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What Is/Was it?

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Ward County Notary Services 607851

Minot Realtor

I've never gotten close enough to this structure to find out exactly what it is. It is located on a "dead loop" of the Mouse River. The dead loops were created after the 1969 flood. In an effert to avoid another flood like the one in 1969 they straightend out portions of the winding river so flood waters would pass through the City without harm (a good plan but not good enough for the flood of 2011).

At first I assumed it was an old bridge footing but there is no similiar structure on the other bank so it may not be a good assumption. Do you have any ideas as to what it is?

UPDATE

I checked with Ron Merritt,Director of Minot Park District (whom I just had a radio interview with) and it may have been the Bear Castle pictured below. The face of the park changed greatly when they rechanneled the river as mentioned below. Also I miss reported... it is not on a dead loop but on the bank of the "newly" cut river.

Bears Castle

 Roosevely Garden

 

 

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Comments (18)

Janice Zaltman
United Realty Group - Boca Raton, FL
Energy Efficient And Eco-Friendly Homes in Florida

Who use to live on that land? It would be fun to find out. County records...historical records? 

Jun 19, 2017 07:02 PM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

This sounds like a fun challenge for me to work on Janice Hope Zaltman LEED AP . I'm going to investigate further.

Jun 20, 2017 07:24 AM
Sally K. & David L. Hanson
EXP Realty 414-525-0563 - Brookfield, WI
WI Real Estate Agents - Luxury - Divorce

No clue on this one....an air of mystery in this picture !

Jun 19, 2017 11:47 PM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

I agree Sally K. & David L. Hanson . It looks like it once had windows so I'm eager to get down on the bank and check it out.

Jun 20, 2017 07:25 AM
James Dray
Fathom Realty - Bentonville, AR

Good morning Bob.  My WAG is because it is near a body of water, I would assume it had to do with storage of perishable goods.  The water would provide a cool environment for storage.  There you have it

Jun 20, 2017 02:01 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

Good thinking James Dray . If/when I find out I will let you know.

Jun 20, 2017 07:26 AM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

It looks like there are train tracks right behind it. Could it have been used by the railroad crews? 

Jun 20, 2017 03:16 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

Excellent observation Kat Palmiotti but the RR tracks are from a miniture RR that the Park District runs.

Jun 20, 2017 07:27 AM
Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

Perhaps this was a grist mill, or a pump station for a water supply. Then again, if Sandy and I was living there, it would be my Man Cave!

Jun 20, 2017 04:28 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

WOW Sandy Padula and Norm Padula, JD, GRI NMLS#1483386 I never thought about it being a mill and that makes so much sense.

Jun 20, 2017 07:31 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Hi Bob... my initial reaction was the same as yours, but then what do I know?

Jun 20, 2017 05:42 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

GREAT minds think alike Nina Hollander .

Jun 20, 2017 07:32 AM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

I think the clue left in comment #5 by Sandy and Norm Padula is likely the closest to being correct!

Jun 20, 2017 06:06 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

Me too Myrl Jeffcoat I believe Sandy Padula and Norm Padula, JD, GRI NMLS#1483386 nailed it.

Jun 20, 2017 07:33 AM
Kasey & John Boles
Jon Gosche Real Estate, LLC - BoiseMeridianRealEstate.com - Boise, ID
Boise & Meridian, ID Ada/Canyon/Gem/Boise Counties

Norm is probably right. I even lime his man cave idea. But I would want to hang out in it too. -Kasey

Jun 20, 2017 09:15 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

I just found out that "cave" may be the operative word here. I am updating the posting above.

Jun 20, 2017 10:41 AM
Kasey & John Boles

Interesting! That's a neat photo you posted with the update Bob "RealMan" Timm. -Kasey

Jun 20, 2017 11:33 AM
Belinda Spillman
Aspen Lane Real Estate Colorful Colorado - Aurora, CO
Colorado Living!

Looks like a bear shelter to me.  I bet there are some fun creatures setting home in this place.  I would stay away!

Jun 20, 2017 09:50 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

You may have nailed it Belinda Spillman . I am posting an update above in a minute.

Jun 20, 2017 10:42 AM
Janice Zaltman
United Realty Group - Boca Raton, FL
Energy Efficient And Eco-Friendly Homes in Florida

Bob "RealMan" Timm It makes sense that it was occupied prior to them re-directing the river. Like Sandy and Norm said above...could have been a pump station. If the bears occupied, it cool...did they build it also?  

Jun 20, 2017 11:14 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

Maybe Janice Hope Zaltman LEED AP , if they were Yogi's ancesters ("smarter than your average bear").

Jun 20, 2017 11:20 AM
Janice Zaltman

Your funny,Bob "RealMan" Timm . That was so long ago, trying to remember what cereal he/she represented...that was "soooooo great!"

Jun 20, 2017 11:54 AM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

Wow, that is interesting. Thanks for the update! I guess now the bears just run wild.... :-)

Jun 20, 2017 01:38 PM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

Actually the Roosevelt Park Zoo has a very nice bear inclosure Kat Palmiotti 

Jun 21, 2017 08:30 AM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

Very interesting!  So, it was part of a zoo, or park?  I would have never guessed!

Jun 21, 2017 07:48 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

The kids and I went to investigat further last night Myrl Jeffcoat and I'm not convinced that this actually was part of the bear castle pictured above. More people are checking on it now that I've brought it up to the City.

Jun 21, 2017 08:32 AM
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

We live with things and then all of a sudden we wonder about the origin. Maybe more will surface about it.

Jun 23, 2017 05:49 PM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

I hope so Debbie Reynolds . I went down to the bank of the river and I'm pretty sure it's not the bear castle. I hope I have peaked the interest of the newspaper so they investigate it further.

Jun 23, 2017 06:53 PM