Paul Lundgren

Duluth Air Line: Taking in the sight in 1908

Duluth Air Line 1908

What in tarnation is going on here? Well, this postcard image is clearly a photo studio gag and not a snapshot of two handsome fellows in a hot air balloon over Duluth. (more…)

NorShor Theatre renovation funding in order, ready for approval

Restore the NorShorThe city of Duluth announced in a news release today the restoration Duluth’s historic NorShor Theatre could begin before the end of 2015, with a grand reopening expected in mid 2017, now that the project has finalized its funding sources.

David Montgomery, Duluth’s chief administrative officer, shared details with the City Council during its Monday committee-of-the-whole meeting. He said none of the funding will come from property taxes. (more…)

2016 Minnesota DNR Trout and Salmon Stamp

2016 Trout and Salmon Stamp Competition.  First Place:  Dean Kegler

Duluth artist Dean Kegler won the 2016 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources trout and salmon stamp contest with this painting of a brown trout. His artwork was previously featured on the 2009 pheasant stamp.

The trout and salmon stamp validation is sold for $10 along with fishing licenses and is required for Minnesota residents age 18 to 64 and non-residents older than age 18 and under age 65 to fish designated trout streams, trout lakes and Lake Superior, and when in possession of trout or salmon.

Summer of ’65: Strike postponed at U.S. Steel Duluth Works

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Fifty years ago — Aug. 31, 1965 — the DNT reports the announcement of an eight-day postponement in the steel strike deadline means United States Steel Duluth Works will resume normal operations. (more…)

Summer of ’65: Barkulis top MVP entry?

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Fifty years ago — Aug. 30, 1965 — the DNT reports that, “barring a complete letdown” in eight remaining games, Duluth-Superior Dukes third baseman Chris Barkulis “should have the Northern League batting title wrapped up and should also be a shoo-in for the league’s most valuable player award.” (more…)

Summer of ’65: Voluntary spirit moves Fond du Lac tribe

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Fifty years ago — Aug. 29, 1965 — the DNT reports “a fresh chapter of history is being written on the Fond du Lac reservation” near Cloquet, where more tribe members are taking to gardening and some are raising vegetables in commercial quality. (more…)

Summer of ’65: Nothing funny about mink

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Fifty years ago — Aug. 27, 1965 — the DNT reports T. J. Eiken’s 14-year-old mink farm on McQuade Road near Duluth is a success, with a wall full of Minnesota State Fair ribbons to prove it. (more…)

Summer of ’65: Mayor ends carnival atmosphere on Park Point

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Fifty years ago — Aug. 27, 1965 — the DNT reports the city of Duluth filed suit in district court to have local businessman Arthur Davis remove concession stands he owns from Park Point. His former sister-in-law, Blanche Davis, who once operated the stands, was also named a defendant. (more…)

Summer of ’65: Overdue books cost Duluth woman $107.50

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Fifty years ago — Aug. 26, 1965 — the DNT reports a Duluth woman was arraigned in municipal court on a charge of failure to return books to the library. It was the first time on record a Duluthian had been charged with the offense, a violation of city code. (more…)

Welcome to Cotton, MN

Welcome to Cotton

It’s been a few years since we’ve checked in with the cluster of signs on private property along Highway 53 south of Cotton. Since we last documented the situation in 2010, the “Socialism is freedom in the rearview mirror” sign has been added above the old “Welcome to Cotton” sign. In the middle, two new signs have been added, replacing the old ones denouncing the “Nazi bastard post office.” There is also a tiny new sign above the group of signs on the right to help clarify that those signs were erected in June 2008.

One small touch that motorists might not notice without slowing down and stopping: There is quite a thick tangling of barbed wire surrounding the signs, with a warning that “injury” is “very likely” should anyone trespass.

Summer of ’65: Little Lynda Hage left at Tom’s Texaco in Cloquet

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Fifty years ago — Aug. 25, 1965 — the DNT reports that 8-year-old Lynda Hage exited her parent’s camper in Cloquet to use a rest room, then was left behind when her parents departed for their California home. (more…)

Summer of ’65: Milton Richardson authorized as on-sale liquor proprietor; first African American to hold such license in Duluth

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Fifty years ago — Aug. 24, 1965 — the DNT reports the Duluth City Council has granted an on-sale liquor license to Milton Richardson for his Rendezvous Bar at 21 E. Michigan St. The article notes it’s the first time a liquor license has been issued to an African American. (more…)

Summer of ’65: Civic leader Herman Matzke dies at 82

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On Aug. 23, 1965, the Duluth News Tribune reported that prominent Duluth civic leader and longtime bank leader Herman Matzke died on the morning of Aug. 22 in his home at 2512 E. Third St. He was 82. (more…)

Summer of ’65: First Duluthian killed in Vietnam action

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Fifty years ago — Aug. 22, 1965 — the DNT reports Marine Cpl. James Leo Dieryck, 26, was killed in action on Aug. 18 in the Chu Lai sector of Vietnam. He was the first Duluthian and the second man from the region to die during the war. (more…)

Summer of ’65: Grandmom earns UMD degree after 30-year span

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Fifty years ago — Aug. 21, 1965 — the DNT reports Mrs. George Orescanin has received her bachelor of arts degree in social science following summer session at the University of Minnesota Duluth. It was a process she had begun 32 years earlier. (more…)

Summer of ’65: Council considers pay rides on Aerial Lift Bridge

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Fifty years ago — Aug. 20, 1965 — the DNT reports the Duluth City Council will consider a proposal to permit “scenic rides on the Aerial Lift Bridge at a fee of 25 cents.” (more…)

Ore Boat Cribbage Board

Ore Boat Cribbage Board

This mighty ore-boat cribbage board, acquired at a rummage sale, is not quite as buoyant as one might expect. Though the peg-holed deck quickly floods, the vessel remains afloat. This cherished antique has all the signs of having been someone’s high-school shop project, so we salute the mysterious nameless craftsperson for the worthwhile contribution to society. It looks like a name may have been penciled on the bottom at one point, but it’s far from legible now.

Summer of ’65: Griggs Hall opens at UMD

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Fifty years ago — Aug. 19, 1965 — the DNT reports a new, unnamed residence hall, designed to house 202 students, will be dedicated on Aug. 20. (more…)

Summer of ’65: New TV station in the works for Duluth

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Fifty years ago — Aug. 18, 1965 — the DNT reports the Duluth Planning Commission will conduct a public hearing on a proposal to grant a special permit to Channel 10, Inc., to operate a television station. (more…)

Summer of ’65: Arenas planned for Two Harbors and Silver Bay

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Fifty years ago — Aug. 17, 1965 — the DNT reports plans are in the works for community arenas to be built in Two Harbors and Silver Bay. (more…)

Summer of ’65: Bob Magie wins big one, ends Leo Spooner’s reign

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Fifty years ago — Aug. 16, 1965 — the DNT reports Leo Spooner’s four-year domination of local golf had ended at the hands of two youngsters. (more…)

Summer of ’65: USS Duluth Christened by Humphrey’s Daughter

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Fifty years ago — Aug. 15, 1965 — the DNT reports (via AP wire out of New York) several top-ranking Minnesota officials were among the 300 persons at a ceremony to christen the USS Duluth. (more…)

“Hey, where is your lawn chair, and can you bring me a Hamms?”

Bear Standing on porch in Proctor

The Proctor Police Department received this picture today from the Proctor Journal of a bear standing on someone’s porch. “Be safe out there,” the PPD warns. “It’s that time of year when they are out forging around for food so they can hibernate this winter.” (more…)

Summer of ’65: UFO Sightings Reported Over Duluth

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Fifty years ago — Aug. 14, 1965 — the DNT reports sightings of unidentified flying objects over Duluth. The article’s title, by the way is …

More UFO Sightings Reported Over Duluth

… which leads one to believe there was another story on the subject in previous days, but careful eyes couldn’t find one in the Aug. 1-13 editions. (more…)

Summer of ’65: Car Crashes into Hank’s Grocery

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The Duluth News Tribune’s Aug. 13, 1965 edition reports three persons sustained minor injuries when a 71-year-old Duluth woman crashed into the front of Hank’s Grocery at 2332 W. Third St. in the friendly West End neighborhood. The location is the present-day site of Bark Avenue Pet Grooming. (more…)