When Every Kid Was Free-Range

Gay Haubner goes through the Spanking Machine in this essay in the Saturday Evening Post about growing up in Duluth.

Duluth Album Releases in 2021

Minorbirds
Self titled
(Feb. 4)
Available on Bandcamp

Rich Mattson and the Northstars
Skylights
(Feb. 5)
Available on Bandcamp

Vallhünd
Millions of the Mouthless Dead
(Feb. 8)
Available on Bandcamp

Monthly Grovel: February 2021

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What kind of events happen in the Duluth area during a pandemic? Well, a rutabaga giveaway, virtual boat show, online winter biking workshop and the occasional ice bar, for just a few examples.

As the masked, online and distanced events drag on, the PDD Calendar continues to catalog the options. Each month we reach out with one beggarly blog post to remind everyone that human beings and not machines are at work editing and publishing calendar events. So if you appreciate it, drop a few bucks in the PayPal account.

Santa Claus Island circa 1875

Where precisely was Santa Claus Island and when did it collapse into Lake Superior? Well, although this photo was shot by a Duluth photographer, all signs point to the rock formation having stood on the shore of Isle Royale. The internet doesn’t easily offer answers on when it collapsed or if it still stands.

The Slice: A Skaters’ Waltz in Duluth

Enjoy a skaters’ waltz across Duluth’s harbor and see familiar landmarks from a different perspective.

In its series The Slice, WDSE-TV presents short “slices of life” that capture the events and experiences that bring people together and speak to what it means to live up north.

Tokle makes streamlined 197-foot jump at Duluth

On Feb. 2, 1941, Norwegian ski-jumper Torger Tokle jumped 203 feet at the new 60-meter ski jump at Fond du Lac. He’s shown in images here hitting 197 feet. An estimated 5,000 spectators were in attendance. Duluth hosted the National Ski Jumping Championship the following year.

Making it Up North: Sarah Agaton Howes

Sarah Agaton Howes stitched history and culture into her business, Heart Berry, specializing in contemporary Ojibwe art and traditional woodlands florals for a contemporary take on Anishinaabe stories and teachings.

WDSE-TV‘s Making it Up North explores stories of creative artists, artisans and entrepreneurs engaged in honing their skills, following their passion and realizing their dreams.

PDD Quiz: January 2021 in Review

The first month of 2021 is in the books! See how much of it you remember with this week’s current events quiz!

The theme of the next quiz, which will be published on Feb. 14, is “I Like it in Duluth.” Submit question suggestions to Alison Moffat at [email protected] by Feb. 10.

Postcard from the Masonic Temple in Duluth

This illustrated postcard of Duluth’s Masonic Temple was mailed 110 years ago today — Jan. 31, 1911. Mrs. Baylis of Cedar Rapids, Iowa was the recipient. The card was sent by one of her children, who was staying at the McKay Hotel.

The Slice: Birding at Sax-Zim Bog

Alexis Powell talks about seeking out northern boreal birds at Sax-Zim Bog, about 30 miles northwest of Duluth.

In its series The Slice, WDSE-TV presents short “slices of life” that capture the events and experiences that bring people together and speak to what it means to live up north.

The Dukes of Hubbard’s Unreleased Originals

From the early 2000s comes this rather extensive collection of live recordings of Duluth band the Dukes of Hubbard. It’s a full three hours — 25 tracks of music with a photo slideshow as the visuals — featuring the six-piece band made up of Ben Wizik, Jimi Cooper, Tim Saxhaug, Russ Sackett, Mike Gomez and Eric Pollard.

Selective Focus: Full Wolf Moon

The January full moon is referred to as the Wolf Moon. Here are some local views of last night’s show.

Two new movie packages join Banff Mountain Film Festival

Two new Banff Mountain Film Festival movie packages hit the internet on Feb. 4 as part of the virtual world tour. Ruby and Sapphire movie bundles are joining the Amber and Onyx movie packages that are already online. The Duluth Cross-country Ski Club receives part of the proceeds when viewers use the link on duluthxc.com to get to the BMFF content.

Morgan Park: Remembering Our Past

Retired Duluth Fire Chief John Strongitharm put together this half-hour photo slideshow depicting the history of Duluth’s Morgan Park neighborhood. It’s been 50 years since United States Steel announced it would begin phasing out its Duluth Mill operations, but much of the Model Community it created in the early 20th century remains.

National Geographic: Saving the Great Lakes

Duluth and Lake Superior were featured in the cover story of the December issue of National Geographic magazine. (No, that’s not Duluth on the cover image; it’s the Empire Bluff Trail in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Michigan. Yes, the article has been out for two months; we’re behind on our reading.)

The article delves into a variety of environmental stressors threatening the Great Lakes, including invasive species, toxic chemicals, agricultural pollutants and coastal development. The full article is available on nationalgeographic.com, but it’s behind a paywall, so get your subscription dollars ready.