The College of St. Scholastica held a mud volleyball tournament a decade ago. Maybe it's a spring tradition that still goes on. I don't know. I must have taken some action shots of the game, but if I did they are in serious storage. The only photo I thought was special is this filthy young couple having extra curricular fun. I wonder if they're still together.

Posted by Paul Lundgren at 11:38 AM | Permalink | 2 comments, last by Barrett
Filed under Duluth History

PART 1

PART 2

Posted with permission from Monroe. Click on the strip for larger version.

Posted by Starfire at 08:18 AM | Permalink | 16 comments, last by heiko
Filed under Art | Creepy Duluth Stuff | Current Events | Duluth History | Duluth Scene | Funny Stuff | Serious Substantive Matters

Posted by adam at 09:14 PM | Permalink | 17 comments, last by hbh
Filed under Creepy Duluth Stuff | Current Events | Duluth History | For Sale | Media Watch

Before there was a Homegrown Music Festival, we had these little Beltane bonfires on Wisconsin Point every year. It worked well the first time we did it, in maybe 1995, but every year after that it was freezing cold.

Continue reading "From the Photo Archive | May 1, 1998" »

Posted by Paul Lundgren at 04:12 PM | Permalink | 2 comments, last by Zoey
Filed under Duluth History

A speech concerning a proposed landgrant for a railroad in 1871, given before congress by Rep J. Proctor Knott of Kentucky, and presented by a Minor Local Celebrity....

Posted by kokigami at 04:30 PM | Permalink | 9 comments, last by Grizzly Smith
Filed under Duluth History

They were all past their primes, but they were still far more entertaining than the younger wrestlers. Da Crusher, Bobby "The Brain" Heenan and "Superstar" Billy Graham put on quite a show at the Duluth Arena over 20 years ago.

Continue reading "From the Photo Archive | Fall 1987" »

Posted by Paul Lundgren at 10:31 AM | Permalink | 11 comments, last by -Berv
Filed under Duluth History

My photos are up on Flickr. I tagged them GeekProm2008.

Posted by Starfire at 11:51 AM | Permalink | 12 comments, last by Girl From the North Country
Filed under Creepy Duluth Stuff | Duluth History | Duluth Scene | Funny Stuff | Geeky | Photos

with a picture of a cute puppy.

Posted by Drifter at 02:33 PM | Permalink | 4 comments, last by Bender
Filed under Duluth History

Come hear Duluthian Hans Johnson, founder of the Maasai Cultural Foundation (and drummer of Dance Band) speak about his recent work helping the Maasai build a school where over 100 adults are learning to read and write. Music will be a part of the lecture, but it will be that of the Maasai people - not Dance Band.

"Exchanging Spears for Books: The Maasai School Project"
Presented by Hans Johnson,
Founder of the Maasai Cultural Foundation
Wednesday, March 12, 2008 - 7 p.m.
University of Minnesota Duluth
Fourth Floor Library Rotund
Free and open to the public - Reception following lecture

Continue reading ""Exchanging Spears for Books: The Maasai School Project"" »

Posted by Purple at 02:26 PM | Permalink | 6 comments, last by huitz
Filed under Duluth History | Promotion | Recommendations

The first professional wrestler I ever met was Gary “Lurch” Lindgren. He was known as the Blaster back then. His gimmick was based on a character from the movie Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome.

Continue reading "From the Photo Archive | Spring 1987" »

Posted by Paul Lundgren at 11:57 AM | Permalink | 5 comments, last by kokes
Filed under Duluth History

I am having NO LUCK in my attempts in locating a DULUTH ESKIMOS LOGO

{Preferably something LARGE/High-resolution}

Any suggestions or links outside of the typical google-image-search
would be appreciated.

Thanks! Duluth

Posted by boywonder at 10:10 AM | Permalink | 10 comments, last by Girl From the North Country
Filed under Duluth History

"March" into Mentoring Kickoff Soup Lunch
Monday, March 3rd, 11:30-1:30, YMCA lobby (302 W 1st St)
Cost: Donations accepted

We are looking for 31 mentors in 31 days. Is it possible? Nearly 200 youth waiting for mentors certainly hope so. Invite a friend to the lunch and find out more about mentoring! For more information, call 722-4745 x 120.

This March, make a difference in a child's life. Become a mentor.

Posted by Megan at 03:44 PM | Permalink | 2 comments, last by Buttonhead
Filed under Duluth History | Duluth News | I Need Your Service | Promotion

Walter Allen Bennett.

02.22.08 @ 2258

Posted by in.dog.neato at 01:58 PM | Permalink | 21 comments, last by Bashibaby
Filed under Current Events | Duluth History | Duluth News | Duluth Scene | Photos | Promotion

was just reading on the DNT site about last year in mid February.. remember? That was when we all had the lake frozen and clear of snow.

Couple of cool pdd posts from then

vicarious photos

Umbrella skate sailing

Ice Cracking

Last winter was pretty hard on the vegetation, what with little snow and super cold temps, but it did produce that magic little span of time

Posted by edgeways at 04:20 PM | Permalink | 1 comment by The Big E
Filed under Duluth History

I was inspired by this post to make this T-shirt design. Want one?

Posted by Starfire at 04:26 PM | Permalink | 37 comments, last by stormskater
Filed under Duluth History | For Sale | Promotion

Andrew Krueger of the DNT has started a new blog called News Tribune Attic, featuring photos of and stories about the Twin Ports from the past. There's stuff from way back of course, but I enjoy the more "recent" news items, such as the thwarted A&W drive-in on Woodland in 1998 or the Grand Avenue Holiday station in 1981.

It'll be nice to see how this progresses.

Posted by Barrett at 01:43 AM | Permalink | 17 comments, last by Cynic
Filed under Duluth History | Recommendations | Web Fun

Citizens of Duluth: In approximately three months, a/k/a one quarter of a year, Homegrown will commence.

Continue reading "Count-down ... begins" »

Posted by cork1 at 01:10 AM | Permalink | 26 comments, last by edgeways
Filed under Duluth History | Music

I've been developing an idea for a Duluth/Superior history column called "Back in the Day." You might see it in a local periodical at some point, or maybe you won't. I'm publishing the pilot here and now, because it's specific to this month.

Continue reading "Hazel Rogers commits suicide in a disreputable resort" »

Posted by Paul Lundgren at 05:35 AM | Permalink | 17 comments, last by ....
Filed under Duluth History

It’s important to recognize and honor weird, secluded locations for outdoor alcohol consumption. In West Duluth, back in the day, the quarry was the best of those places.

Continue reading "From the Photo Archive | Circa 1995" »

Posted by Paul Lundgren at 03:37 PM | Permalink | 5 comments, last by jill
Filed under Duluth History

Posted by Starfire at 07:47 AM | Permalink | 6 comments, last by Claire
Filed under Duluth History | Found Stuff | Politics

Jello Shots, Music, Friends, Art and Lumpy Claus.

Thanks to all who made it to the 6th annual Monroe Holiday Art Show.

A slideshow can be viewed on Flickr.

Posted by Starfire at 11:05 AM | Permalink | 1 comment by ms dean
Filed under Duluth History | Photos

Found a couple galleries of historic photos and recent aerial photographs during a random search.

Posted by adam at 02:11 AM | Permalink | 1 comment by sillygoose
Filed under Duluth History | Photos

http://www.sltrib.com/ci_7623949

This might interest some of you because Vicki Gowler is quoted in it. She is the former editor of the Duluth News Tribune who left to become editor of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Now she's the editor of the Idaho Statesman, and making national news with continuing coverage of the Sen. Craig arrest.

Posted by Beverly at 11:24 PM | Permalink | 0 comments
Filed under Current Events | Duluth History | Politics

Continue reading "It's baaack..." »

Posted by tamara at 04:41 PM | Permalink | 18 comments, last by Scribbler
Filed under Creepy Duluth Stuff | Current Events | Duluth History | Duluth News | Duluth Scene | Politics

Dorothy Arnold would be 90 years old today. We should all be watching The Phantom Creeps right now.

Posted by Paul Lundgren at 06:57 AM | Permalink | 2 comments, last by zra...
Filed under Duluth History

We called it the Denfeld Luge Team, though it wasn’t sponsored or governed by Denfeld High School, and it involved nothing more than sliding on $7 orange, plastic Paris-brand sleds.

Continue reading "From the Photo Archive | Winter 1990" »

Posted by Paul Lundgren at 12:07 PM | Permalink | 11 comments, last by RevAaron
Filed under Duluth History

Posted by laurie at 11:05 PM | Permalink | 3 comments, last by purple
Filed under Duluth History

it was in Fitgers. this picture will be 3 years old on Monday.

Posted by -Berv at 09:12 PM | Permalink | 5 comments, last by cathyp
Filed under Duluth History

It turns out, taping a prophylactic package onto someone’s baseball cap while he’s asleep is quite entertaining. The longer it takes for him to figure it out, the funnier it gets. If he makes it all the way home and his mother sees it, that’s comic gold.

The important thing is to not act natural, as if there’s nothing on his head. That’s no fun. You have to call him a rubberhead, and make strange comments like, “John, you certainly are ribbed for my pleasure this morning.”

Go ahead and get out the camera. Pose with him and point at the object of your amusement. You don’t have anything to lose, and if you get away with it, well, the laughter continues for at least 16 years.

Posted by Paul Lundgren at 04:56 PM | Permalink | 8 comments, last by Hotrod
Filed under Duluth History

Renee had a photography class at the university. From time to time, we had to go around looking for things to take pictures of. If the natural scenery wasn’t enough, we would go get Barrett. He was always good for high jinks.

“How about we make a sign that says ‘No leapfrog,’ and then we leapfrog in front of it?” he would suggest. None of us had a computer, so what seemed like a simple idea required going to the store for a big black marker and spending a half hour on careful letter work.

Sometimes it was easy though. “Take this stick and climb up here with me. On guard!”

There’s no telling how many different photos from this set are in an attic somewhere or were thrown away long ago. There are only two I have copies of, so there are only two I remember — keepsakes from our staged fun.

Posted by Paul Lundgren at 03:32 PM | Permalink | 7 comments, last by Barrett
Filed under Duluth History

image via DNT website.

I went to my first Smork free bar last night. It is even better than I imagined. Thank you big Government for depriving us of the right to smoke indoors. Thank you from the bottom of my heart and lungs.

Posted by Starfire at 07:46 AM | Permalink | 31 comments, last by zra...
Filed under Current Events | Duluth History | Good Riddance

It could be worse.

Posted by Xpat at 02:21 PM | Permalink | 12 comments, last by xpat
Filed under Duluth History

This is the most amazing story I have heard in a while. Via the DNT.

'The only guy running nude in Duluth': Observation Hill couple recounts how they thwarted burglar
Mark Stodghill
Duluth News Tribune - 09/07/2007

Wayne and Kathie Boniface returned from a dinner at an Observation Hill neighbor’s home Thursday night to find a burglar in their house.

Kathie Boniface asked the burglar who he was? “I’m with the FBI and you are blowing my cover,’’ the burglar said.

When Wayne Boniface got done with the intruder, he had no cover.

The suspect ran from the home carrying less than he came with. A lot less.

Read full story here.

Posted by Starfire at 05:17 PM | Permalink | 23 comments, last by ironic1
Filed under Anecdotes | Creepy Duluth Stuff | Current Events | Duluth History | Duluth News

Barrett saw a notice on the bulletin board at work. It was an invitation to a scavenger hunt run by some coworker he had never met. The instructions were to gather in her garage in Superior, where the lists of the items in the hunt would be passed out.

Continue reading "From the Photo Archive | Fall 1996" »

Posted by Paul Lundgren at 04:25 PM | Permalink | 6 comments, last by maria
Filed under Duluth History

I must say that it is great that when I come to PDD that I see a new picture every time on the top banner. Today it was the sprockets at the entrance to the old Steel Plant entrance. I can remember playing on them sprockets after church waiting for the social hour to be over with. It was usually me, the Backstrom clan, Bucsko, and Darrin Maas. Makes you wonder where everyone is from the good ole days. Even though I have long since moved away, the years growing up in each of our respective places in Duluth probably have mirrored memories with just different locations.

Thank you to those who post the great pics and allow these memories to flow.

Posted by Jeff at 05:17 PM | Permalink | 1 comment by clip
Filed under Duluth History

By age 15, our hormones were in full gear. We knew of places downtown where you could see naked women — either on film or in the flesh. We wondered what it was like inside, but we didn’t really want to go in.

Going inside was for weird old men. We were young. We had our whole lives in front of us. We had reputations to uphold. Besides, they wouldn’t let us in anyway. Or would they? There’s only one way to find out.

Some things, however, are best kept a mystery. All we really wanted was a picture at the door, a gag photo to show our friends, who just might believe we saw the finest in adult entertainment. If they did, though, we’d tell them the truth right away.

Whatever was going on inside — women being exploited, men doing things in public they should only do in private — we didn’t want to be associated with it. But we certainly thought it must be funny.

“How’d you like to have to clean the floors in there?” was the obvious joke. “I think I saw your dad go in there last night with a can of Crisco under his arm. It was right after he left the Last Place on Earth.”

Twenty years later, the Strand is long gone. A luxury residential development is on the way. A new class of perverts will move in and watch their porno on high-definition TVs. Another old theater, two blocks east, already has strippers waiting for them.

Posted by Paul Lundgren at 01:58 PM | Permalink | 3 comments, last by bud
Filed under Duluth History

Eclipse Productions presents the hottest band in the world … KISS! Live in the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center Arena. It’s the “Hot in the Shade” tour, featuring the hit song “Forever” (written by Michael Bolton!).

Festival seating means we’ll compete in a battle royale with 5,000 people, all fighting for Bruce Kulick’s guitar pick. And, of course, the guy in the Yosemite Sam shirt takes home the prize.

In my hand is a pair of glasses that were trampled by the crowd. Who’s to say what’s a souvenir and what’s a piece of garbage? I kept the glasses and got rid of the hip-hop British Knights hat.

The true relic in this shot is the T-shirt I’m wearing. You can’t see the gold logo very well, but it says “Chinese Lantern – Brass Phoenix.” If anything can kick Yosemite Sam’s ass, that would be it.

Posted by Paul Lundgren at 10:26 AM | Permalink | 5 comments, last by Barrett
Filed under Duluth History

The basement is where the fun happens. There’s a recreation room down there with hideous carpet and completely expendable furniture. Dogs play cards there. The Minnesota Twins are world champions forever. The magic eight-ball has all the answers.

Who bought that latch-hook kit and made a U.S. flag out of yarn? Where did that big ceramic monkey come from? Is that an autographed photo of Adam West with an exploded balloon covering his Batman face?

There are boxes of old clothing in the back room, near the half-empty paint cans and dusty whipped topping containers filled with old screws and unidentifiable appliance parts. It’s like a miniature Goodwill store back there. It opens every Halloween or whenever the urge to play “dress up” takes hold.

There once were people who wore this clothing seriously. They thought it was attractive, and it probably was. Eventually, however, these garments became the stuff of ridicule. Wearing them requires performing the role of some exaggerated character.

Aunt Ellen needed that cane to walk. Eventually, she needed a four-legged cane -- a “walker.” They were serious tools that increased her mobility. Now that she’s gone, they are a joke. “Look at me. I’m old!” says the hunched-over teenager, his friends laughing at the absurdity of it all.

Posted by Paul Lundgren at 08:21 AM | Permalink | 7 comments, last by Pune
Filed under Duluth History

I just learned Don Lafontaine (aka that movie announcer guy, Thunder Throat, Voice of God et al) is from Duluth. Another local boy done good. So good he makes millions doing this.

Learn more here

Posted by jonswan at 09:59 AM | Permalink | 5 comments, last by poof
Filed under Duluth History

Whatever became of you, Dee Dee Kubishak? It’s been almost 30 years since our whirlwind romance. It seemed like we would be together forever.

And then your family moved. I don’t remember if I ever knew where. You could have said Cloquet or Argentina and it would have meant the same thing to me.

Life goes on, doesn’t it? So many things have happened since you left. Did you know they built a new bridge to Superior?

Mr. Bordwell cut down his trees and planted new ones. When I was in sixth grade I could still jump over them. I think they’re 20 feet tall now.

Your old house by the railroad tracks is still there. It doesn’t look abandoned, but I haven’t seen anyone go in or out since you left it.

Mikie died a few months ago. His mother sent me a card and told me to share it with the other kids from the neighborhood. I wish I could share it with you.

Dee Dee, my life has been blessed with so much love and friendship. I hope yours has, too. And I hope you remember me once in a while.

I’m still right where you left me, standing by the evergreens with my hands in my pockets, probably fresh from some strange mischief.

Posted by Paul Lundgren at 09:33 AM | Permalink | 5 comments, last by tony b
Filed under Duluth History

Below the NorShor mezzanine, either relaxing after some good band or avoiding some crappy band, Barrett Chase, John Ramos, Trish DeLude and some guy with poofy hair.

Posted by Paul Lundgren at 11:53 AM | Permalink | 8 comments, last by zra...
Filed under Duluth History

While looking through KUMD archive photos for our 50th anniversary celebration this weekend, I came across this one of Laurie, PDD'er and UMD's 1996 Student Volunteer of the Year. I had no idea you were so award winning, Laurie.

Posted by ms dean at 02:45 PM | Permalink | 3 comments, last by laurie
Filed under Duluth History