Where in Duluth? (Stone Edition)

Gina Temple-Rhodes Oct 20, 2017 3 Comments

Who knows where this carving exists in Duluth? Bonus points: what is it depicting and why?

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Photos Where in Duluth?

3 Comments

Paul Lundgren

about 7 years ago

A few responses via Facebook:

Lawrence Scott Lee: I'm going to guess the Education Administration building and they are two Lacrosse sticks because Duluth Central was a Lacrosse powerhouse back in the late 1800s.

Julie Deters: Looks like the quintessential image of crossed paddles.

Lars Waldner: KFC on Central Ave. It depicts their chicken legs because they are delicious.

Lucie B. Amundsen: The Mason building? Depicting something super secret?

Scott Allen: I think it’s by the opera house and those are pins traditionally used by performing jugglers...

Zoey Cohen: KFC. Brotherhood of fried chicken.

We have a sort-of winner in Lawrence Scott Lee... this is indeed "Old Central," and this is above the door of the Gymnasium entrance. This wing was added in 1926. It took me a while to figure it out, but I am pretty sure they are Indian Clubs (sorry for un-PC name- actually refers to India). This was a popular fitness craze at the time and apparently a gymnasium on the Range still had these around into the 1980s. The other carvings above the door depict boxing gloves and barbells (or maybe a giant button?)

Gina Temple-Rhodes

about 7 years ago

Boxing gloves, yes? Things you do in a gymnasium, of course. At least in the 1920s. I am frankly impressed at the efforts made to match the original building and stone in an addition made so many years later (original building finished in 1892, wing in 1926). Now here's an expert level question: were these small carvings done by the same carver who worked on the original part of the building in the 1890s? He was still alive in 1926. O. George Thrana

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