“Murder House” condemned

Paul Lundgren Nov 15, 2010 21 Comments

MurderHouseCondemned2010

Apparently the “Murder House” in West Duluth has been condemned. I walked by today and noticed some of the crazy signs on the property have been taken down. The neighbor said the place is going to be demolished.

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R.I.P.

21 Comments

conrad

about 13 years ago 

It's kinda sad.  I know if I lived by there I wouldn't think that, but it's kinda a fun corner to go by. There was a house for sale near there a little while ago. I wasn't looking but contemplated a move so I could be by the murder house.

Barrett Chase

about 13 years ago 

Did you get any close-up shots of the signs?

Good Guy

about 13 years ago 

That has been condemned for at least 6 months now.

Bad Cat!

about 13 years ago 

Now that it's empty, feel like giving out the address to those not in the know?

Paul Lundgren

about 13 years ago 

It's on the corner of Fremont St. and S. 64th Ave. W. Here's a zoom in on one of the signs.

Anon

about 13 years ago 

The guy that lived in that house served time in jail for bringing a pistol into a nearby church, pulling it out, and saying crazy things to the pastor.

The "murders" are refering to a dog and the crazy guy's mother. Of course both of these are just delusions.

Laze

about 13 years ago 

I biked by this house one day a couple of summers ago.  Respectively, from the curb, I stopped to read what the signs had to say. They seemed to be a mixture of human rights clauses mixed with the truly delusional rantings of - I'm assuming - a paranoid schizophrenic. As I was reading, the homeowner, a fairly hagrid man resembling Charles Manson - came out of the house and started to rant off at me about the signs.  I asked him "what are these about"? and he went of about the DPD, city hall and any governmental entity with supposed jurisdiction over his property - how they were trying to take his home (who knows?).  I politely cut him off and told him I had to leave (because he was clearly scaring the child I was biking with).

So, in that context:
-Mentally ill 1st ammend. exerciser - 0
-Government - 1

Jim

about 13 years ago 

Where does this guy live now? I still see him in the neighborhood riding his bike. I assumed he still lived at the house.

Chris

about 13 years ago 

I think someone should introduce him to the other crazy sign guy who lives up by Cotton.  I have a feeling they may get along famously and would make wonderful roommates.

adam

about 13 years ago 

I say crazy thing to brothers and nuns all the time. (Un)Fortunately, they're my relatives.

Paul Lundgren

about 13 years ago 

An update to this post: The murder house has now been demolished.

Paul Lundgren

about 13 years ago 

I was walking past the West Duluth Porcupine Hotel today and saw the Murder House guy's bicycle parked nearby. Then I saw several piles of trash on the side of the road. Then I saw a couch cushion come flying out of the bushes. Murder House guy was removing all the garbage from the woods. 

It was good to see him channeling energy toward this purpose. Perhaps one day he will do enough good to make the list of beloved characters in Duluth.

ruby2sd4y

about 13 years ago 

The former owner/bicycle guy passed my mechanic and myself yesterday on a test-drive on the Jamar curve. We each exchanged a friendly wave and nod.

Paul Lundgren

about 13 years ago 

I just came across some photos I shot of the Murder House signs from five years ago.

Bad Cat!

about 13 years ago 

Wow...

adam

about 13 years ago 

Dude, just give up information on perpetual motion so you won't be jailed for a most indefinite time.

Melissa Franklin

about 9 years ago 

I don't know how a couple of you are thinking you can just talk about a human like he isn't anything. The man who lived at that house is my father and he's extremely smart. He might be a little loopy, but I go on the internet for all of the world to see you and talk about your dad like he's just some animal at the zoo or some sideshow. I bet you wouldn't like it. He has ended up like that for many reasons and none of them are your business, but thank you very much.

Paul Lundgren

about 9 years ago 

I've been thinking about this, and as much as I can defend bringing this subject up in the first place and claim my intentions were good, the reality is when I re-read the Murder House posts I feel terrible. There were a lot of things left unstated that made the posts come off more as a mean-spirited laugh at someone's expense than a productive look into an awkward issue in the neighborhood. There is a complex situation here, and if I didn't have the time to do it justice I shouldn't have stepped into it in the first place. I apologize. I really wish Melissa and her father the best.

emmadogs

about 9 years ago 

I've been thinking about it too, ever since Melissa posted this. I actually have kinda stopped posting on PDD, because it seems like, so many times, I become snarky and rude. This has *nothing* to do with PDD, of course, but it has everything to do with me and with the rude entity I morph into sometimes here. It sure doesn't speak well of me. Anyway, others have observed it and it is very true: it is easy to speak at someone's expense online in a way one would never, ever otherwise speak.

Paul, your posts are always thoughtful and funny, so thank you.

Angela Betzold Vadnais

about 8 years ago 

I just ran across this for the first time!  

An update date on Daryl (the former owner). He still lives in our neighborhood though now homeless. He watches over our neighborhood and keeps the area clean. If we don't see him around every few days we get worried.

Daryl does have some issues but is a wonderful, extremely smart man. My husband and I have learned so much from him! From gardening and fishing to carpentry. Melissa, your dad is well liked in West Duluth.

Melissa Franklin

about 4 years ago 

Thank you. I hope he is okay.

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