10 Years Ago – 2000

John Dixon, of Mandan, has been honored as the 2000 Commercial Cattleman of the Year by the Tarentaise Ass’n of North Dakota at the organization’s annual banquet. John and his wife, Kim, have raised a herd of 550 Tarentaise-cross cows on their ranch north of Mandan since 1993. Efficiency drives their every decision at the ranch and, according to Dixon, these moderate framed cows don’t cost as much to feed or maintain as ordinary-sized animals.

25 Years Ago – 1985

Diann Guenther, sponsored by Cloverdale Foods, has been crowned the first queen of the Mandan Winter Daze celebration. Guenther was selected out of a field of 13 Mandan women at a ceremony attended by more than 300 people at the Christ the King School gymnasium. Queen Diann will reign over the Winter Daze Parade and other activities during Feb. 8 to 15. The first runner-up prize went to Sarah Berger, sponsored by Norwest Bank; Collette Kuntz, second runner-up, was also sponsored by Cloverdale Foods.

Among the prizes awarded to Queen Diann were a natural blue fox jacket from the Mandan Winter Daze Pageant Committee, a six-month membership to the Mandan Community Center, a $40 gift certificate donated by Marianne’s Fashion Shop, a queen’s bouquet from Four Seasons Floral and Gifts and a professional portrait from Phyne Photography. Director of the pageant was Kathy Helbling.

Diann Guenther, 25 years ago, who was crowned the queen of Mandan Winter Daze. Mandan News file photo

50 Years Ago – 1960

Forty couples attended the Revelers’ party, “Cupid’s Caper,” at the Mandan County Club, which was decorated with valentines. The tables were also centered with dolls dressed as Cupid and red candies were placed in heart-shaped net and flower holders. Red net topiary trees also decorated the ticket and snack tables. Mr. and Mrs. Louis Huth were the committee chairmen, assisted by the Colin Carys; the William Russells, the Patrick Fitzsimmons, the Philip Blumenthals, the Dave Stuarts, the Verne Harms and the Art Langs.

More than 800 people toured the Mandan Water Plant during its open house. According to Bevan Shaw, plant supervisor, the public was invited to tour the plant after 15 months of construction, expansion and remodeling. Following the tours, visitors were served coffee and doughnuts. Mandan commissioners were also on hand to conduct visitors through the various units and to also explain the water treatment process. The plant is completely automatic and is capable of pumping up to seven and a half million gallons daily. The expansion project cost $432,000 and will provide for the needs of Mandan until it doubles in size.

Approximately 200 Legionnaires and their wives and visiting dignitaries were on hand for a Sunday evening roast beef dinner honoring William (Bill) Bauknecht, World War I veteran who has been active in local Post activities during his 41 years of membership in the Gilbert S. Furness Post No. 40. Bauknecht has been the finance manager for many years, the club manager on a part-time basis, in addition to being a past commander. Following the presentation of a gold life membership card in appreciation of Bauknecht’s many years of service, a program of entertainment was provided by Wally Maki, accordionist, and DeNae Kautzmann, the small daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H.A. Kautzmann.

75 Years Ago – 1935

After a week of below zero temperatures, Mandan residents were ready, along with the rest of the nation, to celebrate President Roosevelt’s 53rd birthday at the second annual Birthday Ball. More than 400 couples attended the two dances scheduled in Mandan. Nearly 700 people jammed into the new Memorial Building, which featured modern music and dancing, while more than a hundred attended the second dance for the older generation in St. Joseph’s hall at the corner of Collins Avenue and First Street. There, the old timers enjoyed old time music and dancing from the “good old days.”

The evening’s grand march was led by Mayor C.D. Cooley and his wife, followed by ball chairman A.C. Rausch and his wife. Refreshments, including sandwiches, beverages and ice cream, were served throughout the evening.

A large orchestra, made up of business and professional men from Mandan, played modern, lively music for the President’s Ball in the Memorial Building. Alternating musicians were: John Mushik and Dr. W.T. Weston, violins; L.C. Huelett, George Dinyer and John Atkinson, trumpets; J.W. Sanders, Dinyer and G.M. Glaser, saxophones; William Steinbrueck, Harold Law and Vernon Pavlik, trombones; Percy Evanger and Walter Tostevin, banjos; and Gil Schwartz and John Gould, on the tuba.

The central attraction of the ball was the President’s birthday cake, which was sold by silent auction to Mrs. Charles Shaw, of Mandan, for $26.50. The giant cake was provided by Lewis F. Lyman, manager of the Perfection Baking Company. The cake, decorated in red, white and blue, was fully 18 inches high and more than two feet in diameter and featured a wide scroll with the inscription “President’s Birthday Ball.”

The two birthday balls netted $440 after all expenses had been deducted. The local Western Union company also donated profits from people who wired birthday messages to President Roosevelt; their donation totaled $13.25 for 57 messages. The proceeds from Mandan’s two balls, along with funds donated from thousands of other birthday celebrations across the nation, are being sent to the national infantile paralysis research fund at Warm Springs, Ga.

100 Years Ago – 1910

“Emmons and Morton County will be connected the next summer by a cable ferry to be located at Fort Rice. It will be installed at the Schmidt Drug and Mercantile Co. at the same place that the old U.S. Government ferry used to be before the Indians had been subdued and the fort abandoned. This was necessary as the people on the other side of the Big Muddy realized that this was the important side of the river.”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

“Ralph Williams, 10-year old son of Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Williams, narrowly escaped being killed on Wednesday, while coasting on the hill back of the courthouse. He had nearly reached the bottom of the hill and was flying at great speed when he struck the sled carrying little Reta Seitz. The collision threw the two children off their sleds. In the impact the Williams boy was hit on the face by the other sled and received bad cuts above and below the left eye. He was picked up unconscious and carried to his home by companions where his injuries were taken care of. The Sietz girl received a badly sprained wrist in the accident.”