History Posts

Dickson’s Lake Park Tourist Home

Dickson’s Lake Park Tourist Home is listed in Duluth city directories from 1951 to 1967 and Frank G. Dickson is listed as a resident going back at least to 1930.

The address was 1127 London Road, today the location of a vacant lot across the street from the Leif Erikson statue near the Rose Garden.

Spalding Hotel circa 1908

This photo from Detroit Publishing Company shows Duluth’s Spalding Hotel at 428 W. Superior St. The elegant 200-room hotel opened on June 6, 1889 and was demolished on Sept. 25, 1963.

Postcards from Universal Atlas Cement Company

The postcard above was published by Arrowhead Trading Post of Duluth. It depicts part of the U.S. Steel Duluth Works campus, with Universal Atlas Cement Company in the foreground.

Duluth Trivia Deck Sampler #14

More from the deck found at Savers …

1. Who sculpted the statue of Daniel Greysolon Sieur du Lhut at UMD?
2. Where was that statue cast?
3. When did UMD become a campus of the UM system?
4. Who was the first provost of UMD?
5. Which US President visited UMD in 1963?
6. Which UMD graduate was “Carlton the Doorman” on TV’s “Rhoda”?

The Times of Lincoln Park Junior High School 1969

As another school year ends, Perfect Duluth Day once again looks back through the pages of an old Duluth school yearbook. In this edition we present a gallery of select images from the 1969 edition of The Times, the Lincoln Park Junior High School annual.

How we do things at Duluth, Minn.

It’s difficult to make out the line of red text at the top of this old postcard, but it reads: “How we do things at Duluth, Minn.” Apparently “how we do things” is we doctor images to make raspberries appear to be the size of pineapples.

The undated postcard is credited to “Johnson, Photographer, Waupun, Wis.”

Duluth Trivia Deck Sampler #13

More from the deck found at Savers …

1. In 1871, who ridiculed the City of Duluth in the House of Representatives, helping to defeat a land grant bill?
2. What was “The Clark House”?
3. Who was J. B. Culver?
4. When was the Grand Opera House destroyed by fire?
5. Who was Oliver G. Traphagen?
6. In 1891, what downtown Duluth building was called “the handsomest and costliest building in the Northwest?

Postcard from First Presbyterian Church of Duluth

First Presbyterian Church established its congregation 150 years ago today — June 1, 1869. It’s magnificent sandstone structure at 300 E. Second St. was built from 1890 to 1891. The image above is from an undated postcard published by Duluth photographer Robert B. Barrett.

Mystery Photo: Minnesota Slip Drawbridge

This old slide image shows a cabin cruiser passing under the Minnesota Slip Drawbridge, a pedestrian bridge spanning the Minnesota Slip on the Duluth waterfront. When was this photo taken?

Duluth Trivia Deck Sampler #12

A few years ago, I bought a Duluth Trivia game at Savers. Here are some more questions.

1. Where is the Chambers Grove picnic area?
2. What is the name of the annual dog sled race that begins in Duluth?
3. What is the name of the longest fresh-water sandspit in the world?
4. How many stars are in the cluster of stars in the official seal of the city of Duluth? What do they represent?
5. Who was William T Boutwell?
6. When was Fond du Lac annexed by the city of Duluth?

Postcards from Split Rock Lighthouse

On the list of iconic structures in the Arrowhead region, the Split Rock Lighthouse is probably #2 between the Aerial Lift Bridge and Enger Tower as the most photographed. It has been featured on an endless array of postcards over the past century.

Does anyone have any info on the pioneer behind the name of the Lester River?

My maiden name is Lester. Through the years we have been told of a great-great grandfather Albert Julius Lester, who fathered a son William O. Lester.

Mystery Photo: Duluth Grocers

This old photo shows two men standing in a grocery store. The back of the photo indicates it’s in Duluth, Minn. and gives the names of the men. Unfortunately, the photo of the back side of this photo is blurry and difficult to read, but it looks like Gust Hjelm is one of the names.

Duluth Boat Club circa 1906

This photo from the Detroit Publishing Company shows the Duluth Boat Club on the bay side of Minnesota Point at South Tenth Street. A previous clubhouse existed where Bayfront Park is today, but the facility shown in the photo above was built in 1903 and was destroyed by fire in 1951.

Postcard from Thompson Hill Information Center and Rest Area

This undated postcard has the following text on the back:

The Thompson Hill Information Center and Rest Area is located at the junction of I-35 and US 2 on a 28 acre site overlooking the St. Louis River Valley and the Duluth-Superior metropolitan area. The Information Center is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with tourist and travel information and road condition reports available during the day as a service of the Minnesota Highway Department.