Summer of ’65: Car Crashes into Hank’s Grocery

DNTcover13Aug2015

The Duluth News Tribune’s Aug. 13, 1965 edition reports three persons sustained minor injuries when a 71-year-old Duluth woman crashed into the front of Hank’s Grocery at 2332 W. Third St. in the friendly West End neighborhood. The location is the present-day site of Bark Avenue Pet Grooming.

Hank’s Grocery owner Henry Szybczynski was telephoning his home when he heard three cars collide on 24th Avenue West and suddenly saw one car coming straight at him.

“I just had time to step back about three feet into a vestibule,” he said. “The next thing I knew glass was flying everywhere.” Sybczynski received minor cuts. No one else was in the store at the time.

The chain of events began as Mrs. Mary Lee, of 4013 W. 1st St., was traveling south on 24th Avenue West.

Duluth Police Department officials said Mrs. Lee told them the brakes in her car failed as she neared the Third Street intersection.

Her car collided with the rear of a vehicle driven by Miss Marion Kartvedt, 29, of 2772 Wellington St. Miss Kartvedt’s car in turn collided with the rear of a car driven by Mrs. Arla J. Thayer, of 215 N. 35th Ave. W. Both cars were stopped for a traffic light.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Lee’s car had glanced off the Kartvedt car and smashed into the grocery store window, pushing the contents of a soft drink display up against a grocery counter and moving an ice cream cooler about 10 feet.

The West End Fire Department was called when the car overheated after ramming into the building. However, Fire Department authorities said no fire resulted.

Mrs. Lee and a passenger in her car, Mrs. Emma Thompson, 66, of 4022 Grand Ave., were treated for injuries at St. Mary’s Hospital and released. Miss Kartvedt was treated for injuries at St. Luke’s Hospital and released. Mrs. Thayer was not injured.

Crash at Hank's Grocery

Bystanders view the damage after a car crashed through the front of a West End grocery store.

Carlsons at sprinkler

The water sprinkler is the answer for Nancy, Toby and Barbara Carlson.–(Staff photo by Earl Johnson)

Ted Fransk

Ted Fransk gets ready to “pour the coal” to his home-made locomotive for a trip to St. Cloud. The gasoline-powered replica will be part of the 40 Et 8 convention, sponsored by Voiture 919 of Duluth.

Mrs Glen Gumlia

Sporting a taped left wrist, Mrs. Glem Gumlia of Crookston rips an iron shot off the 16th fairway at Ridgeview Country Club.

Stuart

Ev Stuart, microphone in hand, watches from the starters table as golfers tee off on the first tee at the Northland Country Club during the qualifying round of the Northland Invitational tournament.

Steve Wasserman, Tom McCauley and Pat Longrie

Hoisting the State Legion junior baseball title trophy in the victory parade are, from left, Steve Wasserman, Tom McCauley and Pat Longrie.

1 Comment

Paul Lundgren

about 9 years ago

I'm assuming the Steve Wasserman in the last photo is the same one I remember as the offensive line coach for the UW-Superior football team in 1990 -- a very memorable and bombastic guy. He died on Christmas Eve of 2013 from diabetes complications.

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