History Posts

In Duluth on a little booziness trip

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This novelty leather postcard is presumably from the era of Prohibition.

Postcards from Glensheen

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Oh, that Congdon opulence. Glensheen Mansion and Museum, “the Historic Congdon Estate,” has been open for tours since 1979. In this post we look at some early postcards from the historic house museum, which of course looks very much the same today. Above is the north entrance of the Jacobean manor house.

Flashback: Denfeld and Marshall defeat Milford … in a comic

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It was New Year’s Day of 2007 when the first of a series of Gil Thorp comics that referenced Duluth was published. According to a Duluth News Tribune story that week, writer Neal Rubin typically uses the names of actual high school teams in the comic, and simply liked the team name Denfeld Hunters. Frank McLaughlin is the artist who drew the strip.

2016: The Year in Duluth Gig Posters

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By no means is this a comprehensive collection, nor is it a carefully curated archive of the best. It’s just a bunch of 2016 concert posters the PDD crew was alert enough to toss in a folder for use in this feature. Enjoy.

Postcards from the Duluth Curling Club

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Duluth Curling & Skating Club was organized in 1891, with the first stone thrown Christmas Day on the ice of Lake Superior. The club moved from rink to rink until its first building opened in 1913.

Merry Christmas: Greetings from Duluth, Minn.

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Video Archive: 1964 Great Lakes Adventure

detroit-to-duluth-mapThis 16mm film documentary was produced by Detroit Public Schools and the Ford Motor Company. It chronicles a trip aboard the Ford Motor Company freighter as it voyages from the River Rouge Factory Complex to Duluth and back with a load of iron ore.

The program is sexy throughout, but since it’s an educational film you might want the cheat sheet or Cliff Notes. The Duluth segment of the adventure starts at the 13-minute mark and ends at the 17-minute mark.

Much appreciation to the Detroit Historical Society for making this gem available to the masses.

Jean Du Luth Farm, Duluth, Minn.

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This page from the Dec. 16, 1915 issue of The Breeder’s Gazette is not easy to read in this format, but there’s a funny tidbit in there. Apparently someone at the farm named a cow after J. Proctor Knott, the U.S. Representative from Kentucky who in 1871 ridiculed a bill to subsidize westward expansion of railroads by lampooning Duluth in a famous speech that was later published under the title “The Untold Delights of Duluth.”

From the list of stats in the right column:

14 of Proctor Knott’s first daughters in milk average 428 lbs. fat, official. Half of these are heifer records.

Knott and his speech were the theme of a PDD Quiz back in January.

Stolen from Sam Hanson

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This ceramic ashtray raises a few questions, the primary one being: Who was Sam Hanson?

Boulevard Lake, Duluth, Minn.

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This undated postcard must be showing one of what Duluthians call the “Twin Ponds” these days. Skyline Parkway was commonly referred to as “The Boulevard,” short for Rogers Boulevard, before taking its modern name in 1929.

Duluth’s Cascade Hotel

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“Your home when you’re in Duluth” is the Cascade, “the friendly hotel.” Located on the corner of First Avenue West and Third Street, it features “kitchenette apartments – hotel rooms” that are “transient – residential.”

PDD Quiz: Christmas City, Wonderful City

christmas-city-merv-griffinYou’ve been hearing it. You’ve been humming it. You probably know it by heart. Or do you? How much do you know about Duluth’s official Christmas song? Let’s find out!

Duluth, you’re terrific!

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This old plastic grocery bag from the Denfeld Super Valu asserts Duluth is terrific. The grocery store at 4501 Grand Ave. closed in 2001 and was replaced with a Walgreens.

Duluth Square Dance Association Shindig 1975

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From the Sept. 7, 1975, Duluth News Tribune; photos by Charles Curtis.

This is how some of more than 1,000 square dancers looked from the top of the scoreboard in the Duluth Arena Saturday. The terpsichoreans, from a five-state region and Canada, are here through today for Shindig ’75, sponsored by the Duluth Square Dance Association.

History of Itasca: Part 1

itascaLilah Crowe, executive director at Itasca County Historical Society, talks about the rich native history of Itasca County in the first of a four-part presentation.

This short-form documentary was produced by A Plus B Productions as part of the Itasca Conversations series.

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