Mark Berg, Minot

In the issue for Tuesday, in the article dealing with the V-12 program at Minot State University during World War II (pp. C1, C2), it is stated that the location of the current Taube Museum was where “the town’s first post office” was situated. Not so. The first post office was several blocks farther south and on the opposite side of Main street. It was located in what was called the Bennett building, since it was a large frame building owned by one Richard Bennett, who was a “land agent” or a real estate dealer.

The Bennett building was destroyed by the town’s first major fire in May 1887, and the post office was relocated to the east side of the street, but still several blocks south of where the Taube is.

The original owner of the corner lot on which the Taube sits was William Shain, who bought it in July 1887. A year later, in July 1888, a man named Thomas Brien purchased it. The lot beside it, to the north, was owned by one A. H. Wigen.

He built a frame building on this lot, perhaps to serve as a residence, or perhaps to rent out to small businessmen.

Anyway, the Wigen building was one of three polling places during city elections held in April 1888.

I hope your staff continues to produce articles on the history of Minot, and the surrounding locales, but I also hope that they will strive to be accurate. Putting out false information, will only mislead most readers as to what past conditions prevailed here in the 19th and the 20th centuries.

(Editor’s note:?The research mentioned in this letter was done by Minot State University, not the staff of The Minot Daily News)