M Inside this Issue: Quote of the week: • The Rise and Fall of Rawhide “The man who reads nothing at City and Mighty Og - Page 2-3 all is better educated than the man who reads nothing but • All-state musical talent from newspapers” Mandan - Page 4 i ~Thomas Jefferson Feb. 8, 2017 • Vol. 1, No. 4 $0.50 www.MidwesternScout.com d Mandan’s Photographer: w The Iconic Rick Scharf Dustin White Editor For nearly four decades, one photographer has helped capture the history of Mandan. In many e regards, he has become a local icon, one that many cherish for his dedication and talent. That man is Rick Scharf. Over the years, Scharf has touched many individuals. Being a s mainstay at many area events, his presence, along with his cam- era, are a welcomed facet of the community. And through his lens, many of those events have been t captured. A large portion of Scharf’s work over the years has been in regards to sports. However, that e was not his area of expertise when he first started. But he learned quickly, as he had to. “I remember the first time For around four decades, Rick Scharf has captured moments in time for they had me take photos of a sports the Mandan community. In this photo from the 90s, Scharf sports two event,” Scharf said. “I didn’t have film cameras while documenting the Fourth of July Parade. r a single shot turn out.” At that time, Scharf was still if needed. desk of a former Mandan athlete, on the multiple generations Scharf working with a film camera, and “There was one game where to watching a new group graduate has photographed, with many thus did not have the opportunity a (football) player from the other each year, Scharf became inter- former athletes still coming up to n to instantly check his work. team had missed our guys, and I twined into the mix. Scharf to thank him or just catch But Scharf, always the fighter, could see him make the decision to up with their favorite photogra- didn’t give up, and soon began to just continue, and he plowed right pher. It is a connection that is strik- excel in the field. After that first New Generations into me,” Scharf said. “Our boys Having photographed Man- ing, and one few have the ability failure, he was quickly back on and the coaches took him right to create. the sidelines, working as if he had dan for such a considerable time, out.” Scharf has made himself known Having lasted as a commu- always photographed the game. Scharf said that the Mandan nity photographer for so long has to many different generations of It wouldn’t be long until he boys were ready to rough up the also meant that Scharf has had to was a welcomed site at the games. athletes and individuals in the guy who had tackled him, but he area. It has placed him in a unique change a bit over the years though. While his photos spoke for them- was taken out instead. Speaking With advancements in cameras, S position. selves, it was his personality that with Scharf, it was clear that he Scharf has had to adjust how he really shined through. Connecting “Its amazing seeing some of was proud of the Mandan teams; the kids graduate,” Scharf said. “I photographs events. with many of the players, he’d his teams. “I never really shot gymnas- form a real bond with them, with photographed many of their par- That pride in his teams shined ents while they were playing for tics,” Scharf said. “With my old many seeing him as a positive role in other manners as well. From model. One that they would protect Mandan, and now their kids.” Continued on Page 2 seeing one of his photos on the It is something that isn’t lost c Reviving the Physical Format: Rhythm Records Dustin White The Bismarck area has had Editor a long history when it comes to o music. Peck’s Music Store, having Walking into the Laugh- opened by 1911, was one of the ing Sun Brewhouse and Pub on first such establishments in the any given Monday night, one is area. Situated in the Grand Pacific welcomed in by local musicians Hotel, where the current Well’s displaying the great talent that is Fargo building sits, Peck’s largely u present in the community. Among supplied musical instruments. those who grace the stage is Rich- As Bismarck grew, additional ard Loewen, the owner of Rhythm stores sprouted. In 1921, the city Records. was abuzz with news that a new Seeing Loewen on stage, it be- live music store was opening in comes obvious that music is more Bismarck. The Maynard Music than just a passing hobby, but truly Store would open to great enthusi- t a passion. Following that passion, asm, promising to serve the area as and seizing an opportunity to make an “up-to-the-minute” music store. it his life, Loewen stepped into an From Maynard’s, one could industry that has had a long history purchase not only musical instru- in the area. ments, but also phonographs, sheet Long History music, records and player piano rolls. Continued on Page 5 Page 2 Midwestern Scout The Rise and Fall of Rawhide City Continued from page 1 Dustin White himself to the art. For a “The eye Rick Scharf Editor decade before opening will not follow a up Rawhide City, Watts completed outline Nikon, when the focusing Throughout the histo- traveled, along with his as well as a solid motor kicked in, it’d make ry of North Dakota, there wife Charlotte, in order to form, and when such a loud sound. I re- have been a number of give demonstration and working with oil member trying to shot one attractions that stick out. lessons, as well as sell his paints and brush, gymnast on the beam, and I While some have had the work. one paints solid,” liked getting them when they chance to last the tests of During that time pe- Watts said in a looked up. She was really times, others struggle un- riod, having become dis- 1971 Tribune inter- concentrating and that motor til they finally go under. satisfied with the manner view. kicked in and threw her off Rawhide City was of the in which colleges were In 1974, those a bit.” latter nature. instructing art courses, years of travel, and Today, the noise isn’t It was forty years Watts developed his own Watts love of paint- such a bother though. Nor is ago when the doors of technique for teaching ing, led to the cre- having to switch rolls of film Rawhide City, an old west oil painting. Leading his ation of an old west in the middle of a shot. attraction, opened. Ini- courses, Watts would city. Unlike other “Everything is digital weather. town not necessarily tially located seven miles begin to paint a certain restored frontier towns now,” Scharf said. Besides being a resembling any particular south of Dickinson, it was subject, and have his though, Rawhide City But even with the new unique attraction, Raw- area, but instead form the creation of artist and students paint along with existed within a 50-by- gear, Scharf has stayed true to hide City served partially what Watts labeled as a entrepreneur Bob Watts. him, in order to practic- 120 foot steel building, an older sort of photographer. as a way to exhibit the panoramic historical mu- Watts was born in es the techniques being located on an old farm- For him, it only takes one or many antiques Watts had seum, which took “a little Miles City, Mont., and demonstrated. stead south of Dickinson. two shots to really capture a collected over the years, of the best of all of ‘em.” had grown up in the area, Watt believed that Having been built in such moment in time; to tell a story as well as a place to dis- Watts also drew upon eventually attending the a beginning art student an environment, Rawhide and show the emotion of what play that more than 1,500 the history of the imme- University of Montana. would achieve more by city was able to operate is going on. paintings he had created diate area, using material Being consumed by first working with oil without being effected Its a characteristic of during the last decade. from several of North Da- his love for painting, paints before learning to by the troubles caused by Scharf’s photos that many Naturally, this led to Watts decided to devote draw. North Dakota’s diverse Continued on page 3 see, and that has been appre- this particular frontier ciated by the community, and his industry. It sets him apart from other photographers, just as much as his personal- Remembering History: Streets of Snow ity does. A Past Restored He’s the type of pho- Dustin White tographer who has put up a long fight, and we hope to see Sorting through hundreds him keeping up that fight for of photos from the past, I find many years to come. myself seemingly transported in (Editor’s Note: This story time. With many of the photos has been a couple years in the coming from possibly the 1950’s making. I had the pleasure and 60’s, much of what is being to meet Rick when I started depicted is beyond my own per- at the Mandan News.