History Posts

Duluth Mystery Photo #8: Darling Blond

Mar 09, 2014 7 Comments

This photo is for sale on eBay under the title “Vintage Photo Girl Child Tricycle Antique Cars Duluth Mn Houses Picture #166.”

The description notes it is “a great vintage snapshot picture of darling blond girl riding a tricycle on a street in Duluth Minnesota. Picture is from the 1920. In the background are old cars and houses. Found in a photo album of pictures of a family living in Duluth.”

Can anyone identify the house? Pin down the neighborhood? Identify the darling blond?


History, Photos

Duluth Mystery Photo #7: Mr. Green

Mar 02, 2014 8 Comments

Is Green the photographer’s name or the dude in the photo? Who is this dapper West Ender?


History, Photos

Meet the Notorious Madam Gain

Mar 01, 2014 1 Comment

Read an article on the Queen of Duluth’s Underworld, circa 1908.


History

Yoshikas Sauna Revisited

Feb 26, 2014 4 Comments

On the Bumper to Bumper show on KFAN Radio, broadcast out of the Twin Cities and on the air in Duluth on KQDS AM 1490, host Dan Barreiro and his crew took on the subject of a new “cuddle business” opening near Sacramento, Calif. The subject turned to a “health club” called Yoshiko’s Sauna in Minneapolis that was in business during the 1990s. Later in the show they discovered an old post about Duluth’s Yoshikas Sauna on Perfect Duluth Day and … well … that’s the clip above.


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Duluth Mystery Photo #6: Snowdrift Family

Feb 23, 2014 9 Comments

This image seems timely considering recent weather in Duluth, but it’s actually from 1935. It’s an “Illustrated Current News” poster, published by the Marlin Co. The website bonanza.com is selling it for twenty bucks under the headline “1935 news poster: Duluth Minnesota snowstorm; Farnam family ice home.”

The caption on the poster reads something like: “The family of Clinton Farnam was completely isolated during a recent snowstorm … (then it gets hard to read) … they had to dig a tunnel from the doorway to the roadway, which (blurry again) … Photo shows family with friends just after they had evacuated themselves.”

So, this week’s mystery is less of a mystery than usual, but can anyone fill in the blurry parts of the caption and tell us more about Clinton Farnam, his family, and the snowstorm of 1935?

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History, Photos

“I’ve been to Duluth” in The Great Outdoors

Feb 22, 2014 6 Comments

Here is another Duluth-in-the-movies sighting. From the 1988 film The Great Outdoors, starring John Candy and Dan Aykroyd. This shirt is worn by the camp host at the beginning of the movie.


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Duluth Mystery Photo #5: Baby Marge

Feb 16, 2014 6 Comments

This photo is for sale on eBay under the heading “Vintage Snapshot Photo Babies Family on Rocks 1920s Duluth Minnesota #250.” The description reads: “Offered is a great vintage picture of a darling baby girl sitting on a pile of rocks with another child and a group of adults. Photo is from the 1920s. I bought these photos from a living estate, and baby’s name is Marge and lives in Duluth Minnesota. This picture was taken down by Lake Superior probably.”

There’s not much to go on here for pinpointing a location, but apparently we do have a baby name. So, who is this Marge?

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History, Photos

Getting to the Bottom of the Proposed Polymet Mine, Part 1

Feb 14, 2014 No Comments

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I’m hoping that this video, featuring Paula Maccabee of Water Legacy, will be the first of several that I will be able to share over the next few weeks.

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History, News and Current Affairs, Politics, Videos

Duluth Mystery Photo #4: Mr. Dillner?

Feb 09, 2014 1 Comment

I saved this photo graphic at some point in the past and titled the file “Dillner.” Call it sloppy archiving on my part, but I’m guessing that might be his last name and on the front of the photo is the photographer’s name, which looks like it’s maybe S. F. Dahlquist. The address is 19 E. Superior St., Duluth. So that’s what we’ve got to go on.

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Martin Pattison

Feb 07, 2014 No Comments

Historical sketch from the Dec. 31, 1913, Duluth News Tribune.

The three-time mayor of Superior was the original owner of the Fairlawn Mansion, which was completed in 1891. Read about rumors of paranormal activity in the mansion at unexplainedresearch.com.

Martin Pattison is also the namesake of Pattison State Park, which was established in 1920. Read about that on zenithcity.com.


History

Duluth Mystery Photo #3: 1938 Neighborhood Hockey Game

Feb 02, 2014 6 Comments

It happened in Duluth in 1938. That’s all we know. What rink? Who are these kids?

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History, Photos

Guy Lombardo in Duluth

Feb 02, 2014 3 Comments

Did Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians ever perform in Duluth … and if so when?


History

Paul Robeson in Duluth

Jan 30, 2014 8 Comments

What is Paul Robeson’s connection to Duluth? For some reason I’ve never wondered about this before. Today someone asked me.

Paul Robeson was a singer, actor and football player who was involved in the Civil Rights Movement. You can read about him on Wikipedia and numerous other places on the Internet.

The Paul Robeson Ballroom is part of the Kozy Apartments complex, which has been shuttered since 2010 due to three arson fires. (Photo above by Daniel Kerkhoff.)

There is a one-man show, The Tallest Tree in the Forest, running at Arena Stage in Washington D.C. through Feb. 16, that mentions Robeson was in Duluth in 1947. (The show is probably based, at least in part, on the 1977 documentary film The Tallest Tree in Our Forest.)

That’s all we’ve got. Help fill in the blanks.


History

Duluth Mystery Photo #2: Family Outing

Jan 26, 2014 No Comments

1905-duluth-family-outing

This photo is for sale on eBay under the headline “Vintage 1905 Cabinet Photo Duluth Minnesota Family Outing Woods Photograph 1052.” So what family is this? Where are they?


History, Photos

Mystery Photo #1: Chester Bowl

Jan 19, 2014 3 Comments

This photo was purportedly shot at Chester Bowl in 1936. Who are these gals? What were they doing that day? Who shot the photo?

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