History Posts

Postcards from Wonderland Tourist Court and Lodge

Wonderland Resort was located about three miles northeast of Duluth, on the shore of Lake Superior and adjacent to Schmidt Creek. It was run by Jack and Joan Bates from 1968 to 1998 and their family still reminisces about the old days on a Wonderland Resort Facebook page.

Solon Springs Bottling Works (1915?)

Postcard from Fond du Lac Kaffee Stuga

The old Swedish coffee cottage in Duluth’s Fond du Lac neighborhood was featured once before on Perfect Duluth Day in the post “Mystery Photo #16: Holm’s Kaffe Stuga.” It was located on Highway 23 at 123rd Ave. W.

Melrose Avenue in 1947

Street repairs on Melrose Avenue in Duluth. Two watch, three work.

Video Archive: The Dames on KBJR-TV

Twenty years ago today — Sept. 24, 1998 — Duluth band the Dames was featured in a segment on KBJR-TV News. The band performed at the Shrine Auditorium the next day with two other local bands, Crazy Betty and Groundskeeper Willie.

Mystery Photo #74: Jungle Book

There are quite a few things we know about this mystery photo. According to info scribbled on the back we can discern that Hope Phillips and Andy Tureson are acting out a scene from a staging of The Jungle Book at St. Michael’s Church in Duluth.

PDD Quiz: Bygone Festivities

While any given perfect Duluth day is chockablock with events, there are a number of festivals, carnivals, and other shenanigans that are no longer celebrated. This quiz looks back at these festivities of yesteryear, perhaps begging the question: should we bring some of them back?

The next quiz, on this month’s headlines, will be published on Sept. 30. Please email question suggestions to Alison Moffat at [email protected] by Sept. 27.

Crashing into 2332 W. Third St.

Left: 2018 crash at 2332 W. Third St. (Duluth News Tribune photo by Steve Kuchera)
Right: 1965 crash at same location. (Duluth News Tribune staff photo)

It happens at least once every 53 years or so. A motor vehicle smashes into the storefront on the corner of 24th Avenue West and Third Street.

Sept. 11, 2018 | Bus crashes into runaway SUV in Lincoln Park

Aug. 12, 1965 | Freak crash sends auto inside store

Nettleton Elementary School 1962 First Grade Class Photo

Among the students in the Nettleton Elementary School first-grade class of 1962 is famed street photographer Wing Young Huie, seated in the middle of the second row. In August Huie was selected as the McKnight Foundation’s 2018 Distinguished Artist. He is the first photographer to receive the honor.

Postcard from Fairmount Park in 1948

This postcard of Duluth’s “municipal zoo,” now known as Lake Superior Zoo, was mailed 70 years ago today — Sept. 8, 1948.

Mystery Photos #72 and #73: Duluth in 1926

Tim Winker of Saginaw found two 1926 Duluth photos while going through his family’s collection. “Any guess as to where on the hillside these might have been taken?” he asks.

Mystery Photo #71: Duluth Eagles Club Summer Home

There doesn’t appear to be much information on the internet about the Duluth Eagles Club in general, much less the summer home shown on this old postcard. When were the Duluth Eagles formed? When did the club disband? Where is Grand View Beach / Aeire Lake? And where was the club’s main lodge in Duluth?

Postcard from the Steamer Thomas F. Cole

This postcard depicts the Thomas F. Cole in the Duluth shipping channel on her maiden trip to Duluth. The message on the back of the card appears to be dated Sept. 1, 1908.

Postcard from West Superior Street in 1908

This postcard depicts a scene looking east from the 500 block of West Superior Street, where the Radisson Hotel and Duluth Public Library stand today. It was mailed 110 years ago — Aug. 29, 1908.

Remembering Don LaFontaine, king of movie trailers

Yesterday was the 78th birthday of the “Voice of God,” Don LaFontaine. The famed movie-trailer voice-over star was born in Duluth on Aug. 26, 1940. He died on Sept. 1, 2008.

CBS Sunday Morning ran a tribute to LaFontaine yesterday; click on the GIF above to watch the video, which starts after a commercial.