Collections and Memorabilia Posts

Photos from Old Central’s 1890s Classroom and Clock Tower

Jul 16, 2021 1 Comment

This oil painting of Old Central was donated to the school in 1970 by the class of 1949. It was painted by Central alum Jo Kossett.

The original Central High School, which later became Duluth Public Schools’ Central Administration Building, aka Historic Old Central, will soon enter its next phase. Saturday Properties, a development and management firm based in St. Louis Park, plans to turn the Richardsonian Romanesque-style building into 121 mixed-income apartments. The project is called Zenith DCHS.

Collected in this post are images from inside the 1890s Classroom Museum at Old Central and the interior of the building’s clock tower, shot during a tour on July 2.

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History, Photos ,

Duluth is the Summer City of the Continent

Jun 20, 2021 No Comments

Happy solstice! This magazine advertisement from 1918 promotes the summer weather and charm of Duluth, including the “hundreds of miles of perfect roads.”

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History

Duluth Dukes bus for sale on Facebook Marketplace

May 23, 2021 No Comments

An interesting ad for a 1956 Flxible Visicoach popped up May 4 on Facebook. The destination sign on the bus reads “Duluth Dukes.” Apparently, it’s a former team bus.

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History, Sports , ,

Winter Sports in Duluth, 1929

Feb 10, 2021 4 Comments

This brochure from 1929 highlights “Winter Sports in Duluth,” including the old toboggan chute at Chester Park, as seen on the cover.

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History, Outdoors, Sports , ,

Matchbooks from Duluth Restaurants and Bars

Jan 19, 2021 4 Comments

Perfect Duluth Day published its first gallery of Duluth-area matchbooks in 2015. Since then, the collection has grown significantly. This new post features only matchbooks from bars and restaurants in Duluth. Some of them have been pulled out of the original post and placed in this new post; others are appearing for the first time.

Enjoy the nostalgia and, whatever you do, for the love of humanity, please close cover before striking.

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History, Restaurants , ,

Duluth Athletic Club Cigar Box

Oct 28, 2020 No Comments

Because nothing says physical fitness like a box of stogies.


History, Sports ,

“The Snowbirds are coming!” Duluth Airbase Open House, 1980

Jul 31, 2020 No Comments

Forty years ago today.


History ,

Sexy Duluth Sweatshirt from 1988

May 03, 2020 No Comments

This gorgeous piece of high fashion has a copyright date of 1988 and a set of initials that must be in reference to the artist, “A.V. – A.W.” The design is likely based on a photo from the 1970s, because the Northern Drug Company building is included in the art, and that building was torn down in 1977.

Anyway, if you think the front of this sweatshirt is smoking hot, wait for it …

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Random ,

WDIO-TV Personalities Circa Early 1970s

Aug 14, 2019 No Comments

Dennis Anderson, anchor
Bill Stefl, sports
Jack McKenna, weather
Jim Schwinn


History ,

Duluth Trivia Deck Sampler #15

Aug 13, 2019 No Comments

Ah hah! Here is maybe a better way to share the cards from the Duluth Trivia game I bought at Savers. I destroyed all the bits that were not Duluth-centric, and I am destroying the cards as I use them here. I own waaaay too much stuff.

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History

Thunder Bay loves Duluth

May 07, 2019 3 Comments

One thing this discounted T-shirt makes fairly clear: Duluth will not automatically reciprocate your love.

Thanks to Tomasz Majewski for finding it.


Random

National Bank Notes of Duluth

Apr 23, 2019 1 Comment

There are still a few national currency bank notes with Duluth bank names floating around, mostly held by collectors. This type of currency was eliminated in the 1930s. The note above is from Northern National Bank of Duluth and was issued in 1908. In the portrait is U.S. Treasury Secretary Hugh McCulloch, who also named the streets in Duluth’s Lakeside neighborhood, including one after himself. (More on McCulloch in the comments.)

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History ,

Duluth’s Lodging & Dining … circa 1979-’82

Apr 02, 2019 6 Comments

This promotional pamphlet is from roughly 1980. Within the text might be clues that narrow down a specific year.

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History, Restaurants ,

Duluth City Blocks Puzzles

Mar 14, 2019 No Comments

Apparently a person or entity named P.J. Kossett obtained a copyright in 1978 for the purpose of manufacturing “City Blocks,” a collection of “six puzzles of Duluth scenes.” Shown above is the Duluth Depot, aka St. Louis County Heritage and Arts Center. Also featured in the puzzles: Leif Erikson Park, Ore boat entering harbor, Canal Park, Enger Tower and Spirit Mt. Ski Chalet.

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History ,

Postcards and Relics from the Duluth Flame Restaurant

Jan 23, 2019 3 Comments

This undated postcard shows off one of Duluth’s best-remembered restaurants, the Flame, which operated off-and-on at multiple locations in various forms from the 1930s to the 1980s. At the time of the postcard above, the Flame was at 353 S. Fifth Ave. W., where the Great Lakes Aquarium is today. The Flame operated on the waterfront from 1946 to 1973 and reopened there in 1983.

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History, Restaurants , , ,