History Posts

Hot Orpheum Centennial Action

Aug 20, 2010 No Comments

Photos from Thursday night at the NorShor, courtesy of the On 3 Design photo booth.

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Art, Events, History, Music

The NorShor Theatre’s Mighty Tower

Aug 18, 2010 28 Comments

In preparation for the events this week honoring the Orpheum Theatre’s centennial at the NorShor, Tony Dierckins put together a slide show with some fantastic historical photographs. You can see the whole thing on Saturday — it’ll be looping in the NorShor’s balcony theater — but here’s one of my favorite images:

This is the tower that used to be part of the theater’s marquee. You’ve probably seen photos of it from the other direction, but this one uniquely looks out over the lake. The tower stood 65 feet above the theater, weighed over 300 tons, and was completely sheathed in porcelain. It used 3,000 lights and was said to be visible from 60 miles away.


History

Fishing for Fossils – Sneak Peek Exhibit!

Aug 17, 2010 No Comments

Did you know prehistoric sharks once swam Northland waters and crocodiles roamed our region? These are just two surprising facts revealed in “Fishing for Fossils,” a special month-long exhibit opening Saturday, Aug. 7, at the Great Lakes Aquarium. It will run through Labor Day Weekend.

The exhibit features numerous fossils of ancient fish and creatures that once inhabited what is now the Great Lakes Basin. Some fossil artifacts are part of the Aquarium’s in-house collection, and others are on loan from outside sources, including Hill Annex Mine State Park in Calumet, Minn.

Hill Annex Mine State Park is rich with fossils, dating back to before the glaciers. The iron ore deposit that spans the Iron Range is the shoreline of a vast, ancient inland sea. It is riddled with fossil deposits from prehistoric times, including teeth from sharks and crocodiles, plus evidence of ancient invertebrates. Fossil finds in other areas covered by this ancient sea include the remains of plesiosaurs and other giant aquatic reptiles from the age of dinosaurs.


History

The Life and Brawls of Thomas Madden — former chief of West Duluth Police, saloon keeper and old fashioned thug

Aug 13, 2010 8 Comments

This post is a follow up to the post requesting information about Duluth’s old bowery district. The focus here is on Tom Madden, who managed to find himself in the news a lot. Set the Wayback Machine for 1891 and we’ll go in chronological order from there.

Dec. 13, 1891 | Duluth News Tribune

WILL IT BE MURDER?
——————————
Patrick Mulligan May Die From Injuries Received From Chief Madden.

Patrick Mulligan, who runs the “Little Diamond saloon on Central avenue, and who had his jaw broken a few days ago at the brickyard bagnio by a blow from ex Chief of Police Madden, was taken yesterday to St. Mary’s hospital, where he is now hovering between life and death. His jaw was set by Dr. Magie a day or two ago, but serious inflammation has set in, and the doctor said yesterday it would probably be necessary to put a silver tube in his throat to enable him to breathe. His case is a very serious one and the chances are even between life and death.

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History

The Duluth Accordionaires — Music to Eat Pizza By (1967)

Aug 12, 2010 19 Comments

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History, Music, Photos , ,

Were you there?

Aug 12, 2010 22 Comments

Duluth Protest

These photos were taken by the late Mark Arvilla. Can you guess where and when these protest photos were taken and were you there?


History

Bowery Bros. Bowery District?

Aug 11, 2010 13 Comments

The old bowery district is a part of Duluth’s history that seems to be forgotten, or at least not talked about too often. Bowery Bros. (new pub with delicious food I might add) is located where Duluth’s bowery district used to be. Kinda cool. Anyone have any old stories about this?


History

Does anyone have pictures or stories from when the Ripsaw was housed in the Temple Opera Building?

Aug 10, 2010 22 Comments

I rent and work out of Room 208 in the Temple Opera Building. Legend has it that the Ripsaw was once published out of this office. I’d love to see some photos and hear some stories about those days in this space.


History , ,

Spirit Mountain’s Alpine Roller Coaster is pretty neat, but the old Duluth Skyride looks a bit more intimidating

Aug 03, 2010 20 Comments

Originally called the Incline Plane Railway, this tram system started service in 1891, carrying passengers up Seventh Avenue West from Superior Street to Ninth Street. The photo above makes it look downright terrifying.

And, of course, there was one day in which it was indeed a terrifying ride, though no one was on it.

On May 28, 1901, a fire started in a coal bin in the engine room of the powerhouse. Wind carried the fire to the pavilion at the top of the incline. The heat of the fire melted the tram cables, and a burning trolley raced down to Superior Street, where it crashed into Superior Street Station. No one was injured.

Hot!


History, Photos

Yet another reason to drink beer

Aug 02, 2010 No Comments

From a June 1915 Fitger’s newspaper ad.


History

Downtown Sales

Aug 02, 2010 27 Comments

You may have noticed in the past month or so that the old sign has been removed from the Lange Motor Building, best known as the location of the former Carlson Book store, revealing an older sign for Downtown Sales.

What was Downtown Sales? It was an odds and ends store that preceded Bob Carlson’s bookstore venture. Does anyone remember anything about it? We’re talking late 1970s.

R. O. Carlson Used Book & Record closed in March 2003. Big Lake Book had a short run after that, followed by Boardwalk Book. Rod Raymond and Tim Nelson own the building now, which is being gutted of literally tons of old water-damaged books and magazines. No word on future plans.

This part of Superior Street used to be called “Automobile Row,” up until about the 1960s. The Carlson Book building was home to Interstate Auto Co., Kent Motors, Lange Motors and probably a bazillion other businesses.

So there’s a half-ass history outline. Fill in the blanks if you know anything.


History, News and Current Affairs , ,

Awesome Duluth Postcard Site

Jul 31, 2010 3 Comments

I’m sure this has been posted before on here, but this is a site I found a few years back. It’s a mind blowing collection of old Duluth postcards:

Duluth-MN-USA.com


History

Moccasin Mike

Jul 29, 2010 12 Comments

I have a question — everyone knows to take Moccasin Mike Road to Wisconsin Point, but does anyone know who Moccasin Mike was? It is such a cool name. I’m jealous.


History ,

Willie the cop gets his badge pinned to his ass on Raleigh Street

Jul 28, 2010 14 Comments

One of the stories that has long been passed around West Duluth is that, many years ago, perhaps the 1920s, some guys from the ol’ Raleigh Street Gang handcuffed a cop to a pole or a post and pinned his badge to his ass.

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History

What’s the date?

Jul 22, 2010 21 Comments

Masonic Fraternity

Does anyone know what 5894 A.L. stands for?


History