History Posts

For your consideration…

May 24, 2009 13 Comments

barrel

Just want to make sure everyone is on the same page regarding the “mystery barrels”.  The Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa out of Bayfield, WI have secured over $1 million from the Department of Defense to remove about 70 of the barrels for testing.  PDF here of the 2008 MN DOH “Health Consultation” regarding the barrels.  Link here to Nukewatch’s compendium on barrel research including a full collection of local news releases on the subject.

Please share this info with friends and neighbors.


History, News and Current Affairs, Outdoors, Politics

The climate of Duluth, circa 1914

May 16, 2009 2 Comments

I don’t know if anyone has ever seen/read this or not (I imagine there might be a copy at one of our libraries), but I stumbled on it on archive.org:

http://www.archive.org/details/climateofduluthm00richrich

ss-05162009-030246pm

note the pre-lift bridge on the cover, plus there’s a few other neat old photos inside, plus some interesting reading, and some interesting old data…


History, Outdoors

Homegrown Tags

Apr 28, 2009 6 Comments

So Homegrown has begun, and you kids and your crazy cameras will undoubtedly be shooting everything in sight and posting the photos to Flickr. By the power vested in me by being the person who’s declared it without authority in the past (though it seemed to work — 2007 slideshow | 2008 slideshow) I declare the official Homegrown Flickr tag to be homegrownmusicfestival2009. If everyone simply tags their photos, we’ll be able to easily find cool shots of all the stuff we missed. I’ll post a slideshow here on PDD on Sunday so we can all recall the memories.

But the question that’s up for grabs is: What will the official Homegrown Twitter hash-tag be? #duluthhomegrown? #homegrownduluth? Simply #homegrown? Something else? Discuss.

One more thing: I stole this photo from Rich Narum. He’s a kickass photographer.


History, Random, Recommendations

One of the first shopping malls in the United States — Lake View Store in Morgan Park

Apr 27, 2009 3 Comments
Lake View Store - Morgan Park - Duluth, MN

Lake View Store – Morgan Park – Duluth, MN

Minnesota has had a long history of firsts for shopping malls. It must be the long, cold winters keeping us on the forefront of the indoor shopping experience. Duluth’s Morgan Park Lake View Store being noted as one of the first indoor malls, Southdale Mall in Edina the first post-war enclosed mall and, of course, the Mall of America the United States’ largest and most visited mall in the world.

The Lake View Store in Morgan Park was built in 1915 and had two levels and a basement. There was a butcher shop, clothing, hardware, furniture, a pharmacy and a department store with groceries, and a general store. The top floor had a bank, dentist office, barber shop, hair salon, hat shop, billiard room and auditorium. The basement had an ice-making plant which made eight tons of ice per day for the mall and for Morgan Park residents and a shoe store. Wiki has more info.

Images courtesy of Wolfsonian – Florida International University

morgan-park xc200402302 xc200402304 xc200402305 xc2004023 Lake View Store - Morgan Park - Duluth, MN


History

Got an opinion on the Old Jail?

Apr 27, 2009 8 Comments

duluth-jail

 

Tonight is your last chance to make your voice heard to those who will make the decision: the Duluth City Council.

The Duluth Heritage Preservation Commission has denied a permit to St. Louis County to demolish the Jail, which is protected from demolition under Duluth law as a landmark building. The County is appealing this decision, and the only way for the Council to overturn it is to essentially break Duluth law, which would establish a precedent that puts all of our historic assets at risk.

The appeal is on tonight’s City Council agenda. If you have something to say about the building’s demolition (on either side of the issue), you get three minutes to make your point.

I am biased to the Jail’s preservation (I write and publish Duluth history books and sit on the HPC), so I also encourage those who don’t wish to speak but who want to see the Jail saved simply show up to show support.

You can learn more about the issue in a letter to the Editor in today’s DNT penned by Richard Moe, a Duluth native and the president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation: http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/118713/.


History, Random

Duluth’s Piper Building

Apr 24, 2009 23 Comments

Mysterious Surveyor Type Outside Piper Building

When I was growing up my mom used to take us to the St. Vincent DePaul store in this building, next to our church, Sacred Heart, which was still a place of worship in those days.

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History

From the Photo Archive | 1979

Apr 16, 2009 8 Comments

budjames3489571

Thirty years ago, Bud James was one of the custodians at Laura MacArthur Elementary School. All the kids loved him.

Because I was so young then, my memory of Mr. James is fuzzy. What I do remember is that he used to sing all the time, whether it was at assemblies or just randomly in the halls while cleaning up puke. I don’t remember if he was good at singing, or if he was just a ham, but it was great either way.

Every kid should grow up with a singing janitor. Thank you, Mr. James.


History, Photos

Great Music Saturday at Beaners

Apr 16, 2009 2 Comments

John HermansonThis Saturday two of my favorite musicians, Danny Schmidt and John Hermanson (of Storyhill, Alva Star, and The Hopefuls), will be playing in the round with third artist Chris O’Brien at Beaner’s Central.

Go check them out; pack the place!
Cost: $15 (for three FANTASTIC musicians)
Showtime: 8pm


History, Music, Recommendations, Videos

5 bedroom, 3 bath, view of bocce courts

Apr 14, 2009 28 Comments

wheeler_house

Several years ago I took my kids to the playground at Wheeler Field. We went into the clubhouse for a bit, and I read the signs that explain the history of the place and the Wheeler family. We went back outside, and I got into a time-traveling kind of mood, imagining moving away from the places I know for this vast wilderness, running a pioneer’s household without the help of other women, giving birth to babies here. This mind trip was made easier by looking at the huge, wooded hill behind us. “This is what it would have looked like to her, too,” I imagined.

But that’s not the case anymore. I was there on Tuesday, and saw this house being built. It’s too late for me to take a “before” picture, but I looked it up on google maps. I can’t see where the road to the house would be, but I guess it’s connected to Skyline.

I don’t usually feel like development is bad. My house is on developed land, right? Who am I to tell someone else they can’t have a house, too? But being witness to the first sticking-out-like-a-thumb house on this hill makes me sad. I suppose by the time my kids are grown, the hill will be full of houses.


History ,

Happy 100th, West Duluth Masonic Temple

Apr 13, 2009 14 Comments

euclidlodge896756b

Euclid Masonic Lodge 198 was dedicated on March 31, 1909. State Grand Master Eugene Swan presided over the services. About 800 people attended.

One hundred years later, it appears vacant and up for sale. The location is 611 N. Central Ave.

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History ,

Classic Duluth TV: Mr. Toot and Captain Q

Apr 13, 2009 12 Comments

For your enjoyment, clips of the Mr. Toot and Captain Q kids’ shows from — I’m guessing — the early 1960s on what was then WDSM, now KBJR.

Best parts: The starstruck kids introducing themselves to Mr. Toot at the beginning (Peggy, we heard you already!), and Captain Q’s parrot (Angus Mc—–?) helping him pitch Arrowhead milk.

Thanks to YouTube user NorthlandSports, who has posted a number of other vintage Duluth TV clips, including the 1975 KBJR newscast that was featured a few weeks back on the Attic.


History, Videos

The Fabulous 1990 Ford Taurus LX

Apr 08, 2009 17 Comments

taurus489357

After many years of semi-reliable service, this luxurious family sedan is ready for a new owner. That’s right, the car made famous by this PDD post and this PDD post, can now be yours for the unbelievable price of, oh, let’s say $200.

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History

Duluth 1865

Apr 02, 2009 16 Comments

getimage

Click on the map for more!


History, Random

Duluth Arrowhead Volleyball Tourney

Mar 28, 2009 No Comments

Duluth Arrowhead Volleyball Tourney

This year was the 52nd annual Duluth Arrowhead Volleyball Tournament sponsored by Grandma’s on March 21st. This years pool of 92 teams was one of the largest in the long history of the tourney and was played at UMD, CSS, Esko HS and Marshall HS. Special thanks to the Minnesota Volleyball Association for putting together this great tourney! Learn more about the MVA here: www.mnvba.com

2009 Duluth Arrowhead Results

Men’s AA
1st – Omega Force
2nd – Silverbacks

Men’s A
1st- Shots
2nd – KC Headkickers

Men’s BB
1st – AEI
2nd – Odder & Wiser
Consolation – Terps

Men’s B
1st – Falcons
2nd – Nimrods

 Women’s AA
1st – Cool
2nd – Recovering Boozers

Women’s HA
1st – Block Party 1
2nd – Block Party 2

Women’ s LA
1st – Yahtzee
2nd – Ligers
Consolation – That One Team

Women’s BB
1st – Outsiders
2nd – Just One More
Consolation – Thunderbirds

Congratulations to all these teams!


History, News and Current Affairs, Sports

Ian Gillan Band – “Clear Air Turbulence”

Mar 27, 2009 2 Comments

“Get in to Duluth!”

Thanks to Dan for the hot tip, related to the “Songs with Duluth in the lyrics or title” post.


History, Music