Hitching Post
Forest Lake
All of the information for this page comes from the Forest Lake Times (FLT) and my researcher in Forest Lake, Mr. Brian Tolzmann.
This page covers three music venues:
- Melodee Ballroom
- The Hitching Post
- Johnny’s Teen Spot
THE MELODEE BALLROOM
Before the Hitching Post Ballroom had that name, it was called the Melodee Club. Not to be confused with the Melody Ballroom, which existed in Forest Lake at the same time! The ad below says “Dancing Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights with the famous Rhythm Kings. Modern, old time and request numbers. Two special hours of square dancing on Friday. We invite local callers to participate.”
THE HITCHING POST
By at least May 13, 1961, it was the Hitching Post, which we know because there was an assault case that went to trial in December 1963 regarding an incident that happened on that 1961 date. George Turcotte was the proprietor at the time of the incident.
Turcotte was still the proprietor in July 1961, when he instituted a policy of bringing national Country stars to the Hitching Post. His first foray was bringing in a Grand Ole Opry show, featuring Grampa Jones on July 14 – 16, 1961. Turcotte reported that the show packed the place. “If western country music fans continue to turn out for these performances I will enlarge the place,” he told the FLT. He had recently remodeled the place and had seating room for about 200.
The next big show featured Hawkshaw Hawkins and Jean Shepherd of the Grand Ole Opry, on July 21 – 23, 1961.
BENEFIT FOR TEXAS BILL
On August 23, 1962, country singer Texas Bill Strength, his friend, Donald “Duke” Larson, and two lady friends went to the girls’ first floor apartment after a show. At 2:30 am, the upstairs neighbor, Marcus J. Styer, 26, got fed up with the noise they were making. Duke and his lady friend left, leaving Texas Bill and his friend in the kitchen talking and singing. Finally Styer, who had been in a Wisconsin mental institution in 1957 and 1958, had had enough of the noise. He grabbed his shotgun and headed downstairs. What happened was unclear, but Bill ended up with a hole in his upper thigh that required many surgeries and skin grafts.
Will Jones reported that some musician friends would hold a benefit for Strength, who was still in the hospital. It was scheduled to take place at the Hitching Post on September 9, 1962, from 1pm to 1am. Ten bands and 20 acts were scheduled to perform. (Minneapolis Tribune, September 6, 1962)
The 1961 big name experiment apparently didn’t work out, and the next ads in the FLT appear in 1963. From here on, one of the most notable things about the Hitching Post was the constant change in management.
On March 4, 1964, the Washington County Board approved a “bottle club” license for the Hitching Post. The article in the FLT (March 26, 1964) cited Charles Haley as its operator. The final decision on the license was up to the state liquor commissioner.
JOHNNY’S TEEN SPOT
The Hitching Post Ballroom later opened as Johnny’s Teen Spot on August 18, 1966.
Johnny’s was owned by “Jumpin” Johnny Konchal, an accordionist and member of KSTP’s “Sunset Valley Barn Dance.” He opened a music store in downtown Forest Lake in December, 1965. In November 1966 he recorded the single, “John John,” a song about John Kennedy Jr.
The small print asks local fathers to volunteer to act as chaperones to make this venture succeed for our teens. Michael’s Mystics was one of the most popular bands in the Twin Cities. Ichabod and the Cranes… not so much.
The building that was the Hitching Post still stands as a private residence.
THE HITCHING POST MOTEL
South of the ballroom is the small Hitching Post Motel, 23855 Forest Boulevard North. It, too, still stands today. The motel is (or should be) famous as the location where the police finally catch up with fugitive Jerry Lundegaard in the 1996 Coen Brothers’ movie “Fargo.”
