Postcard from the Duluth Board of Trade Building

The postmark is smudged and appears to be from May 1913, but the message on the back of the card is dated May 12, 1912. It shows Duluth’s Board of Trade building, which still stands at 301-307 W. First St. It was built in 1894 to replace the original Board of Trade, which was destroyed by fire that year. Duluth architects Oliver G. Traphagen and Francis W. Fitzpatrick designed the new eight-story Romanesque structure.

The building has sustained significant damage on at least two instances — a fire in 1948 and a wind storm in 2016. It housed grain and commodity trading until 1972 and later became a general office building.

In March the Board of Trade building changed ownership. It was sold to Illinois-based Dubin Does Duluth I for $800,000. Prior to that, Allegra French Dengler of New York had owned the building for more than 20 years.

As for the postcard, it was sent to Mrs. D. W. Faught of Yellow Pine, Ala. from her sister “Echo.”

Dear Sister — I suppose you have been looking for a letter from us, but we have been so busy. Going to finish our house cleaning this week. And there’s a big washing to be done today. Am mailing a small package today for the little ladies. Hope they will be alright. I enclosed some clippings of the Clark trial. Tyliers [?] will be the 26th. Received both letter and card. Will write a long letter soon. Lovingly Echo.

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