History Posts

Duluth Trivia Deck Sampler #45

Mar 17, 2020 No Comments

Another trivia card from a board game purchased at Savers.

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History

PDD Quiz: Prohibition in the Twin Ports

Mar 15, 2020 1 Comment

To mark the centennial of the start of nationwide Prohibition, this week’s quiz explores how residents of the Twin Ports adapted to (and circumvented) laws banning alcohol.

The Zenith City website, the Northeast Minnesota Historical Center collections, and the book Naturally Brewed, Naturally Better: The Historic Breweries of Duluth and Superior by Pete Clure and Tony Dierckins were all invaluable sources of research for this quiz.

The next PDD quiz, reviewing headlines from March 2020, will be published on March 29. Please submit question suggestions to Alison Moffat at [email protected] by March 26.

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History

Do you know? Facts about Duluth from 1920

Mar 14, 2020 4 Comments

From Feb. 23 to March 25 of 1920 the Duluth Herald newspaper published a daily fact about Duluth on its front page. Some are pretty interesting, some are kind of silly. All in all, it’s a fun snapshot of what Duluth was bragging about a century ago.

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History

Postcard from Astor Trading Post

Mar 13, 2020 No Comments

This undated postcard depicts a replica of the American Fur Company trading post at Fond du Lac, which opened in 1935 at Chambers Grove Park in Duluth’s Fond du Lac neighborhood and was demolished in the late 1960s.

The original fur post operated from 1817 to 1847 at the present-day site of Historical Park, just a bit downstream from Chambers Grove Park along the St. Louis River.

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Searching for Descendants of the Duluth Tooth-puller Incident

Mar 10, 2020 No Comments

Perfect Duluth Day readers might remember a post featuring an unusual story from 1903 about a crazed Finlander and unwanted dentistry. Minnesota filmmaker Joshua Carlon is exploring a short documentary about the event and is looking for any descendants of the parties involved who would be interested in being interviewed on camera regarding the incident.

The only named parties in the event are the Finlander John Simonson, Police Chief Troyer, Officer O’Neill and one victim, a Mrs. Elaison of 329 St. Croix Avenue.

If any PDD readers are related to this event or have connections to anyone who might be, please reach out to Josh at josh @ jcarlon.com.


History

Duluth Trivia Deck Sampler #44

Mar 10, 2020 No Comments

Another trivia card from a board game purchased at Savers.

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History

Mystery Photo #103: Girl with Curls

Mar 09, 2020 No Comments

What’s the deal with this curly haired lass? Was she a Duluthian?

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History, Photos ,

Video Archive: Minnesota All Hockey Hair Team 2005

Mar 08, 2020 No Comments

Last year John King announced he would end his annual series of videos reviewing the finest hair styles at the Minnesota High School Hockey Tournament. Well, he didn’t. But that’s no reason not to dig into the archives and feature the original Minnesota All Hockey Hair Team of 2005, created for the short-lived TV program The Show to be Named Later.

Cade Fairchild of Duluth East makes the team for his “Ogie Ogilthorpe look,” and East Head Coach Mike Randolph gets special recognition for his “Lloyd Christmas look.”


History, Sports, Videos

PDD Video Lab: Lester Park, Skyline Drive and Twin Ponds, 1975

Mar 05, 2020 1 Comment

In this PDD Video Lab mashup we’ve taken another silent film from Dominic Chione’s Vimeo account and added music. This time the Duluth scenery includes Lester Park, views from Skyline Drive and Twin Ponds (with two slides going into the water). For music we’ve chosen “Sister Golden Hair,” a chart-topping single by America in 1975.


History, Videos ,

Duluth Trivia Deck Sampler #43

Mar 04, 2020 No Comments

Another trivia card from a board game purchased at Savers.

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History

The Promethean, UW-Superior’s student newspaper, turns 100

Mar 02, 2020 No Comments

Throughout the past century the University of Wisconsin-Superior’s student newspaper has seen changes and challenges. Despite funding cuts, scandals and a period of general distrust on campus, The Promethean has stood the test of time.

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History ,

Postcard from Divers at Work Through the Ice in Duluth

Mar 02, 2020 4 Comments

There’s no explanation here as to what these “divers at work” were up to. The year of the postmark on this V.O. Hammon Publishing Company postcard is not legible and there is no caption on the back. All we know is M. B. Edwards sent the card from Duluth to William Begg of St. Paul.

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History ,

A Glad Hand from Duluth, Minn.

Mar 01, 2020 No Comments


History

PDD Video Lab: Sandra’s Birthday Frolic in Duluth, 1973

Feb 28, 2020 1 Comment

For this PDD Video Lab mashup we’ve taken a silent film from 1973 that was recently uploaded to Dominic Chione’s Vimeo account and added Stevie Wonder’s “Higher Ground,” a track from his 1973 album Innervisions. The first minute of the video is kids frolicking in a yard; recognizable Duluth scenery kicks in after that.

But wait … there’s bonus footage.

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History, Videos ,

Then and Now: Duluth’s Incline Railway

Feb 27, 2020 No Comments

A video by Grandview Aerial Photography showing images of the Incline Railway during its operation (1891-1939), then modern-day drone footage following the path it took up the hill. Produced for the Duluth Preservation Alliance.


History, Videos ,