Eastwood Park Reporter
Minot, North Dakota
Est. 1991
February 1992
Vol 2, No 2
Cameron Home Is Part Of 1992 Tour
As part of our coverage of the 1992 Tour of Homes, the Eastwood Park Reporter presents the first part of a four-part series on the 1992 Tour of Homes participants.
Laura C. Hall, a single woman who owned land in the Foxholm area, bought lots 1, 2 and 3 in block 3 of Eastwood Park from K.E. Leighton. These three lots would eventually be 601, 605 and 609 1st avenue SE. She bought the three properties for $1100.00 on July 19, 1907. During the winter of 1907-08, she had the house that currently stand at 605 1st avenue SE built. She married a carpenter who might have helped build the house and they moved to Oregon.
On March 16, 1908, she sold the house to Ferdinand Van Housen for $3200.00 contract for deed with monthly payments of $75.00. Van Housen never owned the property because on February 14, 1912, he assigned the contract to Sadie A. McGregor, the wife of John A. McGregor, who owned the McGregor Horse Co. at 320 E. Central Avenue in Minot. The McGregors kept a stable for horses behind the house. It is because of Sadie and John McGregor that the house is known as the McGregor House.
On February 14, 1912, the contract for deed was completed and Sadie McGregor obtained title to the property. Later that year, on December 7, 1912, Sadie transfered title of the house to her husband, John. One year later, on December 31, 1913, John McGregor transfered title back to Sadie (under the name Sarah McGregor.) In the mid-1920's, the house was remodeled and the stable removed. In the late 1920's or early 1930's, a shed was attached to the rear of the house over the backdoor.
On February 11, 1937, Sarah (Sadie), now a widow, transfered title to the property to Edna McGregor Worl, her daughter. Edna and her husband R.A. Worl, lived in Watford City, ND. Edna and R.A. moved to Washington state and from there on October 17, 1945, sold the house to Zelnoe J. and Susie E. Newnam.
The Newnams used the house as a boarding house and turned two second floor rooms into an apartment. In July, 1972, Zelnoe died and two years later on July 26, 1974, Susie sold the house to James B. and Florence J. Johnson. The Johnsons restored the house to a single family residence and renovated the front porch, adding the two-story square columns that the house is known for. Gust O. Granstrom, Kay Cameron's father, was one of the people who worked on the house during this remodeling.
On January 22, 1976, the Johnsons swapped houses with Ted Luedke, Jr. and his wife Nancy, contract for deed. On December 15, 1976, the Luedke's sold the house to Todd A. Harkness. Todd started remodeling several rooms. However, the construction stopped on April 4, 1989 when Midwest Federal Savings Bank foreclosed on the property and gained title to the property on October 11, 1989.
On November 30, 1990, the house was sold to Steven and Kay Cameron. This house will be open for the 1992 Tour of Homes.
Ida Pederson, long-time resident of Eastwood Park.
By Gladys Pederson
Ida Pederson of 713 1st Avenue SE, as a child of one year, lived with her father, mother, 4 older brothers and one older sister, in a small home on the back of the lot now occupied by Pearl Thomas at 117 9th Street SE. This would have been in 1912. Their stay in Eastwood Park at that time was not long, but by 1931, Ida was back in Eastwood Park. She lived for a period of time at 711 1st Avenue SE and then moved next door to 713 1st Avenue SE. She has lived there for the last 60 years.
Editor's Note: The house referred to in this story was located on a fire insurance map for 1918. That house and 117 9th Street SE were the only houses on that block of 9th Street in that year.
St. Peter's Holds Kairos Youth Retreat
By Theo Bodnar
On January 31st at 7 pm, at St. Peter's Orthodox Church, Fr. John Matusiak led 52 teenagers from Canada, North Dakota, Minneapolis and Chicago in a Kairos youth retreat. Six teen leaders came from Minneapolis. The kids who attended the retreat were all divided into groups directed by one of the teen leaders. All kids gave little speeches about themselves, a friend and many more topics. Everyone had a good time.
The retreat was basically built on self-confidence and building a closer relationship with God. Perhaps the highlight on friday night was when everyone gathered in the church and wrote down two bad things about themselves. The papers were then put in a bucket and burned. On the first night, all 52 kids spent the night at the church. Needless to say, any adult who wanted to get a good night sleep, didn't.
Saturday's highlight came when Fr. John read letters from the parents to their kids. After the retreat, everyone was after everyone else's addresses. The hardest part of all were the goodbyes. Most likely, the most favorite saying was when Fr. John would yell, ``When I'm talking you're...'' and we would respond, ``not.'' Fr. John would say, ``So don't.'' We would yell, ``We won't.'' Everyone loved the greek cooking.
Some of the comments were 'It was great. I made lots of new friends.' 'It was great talking to old friends.' 'This was one of the best experiences of my life.' and 'The hardest part was saying goodbye.'
These are just some of the wonderful things that happened. If I was to write about everything that happened, I would probably take up 95% of the `keen' newspaper that Eastwood Park puts out.
The Sensible Gardener
By Shan Cunningham
The image of the vast, lush, manicured green lawn was created by the same ad agency that created the vast, lush, young bodies in beer commercials. Fantasy is a great marketing tool. The reality is that maintaining a lawn is an unnatural act. Grass wasn't meant to grow that way. The other reality is that if you don't bonsai your blue grass, your neighbors will get up a petition.
Maintaining blue grass in an unnatural condition can be very expensive. Not only does it require considerable time and money, it requires a great deal of water. The standard rule is one inch per week during the growing season. Choosing grass varieties with lower water requirements is of some value. However, the real culprit here is the cycle of constant mowing that forces the grass into constant growth. To make matters worse, we are urged to apply large quantities of high nitrogen fertilizer, which only accelerates the cycle. Feed -- Water -- Mow. The better we do it, the more vicious the cycle becomes. The ad agency has done its job. We are consuming like crazy in the pursuit of the impossible. Feed -- Water -- Mow. If it doesn't work, do it harder.
Winter is a good time to slow down, step back and take a long look at the situation.
Consider the First Law of Sensible Lawn Care: If the grass won't grow there, do something else with the space. Presto! A great victory has been won by surrendering to reality. Grass grows only where it wants, so be it. Encourage it to do so. What to do with the new found spaces will be the subject of future articles.
Here is the Last Law of Sensible Lawn Care: The roots are the most important part of the grass plant. The ad agency would have us believe that the only thing that matters is the inch or so of crew-cut green stuff on top. Feed -- Water -- Mow. These are the same folks that sell cosmetics. A deep, healthy root system makes possible the rest of the plant.
Letter to the Editor
I just finished reading the Eastwood Park Reporter for the second time since Christmas. It was sent to us by our very dear friends and old neighbors, Tom and Pat Schulz.
We lived at 122 9th Street for eight wonderful years. I love seeing what you are all doing for the area and only wish I could be a part of restoring Minot's history. It is so very important.
I witnessed and shed many tears over the needless tearing down of the historic walk bridge into Roosevelt Park from Eastwood Park. I am writing to you today to put into your dreams for Eastwood Park residents to one day have the beautiful and most wonderful way to enter Roosevelt Park -- by the walk bridge. I was told by the Park Board that pieces of that bridge were saved and are stored somewhere in the park.
God Bless your efforts
Linda and Bob Johnson
Muskegon, Michigan
Editor's Note: If you would like extra sample copies to send to past residents or friends who live out of town, please give us a call. We now have subscribers from Arizona, Illinois, Michigan and Nevada.