History
Sacred Heart needs your voice!
The following is from an email by Eric Swanson, Program Coordinator at Sacred Heart Music Center (emphasis added)
Dear Friends of Sacred Heart Music Center,
I am writing you today because of your past support of the Sacred Heart Music Center as either a patron, a donor, a performer or a volunteer. It is through your efforts and contributions that Sacred Heart has been able to continue to provide Duluth with a unique venue for music and the arts and we want you to know how much that support is appreciated.
Now we would like to ask you to lend your voice to our cause and here is how you can help.
On Tuesday, March 22, 2011 the Community Development Committee of the City of Duluth will consider a request from Sacred Heart for a Community Development Block Grant. We are applying for this grant to help pay for major repairs needed to the steeple and roof of the SHMC.
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Mike Page, Mike Fitzsimmons and Tom Houle | Duluth graffiti that wouldn’t fade away
I first took notice of this graffiti in the late 1980s. It’s on the side of the old West Duluth Hotel building, which for many years now has been home to the Italian Village, along with various other businesses.
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Lost Spaces in Duluth
I just wanted to put a general question out there for those that know the city better than me:
What are some existing abandoned buildings you know of in Duluth? (Including places that are in the works of being renovated, or even really unique, big interior spaces that aren’t abandoned).
Duluth mansion demolition makes way for big box store
Well, they have begun to tear down the mansion to make way for the mega Walgreens. Some other houses will be torn down, too. See my post The Last Mansion Between Kitchi Gammi Club and 14th Ave. East.
Duluth library staff revives blog
After a hiatus of a couple of years, the Duluth Public Library Reference staff has begun posting again on its blog Reference @ Duluth.
Library staff will be providing local history articles and information about reference services at the library.
You can check out the blog at dplreference.wordpress.com or go to the library’s home page duluth.lib.mn.us and click on Local History Blog.
Thirteen Moons Anishinaabe Storytelling
In the Ojibwe tradition there are hundreds of stories, some as old as the earth itself. Traditionally, these stories can only be told when there is snow on the ground. This Saturday about a dozen storytellers will be at the Sawyer Center to share some of these amazing stories. Everyone is welcome, the cost is free, but they are asking people to pre-register at the site.
Here’s a schedule
Fond du Lac Sawyer Center
February 19 1pm-6pm
Free Registration starts at 12:15 pm
3243 Moorhead Road, Sawyer, Minnesota
Here’s Jana Peterson’s article about this event from the Cloquet Pine Journal
Historic Housing Project in Morley Heights
I am a journalism student at UMD, working on a story that involves Morley Heights, a neighborhood in East Duluth. I am curious to learn more about this neighborhood that was once constructed in Barksdale, Wis. Many of the homes were then moved to Duluth for employees working at the Marshall-Wells Company. It has been said that some of these homes were probably purchased from the DuPont Company at Barksdale and then each were floated across the lake to be re-constructed in Morley Heights. If someone has more information on this housing project or a connection with a potential source for my story, I would greatly appreciate it!
Quote of the Day
I have this quote framed and hanging on my wall in my den. I found it when I first moved to Duluth. Thought PDD’ers might be interested.
“Sometimes when I become discouraged, I say to myself, I should have gone to another city to seek my fortune. But then I look over these hills and see the natural beauty of our community, I console myself and wonder — where in all the wide world could I find a view like this?” — Samuel Snively
Duluth National Bank
Duluth National Bank, now the West End branch of U.S. Bank, was the subject of a “Where in Duluth?” post a month ago, focusing on its burglar alarm. Note that today’s burglar alarm is apparently not the original. It’s rounded at the top, while the one above is flat at the top.
The photo above appears to be circa 1922, which is when the building was built. The bank was founded in 1910, but was located across the avenue from this location.
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Nuts & Bolts; Silver & Gold: In-depth tour of Glensheen offered
Not your standard house tour: get ready to explore the complexities of Glensheen, the historic Congdon estate. From the innovative to the luxurious, this is a rare opportunity to take a closer look at this national treasure on the shores of Lake Superior. (more…)
Gallery Talk by Jennifer Webb
Saturday, Feb. 12, 2 p.m.
Free and open to the public.
Tweed Museum of Art, University of Minnesota Duluth
Art History is a scholarly treasure hunt! Learn where University of Minnesota Duluth Art History Professor Jennifer Webb‘s research “took” her as she studied works of art hanging in Glensheen: the Historic Congdon Estate, learned more about Chester and Clara Congdon’s collecting practice, and examined treasures in the Glensheen Archive. She will explain how all the “findings” from this academic adventure came together in the article “Golden Age Collecting in America’s Middle West” published in May 2010.
8th Street Video on 9th Street is for sale
I’ve noticed a for sale sign on the 8th Street Video on 9th Street store. Does anyone know why the owners are selling and what the owner’s plans are?
Also does anyone know the history of how 8th Street Video on 9th Street got its name?
What are the biggest sellers here: movies, ice cream or candy?
Laura MacArthur Elementary School A/V Cadets, 1979 to 1984
Do the kids pose with Blu-ray players these days?
For those of you without a roster: Sean Bigler (1979); Tony Brown, Tom Bunkers and Steve Elsmore (1980); Scott Rous, Dominic Jakubek, Jim Gannucci and Patric Doherty (1981); Richie Hennes (1982); Patti Puglisi and Amber Netzel (1983); Chris Vaydich, Matt Pfister and Jason Mahle (1984).
Charred Layer of Mystery Sediment
Last summer I was digging post holes in my yard near 47th Avenue East and Superior Street and was finding, about a foot down, a two-inch band of mysterious ashen charcoal material everywhere I dug.
I doubt many geologists are trolling on PDD, but I wondered if this could’ve been from the great fire of 1918, or if anyone else has discovered a similar oddity? It must take longer than 90 years to accrue over twelve inches of clay.
There was a documentary on the fire recently which mentioned the local neighborhoods affected, mostly to the west. Prehistoric shoreline fire? Site of ancient burning ritual? I guess it would be interesting to know if anyone has evidence of the fire near their dwelling anyway.
1970s pop culture quiz on Piedmont ski trail
The cross-country trail at Piedmont is in great shape … but in what shape is your 1970s pop culture mastery? Know your Lip Smackers from your Mayberry RFD? Test yourself against the punny wisdom of Piedmont’s wooden signs at my North Shore blog.
R.I.P. James Bothwell, 1986 Principal, Morgan Park School
James W. Bothwell died on Jan. 13. He had a long career as a teacher and principal in St. Paul, but in 1986 he had a stint in Duluth as Morgan Park Junior High School’s interim principal, following the mid-school-year retirement of longtime principal Milan S. Karich and preceding the launch of Jon Vomachka’s reign.
I was in seventh grade and not much of an outlaw during Bothwell’s brief term, so I don’t have any good stories to relate, but I remember him seeming to be quite a nice guy. Does anyone have more specific memories to share?
Greysolon Plaza elevator death in 1979 — fact or urban legend?
A woman I know from my hometown is an alumnus of UMD, and said that while she was in school UMD had the same overcrowding problem that it has now. Instead of housing students at Edgewater, they housed them at the Greysolon Plaza. She also said that there was an elevator accident in which some UMD students were killed. I can’t find this information anywhere online, can anyone confirm that this actually happened?
Northern Brewing Company in Superior
I work at what was the old Northern Brewing Company building in Superior, now Balcum Appliance, Inc. Some people stop in and tell me stories about when it was the brewery. I was just doing some research about the building and not much comes up. I was just curious if anyone had a little knowledge about the Northern Brewing Company or stories to share regarding it. I would really love to see pictures of it also. I hear that there was another section of the building which has been torn down. Any information is greatly appreciated.
Duluth’s London Road Motel Row
Back in the 1950s and later on London Road was called Motel Row. Can anybody recall the names of the motels? I can only recall the Viking Motel and the Lake Aire Motel. What were the others? Does anybody have some old postcards to post? I have only the Viking Motel postcard and matches. I wish to recall the others! Chime in please!
The Duluth Mongoose
The true story of how an aroused public saved the life of a single little animal condemned to death by the Federal government.
Blatnik Bridge Under Construction
I found this old slide and thought I would share it since these pictures seem to be a bit rare around here. It is a Kodachrome.
Duluth Arena archive photos and timeline
With the grand opening of Amsoil Arena, the News Tribune Attic has been featuring a look back at its predecessor, the Duluth/DECC Arena, with photos and a timeline of notable events. (more…)
New Year’s Eve Fun and Funny Pool Table
The Lamplighter in Souptown is under new ownership and is re-opening this week! Remember the L-shaped pool table? It could be yours to win! Just come in and register for the free raffle before midnight! The lucky winner will have five days to haul it to it’s new home! Oh, the stories that it could tell.
Duluth’s Point of Rocks
The main personality split in Duluth occurs about where an interfering spine of rocks comes down from the hill to Superior Street just a few blocks west of midtown. West of this point of rocks Duluth is politically left, east of it it is politically right. But there is a certain uniting force in cold weather, of which Duluth has its share.
–From “Duluth,” an essay by Arthur W. Baum
in the April 16, 1949, Saturday Evening Post
The Peerless Auto Body Fire post on PDD sparked some discussion of the former Peerless location near Point of Rocks, which led to some interest in the history of Point of Rocks.
So, here we go …
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