History
Northland Country Club, prior to 1918 fire
One hundred years ago, Northland Country Club was destroyed by the Cloquet Fire of 1918 — Minnesota’s deadliest natural disaster. (more…)
Mystery Photo #75: Young Woman on a Liden Cabinet Card
This cabinet card photo is from the L.N. Liden studio at 1619 W. Superior St. in Duluth. Identifying people in this type of photo is obviously a difficult task that depends more on luck than research skills, but nonetheless we give it the ol’ Perfect Duluth Day try. (more…)
Duluth’s Financial Crisis of 2008
Duluth was featured in the Oct. 6, 2008 issue of New York Times in an article about cities facing economic hardship.
To help close a gap of more than $6 million that yawned open over the summer, the artsy shipping city on Lake Superior had considered selling its prized Tiffany stained-glass window depicting Longfellow’s American Indian character Minnehaha, a one-of-a-kind work donated by a civic group more than 100 years ago. And some even pushed forward with plans to sell valuable beachfront property along the lake.
Postcards from Wonderland Tourist Court and Lodge
Wonderland Resort was located about three miles northeast of Duluth, on the shore of Lake Superior and adjacent to Schmidt Creek. It was run by Jack and Joan Bates from 1968 to 1998 and their family still reminisces about the old days on a Wonderland Resort Facebook page. (more…)
Postcard from Fond du Lac Kaffee Stuga
The old Swedish coffee cottage in Duluth’s Fond du Lac neighborhood was featured once before on Perfect Duluth Day in the post “Mystery Photo #16: Holm’s Kaffe Stuga.” It was located on Highway 23 at 123rd Ave. W. (more…)
Melrose Avenue in 1947
Street repairs on Melrose Avenue in Duluth. Two watch, three work.
Video Archive: The Dames on KBJR-TV
Twenty years ago today — Sept. 24, 1998 — Duluth band the Dames was featured in a segment on KBJR-TV News. The band performed at the Shrine Auditorium the next day with two other local bands, Crazy Betty and Groundskeeper Willie.
Mystery Photo #74: Jungle Book
There are quite a few things we know about this mystery photo. According to info scribbled on the back we can discern that Hope Phillips and Andy Tureson are acting out a scene from a staging of The Jungle Book at St. Michael’s Church in Duluth. (more…)
PDD Quiz: Bygone Festivities
While any given perfect Duluth day is chockablock with events, there are a number of festivals, carnivals, and other shenanigans that are no longer celebrated. This quiz looks back at these festivities of yesteryear, perhaps begging the question: should we bring some of them back?
The next quiz, on this month’s headlines, will be published on Sept. 30. Please email question suggestions to Alison Moffat at [email protected] by Sept. 27. (more…)
Crashing into 2332 W. Third St.
Left: 2018 crash at 2332 W. Third St. (Duluth News Tribune photo by Steve Kuchera)
Right: 1965 crash at same location. (Duluth News Tribune staff photo)
It happens at least once every 53 years or so. A motor vehicle smashes into the storefront on the corner of 24th Avenue West and Third Street.
Sept. 11, 2018 | Bus crashes into runaway SUV in Lincoln Park
Aug. 12, 1965 | Freak crash sends auto inside store
Nettleton Elementary School 1962 First Grade Class Photo
Among the students in the Nettleton Elementary School first-grade class of 1962 is famed street photographer Wing Young Huie, seated in the middle of the second row. In August Huie was selected as the McKnight Foundation’s 2018 Distinguished Artist. He is the first photographer to receive the honor. (more…)
Postcard from Fairmount Park in 1948
This postcard of Duluth’s “municipal zoo,” now known as Lake Superior Zoo, was mailed 70 years ago today — Sept. 8, 1948. (more…)
Mystery Photos #72 and #73: Duluth in 1926
Tim Winker of Saginaw found two 1926 Duluth photos while going through his family’s collection. “Any guess as to where on the hillside these might have been taken?” he asks. (more…)
Mystery Photo #71: Duluth Eagles Club Summer Home
There doesn’t appear to be much information on the internet about the Duluth Eagles Club in general, much less the summer home shown on this old postcard. When were the Duluth Eagles formed? When did the club disband? Where is Grand View Beach / Aeire Lake? And where was the club’s main lodge in Duluth? (more…)
Postcard from the Steamer Thomas F. Cole
This postcard depicts the Thomas F. Cole in the Duluth shipping channel on her maiden trip to Duluth. The message on the back of the card appears to be dated Sept. 1, 1908. (more…)
Postcard from West Superior Street in 1908
This postcard depicts a scene looking east from the 500 block of West Superior Street, where the Radisson Hotel and Duluth Public Library stand today. It was mailed 110 years ago — Aug. 29, 1908. (more…)
Remembering Don LaFontaine, king of movie trailers
Yesterday was the 78th birthday of the “Voice of God,” Don LaFontaine. The famed movie-trailer voice-over star was born in Duluth on Aug. 26, 1940. He died on Sept. 1, 2008.
CBS Sunday Morning ran a tribute to LaFontaine yesterday; click on the GIF above to watch the video, which starts after a commercial.
Log Rolling Contest in Cloquet
Year unknown.
23-27 W. First St. Building History
What is now Joseph Nease Gallery started as Max Bloom Furniture in 1916 until the 1930s, was the Covenant Club 1960 to about 1964, was a Norge Industrial Laundry about 1967, became Arthur’s Formal Wear and Horton’s Boxing until 2008, then was the infamous 50 Below IT firm until about 2013. I am trying to fill in some of the blanks and find any existing photos from the various time periods if anyone has any suggestions. Thanks!
Duluth’s Madam Butterfly
Rena Vivian Smith as Madam Butterfly, Cosmopolitan Magazine, February 1907
The latest “Forgotten Duluthian” posting by David Ouse at the Duluth Public Library’s Vintage Duluth blog is about Duluth’s Madame Butterfly, Rena Vivian Smith.
Select Images from the 1948 Denfeld Oracle
The Denfeld class of 1948 held its 70th reunion last week. Marking that occasion and the upcoming return to school, we present select images from the 1948 Denfeld Oracle, the school’s annual yearbook. (more…)
“The Glen” at Garfield Park in Duluth
This 1897 issue of Duluth’s Labor World shows the waterfall and cauldron of “the Glen” in Chester Park. From 1894 to 1902 the area was named Garfield Park. (more…)
Park Point Cabin, revisited
While out hiking with The Big E and our daughter this weekend he reminded us both there used to be cabins on Park Point. Does anyone know when they were torn down?