An old city gravel pit on College Street near the University of Minnesota Duluth was sold to a Duluth construction firm 50 years ago. The June 22, 1971 Duluth Herald reported that Johnson Builders had plans to build “a student-faculty apartment complex worth nearly $700,000.”

Also in the news:

• Two-thirds of Proctor teachers were refusing to sign contracts, hoping the school board would be “more reasonable” in the fall. The major point of dispute was the number of steps it would take to reach the maximum pay level. The board favored 12 steps; teachers were negotiating for 11.
• The Radford Company, a window and door distributor, was celebrating its 100th anniversary in 1971. The company was founded in Oshkosh, but had a division in West Duluth until 2006.

Caption: First Use … Facilities at the new Central High School were used for the first time Monday when student drivers began trials on the driver range. About 1,000 student drivers are expected to use the range at Central, and a similar one at Denfeld, during the summer. Here Don Bourdeau, assistant director of driving classes, directs students by walkie talkie. — (Herald Photo.)

Caption: Fesler Talks … Wes Fesler, former University of Minnesota football coach, now a consultant for an investment firm, chats with reporters during a stop-over in Duluth last week. — (Herald Sportsphoto by Earl Johnson)