Underpass completed at 9th Street and Northern Pacific Railroad
F.W. Woolworth relocated on September 13 into the former City National Bank building at Main and 4th.
Kuilman’s Motel is established. The building is demolished in 1985 or 1986 to create additional parking for Kroll’s Kitchen.
U.S. Weather Bureau departs Camp Hancock, where it had been housed since 1894. The camp was among Bismarck’s earliest establishments, in 1872, as an infantry post and supply depot.
1941
Buttrey’s relocates Bismarck store to southwest corner of 4th Street and Broadway Avenue (February)
Morton County Courthouse in Mandan is destroyed by fire. The 56-year-old brick building was built in 1885. Initial damage estimates were $50,000. Few loose items were saved, but most of the official records housed in a fireproof safe were salvaged.
1942
700 additional Japanese detainees arrive at Fort Lincoln Internment Camp, bringing total to 1,500 prisoners (February)
Ownership of the Clarence B. Little house on Washington Street transfers to St. Mary’s.
Missouri Valley Motors founded on 500 block of Main Avenue. The dealership becomes relocates to 1144 Missouri Avenue in 1971 and becomes Cedric Theel in 1985.
Major construction is completed on Main Avenue from Washington Street to 9th Street, and also on 6th Street between Rosser and Main Avenues – both streets in turn widened by 8 feet to allow parking on both sides. A new lighting system was also installed with 264 new lamp posts.
Traffic signals installed at seven intersections, including one at 4th Street & Broadway Avenue; intersections listed included those at 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th Streets at Main Avenue; and 4th & 6th Streets at Broadway Avenue. Another location considered was 6th & Avenue C, however this was never done.
Hoskins-Meyer greenhouses are replaced after hail destroys the original structures.
Lillian Henlein and John Wachtler acquire Hoskins-Meyer. Wesley Bohrer will buy out Wachtler’s interest in 1964, then Henlein’s interest in 1974.
St. Alexius completes a new five-story wing in November.
Fink’s Cafe opens at 123 N 5th Street. It relocates to 116 N 5th in 1956. It becomes Red Carpet Lounge in 1972.
December 25: Hinckley Building located at at 219 4th Street destroyed by fire. Built in 1913, it housed Holmboe Photo Studio and Grand Theater (later Rex Theater, Rialto Theater) in its early days.
1949
More than $2 million worth of commercial construction, population tops 19,500.
Bismarck completes $650,000 sewer upgrades and the installation of 269 new street lights.
Roy Rockstad & Eugene Leary purchase local Piggly Wiggly and rename it Bismarck SuperValu (January). The Piggly Wiggly franchise was not transferrable in the sale.
Fleck’s Garage is constructed on corner of 3rd Street & Main Avenue (destroyed by fire in 1977)
A.W. Lucas begins remodeling project, which adds nearly half an acre of additional space.
KFYR completes a $300,000 renovation of its building, adding the granite and blue-gray porcelain panels still evident today. The project included a 50×150 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 to accommodated six businesses.
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.
Dairy Queen opens first Bismarck location, at 230 W Broadway Avenue. Second location to open was along State Street in 1961. Today, there are 4 Dairy Queens in Bismarck.
Corral Theater opens April 22. It is the first local drive-in movie theater. Corral closes in fall of 1968.
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.
The Admiral Hotel opens 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 since 1917. The $100,000 “steel, granite and concrete hotel” stands 3 stories and housed 20 rooms. Plans included a future 3-story addition.
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.
Yegan Dairy
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.
