Timeline: 1940s

By Randy Hoffman (admin) | Last Modified: May 10, 2019

1940

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.
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.

Buttrey’s relocates Bismarck store to southwest corner of 4th Street and Broadway Avenue (February)
Fort Lincoln Internment Camp is established (April); first prisoners arrive on June 2
Logan’s Grocery closes
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.

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.
Gold Seal Company is founded by Harold Schafer

Last detainees leave Fort Lincoln Internment Camp (March 6)
Webb Building renovation is complete, and Sears occupies building on September 11
Bismarck Bowling Center is established. It relocates to 305 N 23rd Street in 1956 and closes in 1983.
Sioux Sporting Goods is established in March. It remains a downtown fixture until 1998.

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 six 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.

Roy Rockstad & Eugene Leary purchase local Piggly Wiggly and rename it Bismarck SuperValu
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.
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.
The Admiral Hotel opens on the site formerly home to the Lamborn Hotel – the original home of St. Alexius. It was the first new hotel built since 1917.