I didn't know that this was happening.  The other day I was getting gas at the ICO across from the new walgreens and I pondered that smokestack for a bit.  Smoke stacks are viewed as an ugly remnant of our industrial past when viewed through a modern lens ... and that smokestack does overwhelm the clearly beautiful clock tower.  But ... even the smokestack was beautiful the brick work and the design elements show great workmanship.  It is obvious that the Western Duluth really wanted that building to be a thing of beauty for the entire community, especially the kids. And, I think they took significant pride in the smokestack itself, too.  I mean, sure the boiler is out of date today, but then it was probably the most safe and efficient building heater that money could buy.  And from a lay person's perspective it looks like they may have wanted to trumpet that some... possibly as a symbol of progress or technological achievement.  I hope that with the "upgraded" building there is half as much quality material, attention to detail, and care put in as we saw on the original. We are farther removed from the days of recent immigrants with the generations old artisan construction skills that we were blessed with a hundred years ago.  But ... we can hope enough of that skill and pride is left in this town to allow for an "improvement" that does justice to the original.

HBH1, Denfeld is not on the National Register of Historic Places. Perhaps one of the main reasons it isn't is that everyone thinks it already is.

So, I would guess all the proper permits are in order.

There were four or five of those types of cars chugging along upper Woodland yesterday. In hindsight it probably was for Woodland Days.

I've always liked the awning on the Star building. Was it once a supper club or lounge?

When I went to Denfeld, smoking was allowed out the doors by the Chimney. The people who smoked out there were called the "Chimney Gang." Those of us who were into throwing pots in ceramics were called the "Dirt Bag Subculture" ... a name given to us by a cranky old teacher who's name escapes me right now (this was the 1970s and we smoked more than cigs by that chimney).

Luckily there are three good tobacco stores in West Duluth for the high school smokers to choose from.