Devils Lake Journal
Monday, June 30, 2008
Title: Do you remember these unforgettable places?
Subtitle: The drive-ins like Del’s, the Barrel, A&W and the Wigwam
Author: Louise Oleson, Journal Managing Editor
Like scenes taken from nostalgic TV shows like Happy Days and movies like American Graffiti, Devils Lake had its own examples of the drive-in phenomenon beginning just after the Depression.
They had names like The Hamburger Host, Nick’s Chicken Inn, The Wigwam, The Barrel, A&W and Del’s Drive Inn. Although specializing in “fast food” and serving patrons in their cars by car hops, each had a unique specialty that they served.
One of the most unique of these drive-ins was the Barrel.
Novelty-shaped diners and hamburger stands cropped up during the Depression as entrepreneurs tried whatever they could to bring customers in.
After seeing the popularity of chains like the A&W Root Beer Stands all across the Midwest and the growth of the White Castle hamburger stands in the West, W.H. Muzzy of Crookston has a vision of a series, or franchise, of barrel-shaped root beer and hamburger stands. Muzzy’s creations sprang up in Great Falls, MT, Crookston, Detroit Lakes, Dilworth, Minot, Wadena and Devils Lake.
His first was in Great Falls in 1928 and the Barrel soon became a curiosity so car owners would drive by just to see it.
Business boomed from the start, according to historian Steven Hoffbeck who wrote a thesis on The Barrel and drive-in phenomenon.
“At ten cents a mug, the Triple X root beer served at the Barrel made thirst a joy – it was advertised – in the sweltering summer of 1929 when temperatures repeatedly climbed above 100°,” Hoffbeck wrote.
Soon after the stock market crash of October 1929, the Barrel felt the strain and lowered prices to five cents a mug.
A seasonal business in states where winters forced closing, the Muzzys uses a slogan, “Closed for the season. Reason – freezin’.”
Harry Muzzy died in 1948 at the age of 64. In 19 years he had established and tended a chain of eight Barrels.
Over the next decade, his widow, Martha, sold most of the Barrels to local managers retaining control over the Kegs in Grand Forks – the only one to survive to present day 0 and the one in Crookston.
In 1946, it was obtained by Ardell Hagen.
Hagen converted the unique space into two-story living quarters after returning from the war and finding it difficult to locate a place for his family to live. Eventually, after three years living in their unique little house, they found an apartment in Devils Lake.
Hagen was employed as a clerk at Ferris Grocery Store in downtown Devils Lake.
Then in 1948, it was taken over by Devils Lake residents Gabriel and Annie Hager. Their success came with the barbecue sandwich Annie created. They worked long and hard hours. The people loved to come to the Drive-In and park for hours. Gabriel used to go out and talk to everyone, he was quite a talker and the people loved him. Annie stayed inside and kept the place spick and span. Their teen daughters worked as car-hops.
Later their son Anton and wife Magdalena Hager took over. Not only was the food fantastic, Magdalena’s baking ability was superb. Her cakes, pies and cookies were known all over the Lake Region.
Gabriel and Annie are deceased. One of their daughters is Rose Wirth, who lives in Devils Lake, and other Hager family members live in California, Minnesota, and on the East Coast.
The last owners of the business were Deloise and the late Julie Haugen of Devils Lake. Del wrote, “We bought the Barrel Feb. 25, 1965 from Anton and Mary Hager. … When the Drive In Theater was open I worked 18 hour days. Some days I was so tired I didn’t know if I’d wake up in the morning, so I took out an insurance policy so grandpa Julie could have enough money for my funeral just in case I didn’t make it.”
Del talks about making the barbecues herself from hamburger 10 pounds at a time and peeling mounds of potatoes for home-made french fries.
“We added the Barrel Burger after our menu was printed, they were to die for! Ketchup, pickles, mustard, onions, lettuce, tomatoes, mayonnaise, and Canadian bacon on a bug bun with an extra large burger. I can close my eyes all these years later and almost taste them,” she said.
They sold the Barrel on March 9, 1976.
On Sept. 24, 1984, after sitting empty for approximately three years, the Barrel was burned by the Devils Lake Fire Department as a training exercise.
The Barrel in Devils Lake was located at the corner of 5th Ave. and 6th Street South. tle house they found an apartment in Devils Lake. Hagen was employed as a clerk at Ferris Grocery Store in downtown Devils Lake. Then in 1948 it was taken over by Devils Lake residents Gabriel and Annie Hager. Their success came with the barbecue sandwich Annie cre- ated. They worked long and hard hours. The people loved to come to the Drive-In and park for hours. Gabriel used to go out and talk to everyone, he was quite a talker and the people loved him. Annie stayed inside and kept the place spick and span. Their teen daughters worked as car-hops. Later their son, Anton and wife Magdalena Hager took over. Not only was the food fantastic, Magdalena’s baking ability was superb. Her cakes, pies and cookies were known all over the Lake Region. ORIVEUP CocaCola THEWIGW Submitted Photo The Wigwam The Wigwam was located a little north of Devils Lake on Highway 20. Gordon Fugle, owner, stands in front of one of the windows that opened to take orders. DEL’S DRIVEINN Journal File Photo Del and Mickey McCanna had a popular drive-in called Del’s which was still in operation just a few years ago in Devils Lake called Gina’s. A & W ROOT HAMBURGERS HOT DOGS CHILI DOGS KE CREAM MALTS SHAKES Submitted Photo Above: The Devils Lake A & W was located at the corner of what is now College Drive and U.S. Highway 2. They were known for their frosty mugs and those burgers – Papa Burgers, Mama Burgers, Teen Burgers – and the best onion rings around.