Summer of ’65: Mayor ends carnival atmosphere on Park Point
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
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
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
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…)
Tribute Fest Weekend Review
I’m sure many Duluthians overheard the vibrating sounds that echoed from Bayfront Park this weekend, considering Mayor Don Ness received a handful of tweets regarding how loud the music was. Yes, the music was a little loud, but the bands that played brought a lot of energy, and it was all for a good cause.
Summer of ’65: Milton Richardson authorized as on-sale liquor proprietor; first African American to hold such license in Duluth
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…)
This Week: bands galore, kids and cops, centennials and more
Here’s a bit of what you’ll find on this week’s PDD Calendar:
The Head of the Lakes Fair gets underway in Superior, the DPD meets with families in West Duluth, Access Music Therapy is having a grand opening, Blue Canvas Orchestra plays Big Top Chautauqua and the last River Rovers Nature Playgroup takes place in Billings Park.
John Gorka plays Amazing Grace, Movies in the Park is showing Disney’s Planes, the Northern Isolation festival is putting a ton of punk and hardcore bands up over three days, a man by the name of Jerome plays Teatro Zuccone, Kurtfest brings 40 bands to Eveleth and Lower Chester is having a centennial celebration.
REI Gives $75k to Superior Hiking Trail
REI gifted 10 American trail systems a total of $500k. The Superior Hiking Trail “won” a chunk of the money through an online poll. Cheers, voters and REI!
Summer of ’65: Civic leader Herman Matzke dies at 82
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…)
No boards, snow, or wheels needed
[vimeo id=”136785153″]
“Rain”
Video by James Holak
Summer of ’65: First Duluthian killed in Vietnam action
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…)
Selective Focus: Tangible
Hattie Peterson, untitled
I would rather see a photograph of pencil shavings than a high resolution Hubble space telescope image of some distant star cluster. Maybe that’s because I am already profoundly aware of my own insignificance, and therefore hold the inconsequential beauty of ordinary things closely. Reality doesn’t require hypermediation, and I would dearly miss all that’s sensual in what is close at hand if I were somehow, someday deprived of it. (more…)
Summer of ’65: Grandmom earns UMD degree after 30-year span
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…)
Duluth cat potentially ready to freak out
The latest Duluth dateline in The Onion newspaper reports “It impossible to tell what sounds will freak out cat.” Apparently, “there seemed to be no clear pattern to the animal’s responses,” according to local pet owner Wendy Vogl. “I can slam the front door and he’ll just sit there licking himself, but then he’ll hear thunder and run out of the room immediately.”
Development Officer Position at UMD
The University of Minnesota Duluth has an opening for an associate development officer (working title: development officer). This development professional will work in partnership with the development officer in fundraising efforts for UMD’s College of Liberal Arts and College of Education and Human Service Professions. The associate development officer will be responsible for the identification, qualification, cultivation and solicitation of mid-level donors. Applications must be submitted online. For more details or to apply for this position, click here and search for job opening 302836. Contact: Lawrence Johnson,
218-726-6696.
Summer of ’65: Council considers pay rides on Aerial Lift Bridge
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
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
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…)
Grassy Point Trail closed?
Does anyone know why the Grassy Point trail is blocked off about halfway down and what the time frame is for reopening? My daughters and I were bummed when we couldn’t get down to the water this morning.
Toasty’s is coming to Downtown
Walking along Superior Street today I noticed several Toasty’s menus conspicuously leaning in the window of the former Farley’s (among others) location.
A quick Facebook search reveals a post which includes:
“Here is a sneak peek of Toasty’s Sandwich Shop. Located downtown on Superior Street. Scheduled to open Fall of 2015”
Will Toasty’s succeed where so many others have failed? Is the location in fact cursed? What caused the most recent downfall of Farley’s? Discuss!
Shredded tire mulch: Soft and safe or dirty and dangerous?
This Eyewitness News report from July covers the controversy of shredded tire mulch on playgrounds in Duluth. Cory Kirsling, father of a Lester Park Elementary School student, has started a GoFundMe page to raise money to have the mulch tested “for heavy metals, VOCs, off-gassing and leaching, toxins and carcinogens.” His page notes, “a local lab will collect the samples from our school’s playground, and we will share the research with everyone.”