Paul Lundgren
1935 Wheaties box featuring Frank “Butch” Larson
Duluth native Frank “Butch” Larson appeared on Wheaties cereal boxes in 1935. Finding one of those boxes after 74 years might be a challenge. (more…)
You better shutup all that screamin’
Three kids are playing or doing whatever in their backyard. I can’t see them, I can only hear them because they’re all yelling at each other.
Suddenly, the voice of what is likely the father drowns them all out with, “You better shutup all that screamin’!”
I’m not questioning this parenting method at all; I’m just telling the story as a fan of irony.
(Additional irony is that this follows the “Peaceful Waves” post. Serenity now!)
It’s hard to watch a house come down
This house at 738 N. Central Ave. in West Duluth was ripped down yesterday to make way for the new Laura MacArthur Elementary School. I think the new school will be great, and I have no particular reason to be sentimental about this house or any of the others on the block, but there’s something that punches me in the gut when I watch a house get smashed to bits. (more…)
Historic Day at Denfeld
Ten new members were inducted into Denfeld High School’s Hunter Hall of Fame on Saturday. At the end of the ceremony, descendants of Robert E. Denfeld and Walter Hunting were brought to the stage. Although the phrase “Denfeld Hunters” has been around since the 1930s, the Denfeld and Hunting families had never met before. (Photo by Butch Williams)
Sgt. Hamil’s behind-the-back strikeout pitch
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oP3suTQo_kM
August 3, 2009 | Wheeler Fields, Duluth MN
“Most luckiest” indeed, as Sarge has thrown at least one behind-the-back pitch every game this season without success, knowing eventually he’d land one. The batter seems frozen in disbelief, not even considering taking a swing.
End of Stagecoaches in Duluth
On August 1, 1870, the St. Paul and Lake Superior Stagecoaches ceremoniously quit service with the opening of the Lake Superior and Mississippi Railroad. On this day, the first train arrived in Duluth from St. Paul, a roughly 150-mile trip that took 16 hours.
–Susan Marks, Historic Photos of Minnesota
Turner Publishing Company, 2009
Yeah! Demolition Derby! Yeah!
Thank you, Head of the Lakes Fair.
I think the announcer said a guy named Matt from Superior was the winner. Really, in a smash-up derby, everyone wins.
Not that this is a newsflash or anything, but holy living Christ God Almighty does Ticketmaster suck big, wet ones or what? I mean, REALLY? Are they EFFing serious?!?
Tickets to Daniel Johnston at First Avenue are $14 each. So, two tickets would be $28, right? That seems reasonable to me.
What? Oh, there’s a service charge. Well, I suppose that’s not a big deal. How much more could it be, really?
What? Over 60 percent more? All right, in that case I guess I’ll just throw my keyboard through my monitor and change my plans for Aug. 13.
Advance tickets/ages 18+ with valid ID — US $14.00 x 2
Total Building Facility Charge(s) — US $1.00 x 2
Total Convenience Charge(s) — US $4.95 x 2
Additional Taxes — US $0.74
Order Processing Charge(s) — US $4.57
Standard Mail — No Charge
TOTAL CHARGES US $45.21
Last Look at Three West Duluth Structures
Anticipating the demolition of the Duluth Motel and Star Enterprises in West Duluth, I took a few photos two weeks ago. Both buildings are rubble now.
River Walk West
Spirit Valley Land Co., developer of BayHill on the River townhomes, is planning another development in West Duluth. Read John Ramos’ report on the Cheerleader Blog.
It’s the last day to file for office in Duluth
Have you made up your mind yet? Are you running for a City Council or School Board seat? Well, it’s too late now, unless you want to be a write-in candidate.
Back to Basics
Pickup Baseball Game
Sunday, July 19 | 3:30 p.m.
Chester Bowl Park
That’s baseball, not softball. This is a pickup game for grownups who can’t remember the last time they felt the ol’ wood smack the cowhide. Pitches will be lobbed, not that anyone who can throw hard will show up anyway.
There’s nothing official about this game, I just got the invite and was told to spread the word. If there’s an organized youth soccer game or something else going on at Chester, the game might get moved to Woodland or something, so it might help to show up on time if you want to be in the know about a possible relocation.
Miss West Duluth Pageant 2009
An annual tradition that goes along with the Miss West Duluth Pageant is my attempts to stir up controversy about it.
My initial objection came in 1987, when the first Miss West Duluth was a young lady from Morgan Park. It seemed to me that if the title was going to be “Miss West Duluth,” the contestants should all be from West Duluth.
I was told back then the criteria was that girls must live within the attendance boundary for Denfeld High School to be eligible. Although I thought “Miss Western Duluth” might be a more appropriate name, I was satisfied with this Denfeld rule, so I shut up about it for a few years.
Then, in 1996, a graduate of Hermantown High School was a contestant. I assumed she lived in the Denfeld area but chose to attend Hermantown, which would get around the rules enough to allow her to compete. In subsequent years I’ve noticed Proctor High School students in the list of contestants.
Give a contest an inch and it takes a mile. One of this year’s contestants is a senior at East High School, according to the Spirit Valleys Days insert in the Budgeteer News. (UPDATE: She lives in Morgan Park, according to comments to this post.)
Now, I don’t mean to fan the east/west flames here, so I’m just going to suggest we call this thing the Miss North America Pageant already and get it over with.
The Hillside Flyers
Remember that dazzling group of tumblers? They just randomly somersaulted into the nostalgia part of my brain this morning. I can’t remember anymore why the group disbanded. Did the coach move away or something?
MPR story from 2001: “Flying High In Duluth”
Baby’s Got Back
Conversation between two pre-teen boys jumping on a trampoline in West Duluth today:
Boy #1: Says something about some girl.
Boy #2: Dude, that chick is UGLY.
Boy #3: At least she’s got some ass.
Aw, they grow up so fast.
Wild berry season in Duluth
I saw this one on Monday — a rubus of some sort (raspberry? cloudberry?). A few weeks from now should be a tasty time for a hike.
Show and Tell
I have an old Bridgeman-Russell Company ruler. I don’t often think about how awesome it is, so I catch myself using it to do things like scrape gunk off a counter. For the sake of history, I’ll try to be more careful in the future. (more…)
Former Duluthian in “The Hagstone Demon”
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKgWqGKtkeU
Michael Udovich, a Denfeld and UW-Superior alum, appears briefly in this trailer for The Hagstone Demon. He plays Detective Willis. Look for him at 1:18, opposite none other than indie film sensation Mark Borchardt (of American Movie fame).
From the Photo Archive: Bob Dylan and Paul Simon at Bayfront
Bob Dylan and Paul Simon played a very muddy concert at Bayfront Festival Park on July 3, 1999. For some reason, I decided to wear a new pair of white sneakers. This photo is of my friend Chris’ shoes, but one of mine is creeping in on the bottom.
It was a great concert, and totally worth the destruction of a pair of shoes.
Plan B meets Duluth School Board
Let Duluth Vote’s “Plan B” presentation to the Duluth School Board from Greenfield Communications on Vimeo.
It should be noted that this video is not a piece of independent journalism, but rather an informational video paid for by the Duluth School District. That being said, so you may take into account it was created with intent to persuade, I don’t believe it contains any misinformation. If I’m wrong, I’m sure we’ll all find out in the comments.
Voodoo Bus
There will be a chartered bus from Superior to Big Top Chautauqua in Bayfield for the July 11 Big Bad Voodoo Daddy concert. The round-trip costs $10 per person. It leaves at 5 p.m. from Wessman Arena on the UWS campus and will return that evening.
Seats can be reserved by calling the KUWS office at (715) 394-8530. Call on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. and ask for Kim Gustafson.