Sitting awkwardly between the Duluth Arena and the Radisson Hotel in this photo by Perry Gallagher is a seven-story building that can’t be far from demolition. What was it?
Minnesota Reflections vaguely dates this image as “1974?” but the photo must be from between 1970 and 1972. The Radisson was constructed in 1970 and the Ordean Building was completed in 1973, and there is no sign of the Ordean Building in this photo.
Here’s how Minnesota Reflections captions the image:
A band is playing on the steps of the Federal Building in the Civic Center. The Federal Building is at the right, the St. Louis County Courthouse is behind you and a little to the left. Duluth’s City Hall is not visible, but is at the far left, facing the Federal Building. The cylindrical building is the Radisson Hotel. The Arena Auditorium is just in front of the Aerial Bridge. The span is up: a vessel is either outbound or inbound. Cars and pedestrians on either side of the bridge must wait. They are being “bridged” or stopped by the vessel traffic. On the other side of the tree and the child on the bicycle is the civic center pool and fountain.
So … about the mystery building.
My wild guess at an address would be in the 400 range of West Railroad Street.
Below is a zoom-in on an older aerial photo from before the West Fifth Street bridge was built, showing our mystery building surrounded by other buildings. Feel free to name those buildings, too. Because every mystery leads to new mysteries.
