History Posts

Chinese Lantern Restaurant Fire of 1994

Jan 17, 2014 9 Comments


(Duluth News Tribune photo of Jan. 16, 1994, Chinese Lantern fire)

Back in the 1980s we lived in Silver Bay, and my parents used to make special trips down to Duluth just to go to this place. Now they drive up from the cities to visit and we’ll take them out to eat at many of the fine restaurants we have, and they’ll always comment about how great the Chinese Lantern was and how there’s nothing else like it. Even when my wife worked at the Duluth Athletic Club, before the flooding closed it, she would always hear comments like, “This place is great, but it’s no Chinese Lantern.”

So what was it about that place that people still lament its passing 20 years later?


History, R.I.P., Restaurants

Fellowships for Historical Research

Jan 02, 2014 No Comments

PDD is host to a number of independent historical researchers. FYI.

The Minnesota Historical Society is pleased to announce the Legacy Research Fellowships. Eligibility for these Fellowships is open to any post-collegiate Minnesota scholar who is engaged in Minnesota-related research/scholarship that draws on the Gale Library resources and that intends to add to the body of knowledge and interpretation of Minnesota’s history (pre- and post-statehood). Independent Scholars and scholars, including graduate students, not eligible for funding through employment at academic institutions are especially encouraged to apply.


History

If there really was a lull in the flowing of the poppy juice, it did not occur until long after the hour set by law

Jan 01, 2014 1 Comment

From the Jan. 1, 1914, Duluth News Tribune

Revelers laugh at law calling for early close

In two hotels the price brings liquid refreshment after hours with no questions asked and no evidence of police as delirium marks new year.

“Five dollars for a table and a bottle of wine,” the going quotation at Holland – “It’s after hours; can’t be served,” greeted with wild laughter.

Read More


History

Down on Raleigh Street

Dec 31, 2013 No Comments

Slideshow by Roger Nesje with music by Steve Johnson, paying tribute to old Two Street in West Duluth.


History, Music, Videos

The attitude 100 years ago

Dec 20, 2013 1 Comment

Just a cheesy Dutch Boy Paint greeting card from 1913. The company printed cards with various city names, so Duluth was nothing special. Folks were in for everything back then.


History

Where in Duluth?

Dec 19, 2013 9 Comments


History, Photos

Elim Lutheran Church 1983 Directory

Dec 16, 2013 2 Comments

Here it is in all its splendor, recovered from the More Than Memories Antique Emporium in West Duluth.

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History, Photos

Connolly’s: Behind the Batter

Dec 11, 2013 5 Comments

For the past few years around this time, the discussion on PDD has turned to Tom & Jerrys – where to find the fixins, if there are acceptable alternatives to Connolly’s, and the ups and downs for Connolly’s.

The PDD film crew got sweet and sticky with Steve Knauss and John Kurth as they began production on this year’s batch of Connolly’s Tom & Jerry batter.

Stay warm, stay frothy.

connollys-tom-and-jerry-batter


History, Recommendations, Videos

Who remembers Scarlett Feed Store on First and Second avenues east?

Dec 10, 2013 4 Comments

I’m looking for a description of it (my memory is not always to be trusted) or, even better, old photos. I remember it from when I was a child, so that would have been in the mid-to-late 1960s, maybe even 1970s. I don’t remember when it closed but it had been there since the late 1800s.


History

Babe Ruth visited Duluth

Dec 07, 2013 1 Comment

. . . in 1926. For the story of that visit see the latest posting at the Reference@Duluth blog.


History, Sports

Jesse “The Body” Ventura and his Soldiers of Fortune Band: Live at the Cove in 1986

Dec 05, 2013 9 Comments

Jesse Ventura and his Soldiers of Fortune Band

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History, Music ,

Name Origin of Clough Island

Dec 02, 2013 15 Comments

Does anybody know who is the “Clough” behind the name of Clough Island?


History

Fond du Lac Park’s Winter Sports Center: The Lake Placid of the Northwest

Nov 29, 2013 1 Comment

The subject of Fond du Lac’s old Winter Sports Center came up on PDD once before, about a year ago. Earlier this week, I came across this Feb. 4, 1940, Duluth News Tribune clipping at the Duluth Public Library, reporting on construction of the ski jumping hill and amenities.

The floods of 1972 marked the end of this western Duluth attraction, when the ski jump was removed due to erosion.

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History, Sports

A few images from the Woodland Middle School auction

Nov 21, 2013 7 Comments

Amid the chaos of the auction, I managed to snap a few shots for posterity. I was only there for an hour, but I wouldn’t be surprised to hear this auction went on from 4 p.m. to midnight. There was a lot of stuff, a lot of bidders, and things weren’t going cheaply. Wanna buy an auditorium? A pool?

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History, Photos

Duluth reference in The Goodbye Girl

Nov 19, 2013 3 Comments

It’s probably been dealt with here before, but Richard Dreyfus (as Elliot Garfield) and Quinn Cummings (as Lucy McFadden) have a conversation at the supper table in the 1977 film The Goodbye Girl and have this exchange:

I taught drama at Duluth Junior College.

You taught drama? Far out!

Very far out. It’s up near Canada.


History