10 Years Ago – 2000

The parking lot of First Southwest Bank was among the many places in Mandan attracting families on July 3, as a large crowd gathered there for the bank’s 11th annual Summer Celebration.

The day’s activities included the popular pie eating contest, with a platform set up for participants to partake of chocolate cream pies without the use of hands in an attempt to consume as many pies as possible within a time limit. In the children’s division, the $50 first prize winner was Stephanie Schmidt, coached by her father, Ray, a past winner of the adult division. Finishing second and third were: Robert Hoskins and Cameron Keller. Winner of the adult division was Clint Miller, Mandan.

The kids’ “roping-the-steer” contest was also a popular feature of the bank’s Summer Celebration. Winners of those cash prizes were Trey Huber, Tyler Jans and Thad Boyer in the 4- and 5-year-old category; Tate Schwagler, Teddy Boyer and Casey Breuer in the 6- and 7-year-old category; Wade Eckroth, Brandon Thomas, Whitney Eckroth and Ty Breuer in the 8- to 10-year-old category; Wyatt Eckroth and Rachel Noltestad in the 11- to 13-year-old category.

According to bank president Jay Feil, all proceeds of the celebration go to the Mandan Boy Scouts, the Girls Scouts and the Special Olympics.

25 Years Ago – 1985

Arnie Falk of Jamestown made quick work of the 1985 Mandan News and Lions 10,000-meter run on July 4, finishing the course in 31 minutes, 14 seconds,  just a tad slower than his 30:26 winning time in 1984. The top finishing woman was Becky Clairmont, Bismarck, with a time of 37:24. One hundred forty-five runners finished the 6.2 mile race. Roy Ogden took first in the boys’ 15-17 category; while Kris Boehm, Mandan, took the girls’ division.

The Mandan Public School system has selected Dr. Pius Lacher as their new superintendent, effective July 1. Lacher will replace Wallace Schmeling, acting superintendent since the resignation of Dr. Joseph Ciotti last fall.

Lois Schwinkendorf, registered nurse, has retired from her position as director of nursing at Mandan Hospital. She plans to join her husband, Howard, in business at Howard’s Red Owl, Mandan. Lois began her nurse’s training at Bismarck Hospital School of Nursing in 1952. She began at the Mandan Hospital in 1963 as a registered nurse in the Obstetric and Surgical Ward and became director of nursing in January 1982.

Lois Schwinkendorf, who retired as director of nursing from the Mandan Hospital in 1985. Mandan News file photos

50 Years Ago – 1960

Mandan voters have elected Berlin Boyd, Jr. and incumbent C.W. Albers to the Mandan School Board. Boyd will fill the unexpired term of Dr. Phil Blumenthal, who chose not to run for reelection.

Dr. P.L. Blumenthal, general practitioner in Mandan since November 1948, has sold his practice and his interest in the clinic building at 107 First Ave. N.W. to Dr. B.A. Girard, of Beulah. Dr. Blumenthal and his family will be leaving in August for Saratoga, Calif. 

Two Mandan fishermen, Robert Ellsworth and Lloyd B. Thompson, have caught channel catfish nearly identical in size and have earned the “Whopper Club” badges, according to the Game and Fish Department News Bureau. Both men landed catfish, each weighing 10 lbs. 12 oz., at the Garrison Reservoir. However, Thompson’s “lunker” was one-quarter of an inch shorter.

Pickle recipes were exchanged by members of the Willing Workers Homemakers Club, which met at the home of Mrs. Joseph Rebenitsch. Octabowls were also made from Popsicle sticks by the 14 members under the direction of Mrs. Matt Tokach.

The Whopper Club badge, which was given to local fishermen Robert Ellsworth and Lloyd B. Thompson in 1960.

75 Years Ago – 1935

Rain halted the Fourth of July celebration of Mandan’s St. Joseph parish societies after nearly 1,000 Mandan residents had gathered for the event. The afternoon’s amateur contest, modeled after those of national radio chains, broke up in a scurry for shelter after just a half hour’s entertainment. More than 400 were served in the church basement at a luncheon staged by women of the German Altar Society.

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Nuptial vows were exchanged in the parsonage of the First Lutheran Church when Miss Illa Elsie Weinreich, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. August Weinreich, Blue Grass, became the bride of Theodore Frederick Hagerott, son of Mrs. Edward Hagerott and the late Edward Hagerott, Mandan.

The bride, carrying a bouquet of pink roses, was attired in a pink crepe floor length gown, with matching accessories. Mrs. Harry Hagerott, as matron of honor, was costumed in a pale pink crepe gown and carried a bouquet of pink peonies. Harry Hagerott was his brother’s attendant. Immediately following the ceremony, the group left for the home of the bride’s parents, where a wedding dinner was served. The newly weds have left on a wedding trip to the West Coast, touring Yellowstone and Glacier National parks, and will be at home on a farm in the Crown Butte vicinity after Aug. 1.

100 Years Ago – 1910

“The people of Mandan spent a very safe and sane Fourth. Several picnics were held and a few places had fireworks in the afternoon and evening. One of the interesting features of the day was the prize fight bulletins received at the Mandan Pioneer by the Associated Press wire from Reno, Nevada, reporting the match between the retired Jim Jeffries and the Negro Jack Johnson. The crowd in front of the Pioneer office was an immense one, and each round was received with vociferous applause. (The fight was called in the 15th round. Johnson received $20,000 in gold to bind the fight bargain, while Jeffries was paid a $101,000 guarantee. It was the largest purse the ring had ever known.)

“Other folks, numbering 400, went to Glen Ullin for the day where an estimated crowd of 5,000 had gathered at a patriotic observance highlighted by a Mandan-Glen Ullin baseball game, which was won by Mandan 2-1. Col. I. N. Steen of this city gave the address of the day, followed by a parade of 30 automobiles decorated in the national colors.

“It is reported that over 2,500 people visited Flasher on Independence Day. The activities began at 9 a.m. with a band concert by the Mandan Military Band that was hired for the occasion. Following the concert, the nimble-footed vied with each other for prizes in the novelty- and foot-racing. Flasher and a strong team from Little Heart also played a 12-inning game of baseball, resulting in Flasher winning by a score of 12-11. Pony racing and bronco busting contests provided an extra two hours of excitement. After supper, an excellent band concert was held before the dancing started in the bowery.

“July 4th was a big day on the river at Nels Martin’s, 15 miles southwest of Mandan, when members of the Lutheran Ladies Aid decided to hold their annual picnic and fancy work sale on that day. Dinner and ice cream were served to nearly 200 people in the woods on a shaded platform, and everything went ‘like hot cakes in January.’ This picnic and sale brought in about $200.

“During the July Fourth celebration at the Bohemian hall, south of Mandan, a firecracker exploding under the porch set fire to paper and other refuse and, in a short time, the building was ablaze. Before the fire was controlled, it had damaged the porch so that it will have to be rebuilt and had scorched the interior of the hall. Quick work is all the saved the structure. The damage will amount to about $175.”

(To contact Diane, email dboit4thosedays@aol.com)