Colby Aderhold

On this date in 1977 the Bahá’i congregation of Minot announced that they would hold an informational meeting to inform the public of their views and beliefs. In the 1960s and ‘70s the religion of Bahá’i made its way from Iran to North Dakota. This spread is exactly what the faith’s founder Baháʼu'lláh wanted. He saw what his followers called, “utmost importance of oneness in the international community,” at a time when advances in technology brought people ever closer together. Part of this oneness, in the mind of Baháʼu'lláh, was unity of religion.

Winter in North Dakota can be a challenge, but it can also offer great experiences and traditions. Throughout the month of January, Dakota Datebook joins the celebration of winter in conjunction with the Northern Plains National Heritage Area and Sons of Norway Sverdrup Lodge for the inaugural “Vinterfest,” a celebration of all things winter.

In World War II, it became a tradition for members of the Wahpeton Rotary club to write letters to soldiers overseas and publish them in the local paper. In the past, letters coming from soldiers were published in the newspapers, but publishing outgoing letters was a new twist.

In 1955, plans for an Air Force base were being drawn up for a site just off route 83, north of Minot. The base would house 1200 airmen and civilians as well as a squadron of F102A jet interceptors.

It was 2:00am on Sunday, March 11, 1951, and LeRoy Earl Githens, of Minot, was running in the crisp spring air carrying 30 freshly-stolen dollars from the Cut Rate grocery store. It wasn’t long before police captain Morris B. Nelson caught up with him. Morris fired 3 warning shots, but the suspect continued to flee.

Air raid sirens filled the air at Minot Air Force Base during a drill on this date in 1965, and weary soldiers sprung into action.

Two young men, one short and one tall, sat in a booth at Friendly Tavern in Minot North Dakota around 10pm in the early days of February in 1955. Both wore Levi jeans and made unremarkable conversation with one another. The bartender, Tommy Oster, made his way over to the pair. One of the two looked young, so Tommy asked for his ID. It was a North Dakota license, and it said the man was born in October of 1933. The men politely ordered their drinks and played a few songs on the jukebox. They stayed until close and drank three beers a piece.

On this date in 1907, the Great Northern Railroad laid off 150 workers in Devils Lake and Minot citing poor business. In a similar move, and under the same circumstances, a rival company, the Northern Pacific Railroad, let 45 workers go two days before.

Gunshots rang, gavels fell, and lessons were learned in the case of Bismarck Police officers Floyd Rouse and Marion House. The incident that brought the young officers from the patrol car to the court room occurred in early December 1947 near Minot. What should have been a routine traffic stop turned into a near death experience.

In 1955, the city of Bismarck was in the middle of a scandalous trial. On this date the district attorney accepted a $300 bond, filed through the governor’s office for the removal of Sheriff Myron Thistlethwaite, a necessary step in the process for removing a public office holder.