October 16, 2019
Kota Theater: The early days
BY MIKE KIRCHEN
When World War II ended, my dad, Bernard Kirchen, was discharged from the Army Air Corps. He went to Wahpeton, N.D. to rejoin my mother, my brother Jim and me as we were living with grandparents for the duration. He took us to Garrison and we lived in the home where he grew up at 120 3rd Street SE.
Dad got a job at Stephens Lumber Yard, where he was a yard man. Then he started an insurance agency and rented the back room at Eslinger’s Super Service station for his office. The Phillips 66 station was run by Bill and Erwin Eslinger and located at the very south end of Main Street. He must have sold some insurance policies because in 1949 he built the Kota Theater, which also housed his insurance business.
The building is much the same as you see it now, and at the time, was a sight to behold in Garrison. Dad anticipated the need for a theater as the construction of the Garrison Dam was on the horizon and would bring many workers to town.
Dad got a job at Stephens Lumber Yard, where he was a yard man. Then he started an insurance agency and rented the back room at Eslinger’s Super Service station for his office. The Phillips 66 station was run by Bill and Erwin Eslinger and located at the very south end of Main Street. He must have sold some insurance policies because in 1949 he built the Kota Theater, which also housed his insurance business.
The building is much the same as you see it now, and at the time, was a sight to behold in Garrison. Dad anticipated the need for a theater as the construction of the Garrison Dam was on the horizon and would bring many workers to town.
