, located seven miles southeast of city limits along Apple Creek. Today, the site is best known as the University of Mary campus.
First to be completed was a 3-story 250×46 foot mixed-use dormitory schoolhouse for residential high school students, opening as the Annunciation Priory High School in fall 1959. The school served freshman and sophomore female students, who would automatically transfer to Saint Mary’s Central High School their junior year.
The final phase of the project completed in 1959, at which time Mary College was formally chartered and began offering four-year degree programs, mostly focused on nursing, theology, and teaching. The college originated in 1947 and began offering full two-year degree programs in 1955. Originally an all-female institution, men were admitted to Mary College for the first time in 1963.
Enrollment in 1959 consisted of a little more than 100 students, doubling by 1965. At that time, expansion plans commenced. Mary College finished a $4.5 million three-story building overlooking the Missouri River Valley in fall 1968.
Hughes Junior High; Revised grade level splits
Groundbreaking for Hughes Junior High was held on June 20, 1958 with the school opening in September 1959. Robert Place Miller (namesake of today’s Miller Elementary) was the school’s first principal.
Approved in 1957 to supplement the existing junior high school, which was being housed inside the former high school, Hughes was the city’s first school built with the explicit intent of being a junior high. Upon the opening of Hughes, Bismarck’s other junior high became designated as “East Junior High” until Simle replaced it in 1962.
Hughes Junior High was erected immediately east of Hughes Field, which was dedicated in 1927. Both were named to honor local entrepreneur Edmund A. Hughes, who donated the land. More than one hundred citizens petitioned against the school’s location, citing five concerns, the primary of which cited Washington Street’s traffic and its steep slope. Horizon Middle School replaced Hughes in 2001, at which time the building was repurposed to house administrative offices and South Central High School.
With the opening of Hughes, Bismarck’s school district also implemented what was referred to as a “6-3-3” plan to divide the grade levels. Prior to this, the district operated under a “6-2-4” plan with only seventh and eighth grade levels attending junior high. Excluding minor exceptions, the 6-3-3 plan will remain in effect until 2013 when a 5-3-4 plan was implemented.
Other 1958 highlights:
- State oil production exceeds 1,000 active wells for the first time.
- The Drumstick Cafe is first established. The long-time restaurant originally opened as a fast food format before evolving into a traditional family restaurant in 1961. It closed in 2002.
- Highland Acres Elementary opens.
- First Baptist Church holds services in new building.
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1960-1969: Demands Of A Growing City
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1930-1944: Great Depression And The War
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