History Posts

Chester Bowl Historical Photos

So, the brouhaha over the ski jumps reminded me about this project – some historical photos from Chester Bowl.

Halloween 1911: The Quietest in History?

From the Duluth News Tribune, 100 years ago.

The Old Brewhouse Bar

Anyone have any photos of the Brewhouse’s bar before it got remodeled into its current state? No better reason than that my nostalgia is flaring up.

Radio WAKX 1320: The Twin Ports’ pace-setting leader

Via Bob Halverson, here’s another old Duluth radio jingle.

WAKX 1320

Hey, someone had to lead at setting the pace.

Related link: Bob’s initial post about local jingles.

Damn kids will make life miserable for older Duluthians

From the Duluth News Tribune, 1895:

Duluth’s old Mathisen Tire Co.

Here’s another photo from the Cliff’s Barber Shop Collection. It’s from the spring or early summer of 1962, and the location is 400 E. Superior St. in Duluth. (PDD all-star points go to the person who can explain what this parade is all about. It might be the Fourth of July, but that’s totally a guess on my part.)

Park Point Pirates

Hey Duluth history buffs! I heard a rumor that there were once pirates operating on Park Point, preying on ships in the harbor, and they were cleaned out in a big police raid. Does anybody know anything about this?

Looking for WIGL Jingles

WIGL radio was a daytime Top-40 music station covering the Duluth-Superior market from 1961 to 1964. I am a collector of radio jingles, and have many from WEBC and a couple of early WAKX ones. However, WIGL has been elusive. I e-mailed Lew Latto about it (who owned the station for a while), and he regretfully replied that he was unable to help me. I know some people taped the radio back then (I did) — maybe there’s an aircheck out there with a WIGL jingle or two.  I remember they had purple promo signs on the backs of the city buses during that era, and their jingles always ended with “Wiggle!!!” Posting this in case somebody is unknowingly sitting on a piece of Duluth-Superior broadcasting history.

Bob Carlson: Businessman, Crusader or Smut-Peddler?

By Dave Hill | Sun Magazine July 15-16, 1970

Will the real Bob Carlson please stand up and identify himself? So far, there are conflicting reports about just who the real Bob Carlson is:

An enterprising St. Paul hustler who has made an opportune bundle as a publicity-wise smut-peddler;

A crusading champion of freedom who has been victimized by the harassment of St. Paul’s self-appointed guardians of public and private morality;

A modest, even earnest small businessman who runs a group of bookstores, putting in long hours of hard work, trying to make an honest dollar just like thousands of other men in the hardware, furniture or used car lines.

When the real Bob Carlson does stand up, the situation gets a little muddled. You see, to one degree or another, all three of those confusing caricatures seem to fit him, at least a little bit.

New Skyline Parkway signs

Duluth – Onigamiinsing

[This post originally included an embedded video that no longer exists at its source.]

I’ve since moved away, but I love coming back to visit my hometown of Duluth. I made this little video one evening this summer at Leif Erikson Park, I thought some of you might enjoy.

The Perilous Inlet

Finished version composed largely of scenes already posted here, with new material for interested parties.

Posting this here strips the titles and credits off, so please click the Youtube icon to view on Youtube with titles and credits intact. Thank you~

Reception at the Tweed Museum of Art

Saturday, Aug. 27, 2 -4 p.m. Opening reception for new exhibition, “Our Treasures: Highlights from the Minnesota Museum of American Art.”

Free and open to the public. Tweed Museum of Art is located on the campus of the University of Minnesota Duluth, 1201 Ordean Court.

Organized by the Minnesota Museum of American Art in St. Paul. Features 30 of the top artworks in the MMAA collection including works by artists such as Paul Manship, Robert Henri, Grant Wood, Louise Nevelson, George Morrison, Christo and Wing Young Huie.

Zenith City Online

Coming January 2012.

Discover more at zenithcity.com.

Minnesota Point: Protector or Guide?

From the 1950 book This is Duluth, by Dora May Macdonald:

According to rumour, George Sherwood, one of the old-time real estate men, stood on the barren hills one day with an Easterner, expounding on the charms of the village and the advantages to be gained by investing in Duluth real estate. Pointing to the sandy stretch of land curving out into the water, he said, “There lies Minnesota Point. It looks like God’s arm protecting the town of Duluth.”

The Easterner, unimpressed by the rocky hills, sand, or sentiment, replied, “It looks to me more like God’s finger pointing the way out of town.”