In recalling the many saloons of the pre-Prohibition era in Bemidji, it is easy to think of the robust bartenders and saloon keepers as owners of the property, but this was seldom the case.
In a hotly debated topic, the Bemidji City Council discussed whether to investigate the city’s 2022 redistricting process to determine if it fully complied with state statutes during its meeting.
Some say old Bemidji home to 40 saloons and eight brothels was a rough and rugged town due to the presence of the lumberjacks. But, didn’t the lumberjacks spend most of the winter in the woods?
The building at 207 Second St. NW is probably best known for housing the Red Cap Dairy, but it also was home to the Bemidji Fleet Store and the BuyLine before Prince purchased it in the late 1990s.
Before becoming the bustling Books N More in downtown Bemidji, Gill Brothers Clothing established its presence within the city and in people’s closets.