On this Site

A copy of the “On this Site” placards

which were placed around Grenora
during the Centennial
(and including updates since the Centennial)
 On this Site
Hospital Building
1916 – Claybaugh Hospital established by Dr. R.W. Claybaugh, using
lumber shipped by rail from Bowbells
Private residence on main floor, 10 bed hospital on 2nd floor
1930’s - Hospital closed
Dr. Halliday then opened Grenora Hospital on the next
block south, west side, at the site of the current fire hall
Thereafter – The structure was used as an apartment & private residence
1968 - Building demolished
Some of the personnel who worked at either the Claybaugh Hospital or Grenora Hospital:
Doctors – Dr. R. W. Claybaugh (1916 – 1924) Dr. W. A. Wright (1927-1930)
Dr. Herb Landes (1918) Dr. Sam A. Weeks (1930)
Dr. David Halliday (1925-1926) Dr. E. J. Schwinghammer (1932-1934)
Dr. McCloud Gillies (1925-1926)
Nurses – Florence Tiegen, Anna Helm, Mrs. Haggert

Claybaugh Hospital as a private residence, 1970’s

This sign post is situated at the sidewalk leading to the hospital’s front door.
Across the street from the hospital, north of the Lutheran Church in what would
later be Art Bergeron’s home, Dr. Carl O. Sletten, from Stady, operated a dental
office, later moving next to the Johnson Building, south of today’s Ace’s Beauty
Boutique.
 On this Site

City Hall and Jail and Water Tower

City Hall was situated here and a 2-cell jail was added in 1927. Part of the building was
once the town’s first one-room school. This structure was demolished in the early 2000’s.
Before the water tower, and water and sewer lines were constructed for $38,000 in 1938,
water was sold by “Water Men” Ed Nustad, Odin and Ed Richardson and Fred Amundson. Early
water prices were 5c/pail, 50c/barrel, $3/tank

South <<<<<
Prior to 1960–Original Fire Hall
Early 1960’s–Original Fire Hall moved to the back a larger annex added to the front

Further South <<<<<

1993 – Current Ambulance building erected
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Main Street 1941 looking south (from 2nd Avenue intersection) This street was paved in 1955.
 On this Site
Original Building
1917 – Sneva Hotel
Anne & Randi Sneva, owners
Mid 1920’s to 1940’s –
Grenora Hospital
1940’s – Private residence
and High School Dormitory
John Oien family, owners
Later - Private Residence
Herb & Elna Marshall, owners
1992 - Building demolished
1993 - New Ambulance building erected just north
of this lot
 On this Site
Original and Current Building
Prior to 1926 – Occupant unknown
1926 to 1978 – Quarne Brothers Ford & Implement
After Oscar & E.P. Quarne operated a grocery store at Rudser, implement dealerships in
Stady and Zahl, the Quarne’s moved to Grenora in 1923. Oscar Quarne first operated his
dealership west of the Legion building.
Owner/Operators: Oscar Quarne, Sr. E.P. Quarne
Ordean Quarne Joe Quarne (1947-78)
1978- Current – Carlson Repair
Odean and Larry Carlson
 On this Site
Original and Current Building
1916 – Grenora Mercantile
1916 – 1928 - R.O. Kleppe, O. Bekkedahl, M.W. Twite, Frank Prim
1928 – 1937 - Bill Musgjerd & Emil Berg
1938 – 1943 – Emil Berg
1943 – 1959 – Webb & Mardy Bublitz
1959 – early 70’s – Clarence Christensen
1970 - 1981 – Vacant
1981 – 2006 – Storage Annex for Grenora Hardware
Current - VACANT, Owned by Randy Swenson

Grenora Merc
Across the alley to the west was the lumber yard for Harold Borg Lumber
and Pathmann-Schrieber Lumber. This business discontinued in the 1920’s and
Quarne Brothers stored its vehicles here. The structures were demolished in the
1980’s.
 On this Site
This location was one of the few lots which remained vacant during the
town’s first 64 years, until the new Grenora Hardware was built here in
1980.

Current Building
1980 to 2006 - Grenora Hardware
Dick & Myrna Lundby, Owners
Current - VACANT Randy Swenson, owner

Main Street looking south, prior to 1955

 On this Site
Original Building
1917 – Grenora Drug
George Haines, Owner
1922 – Ted Tiegen, Owner
1944 – Florence Tiegen, Owner
1958 – Fire gutted the building
Mrs. Tiegen then moved store contents south to the
former LaFlame Hardware until closing in 1960
Other pharmacists or apprentices at this store:
James Gardner * Maurice Tiegen* Teddy Tiegen * Mat LeFore
Erling Nord Owen Jacobson

Current Building
1965 – Grenora Cooperative Credit Union
First located at Farmers Union Oil, then at the front
of the current Post Office building
During the 60’s, space was used one day a week for a
visiting attorney, including LaVerne Neff and by
Duane Sneva for his insurance business
1991– Dakota West Credit Union established
 On this Site
Original Building
1916 – Fortier Hardware, Fred Fortier Owner
1917 – Fortier Hardware, E. C. Larson Operator
Second Building
1918(?) – Moved next door to former Farmer’s &
Merchant’s Bank
1921 – Fortier Hardware, John Nordby, Operator
1945 – LaFlame Hardware, Frank LaFlame
1955 – VACANT
1958 – Temporary and last location of Tiegen Drug
1960 - VACANT
1962 – 80 Storage, display annex for Grenora Hdwe.
1980’s – Building Demolished
A small residential structure was also situated north of this building.

Current Building
2015 – Ace’s Beauty Boutique
 On this Site
Original and Only Building
1916 – Grocery & General Merchandise
P.A. Johnson, Owner
1920 P.A. Johnson & Charley Johnson, Owners
1936 P.A. Johnson, Owner
19?? – 1951 H.W. Bublitz, Operator
John A. Laqua, Operator
Carl & Emil Petersen, Operators
1951 – 1962 John Ortberg’s Army Surplus Store
and VACANT
1962 – Grenora Hardware
Engwald Sneva & Dick Lundby, Owners
1964 - Dick and Myrna Lundby, Owners
1980 – Vacated when Lundby built the current
structure north of the Credit Union
1980’s – Building Demolished
 On this Site
Original and Only Building
1920’s – A.W. Fulkerson barber shop
1920’s thru 1960’s – doctor office
Dr. Carl O. Sletten dentist office
(Sletten first operated across the
street, west from the Claybaugh
Hospital in what would later be Art
Bergeron’s home)
bank exchange
cream shop – John Marion
dress shop – Eileen Krenz (1950-55)
GayNora beauty shop
living quarters
1964-66 - Mel’s Radio & TV
Mid-Late 1970’s - Glen Christianson Upholstery
????? Building Demolished
 On this Site
Original Building
1916 - State Bank of Grenora built its first building here, a wood structure, with plans to
move into its new brick building south, on the corner, the present day Post Office.

Second Building
Grenora’s first business building was situated elsewhere on Main Street, then moved here in
1923 and expanded to the north

1923 – 1941 – White’s Café Grenora’s first confectionary, lunch & ice cream store
Reuben & Elira White, owners
1941 – late 1950’s –
Café, operated over the years by:
Guy Larson – Midway Café Sid Haugen Mr. & Mrs. Harold Lundby
George & Bernice Bangert Oscar & Leona Selle
The north end of this building was an apartment
1980’s - Building demolished
Current Building
2009 – J. R. Johnson Farmers Union Insurance

Post Office, White’s Café – 1941

 On this Site
Original and Current Building
1917 to 1923 – State Bank of Grenora, E.L. Hugelen cashier
After 1923 – Northwestern State Bank, Ed Lee owner
1934 – Post Office established here, moved from the former
Larson-Berg Funeral Home/Astrup Hardware building
on the current site of the Senior Center
1946 to 1965 – The front of the Post Office (currently the lobby)
was occupied by the Grenora Co-op Credit
1965 – The Post Office was remodeled to its current look
Grenora Postmasters:
(1916-18)-Lydia Elstad, moved the post office from Howard to Grenora (1918-36)Ben
Anderson (1936-48)-Josephine Senecal (1948-??)-Harry Johnson, Helen Pederson,
Dave Wolff, Louise Stocks, Elaine Esterby, Thomas Rizzo, Jennifer Hennager (OIC-June ‘16)
Over the years, post offices were situated at such sites as:
Isaason homestead, 3 miles NW of Grenora (1903)
Gladys, at the Muller farm SE of Grenora (1905)
Bonetrail, West Bonetrail, East Bonetrail x2

Daneville, south of Westby (1908)

Fertile, 10 miles northeast of Grenora (1909)
Howard, southwest of Hanks (1908) – Equipment from here was moved to
establish the first Grenora Post office
Rural Routes
Rural Route #1 started in 1917, Route #2 in 1922, Route #3 in 1924. These three routes were
combined into 2 routes in 1925. Current routes dispatched from this office are carried by
Bonnie Kueffler (north route) and Pat Muse (south route). Some past rural carriers include:
Ed Larson, Mike Killbride, Odin Richardson, Ken Bagaason, Ron Skabo
 On this Site
Original Building
1921 – Citizen’s State Bank, Jim Haskel cashier
1930’s – Johnny Johnson’s Star Auto Agency & Case Imp.
and Gamble Store
1940’s – Mrs. Olson’s Cafe
Cliff’s Café (?)
Oliver & Kaiser-Frazier Car Dealership
Clifford Price & Harvey Price
A small apartment was located upstairs
Early 1960’s –
Indoor archery range for a short time
19?? – Building demolished

Current Building
2016 – Town Square erected
 On this Site
Original and Only Building
1916 – Billiard Parlor & Barbershop
Roy Broadland & William Flaskerud, owners
A.W. Fulkerson, first barber
1917 - Roy Broadland & Ed Swenson, owners
A.W. Fulkerson, barber
1923 - New Parlor Owner, Jacob Peterson
1934 - New Parlor Owners, J.B. Feldman & Bill Steele
1930’s – Separate barbershop added on south side
Jule Feldman, main barber (son of J. B.)
1941– Feldman’s Bar and Barber Shop
Jule Feldman, owner
1964 - Sport’s Bar
Raymond (Sport) Schaffer, owner
Jean Jacobson Thomas operated the bar for a short time in the ‘60’s
1971 - Grenora Bar
Pendley & Ruby Jacobson, owner
1974 - Grenora Bar and ‘654’
Tom & Larry Hambeck
1976 - Building moved to Vernon Justice res, rural Dagmar
A small, 9 stool lunch counter was added in the northeast corner of this
building in the early years. It was operated by Opal Wick, Lily Thomas, Sylvan
Peterson, Dick Johnson, was vacant for a time, and was last used in 1967 after
the bowling alley/café burned
 On this Site
Previous Structure
1916 – Dakota Hotel
W.H. Bird, owner
19?? – 1950’s – Frank & Lizzie Williams
1950’s – Mrs. Ben Thoeny
Mrs. Ansel Jacobson
A.T. Eliason, George Almbeg
Nick Uhres
1955 - Hotel closed
Late 70’s/Early 80’s Building demolished
An adjoining building once housed a tailoring and dress-making shop,
operated by Miss. Hanson and was used as a residence

Current Structure
1976 – 1988 - New Grenora Bar
Tom & Larry Hambeck Pendley Jacobson Lyle Bjerkhol
1991-current - Grenora Community Center

Across the Alley to the West

On an identified spot west of here, Palmer Brothers operated a bowling
alley and recreation parlor in Grenora’s earlier years. This may have been
named “Monarch Bowling Alley.”
 On this Site
Original Building
19?? - Dry Cleaners, operated by Chuck Bublitz
VACANT
Late 1960’s - Beauty Haven beauty shop established
Dee Haskins, first operator
Norman Peterson, second owner/operator
Managed by Harriet Arnold Foreman
Gale Ellsworth Folvag hired as hairdresser in 1968
Managed by Alice Mae Streigel
Alice Mae Streigel, third owner/operator
Gale Folvag, fourth owner/operator

Second Building
1980’s - Original Building removed and trailer house moved in to
continue Gale Folvag’s beauty shop operation, and
to begin Jane Schenstad’s craft shop
Hairdressers over the years: Judy Schultz, Wendy Haugen,
Joni Peterson, Donna Sneva

1990’s - Mary Shelkey, hairdresser

2004 - Operation closed and trailer removed
Gaynora Style Crest Pg 37 x2
 On this Site
1920’s – Café
Chris & Sophia Markussen, owner/operators
1944 – Fred & Dagmar Jensen, owner/operators
After - Reuben & Elvira White, operators
Waitresses – Lela Anderson, Lorna Rustad Quarne, Lois Parpart Sneva
After 1944 –
Purchased by John Anderson
VACANT
1970’s - Building demolished

1990’s – A Williston clinic operated in a modular

structure generally on this site
 On this Site
Original Structure
1916 - ???? – General Merchandise Store,
Louie Pederson & Olaf Jorgensen
19??–19?? – Public Hall
Sons of Norway and Odd Fellows
1950’s - Roller Skating
1960’s - Grenora Teen Organization Dance Hall
Late 1970’s – Building demolished

Current Structure
1979 – Grenora City Hall and Shop
2018 – City Hall moved to 200 block of Main St
(This building was the Great Northern Railway depot, previously situated
immediately south of here and moved for use by the City.)

Mayors 1917-R.A. Johnson 1918-George Hanes 1920 -H. G. Schreiber 1922-L .C. Pedersen
1924-C.O. Sletten 1926-H. G. Schreiber 1928-T. E. Erickson 1930-J.J. Johnson
1932-T E Erickson 1934-O.H. Svare 1942-J. Sorenson 1950-H.W. Bublitz 1955-H.E. Wicklund
1956-Wallace Peterson 1962-Joe Quarne 1970-Dennis Anderson 1978-Robert DIgnan
1982-Sylvan Nygaard 1989-Phil Kueffler 1998-Terry Degele 2002-Dave Pittenger
2010-Royce Crone 2014-Brett Wilkins

West Across the Alley

First years – Ole Krogen Photography
 On this Site
Original and Only Known Building
 1916 - Great Northern Railroad train depot established
 November 4, 1916 – Golden Spike Day
The driving of the last spike to finish the spur line from Wildrose
 January, 1917 – First passenger train into Grenora
Gudrun (Soren) Richardson, first passenger
 Depot agents
S.E. Wilsie Walter Liedel (1930’s) Nielsen Walt Enget (1960 – 1979)
 1979 – Building moved north for use as City Hall
_____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____

Named after the Great Northern Railroad, Grenora would be the new “end of the
line” for the railroad spur extending from Minot, formerly ending at Wildrose.
When the Northern Town & Land Co. learned of the coming railroad, they first
contacted David Jetson to purchase land just south of here to establish a town, but could
come to no agreement. Ragna Anderson would sell today’s townsite land for $5,000.
Tents, sod houses, and cook cars would emerge overnight. Lots were sold on June 20,
1916, an eventful day which attracted nearly 3,000 people to bid on property or just take
in the excitement. Golden Spike day, November 14, 1916, would drive home the point
that Grenora was ready to serve as a business and residential hub. The town already had
509 residents by May of that year!
By 1917, lumber from Wildrose, Westby, Alkabo and Medicine Lake would yield 6
lumber yards, 5 general stores, 4 banks, 3 hotels, 4 hardware stores, 4 elevators, 2
newspapers, 3 pool halls, 3 motor repair garages, 3 movie theaters, a jewelry store,
photo gallery, electric plant, and other businesses, then the Williams County Mutual
Telephone Co. would introduce crank and holler phone service two years later.
Grenora would benefit from the relocation of businesses and people already
settled nearby in “towns” such as Stady, Gladys, Rudser, Fertile, Bonetrail, and several
moved from Wildrose and other towns to seek new fortunes in Grenora.
The Wildrose-Grenora rail extension would produce 5 other new towns along the
way – Mesa (Hanks), Zahl, Appam, Alamo, and Corinth.
_______________ _______________ _______________ ________________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ ________________ _________________ _________________ ________________ _______________ _______________ _______________ ________________ _________________ ________________ ________________ ________________ _________________ _______________

SOURCE of INFO on ALL TOUR SIGNS: “Grenora 50th Jubilee” “Lost Tales of Old North Dakota”
“Wonders of Williams” old farts in the area
QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CORRECTIONS, ADDITIONS? Please email ronlaqua@rrv.net
 On this Site
Known Businesses West of Tracks
 Current Enbridge building
Original Building
1925 – Original building and operation of the
Westland Oil Company begins,
Glen Isaacson, first agent
1944 – Original building destroyed by fire
Second and Current Building
1945 – New Westland Oil building erected
1970’s – Westland Oil discontinued
Some operators of the Westland Oil franchise:
Glen Isaacson, Harry Lund, John A. Laqua, Myron Killbride,
Alf Ness, John Swanson, Carroll & Tony Hendrickson,
Darrell Kueffler, Rick Kueffler
1975 – Roger’s Service Center
Roger Garaas, operator
1978 - Ken’s Westland
Ken Meagher, owner/operator
1980 – present x2

B&G Roustabout, National Lead, Portal Pipeline, Enbridge

 On this Site
Known Businesses West of Tracks
 Large building west of Enbridge
Feldman Lumber Yard
School bus barn, now school storage
 Current Elevator Complex
1916 – Grenora Farmers Elevator Company
1984 - Prairie States Co-op established (Grenora & Zahl)
1990’s - Merged with Northwest Grain, Williston
2005 – Horizons Resources established
Managers: B.B. Flesjer, Gilbert Bratvold, Guy Alme, John Soiseth,
Ole Sather, Dash Comford, Howard Lien, Dick Muse, Bob Longtin,
Darrel Christianson, Dick Simoneau, Rick Foss
Grenora station mgrs: Bill Pugh, Tom Longtin, Duane Schaan

 Occident & Peavey Elevator – (located east of current Horizons)

Managers: Walt Anderson, Wally Peterson, Jake Hertz

 Ice house - situated along the tracks, used by the railroad to ship perishables
 South of the highway –AC Scott Lumber, 1920’s

Farmers Elev and Occident Elev

 On this Site
Farmers Union Oil Co.
1934 – Business incorporated & the holdings of Foss & Reep located
here were purchased to establish the business.
1941 – 1946
Grenora Cooperative Credit Union first operated on this site,
within the Farmers Union Oil structure
1954 - Original Structure destroyed by fire
1955 - New and current structure erected
Late 1960’s - North warehouse added
 Managers: Vern Robinson(34-37) Thorval Christensen(37-46)
Olaf Garaas(46-74) Willard Mortenson(74-77)
Roger Iverson(77-79) CharlesMunson(79-80)
Dan Erbis(80-83) Dale Kulseth(83-89)
Gerald Sorenson(89-04) James Ralph(2004-current)

 Grenora Farmers Union also operated stations at Zahl- Clarence

Raaum, Mgr. (until 1980) and Dagmar (until 1944)

Farmers Union Oil prior to the 1954 fire

 On this Site
St. Olaf Lutheran Church & Grenora Lutheran Parish
1908 – St. Olaf congregation organized at home of Dave Jetson south of town
After 1916 – Enbar Butte (in Montana) and St. Olaf began meeting in Grenora,
first at Felland Jewelry, then the Orpheum Theater
1919 – A basement church was built on this site
1940 – The original church was built on top of the basement. Lumber was
re-used from a livery stable and feed barn in Grenora
1949 – Parsonage built (a home on the east side of town had served as parsonage since 1919)
1958 – Classrooms and office space added on the east side
1963 – Church addition and remodel – new entry & balcony, enlarged sanctuary, new
roof line, new pews
2000 – United Church of Zahl and St. Olaf form Grenora Lutheran Parish
Over the years, Enbar Butte(Montana), Immanuel (East Coalridge), Bethany, Skabo, Redeemer
English Lutheran of Gladys, West Writing Rock (Writing Rock Menighed), Bethania of Hanks,
and First Evangelical Church of Hanks congregations have joined the St. Olaf congregation.
Pastors: Hegg, Salveson, Fladmark, Strandjord, Dybvig, Sheldahl, Dragseth, Nestingen,
Hunstad, Gaarder, Knutson, Hagen,Bauer, Johnson, Czubay, Nelson, Chinberg, Molland,
Garman, Bliss, Lockhard, Halaas, Fox, Beyer
Evelene Krogen has served as church secretary since 1965 x2

Church building prior to parsonage Church building and parsonage prior to 1958 east classrooms
 On this Site
Original Structure #1 - (south of the church parsonage)
Early after 1916 – Photo Studio, J.A. Gill, proprietor
Original Structure #2 - (south of the Photo Studio)
19?? – Millinery (Hat) Shop
1919 to 1959 – Telephone Central Office – the days of live operators
Williams County Mutual Telephone Company
Northwest Mutual Aid Telephone Co.
Early 1960’s – Building demolished
Original Structure #3
A bandstand was once situated south of the dial office on the corner

Original Structure #4
John Page’s “The Grenora Examiner” newspaper building faced south on this
corner during Grenora’s first days. The “Examiner” renamed
“Grenora Newsman” in 1923. Operation ceased 1938.
Open Lots
1950’s – 1978 – Quarne Bros. vehicle and implement display lot occupied the space
where the Originals Structures #1 thru 4 had existed
Current Structure
Early 1980’s – Grenora Rural Fire Department
2018 – Converted to City Hall (new fire dept bldg. located west of Farmers Union)
 On this Site
Original and Current Building
This building served as a bank in its first years, one of four banks that were open for
business during the first days that Grenora formed. Today’s Post Office building
was another of those early day banks. The other buildings have long since been
demolished. A brief history of this building follows, with certain dates unknown:

The early years

Bank (possibly Farmers State Bank, then Northwestern State Bank)
Grenora Exchange – John Sorenson, Manager
Photography / Art Studio – Ole B. Krogen
1989 – Mila Nygaard Ceramics
1992 – Back storage area added
2010 – 2015 Wild Country Artisans – Jeremy and Sherry Norman
2016 – VACANT

An apartment located downstairs was home to several different parties over the
years and was a long time residence of Mr. and Mrs. John Sorenson. In addition to
managing the Exchange here, Mr. Sorenson served as mayor in the 1940’s.
 On this Site
Original Building
1917 - A.C. Scott Hardware Store, Furniture, & Undertaking
After 1917 –
Berg Hardware
Frank Berg
Larson-Berg Funeral Home
Ed C. Larson, Frank Berg
(First situated at the rear of building, then in the north annex)
(The funeral home closed when the hospital closed.)
1917 – 1934
The Post Office was also situated in this annex
until moving to its current location
1040’s – 1950’s
Gamble Hardware and Minneapolis Moline
C.B. ‘Berg’ Astrup, Owner
1960 – VACANT
Late 70’s – Building Demolished
Current Building
1980 – Grenora Senior Center
 On this Site
Information on the two buildings pictured below
is sketchy. They served as the following over
undetermined years:
Jewelry Store - Walter Felland
Valley Land and Cattle Co.
Shoe Repair - Nick Kraus
Watch Repair - Harlan Norvald, Sven Kleppe
Home of L. D. & Bernice Nielson
 On this Site
19?? – Former Farmers Elevator office moved to
this site
19?? – Barbershop
Lee Gillette
Sport Schaffer
Ralph Isaacson
19?? - Beauty Shop
Edna Schwartz
Prior to 1957 –
Appliance & Radio Repair
Raymond Oakes, Proprietor
1957 – Seymour’s Barber Shop (and his residence)
Seymour Breiland, Owner
1967 – Residence of Bernice Breiland
Later years – Private Residence, VACANT
Approx. 2010 – Building Demolished
 On this Site
Original and Current Building
1916 – Hagen Brothers & Hatling Grocery Store
1922 – Hagen, Hatling, & Iverson Grocery Store
1926 – I. G. A. Grocery Store – Broadland & Osheim
mechanical refrigeration replaces ice
1937 – I.G.A. Grocery – Broadland, Musgjerd,Sneva
1943 – Super Valu Groc - Broadland, Musgjerd, Sneva
1949 - complete store remodel
1965 – complete store remodel
1971 – Super Valu Grocery – Vernon& Janice SKabo
2003-2004 Farmers Union Grocery
2004-2009 Circle M Foods
2009-2015 VACANT
2015 – Treasured Stitches
 On this Site
Original Structures on this Building Site
North Portion
On the north end of this property, and south of current store
Treasured Stitches, a wood frame building housed:
For about 30 years –
O.H. Svare General Merchandise Store
(with an apartment in the back)
Thereafter –
Red Owl Agency
Early 1960’s – Recreation Center
1964-65 – Retreat and Eat Café
Harry Dudley, operator
1967 – destroyed by adjacent bowling alley fire
Original Structures on this Building Site
Middle and South Portions
1916 – Orpheum Theater
Victor Johnson, owner
1926 - Albert Knutson, owner
1929 - First talking movies
1929 – 1942
Managed by:
Frank Stanton, Reuben White,
Martin Knutson, Carter,
G.W. Marshall, Ed Randall
1943 – 1963
Verne Steele, owner & operator
Living quarters added on south
1963 - Building converted to Trico Lanes bowling alley
with lunch counter
Verne Steele, owner & operator
1964 - Ross Lanes, owned by Howard Ross, Jr.
1965 - Living quarters on south end converted to
‘300 Café’ and operated by Earl &
Georgia Badger
1967 - Bowling alley and café destroyed by fire

A small annex on the north side of the Orpheum Theater was used by Attorneys
Gustave Lake, Ray Walton,LaVerne Neff. It was made part of the bowling alley in
1963.
Current Structure
1968 – New building constructed by Grenora Community Corporation
1968 – 2004
Operated as bowling alley and café
Ross Lanes – Howard & Sandy Ross
7M Lanes – Bud & Alvina Muller
Grenora Community Lanes – operated by Marvin Skabo,
Randy Nordhagen, Brian & Eddie Hendrickson
Dean Brorby rolled three 300 games here!
The café has operated under numerous leases by: Earl & Georgia Badger, Gladys Lundby,
Bud & Alvina Muller, Pendly & Ruby Jacobson, Mrs. LeRoy Hanson, Randy Muse,
Haakenson, Teresa Schaan, Joni Peterson, Janice Sargeant, and others.
2004 – present
Circle M Grocery & Cafe
Ken & Lorene Meagher, Owners
South of this site, on the corner:
 Building originally built by Christ Lundby for Chevrolet dealership and repair
 Carl Peterson’s first John Deere Agency
 Henry’s Garage, operated by Henry Erickson
 Oliver Clark garage
 Leonard’s Service, operated by Leonard Meagher
 Dick Johnson Standard Oil
 Burned 1965

East of this site across the alley

 Imperial Lumber Yard
 Tangen Tailor Shop
 Central Telephone Dial Office
 Current residence of Sylvia Haaven

Further east, on the corner

 A livery barn operated here, specific years unknown
 This building operated as a theater from 1916 to 1963

The building was converted to a

bowling alley in 1963 & destroyed
by fire in 1967 Standard station after the 1965 fire

ALERT ! >>>
Rumored arsonist of the 1965
Standard station, known only as
“K.M.”
Have you seen this child?
 On this Site
Original and Only Structure
Early 1930’s – The Bethany Church building from north
of Hanks was moved to this site to
establish a business,
Twete’s Bakery and Lunch Room
Martin Twete, owner
Later, until 1950’s –
Bakery and lunch room converted to
a bar, operated by Twete & sons
1950’s - VACANT
Early 1960’s - Café (front) Laundromat (rear)
Alvin Twete, owner
Mr. Crabtree, subsequent owner
1963 - Building destroyed by fire
 On this Site
A small building moved onto this site served as:
 Jonas Booke implement office
 Cream station
 Hide and salvage – John Marion
 Barber shop
 Café
 Neff Attorney Office
 On this Site
Original and Only Building
1916 – Huglen & Thurneau Hardware Store
Later - Hardware store operated by Frank Berg
Later - Farmer’s Store
Building owned by Mr. Frank
Later - Grocery Store
Rueben & Elvira White, owners
Thomas Wright, operator
E.V. Roberts, subsequent operator
1942 - Bar
Rueben & Elvira White, owner/operators
1944 - Markussen’s Bar
Chris & Sophia Markussen, owners
1962 - Wally’s Bar
Wally & Mary Wiegand, owners
1967 - Al Schaan, Operator
1968 - Wally & Mary Wiegand,
Pendley & Ruby Jacobson, owners
1971 - Bar closed
197? - Building demolished
 On this Site
Only Known Building
1921 - Hotel and Café
Charley Altenburg, operator
Later - Chris Markussen, operator
Magnus Madsen, operator
Mr. Lodahl, operator
1940’s - Shoe Shop
Elmer Dahl, operator
1950’s - Building demolished
Late 50’s to 1960 -
Vehicle lot for Anderson Chevrolet
 On this Site
Original and Only Building
1916 – Woodall & Wilkinson Overland Car & Implement
(also housed a light plant for the town, until MDU came in 1929)
1924 – Garage operation -- Pete Astrup & Halvor Foss
1926 – Chevrolet & John Deere Dealerships -- Pete & C.B. Astrup
1928 – new garage space added
1936 - Chevrolet & John Deere -- Pete, C.B. & Jens Astrup
1945 – Minneapolis Moline & Gamble Hardware added to existing
Chevrolet dealership
1950’s-60 Anderson Chevrolet - Arvid & Ruby Anderson
1960-66 VACANT
1966-72 Nygaard Service Center & Laundromat
car repair, snowmobile sales and service, TV &electronics sales and
service
19?? - Building demolished

This building was expanded in 1928

 On this Site
Original and Current Building
Grenora Hotel
1916 - Ragna Anderson – original (front) had 11 rooms
(Ragna Anderson sold her land, enabling Grenora to be established)
1918 – Café added
1925 – 11 rooms added to back
1930’s – Arvid & Ruby Anderson, owner/operators
1947 – Mr & Mrs LeRoy Sorenson, Chris Wehrung owner/oper
1954 - Lydia Manz, owner/operator
1955 – LeRoy Sorenson, owner/operator
1955 – Gladys Lundby, owner operator
Early 70’s - Dewell & Norma Rasmussen, owner operator
1980’s - Berholtz (last owner)
Centennial Bar and Hotel
1991 - Hotel lobby and café converted to bar, operated by Jeff Lansem
2001 – Kirby and Heather Anderson, owners
North Annex
1918 – Café, originally operated by Art Olson
???? – Café converted to apartment
1959 – Apartment converted to café
1963 – Beauty Shop, Selma Weber, Operator
1964 – Beauty Shop, Mabel Gleson
Late 1960’s – Dress Shop, jointly by Gladys Lundby & Joseph’s of Williston
1991 – Converted to present day bar
 On this Site
Known Businesses East of Main St.
Elevators
Various entities and indiviuals operated elevators in this area, including:
1.) Prior to 1921 - Frank Stanton, owner
1921 – Ed Wicklund, owner
2.) D&B Elevator – Robert Hames, Tom Eliason
3.) Hichum & Stanton
Imperial, later Dunnell and Bonebright
Managers Crancras, John Oien, Ole Sletten, Tom Eliason

Oil train car loading Station – Along the tracks, mid 1960’s
Stockyards – further east Operated by buyers Harry Merbach, Emil Hagen,
Ole Hatlien, Simon Iverson
International Harvester – Halvor Foss / Anderson & Brown / Quarne & Sorenson
Roughly situated at current trailer site & current lumber storage building (see left picture below,
long building running north and south)

Westland / F.U. Oil / Intnt’l Harvestor / Locker Main Street 1941 looking north from Hotel (bar)
 On this Site
Original Building
Farmers Union Lockers
1944 – Building built and business started -- Ed Krenz, operator
1978 – Operation sold to Robert Bergeron
1980’s – Operation sold to Harold Bryer
1990’s – Building demolished

Current Building (located east from the Locker bldg.)

Late 1990’s – Plant Place (this operation began in Zahl a few years earlier)
Laurie Arnson
Rosella Carr, Owner
 On this Site
Original and Only Structure
1919 – Grenora Lumber Company
After 1919 – Pathmann-Schrieber Mercantile
1926 – Rogers Lumber Company
1933 – Midwest Lumber Company
1948 – Great Plains Supply Co.
1980’s – Grenora Lumber Co. (Ralph, Schenstad, Simmoneau)
1989 - Grenora Lumber Co. closes
2013 – Lumber yard structures demolished

Swenson Trucking, current property owner

 On this Site
Original Building
1946 – Grenora Implement built its first structure here
Formed in 1945 by owners Carl & Mary Petersen, the business
was originally operated in the building located south of the
theater, currently the grocery/café.
Current Cement Block Building
1955 – New Grenora Implement building
This structure replaced the 1946 original
1959 – LeRoy Sorenson became Manager
1964 – Business changed from Petersen partnership to a
corporation
1966 – Metal building added on east side for expanded shop
2000 - Grenora Implement closes
Current- Trevor Swenson Trucking

At one time, there were as many as 7 implement brands sold in Grenora

at various businesses:
John Deere Case Oliver Gleaner-Bladwin
International Harvester Cockshutt Minneapolis Moline
 On this Site
A relatively large cement structure was situated
here, serving as:
Prior to 1923 – Unknown occupant
1923 – Oscar Quarne Ford Dealership
(Quarne later moved to Main Street & 2nd Ave
West at current Carlson Repair)

1930’s - Oliver Hart-Par Implement (Ed Randall)

1940’s – Case Implement (Arvid Anderson)
1960’s -70’s – Private Residence
1990’s – Building demolished
 On this Site
Approximately on this site
1916 – Feed Mill Thorvald Johnson, owner
Later – Medhus Apartment Building
Owned by Palmer Medhus, then Elsie Quam
1970’s – building moved to 300 block of Robinson St.

Feed mill, later an apartment bldg.

North of this site
A large livery stable, running north and south up to the corner of this block, was
operated by Henry Thoeny

South of this site

1916 - Blacksmith shop Otto Hoehn, blacksmith(wife Nora Pearl Sandmeyer)
The Hoehn’s son Marlin was a survivor of the WWII Bataan Death March
Later - Christ Hammer, blacksmith
1923 - T.F. Senecal, blacksmith
Later - Sam & John Kraus, owners
Later to 1960’s –George Kraus, blacksmith
1970’s – building demolished

Further south of this site, on this block

1920’s - city electric generating plant
 On this Site
A brief history of this site
&
Alvin T. Larson American Legion Post #116
February 10, 1920 –
Alvin T. Larson Post #116 of the American Legion organized
May 3, 1922 –
Women’s Auxiliary was organized
1947 – Original building erected, using lumber from government
grain bins at Alamo
1968 – The original building basement served as a café after the
bowling alley/café burned
1970’s – Basement remodeled
2000’s - Memorial wall and park built
2010 – Marvin K. Hoff Park dedicated
2015 – Original building demolished
2016 – New building erected with funds from the estate of Nels Anderson

Original building, erected 1947

 On this Site
Grenora Methodist Church
1910 – The first services were held in homes and school houses in the
countryside.
1911 – A Sunday School was organized. At its peak it had 125 enrolled students
1916 – Church services were held in an empty building on Main Street
or in the school house.
1916 – A ladies’ aid was organized, which financed construction of a
parsonage, just north of this structure, which still exists today
1917 – A basement church was built on this site
1928 – A structure was built on top of the basement
Early Sunday School enrollments numbered 125
1958 - Fire destroyed the church the evening of March 3
1960 – The current structure was built, using the same basement as the
prior church structure
2006 – The congregation was discontinued and the structure is now a
private residence
The congregation was proud to be referred to as a singing congregation, being
ecumenical to embrace people of all backgrounds, regardless of their denomination.

Church structure 1928-58, looking north

 On this Site
Assembly of God Church
1927 – Organized as the “Pentecostal Full Gospel Mission”
First services were held in City Hall and Sons of Norway Hall
1928 – A building on Main Street was purchased for use as a church
The building site is believed to have been in a building just
south of the existing building most currently operated as “Wild
Country Artisans”
1946 – The building pictured below was constructed on this site
1929 – 1967
The church functioned as Assemblies of God until its close in 1967
1979 – The structure was moved to its current site east of town for use as
a golf clubhouse
Pastors: Blanche Brittain, Ruby Huew, Irene Larson, Susan Covel, Miss Henderson, Maurice
Laudahl, Maurice Ness, J.R. Buckley, G.L. Riffe, Raymond Wiley, Kenneth McDougall, Elmer
Trygg, Clifford Mandigo, Kenneth Olson, Arnold Steen, Harold LaBruyere, Wells Gage, George
Shepeluk, David Torgerson, Erick Franc, Roger Fredrickson, Olson
 On this Site
(and additional history of the Parish)

St. Boniface Catholic Church

1908 – First Mass in rural home of Joe Kueffler
1910 – Articles of Incorporation established St. Boniface Parish, a
mission of St. Joseph’s in Williston from 1910 to 1914
1913 – Church erected 11 miles south near current day James
Folvag farm, also the location of a Grotto, erected 1932,
still standing – 74th Street NW
1945 – A parsonage home was erected as the current home on
this site. The basement of this home was used for
church services until 1963.
1962 – The Parish celebrated its Golden Jubilee
1963 – This modern round church was built
2012 – The Parish celebrated its 100th anniversary
Priests who have served:
1908: Fr. Arsenault * 1910-14: St. Joseph Mission * 1916-18: Fr. Seitzer * 1919-27: Fr. Mueller
1927-31: Fr. Selder * 1931-35: Fr. Buser * 1936-42: Fr. Backes * 1942-54: Fr. Renner
1954-55: Fr. Wingering * 1955: Fr. Walsh * 1955-58: Fr. Adkins * 1958: Fr. Pommier
1958-60: Fr. Radvina * 1960-65: Fr. Leary * 1965-67: Fr. Lica * 1967-70: Fr. Chambers
1970-74: Fr. Hemmelgarn * 1974-76: Fr. Pirc * 1976-77: Fr. McGovern * 1977-78: Fr. Simon
1978-79: Fr. Zorichak*1979: Fr. Mason*1979-82: Fr. Zorichak
1982-84: Mission of St. Joseph – Fr. Aydt, Fr. Leary * 1984-92: Fr. Frank
1992-2013: Fr. Aydt * 2013 – present: Fr. Antony x2
 On this Site
The Grenora School System
Grenora’s first school, operated as part of Liberty School District 84, was a one room
building on this general location, the first teacher being Miss Nellie Ledell. More classes were
added by using various community buildings.
Grenora School District 94 was formed in 1918.
The original one room wood structure was moved to Main Street and used as a city hall,
located by the current day water tower.
In 1919 a three story brick building was erected, roughly on the south site of the new, 2016
addition to the current school, at a cost of $39,000. This school was demolished in 1969. It
included a gymnasium in the lower level and had a “disappearing” stage. After 1939 it was
converted to a lunch room and class room.
A gymnasium was added in 1939 as part of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) during
the national Depression. It was added onto the north side of the 1919 school and was located
roughly on the north side of the new 2016 addition to the current school. It was demolished in
2014.
With the early 1960’s closing of several rural schools and the Hanks and Zahl schools, all of
which consolidated into District #99, a larger facility was necessary. The current elementary
and high school and gym were built in 1968, costing just under $700,000.
A second gymnasium and additional classrooms were added onto the south end of the
complex in 2015-16, and renovation of the administrative offices, kitchen, restrooms, heating
and cooling of the 1968 structure began in 2016, for a cost of roughly $9.5 million.

1919 School, 1939 gym

Main Street, looking North Prior to 1955
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