Denfeld High School
Then and Now: Denfeld High School
This aerial photo comparison shows Denfeld High School as it looked in 1947 and in 2025. The building first opened in 1926 — 100 years ago — and has seen several additions since then, including a gynasium wing in 1987 and a science wing and common area in 2011. The athletic stadium on campus saw a major renovation in 2002 when a new grandstand was built and the natural grass was replaced with artificial turf. (more…)
Denfeld Lip Dub 2025: “Crazy in Love”
Denfeld High School students marked the end of another school year by releasing the traditional lip-syncing video. This year’s production is set to Beyoncé’s 2003 hit song “Crazy in Love.” It was edited by Denfeld sophomore Tamia Bowles.
Indecent Proposal – “Behind Her Eyes”
The music video for Duluth band Indecent Proposal‘s romantic tragedy “Behind Her Eyes” was shot in the historic auditorium at Denfeld High School. It was released in November and has since amassed more then 195,000 views. (more…)
Select Images from the 1941 Denfeld Oracle
The Internet Archive hosts the 1941 edition of the Denfeld Oracle. My friends’ grandparents — those are the folks I am looking for in here, I think. And a nod to “then and now.” (more…)
Greater Denfeld Foundation thriving after 50 years
Peyton Bradbury, left, was awarded a Marie V. Saltwick Scholarship and the Greater Denfeld Foundation Health Science Award at Denfeld Honors Night in May. He’s in the nursing program at Umass Boston. Xander Schroeder, right, received an Armond Hauge Scholarship, a Greater Denfeld Foundation Award and the Matt Kero #4 Memorial Scholarship. He’s at the University of Minnesota Duluth studying computer science.
Public school students in western Duluth who pursue post-secondary education have found a wealth of scholarship money available in recent decades. It’s all because of groundwork laid 50 years ago, and the generosity of generations of Denfeld High School graduates.
The Greater Denfeld Foundation has been reducing the financial burden of college for Denfeld students since 1972, and has grown to be one of the largest public school scholarship funds in the country. It presently manages more than $8 million in assets according to board president Gary Eckenberg, who graduated from Denfeld in 1968. More than $2 million in scholarships have been awarded to date. (more…)
Sexy 1938 Denfeld Beanie
Beanies are not likely to make any back-to-school fashion lists in 2022, but at some point in time Denfeld High School had a line of round, brimless, snug-fitting, maroon-and-gold skullcaps. (more…)
Armistice Day Parade, Football and Moonshine Mishap of 1921
In addition to the parade in Downtown Duluth, Armistice Day of 1921 featured two big football games. The Denfeld High School eleven traveled to Coleraine to play for the northern section championship, while the Duluth Kaycees hosted the Minneapolis Marines to determine the state’s professional championship. But the hilarity of the day occurred three miles outside of Floodwood. (more…)
Denfeld High School: Tower of Opportunity
Although this brochure for Denfeld High School has a 1991 copyright, the photos appear to be circa 1987-88. Alert eyeballs will spot current Denfeld principal Tom Tusken and Duluth School Board member Alanna Oswald as students in the photos. (more…)
Denfeld Jazz Band – “Up on the Housetop”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKZ0M8uzZC4
This video of the Denfeld Jazz Band’s arrangement of “Up on the Housetop” was created for the televised version of the Christmas City of the North Virtual Parade.
Denfeld 2020 Virtual Graduation
Though the COVID-19 pandemic kept Denfeld’s class of 2020 from gathering in the school’s auditorium for commencement, many of the school’s traditions were kept. WDSE-TV and producer/editor Mike Scholtz captured the highlights in this documentary.
Denfeld takes Heritage title; Hermantown wins Hilltopper
Denfeld’s hockey team celebrates its victory in the Heritage Holiday Classic.
(Photo by Bruce Woodman)
The Denfeld Hunters emerged as the 2019 Heritage Hockey Classic champions on Dec. 28, while the Hermantown Hawks captured the trophy in the Hilltopper Holiday Classic. Prep hockey tournaments on the weekend after Christmas have become an annual tradition in Duluth during the past decade.
Denfeld defeated Owatonna 2-1 in overtime to claim its title, with Griffin Lehet scoring the game-winning goal.
Hermantown dominated the Hilltopper tourney, defeating Buffalo in the final game by a 7-1 margin.
Denfeld High School Football Team of 1944
Here’s a peek at what the Denfeld Hunters gridiron crew looked like 75 years ago, in the fall of 1944. That’s legendary coach Walt Hunting up top and center. (more…)
Denfeld Lip Dub 2019: “Thank You, Next”
This year’s video from the Denfeld Senior class features customized lyrics and a vocal performance by Kelly Killorin. Video by Mya Halvorson, Kelly Killorin, and Jeremiah Larson. Congratulations seniors! Go Hunters!
Denfeld Lip Dub 2018: “God’s Plan”
Released about six months later than usual and on a budget of $0, the annual Denfeld High School lip dub video is finally out, featuring the song “God’s Plan” by Drake.
Beyond the Gridiron: Made in Duluth
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54htLY9p7qc
Season 1, episode 11 of the Minnesota Vikings video series “Beyond the Gridiron” profiles Duluth native C.J. Ham, telling the story of his journey from Denfeld High School to the National Football League.
Hall-pass crackdown at Denfeld riles some students, parents
New measures at Denfeld High School designed to limit the time students spend outside class prompted some angry social media posts last week suggesting it restricted students from accessing restrooms.
“No more permission to pee,” read a graphic accompanying some of the posts on Facebook.
Denfeld Principal Tonya Sconiers was not available for comment this week, but said via email the school does not have a new lavatory policy. (more…)
Select Images from the 1948 Denfeld Oracle
The Denfeld class of 1948 held its 70th reunion last week. Marking that occasion and the upcoming return to school, we present select images from the 1948 Denfeld Oracle, the school’s annual yearbook. (more…)
Foreigner with the Dave Eggar Orchestra and Denfeld Maroon 16 Choir – “I Want to Know What Love Is”
Denfeld High School’s Maroon 16 choir sings “I Want to Know What Love Is” with Foreigner at Symphony Hall in the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center.
Video: Denfeld tops Cloquet in basketball with desperation heave
Denfeld junior Joe Cvancara hits a game-winning three pointer at the buzzer last night as the Hunters defeat the Cloquet Lumberjacks 71-68.
Dorothy Arnold Photo Gallery
In tribute to actress Dorothy Arnold — born Dorothy Arnoldine Olson on Nov. 21, 1917 — a gallery or glamorous promotional and press photos. Click any image to see it full size instead of as a thumbnail. (more…)
Denfeld vs. Central: 1922 Football Stalemate
Duluth’s Jay Sonnenburg found these 1922 photos among his grandfather’s collection. They depict scenes at Athletic Park in West Duluth, where Duluth Central and Denfeld did battle on the gridiron. (more…)
Video Archive: Denfeld Class of 1992
Break out the Aqua Net and backward baseball caps, we’ve dug 25 years deep into the video vault to bring you a little “DHS VHS.” Yes, it’s the full and glorious one-hour and 13 minutes of the clumsily titled Duluth Denfeld Senior High School Class of ’92 Senior Class Video, compiled by Cyborg Productions of Prior Lake, Minn. (more…)
Antique photos: Denfeld High School under construction
Jay Sonnenburg found this photo in his grandfather’s collection. It shows Denfeld High School under construction on the lower edge, which puts the year of the image around 1926. The groundbreaking ceremony for the building was held March 6, 1925; it opened for classes on Sept. 8, 1926. (more…)
Duluth native Ham moves to fullback position with Vikings
Minnesota Vikings running back C.J. Ham has been lining up at fullback during the team’s 2017 rookie mini-camp. The Duluth native broke into the NFL last season as a tailback.
Ham was on the Vikings practice squad in 2016 and was briefly on the active roster but did not play in a regular season game, making him eligible to participate in this season’s rookie camp. Vikings Team Reporter Eric Smith wrote on Vikings.com today that during team drills Ham “lined up as a fullback in front of Vikings rookie Dalvin Cook.” (more…)