Rainbow Gardens

circa 1930s

Carrington, North Dakota

At right is a picture of the Rainbow Gardens as it was being built in the early 1930s by Harry and Anna Hayashi.  The cafe is behind the Japanese gardens.

 The flat plains of North Dakota are evident in the background. 

Mrs. Lindy Hayashi Perkins never met her Japanese grandfather.  Harry died before she was born.  She does remember her grandmother Anna. 

Her father, Frank Hayashi, told her stories about how he had to help his father paint all the rocks at Rainbow Gardens.  In the picture, her father is the son on the far right in the back row.

This birdhouse was known to have held up to 108 families of birds. 

Today, the only thing remaining is the cement pole.

Harry built cottages on the grounds.  People just drove up in with their cars and checked in.  There are five acres of Japanese gardens with beautiful flowers and painted rocks.  There were 28 individual cottages.

The cottages had showers, baths and even electric lights. The rates started at $1.25 a night.

 Rainbow Gardens even had Christmas postcards!

Harry's granddaughter, Lindy Hayashi Perkins, spoke about his life experiences.  She showed family pictures, photos of Harry's restaurants and cafes, the letters, and some newspaper clippings.

Mrs. Perkins is the Music and Choir Director at the Jefferson Middle School in Jefferson, Wisconsin.