July 1909 — Seven billion gallons of water falls on the Duluth area in two days. Grass, trees, timbers, paving blocks, mud and debris are washed down the city’s hillside during the torrential rainfall. Two children drown after being swept out of their mother’s arms.
Within two weeks a postcard is made, and the mood on the back doesn’t quite seem to fit the mood on the front.
For the sake of mental health, we tend not to wallow in despair for long. Any number of things could be pulling you down today — from the serious struggles of life to silly things like Memorial Day parade politics — and you must deal with it in your own way. The tragic loss of the Romano boys can still hang in our hearts 100 years later, but you have to believe there’s a perfect Duluth day awaiting you. It could be today, if you allow it.
In the words of M. K. Stewart: “Duluth is certainly very pretty. Will tell you all about it when I see you.”
