This postcard, circa perhaps 1910, shows the western side of Downtown Duluth and the city’s hillside, with the caption “$5,000,000 Water Power.” Though the card doesn’t make it clear what that means, the logical guess is it refers to Duluth’s investment in hydraulic power at the start of the 20th century.
“Ten Watt” is from Charlie Parr‘s 18th album, Little Sun, released earlier this year. The video was directed by Adam Jones of Polecat Productions.
Attention all artists! Submissions are being sought to create immersive art experiences to celebrate October, Halloween and all things creepy.
North Shorror! 2024 will take place in October at the St. Louis County Depot in Downtown Duluth. And with support from the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council, North Shorror! 2024 will offer stipends to a select group of participating artists to create immersive art experiences. Musicians, visual artists, storytellers, performance and other artists will have the chance to create unique, compelling and (somewhat) terrifying spaces where they can showcase their talents.
Perhaps the most important thing to note about the Aug. 13 primary ballot is what isn’t on it. There are no city of Duluth or Duluth School Board races in this election cycle. There are several state, county and judicial offices that have no primary, so those candidates go straight to the general election on Nov. 5. And there is nothing on the primary ballot related to the U.S. Presidency because that is up to party delegates to determine.
Peter Pascente stands outside the former Young at Heart record store building at 22 W. First St. Pascente is rehabilitating the 1893 structure. (Photos by Mark Nicklawske).
The Young at Heart record store was a Downtown Duluth musical mainstay for some 40 years when it closed in 1999. After its colorful store fixtures were claimed by the Minnesota Historical Society and massive inventory moved to Superior, the building sat unused for two decades and fell into disrepair.
Now the property at 22 W. First St. has a new life and big plans that include more music in the historic space.
You’ve probably noticed most things are more expensive these days. But reading Perfect Duluth Day is just as free as it has always been.
Keeping Duluth’s Duluthiest website running with new content every day, however, comes with a price tag. That’s why we occasionally toss up a post like this one to remind everyone that PDD can always be better or worse based on cash flow, so donations are a big help.
Test your memory of July 2024 headlines with this edition of the PDD Quiz.
A quiz on sports mascots comes your way on Aug. 11. Please submit question suggestions to Alison Moffat at [email protected] by Aug. 8.
Testimony of Mary Nettleton, from the 1898 Annual Report of the United States Life-Saving Service, chapter heading “Log of the Park Point, Duluth Station” (Lake Superior Maritime Museum archives):
I sailed for a year aboard a sunken ship, the wooden schooner-barge Ophelia. She sank on October 15, 1897 in Canadian waters, downbound for Duluth from Thunder Bay. I was finally rescued from the air pocket in her drowned saloon on October 12, 1898, having drifted 150 miles underwater to Duluth. The Ophelia arrived a year behind schedule, crossing the open border between the living and the dead. As to my miraculous survival, doctors and scientists set upon me to solve it. I have become an object of curiosity; fear also.
Sinking
I first encountered the Ophelia on a dock in Buffalo where I signed to be the ship’s cook. I was the only woman aboard. Originally a passenger ship, she couldn’t compete against steam power, so her owners ripped out the passenger suites in favor of three large cargo holds. The windjammer-turned-barge retained classy touches like her oversized saloon. We sailed three of the five Great Lakes in tow of the wooden steamer Harlow, who rode heavy before the gale that snapped the towline and drove us apart. The blow ripped away what rigging could be raised and then downed both our masts. But it wasn’t the mountainous seas that sank us. It was a spar snapped off the deck of the Harlow that staved a hole in our bow. The pumps couldn’t keep up.
The single “Rattlesnake” is the first full-band release from Superior Siren since 2018. The song has been in the band’s repertoire for years, but was recently re-imagined with the addition of Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra concertmaster Erin Aldridge. The video is directed by Illy Killy with videography from Chris Linder of Lakedrop.
Every day at FinnFest the Saami Cultural Center is presenting “The Story of Akanidi, Daughter of the Sun.” I’m super-proud of my colleagues at UMD and around the region who work with the center.
Unrelated to this exhibit, this YouTube video tells the story — consider it my attempt to whet your appetite.
Song from the Nat Harvie album New Virginity. Video shot and edited by Nik Nerburn.
