Title
HISTORY OF DICKINSON
Creator
Georgianna McKenzie
Coverage
TOWNSHIP 139N RANGE 96W
Text
HISTORY OF DICKINSON
Dickinson is fast approaching its first century mark and 1977 is an appropriate time for us to pause and sum up the years of its growth. The comparison of what it once was and what it is now should incite admiration and gratitude for the perseverance and foresight of the first settlers and respect for the following generations who have made Dickinson what it is today.
As the silver ribbons of steel of the Northern Pacific Railroad moved slowly across Dakota territory nearly 100 years ago, division points were located approximately 100 miles apart. By 1882 the railroad was completed into the Dickinson area and the little settlement was designated a division point. Spawned by the Northern Pacific and nurtured by cattlemen and buffalo hunters, the settlement soon became a busy trade center. During one week of July, 1880, it is recorded 4000 buffalo skins were brought in for shipment. Dickinson became the largest cattle shipping point in the N.P., maintaining extensive cattle yards here. Sheep were raised in the area also and the wool shipments boosted the economy. Wool was baled and brought in from 100 miles south and shipped to Philadelphia and Boston during the summer months; it was estimated 2,000,000 pounds of wool were shipped out of Dickinson annually. Sheep raising gradually shared with farming and cattle raising as more settlers moved in.
The town was named Dickinson in tribute to Wells Dickinson, a senator from New York, in 1881. He helped the N.P. railway get all their land grants and it was through his efforts that so many easterners came out to settle in this new frontier. He had charge of lands and transportation for the N.P. and owned about 3,000 acres of land in Stark County when the townsite of Dickinson was plotted in 1882. His cousin, H. L. Dickinson, was the first Dickinson merchant.
Sims Street, our north-south main street, was named for Peter Sims, millionaire contractor and member of the Porter-Sims firm of St. Paul. He visited here with his surveyor when the city was plotted. At one time he operated a freight line between Dickinson and the Black Hills.
Henry Villard was president of the NPRR in 1881 and his name was given to the main street of the little Dickinson settlement. A hotel, Villard House, and later rebuilt as the Villard Hotel, also bore his name. A fire in 1948 destroyed the Villard Hotel in the location of the present Schilla Hardware & Furniture Store.
The early settlers who followed the railroad into western Dakota were mostly from New England states and New York. Stories of profits to be made attracted many of them and the lure of the unknown was a challenge to others as they came west to what has been called the last frontier — the northern plains of the United States. Most of the railroad builders were men from Scotland and Ireland working their way across the continent as they searched for a new home in America, and many of them stayed behind when they found a likely spot. Thus it was that Dickinson's first settlers brought Amrican, Irish, Scotch and English names and culture into the area. Later, immigrants from the mainland of Europe settled in the area to take advantage of the Homestead Act which threw open public lands to settlement in 160-acre units by grown citizens and by aliens who had declared their intention of becoming American citizens. The land policy of the Federal Government and State governments hastened the settlement of the West and by 1900 there was little public land left. The era of homestead distribution was ended. So, at the turn of the century, western North Dakota had become a melting pot of nationalities from nearly all the countries of central Europe as well as U.S. citizens from the eastern United States.
Traveling from the shores of European countries, the east coast of the United States and halfway across the continent to their new home in Dakota territory, our early settlers certainly had reason to feel the need of a place to worship when they reached Dickinson. Time and money were needed to build churches so services were held temporarily in homes, halls donated for such purposes on Sunday, and even a railroad section house.
History records show that the Baptists were the first to hold services in Dickinson, followed closely by Irish Catholics who established St. Patrick's parish. Because of language barriers at that time, two more Catholic parishes were established in following years to accommodate the settlers from Europe, namely Germans, Russians and Bohemians. St. Joseph's Church was erected in 1903 for the German speaking people and St. Wenceslaus Church was built in 1912 for members from Bohemia. Within the last five years a new parish, Queen of Peace, has been formed in the northwest corner of the city with services held at Trinity high school.
Both the First Congregational Church and the Methodist congregations held services in Dickinson as early as 1883. First records of St. John's Episcopal Church are dated 1886, placing this among the older churches of the city. St. John's Lutheran Church ALC on 6th Avenue West was established in 1902.
The importance of religion to residents of Dickinson is clearly indicated by the representation of so many faiths in our community in 1977. In addition to the aforementioned religions that were first established in the community, the following have been added during ensuing years: Christian Science, 1915; Nazarene Church, 1922; Seventh Day Adventist, 1926; Redeemer Lutheran, 1931; Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints; First Assemblies of God Church (2); Hillside Baptist and First Baptist Churches; Jehovah's Witnesses; Evangelical Bible Church.
The story of the Dickinson public schools had its beginning in 1883 when Gov. Ordway, governor of Dakota Territory (N.D. attained statehood in 1889) appointed Stark county officials, including a school board. The first official act of the Dickinson school board is dated August 25, 1883 when this notice was posted: “Notice is hereby given that a special meeting of the school board will be held in the office of the Villard House (a hotel operated by school board director C. H. Klinefelter) Sept. 3 at 8 p.m. Members of the board will please qualify and be ready for business. The object of calling the meeting is to appoint, or elect, a school district clerk, secure a school room. employ a teacher and to transact any of the business that may come before the board. Signed, C. H. Klinefelter, director.”
Business transacted at this meeting was to accept an offer of the Baptist Church as a temporary school room. It was decided the fall term would begin as soon as the room could be equipped and would run until the winter holidays.
1884 was a very active year. The school board decided to call a special election to bond the district for the purpose of purchasing land and building Dickinson's first school. The records show this is the location of the old William Ray house — and later known as the Reichert house, 40 West 4th Street, now owned and occupied by the David Fandrich family. The bond election was held June 7 with 38 votes cast for passing the bond issue and there were no votes in opposition. The first school house cost the district $2220.
The school board established a salary schedule in 1887 as follows: Teachers holding first class certificates would be paid $60 a month, second class $40 per month, and those with third class $30 monthly. The board voted to build a second school in 1888.
In 1801, the school board constructed the original portion of old Central Elementary school on location of present Berg Elementary. The first school house was then sold to William Ray for $810. Dickinson High School with library was established in 1892. Financial problems developed by 1894 and official school term was cut to three months. In May, 1894 DHS held its first graduation and a diploma was issued to only one graduate, Carrie Fowler.
By 1895 the board was employing teachers for five different school buildings. P. S. Berg was elected first superintendent of schools in Dickinson Public School District #1 in 1906 and served 32 years. He was replaced in 1938 by A. L. Hagen.
By 1952 facilities were again crowded because of increasing city population and additions were made to the high school and Central Elementary. Federal Aid programs for mentally handicapped students and speech therapy were new on the scene in 1961 and other major changes began with notification from neighboring school districts that they were considering annexation to Dickinson. Eventually, need for a larger high school could no longer be postponed and the people of Dickinson School District passed a bond election to build a new high school. Erection of the new building in the outlying northwest area of the city was begun in 1967 and the school was dedicated in 1968. Total cost of the construction was $2,111,405. In March, 1965, Mr. Hagen submitted his resignation as superintendent of the Dickinson schools after filling that position for 27 years. In July of 1965 Donovan Benzie, present superintendent, was appointed to fill the vacancy.
This is a brief summary of the Dickinson public school system. With such a well-planned foundation and continued support of the community it has maintained a high scholastic rating. Its growth includes an Area Vocational Education Center at the high school. Adult Basic Education, and the Instructional Media Center under the direction of Gordon Paulsen, assistant superintendent of schools.
Dickinson's three Catholic parishes, St. Patrick's, St. Joseph's and St. Wenceslaus, join resources, funds and efforts in supporting both Trinity grade school and Trinity High School systems. With large enrollments, the parochial system represents an important part of the city's educational scene.
Consolidation of Trinity Grade system is accredited by the State Dept. of Public Instruction and is unique in its structure. 1st and 2nd grades are taught at St. Wenceslaus school; the intermediate grades of 3rd, 4th and 5th attend classes at St. Joseph's School; and the Trinity Junior High students are placed at St. Patrick's School. This division has eliminated crowded conditions in any of the schools and the added space has permitted broader curriculums and expanding academic programs.
Trinity High School became an important part of the parochial education system in September 1961 when its doors were opened to the first freshman class. In its comparatively short span of operation it has achieved high scholastic recognition and its expanding programs offer excellent training for the high school student. Its athletic records place Trinity among Class A leaders in the state and the school's scheduled contests with its crosstown rival, Dickinson High School, provide many thrills for local fans.
The Dickinson Public Library was opened in 1910. The original building, erected on the corner it still occupies, 2nd Ave. and 3rd St. W., was the result of a $12,000 Carnegie Grant to be matched by 10% support from the city. In April, 1938 a west wing was added to double the facilities of the institution. Within the past two years, the library has again been doubled in size with the construction of a large addition on the east side of the old building.
There is a separate history of St. Joseph's Hospital in this book.
“All work and no play” is not prescribed for maintenance of a healthy body and mind. Fortunately for those of us who like the admonition, the people who settled this area and their succeeding generations considered recreation of some form essential for a happy community.
We know the first settlers didn’t have the opportunity to relax at such costly recreation centers or with the fine equipment now available for individual sports, but we must assume that they found time and pleasure in playing baseball, horseback riding and racing, skating, sledding, square dancing, card playing, church suppers and enjoying the stage shows and other entertainment brought to the old Opera House located where the Eagles Lodge building now stands.
Records of the Dickinson Press tell us Dickinson's first big celebration was held on July 5th, 1886. One of the town's leading citizens, Dr. V. H. Stickney, was master of ceremonies and it was his pleasure to introduce the speaker of the day, a young easterner who had come west to hunt and regain his health and stayed on to become a cattleman, Theodore Roosevelt. The Dickinson Silver Cornet band provided stirring music for the big parade which was described as “really outstanding”.
July 4th celebrations have always been part of Dickinson's history even earlier than 1886, but many times these were shared with neighboring settlements and the observance was on a smaller scale. Presently, Dickinson's observance of the Declaration of Independence is incorporated in the annual Roughrider Festival, a 3-day event featuring a rodeo, parades, fireworks and other entertainment.
Recreation opportunities and facilities in Dickinson in 1977 are excellent! During the mid 1940's the late F. P. Whitney gathered support from the people of the city to form a Park District with elected officials operating the parks and recreational facilities. Voters approved this action in 1947, thereby opening the way to much of the success of our present recreation programs. A full-time recreation program was started in 1973 under the direction of the Park Board and an employed recreation director. We have close to 20 parks in the city, plus two supervised swimming pools with instructors, 26 miles of shoreline around Patterson Lake west of Dickinson, tennis courts, horseshoe courts, archery range, boating marina, ball parks for baseball and softball, ice rinks and playgrounds for the younger set.
Dickinson also has one of the finest 9-hole golf courses in western North Dakota. Golfing was first introduced here between 1915 and 1920. In the spring of 1917 local golfers organized themselves into a Town and Country club and a club house was built on the first course in the city, present location of Golf Course housing addition.
In the mid 50's the city fathers saw need for more residential property to handle the city's growth. Arrangements were made to take over the golf course for housing development in exchange for a plot of land suitable for a new golf course in its present location southwest of Dickinson. A new clubhouse has been built there and a pro shop and storage space for golf carts and maintenance equipment.
In the field of entertainment Dickinson now has two theatres operating in one building on East Villard Street, Dix I and Dix II. Also a drive-in theatre located east of the city limits, Hillcrest. All are under the management of Frank G. Hallowell and Frank S. Hallowell.
KDIX-TV Channel 2 is owned and operated by the Dickinson Broadcasting Corp., with studio in downtown Dickinson.
NEWSPAPERS: The Dickinson Press issued its first publication shortly after the Dickinson settlement was founded in March, 1883. It has served the community well in all the intervening years with its publication of all local, regional and state news in addition to Associated Press coverage. For many years it was published weekly before it became a daily paper. At the present time it also distributes The Advertizer once a week, a free publication carrying classified and display ads of local merchants.
At one time there was another newspaper, published weekly, under the name of The Recorder Post. A German weekly paper was also published for many years by Adolph Lengowski and John Nadolski at the North Dakota Herold office in south Dickinson. The publication was called The North Dakota Herold.
Now we can add the luxuries that make our lives so comfortable and provide the conveniences on which we have become so dependent. The utilities — heat, electricity, water, telephone. Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. brought natural gas into our city in 1931 and in 1945 the same company purchased the electric properties of Dakota Public Service Co. and have rendered complete electric and gas service to our community ever since.
Northwest Bell Telephone Co. provides us with another indispensable service. No exact date has been established when the first telephone was installed in Dickinson but it was around 1900.
Dickinson's water supply has always been a problem and its source and availability is still of concern to our city fathers. At the present time we are getting our water supply from the Dickinson dam.
Rural electrification came to southwestern N.D. between the years of 1947 and 1952 with central station electric service to area within project boundaries of West Plains Electric Cooperative. This office is in Dickinson.
Our banking institutions date back to 1886 when Alfonso Hilliard founded the Stark County Bank. In 1890 it was reorganized as the 1st Natl. Bank and it has grown and prospered through the years. It is now known as the 1st National Bank and Trust Co. Two other full service banks are serving the financial needs of our citizens, namely Liberty National Bank amp; Trust and the American State Bank. There are three building and loan offices in the city now: Gate City Bldg. & Loan, 1st Federal Savings & Loan Assn., and the Metropolitan Federal Savings & Loan Assn.
Industrial plants include Husky Industries, established in 1929 to turn lignite coal into fuel briquets and now shipping barbecue briquets all over the nation; and the rapidly expanding TMI Systems Design Corporation. The latter was established in 1969 to make equipment for institutional needs, schools and hospitals and is becoming more and more commercial business with broadening of products to serve motels, offices, etc.
The two livestock sales yards in Dickinson have contributed greatly to the economic growth of our city. Schnell Livestock opened Oct. 15, 1937 and Western Livestock started business in 1947. It is estimated the two handle 90% of cattle sales in this area.
The Dickinson Post Office was actually the first service in the Dickinson settlement when it was established here Oct. 6, 1881. It has been a first class post office since 1943. Its present location was built in 1916. Ray Culver is presently serving as postmaster. He was appointed in February 1955.
By Georgianna McKenzie
Dickinson is fast approaching its first century mark and 1977 is an appropriate time for us to pause and sum up the years of its growth. The comparison of what it once was and what it is now should incite admiration and gratitude for the perseverance and foresight of the first settlers and respect for the following generations who have made Dickinson what it is today.
As the silver ribbons of steel of the Northern Pacific Railroad moved slowly across Dakota territory nearly 100 years ago, division points were located approximately 100 miles apart. By 1882 the railroad was completed into the Dickinson area and the little settlement was designated a division point. Spawned by the Northern Pacific and nurtured by cattlemen and buffalo hunters, the settlement soon became a busy trade center. During one week of July, 1880, it is recorded 4000 buffalo skins were brought in for shipment. Dickinson became the largest cattle shipping point in the N.P., maintaining extensive cattle yards here. Sheep were raised in the area also and the wool shipments boosted the economy. Wool was baled and brought in from 100 miles south and shipped to Philadelphia and Boston during the summer months; it was estimated 2,000,000 pounds of wool were shipped out of Dickinson annually. Sheep raising gradually shared with farming and cattle raising as more settlers moved in.
The town was named Dickinson in tribute to Wells Dickinson, a senator from New York, in 1881. He helped the N.P. railway get all their land grants and it was through his efforts that so many easterners came out to settle in this new frontier. He had charge of lands and transportation for the N.P. and owned about 3,000 acres of land in Stark County when the townsite of Dickinson was plotted in 1882. His cousin, H. L. Dickinson, was the first Dickinson merchant.
Sims Street, our north-south main street, was named for Peter Sims, millionaire contractor and member of the Porter-Sims firm of St. Paul. He visited here with his surveyor when the city was plotted. At one time he operated a freight line between Dickinson and the Black Hills.
Henry Villard was president of the NPRR in 1881 and his name was given to the main street of the little Dickinson settlement. A hotel, Villard House, and later rebuilt as the Villard Hotel, also bore his name. A fire in 1948 destroyed the Villard Hotel in the location of the present Schilla Hardware & Furniture Store.
The early settlers who followed the railroad into western Dakota were mostly from New England states and New York. Stories of profits to be made attracted many of them and the lure of the unknown was a challenge to others as they came west to what has been called the last frontier — the northern plains of the United States. Most of the railroad builders were men from Scotland and Ireland working their way across the continent as they searched for a new home in America, and many of them stayed behind when they found a likely spot. Thus it was that Dickinson's first settlers brought Amrican, Irish, Scotch and English names and culture into the area. Later, immigrants from the mainland of Europe settled in the area to take advantage of the Homestead Act which threw open public lands to settlement in 160-acre units by grown citizens and by aliens who had declared their intention of becoming American citizens. The land policy of the Federal Government and State governments hastened the settlement of the West and by 1900 there was little public land left. The era of homestead distribution was ended. So, at the turn of the century, western North Dakota had become a melting pot of nationalities from nearly all the countries of central Europe as well as U.S. citizens from the eastern United States.
Traveling from the shores of European countries, the east coast of the United States and halfway across the continent to their new home in Dakota territory, our early settlers certainly had reason to feel the need of a place to worship when they reached Dickinson. Time and money were needed to build churches so services were held temporarily in homes, halls donated for such purposes on Sunday, and even a railroad section house.
History records show that the Baptists were the first to hold services in Dickinson, followed closely by Irish Catholics who established St. Patrick's parish. Because of language barriers at that time, two more Catholic parishes were established in following years to accommodate the settlers from Europe, namely Germans, Russians and Bohemians. St. Joseph's Church was erected in 1903 for the German speaking people and St. Wenceslaus Church was built in 1912 for members from Bohemia. Within the last five years a new parish, Queen of Peace, has been formed in the northwest corner of the city with services held at Trinity high school.
Both the First Congregational Church and the Methodist congregations held services in Dickinson as early as 1883. First records of St. John's Episcopal Church are dated 1886, placing this among the older churches of the city. St. John's Lutheran Church ALC on 6th Avenue West was established in 1902.
The importance of religion to residents of Dickinson is clearly indicated by the representation of so many faiths in our community in 1977. In addition to the aforementioned religions that were first established in the community, the following have been added during ensuing years: Christian Science, 1915; Nazarene Church, 1922; Seventh Day Adventist, 1926; Redeemer Lutheran, 1931; Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints; First Assemblies of God Church (2); Hillside Baptist and First Baptist Churches; Jehovah's Witnesses; Evangelical Bible Church.
The story of the Dickinson public schools had its beginning in 1883 when Gov. Ordway, governor of Dakota Territory (N.D. attained statehood in 1889) appointed Stark county officials, including a school board. The first official act of the Dickinson school board is dated August 25, 1883 when this notice was posted: “Notice is hereby given that a special meeting of the school board will be held in the office of the Villard House (a hotel operated by school board director C. H. Klinefelter) Sept. 3 at 8 p.m. Members of the board will please qualify and be ready for business. The object of calling the meeting is to appoint, or elect, a school district clerk, secure a school room. employ a teacher and to transact any of the business that may come before the board. Signed, C. H. Klinefelter, director.”
Business transacted at this meeting was to accept an offer of the Baptist Church as a temporary school room. It was decided the fall term would begin as soon as the room could be equipped and would run until the winter holidays.
1884 was a very active year. The school board decided to call a special election to bond the district for the purpose of purchasing land and building Dickinson's first school. The records show this is the location of the old William Ray house — and later known as the Reichert house, 40 West 4th Street, now owned and occupied by the David Fandrich family. The bond election was held June 7 with 38 votes cast for passing the bond issue and there were no votes in opposition. The first school house cost the district $2220.
The school board established a salary schedule in 1887 as follows: Teachers holding first class certificates would be paid $60 a month, second class $40 per month, and those with third class $30 monthly. The board voted to build a second school in 1888.
In 1801, the school board constructed the original portion of old Central Elementary school on location of present Berg Elementary. The first school house was then sold to William Ray for $810. Dickinson High School with library was established in 1892. Financial problems developed by 1894 and official school term was cut to three months. In May, 1894 DHS held its first graduation and a diploma was issued to only one graduate, Carrie Fowler.
By 1895 the board was employing teachers for five different school buildings. P. S. Berg was elected first superintendent of schools in Dickinson Public School District #1 in 1906 and served 32 years. He was replaced in 1938 by A. L. Hagen.
By 1952 facilities were again crowded because of increasing city population and additions were made to the high school and Central Elementary. Federal Aid programs for mentally handicapped students and speech therapy were new on the scene in 1961 and other major changes began with notification from neighboring school districts that they were considering annexation to Dickinson. Eventually, need for a larger high school could no longer be postponed and the people of Dickinson School District passed a bond election to build a new high school. Erection of the new building in the outlying northwest area of the city was begun in 1967 and the school was dedicated in 1968. Total cost of the construction was $2,111,405. In March, 1965, Mr. Hagen submitted his resignation as superintendent of the Dickinson schools after filling that position for 27 years. In July of 1965 Donovan Benzie, present superintendent, was appointed to fill the vacancy.
This is a brief summary of the Dickinson public school system. With such a well-planned foundation and continued support of the community it has maintained a high scholastic rating. Its growth includes an Area Vocational Education Center at the high school. Adult Basic Education, and the Instructional Media Center under the direction of Gordon Paulsen, assistant superintendent of schools.
Dickinson's three Catholic parishes, St. Patrick's, St. Joseph's and St. Wenceslaus, join resources, funds and efforts in supporting both Trinity grade school and Trinity High School systems. With large enrollments, the parochial system represents an important part of the city's educational scene.
Consolidation of Trinity Grade system is accredited by the State Dept. of Public Instruction and is unique in its structure. 1st and 2nd grades are taught at St. Wenceslaus school; the intermediate grades of 3rd, 4th and 5th attend classes at St. Joseph's School; and the Trinity Junior High students are placed at St. Patrick's School. This division has eliminated crowded conditions in any of the schools and the added space has permitted broader curriculums and expanding academic programs.
Trinity High School became an important part of the parochial education system in September 1961 when its doors were opened to the first freshman class. In its comparatively short span of operation it has achieved high scholastic recognition and its expanding programs offer excellent training for the high school student. Its athletic records place Trinity among Class A leaders in the state and the school's scheduled contests with its crosstown rival, Dickinson High School, provide many thrills for local fans.
The Dickinson Public Library was opened in 1910. The original building, erected on the corner it still occupies, 2nd Ave. and 3rd St. W., was the result of a $12,000 Carnegie Grant to be matched by 10% support from the city. In April, 1938 a west wing was added to double the facilities of the institution. Within the past two years, the library has again been doubled in size with the construction of a large addition on the east side of the old building.
There is a separate history of St. Joseph's Hospital in this book.
“All work and no play” is not prescribed for maintenance of a healthy body and mind. Fortunately for those of us who like the admonition, the people who settled this area and their succeeding generations considered recreation of some form essential for a happy community.
We know the first settlers didn’t have the opportunity to relax at such costly recreation centers or with the fine equipment now available for individual sports, but we must assume that they found time and pleasure in playing baseball, horseback riding and racing, skating, sledding, square dancing, card playing, church suppers and enjoying the stage shows and other entertainment brought to the old Opera House located where the Eagles Lodge building now stands.
Records of the Dickinson Press tell us Dickinson's first big celebration was held on July 5th, 1886. One of the town's leading citizens, Dr. V. H. Stickney, was master of ceremonies and it was his pleasure to introduce the speaker of the day, a young easterner who had come west to hunt and regain his health and stayed on to become a cattleman, Theodore Roosevelt. The Dickinson Silver Cornet band provided stirring music for the big parade which was described as “really outstanding”.
July 4th celebrations have always been part of Dickinson's history even earlier than 1886, but many times these were shared with neighboring settlements and the observance was on a smaller scale. Presently, Dickinson's observance of the Declaration of Independence is incorporated in the annual Roughrider Festival, a 3-day event featuring a rodeo, parades, fireworks and other entertainment.
Recreation opportunities and facilities in Dickinson in 1977 are excellent! During the mid 1940's the late F. P. Whitney gathered support from the people of the city to form a Park District with elected officials operating the parks and recreational facilities. Voters approved this action in 1947, thereby opening the way to much of the success of our present recreation programs. A full-time recreation program was started in 1973 under the direction of the Park Board and an employed recreation director. We have close to 20 parks in the city, plus two supervised swimming pools with instructors, 26 miles of shoreline around Patterson Lake west of Dickinson, tennis courts, horseshoe courts, archery range, boating marina, ball parks for baseball and softball, ice rinks and playgrounds for the younger set.
Dickinson also has one of the finest 9-hole golf courses in western North Dakota. Golfing was first introduced here between 1915 and 1920. In the spring of 1917 local golfers organized themselves into a Town and Country club and a club house was built on the first course in the city, present location of Golf Course housing addition.
In the mid 50's the city fathers saw need for more residential property to handle the city's growth. Arrangements were made to take over the golf course for housing development in exchange for a plot of land suitable for a new golf course in its present location southwest of Dickinson. A new clubhouse has been built there and a pro shop and storage space for golf carts and maintenance equipment.
In the field of entertainment Dickinson now has two theatres operating in one building on East Villard Street, Dix I and Dix II. Also a drive-in theatre located east of the city limits, Hillcrest. All are under the management of Frank G. Hallowell and Frank S. Hallowell.
KDIX-TV Channel 2 is owned and operated by the Dickinson Broadcasting Corp., with studio in downtown Dickinson.
NEWSPAPERS: The Dickinson Press issued its first publication shortly after the Dickinson settlement was founded in March, 1883. It has served the community well in all the intervening years with its publication of all local, regional and state news in addition to Associated Press coverage. For many years it was published weekly before it became a daily paper. At the present time it also distributes The Advertizer once a week, a free publication carrying classified and display ads of local merchants.
At one time there was another newspaper, published weekly, under the name of The Recorder Post. A German weekly paper was also published for many years by Adolph Lengowski and John Nadolski at the North Dakota Herold office in south Dickinson. The publication was called The North Dakota Herold.
Now we can add the luxuries that make our lives so comfortable and provide the conveniences on which we have become so dependent. The utilities — heat, electricity, water, telephone. Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. brought natural gas into our city in 1931 and in 1945 the same company purchased the electric properties of Dakota Public Service Co. and have rendered complete electric and gas service to our community ever since.
Northwest Bell Telephone Co. provides us with another indispensable service. No exact date has been established when the first telephone was installed in Dickinson but it was around 1900.
Dickinson's water supply has always been a problem and its source and availability is still of concern to our city fathers. At the present time we are getting our water supply from the Dickinson dam.
Rural electrification came to southwestern N.D. between the years of 1947 and 1952 with central station electric service to area within project boundaries of West Plains Electric Cooperative. This office is in Dickinson.
Our banking institutions date back to 1886 when Alfonso Hilliard founded the Stark County Bank. In 1890 it was reorganized as the 1st Natl. Bank and it has grown and prospered through the years. It is now known as the 1st National Bank and Trust Co. Two other full service banks are serving the financial needs of our citizens, namely Liberty National Bank amp; Trust and the American State Bank. There are three building and loan offices in the city now: Gate City Bldg. & Loan, 1st Federal Savings & Loan Assn., and the Metropolitan Federal Savings & Loan Assn.
Industrial plants include Husky Industries, established in 1929 to turn lignite coal into fuel briquets and now shipping barbecue briquets all over the nation; and the rapidly expanding TMI Systems Design Corporation. The latter was established in 1969 to make equipment for institutional needs, schools and hospitals and is becoming more and more commercial business with broadening of products to serve motels, offices, etc.
The two livestock sales yards in Dickinson have contributed greatly to the economic growth of our city. Schnell Livestock opened Oct. 15, 1937 and Western Livestock started business in 1947. It is estimated the two handle 90% of cattle sales in this area.
The Dickinson Post Office was actually the first service in the Dickinson settlement when it was established here Oct. 6, 1881. It has been a first class post office since 1943. Its present location was built in 1916. Ray Culver is presently serving as postmaster. He was appointed in February 1955.
By Georgianna McKenzie