In 1945, in Bismarck, and across America, a generation which had left it parents’ homes as boys four years earlier to fight a great war, began returning home as young men, some to their sweethearts, others with sweethearts on their arms, and they needed places to live. Highland Acres was Bismarck’s response.
On Wednesday, December 12, the story of how a small, 100-member cooperative, made up mainly of returning World War II veterans, developed a major addition to the city of Bismarck in response to a severe post-war housing shortage. The special event will take place a 6:30 p.m., at the Bismarck Veterans' Memorial Public Library, meeting room A, 515 5th Street, Bismarck.
Led by Bismarck Tribune editor Kenneth W. Simons, himself a veteran, using the resources of his newspaper, about 100 young families came together to take advantage of a strong cooperative movement in the state and availability of the nation’s only state-owned bank to finance the purchase of 125 acres of land for just $18,000 and created what might best be described as “Bismarck’s first suburb.”
This fascinating story will be presented by Amy Sakariassen, a local cultural resources specialist and a North Dakota Advisor to the National Trust for Historic Preservation and Jim Fuglie, a former North Dakota State Tourism Director, and retired Development Director for the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation. Amy was instrumental in securing National Historic District status for the Cathedral District of Bismarck and is lending her expertise to a similar effort for Highland Acres. Jim was involved in projects to reconstruct the Burning Hills Amphitheatre and the historic Rough Riders Hotel, among others.
This program is open to the public, admission is free, and refreshment will be served.