Detroit Publishing Company Archives

Views from Duluth’s Point of Rocks circa 1898

Nov 07, 2019 1 Comment

The six photos in this post are all from Detroit Publishing Company, and appear to have been shot on the same date — unless someone with a keen eye can call out evidence to the contrary. They are generally labeled as scenes from “the Bluffs,” which is an area of Duluth that later became known as the Point of Rocks. These photos appear to have been shot in a part of Point of Rocks that is known as Central Park, at the eastern-most part of the Lincoln Park neighborhood.

Warehouse District and Downtown Duluth circa 1905

Oct 24, 2019 No Comments

It’s not a perfect connection, editing these two old Detroit Publishing Company photos together, but it does create a passable panoramic view of the Warehouse (or “Wholesale”) District and western Downtown Duluth circa 1905.

Steamer Augustus B. Wolvin, “Queen of the Lakes”

Oct 17, 2019 2 Comments

This image from Detroit Publishing Company shows the Great Lakes freighter Augustus B. Wolvin on Lake Superior at Duluth. The vessel was built for the Acme Steamship Company of Duluth and launched April 9, 1904. The Library of Congress dates the image above as “between 1904 and 1910.”

Aerial Bridge and Duluth Waterfront view from Observation Hill

Sep 18, 2019 No Comments

History, Photos Aerial Lift Bridge, Detroit Publishing Company

Lester River Fish Hatchery circa 1900

Sep 12, 2019 No Comments

The state fish hatchery at 6008 London Road, near the mouth of Lester River in Duluth, was constructed in 1888 and operated until 1946. The photo above, from Detroit Publishing Company, is dated by the Library of Congress as “between 1900 and 1910.”

Duluth Shipping Canal in 1899

Aug 22, 2019 1 Comment

This photo from Detroit Publishing Company shows the view looking west from the end of the south pier of Duluth’s shipping canal before there was an Aerial Bridge. William Henry Jackson is credited as the photographer.

The Library of Congress dates the image as “between 1890 and 1910,” but research by Mark Ryan for the story “W. H. Jackson’s Photographs of Duluth” for Zenith City Press puts the time of Jackson’s visit to Duluth as the summer of 1899.

History, Photos Detroit Publishing Company, Duluth Harbor and Waterfront, William Henry Jackson

Duluth View from Cascade Park in 1899

Jul 03, 2019 2 Comments

This photo from Detroit Publishing Company shows the view looking out from Duluth’s hillside at Cascade Park toward the Downtown area and Minnesota Point. William Henry Jackson is credited as the photographer.

The Library of Congress dates the image as circa 1902, but research by Mark Ryan for the story “W. H. Jackson’s Photographs of Duluth” for Zenith City Press puts the time of Jackson’s visit to Duluth as the summer of 1899.

History, Photos Cascade Park, Detroit Publishing Company, Minnesota Point and Park Point, William Henry Jackson

Spalding Hotel circa 1908

Jun 13, 2019 No Comments

This photo from Detroit Publishing Company shows Duluth’s Spalding Hotel at 428 W. Superior St. The elegant 200-room hotel opened on June 6, 1889 and was demolished on Sept. 25, 1963.

Duluth Boat Club circa 1906

May 16, 2019 No Comments

This photo from the Detroit Publishing Company shows the Duluth Boat Club on the bay side of Minnesota Point at South Tenth Street. A previous clubhouse existed where Bayfront Park is today, but the facility shown in the photo above was built in 1903 and was destroyed by fire in 1951.

DM&N Railway Ore Docks in West Duluth, early 1900s

Mar 29, 2019 No Comments

This photo of the Duluth, Missabe and Northern Railway ore docks in West Duluth is from Detroit Publishing Company. The Library of Congress dates the image as “between 1900 and 1915” and notes it shows “probably Dock No. 1 at left” and lists the three freighters in the foreground as George H. Russell, Sultan and James E. Davidson.

Postcard from a Lumber Raft in Duluth

Mar 19, 2019 No Comments

History Detroit Publishing Company, Postcards

A Coaching Party on Boulevard Drive, Duluth, Minn.

Jan 17, 2019 1 Comment

History, Photos Detroit Publishing Company, Skyline Parkway

Minnesota Point, 1904

Jan 10, 2019 No Comments

History, Photos Detroit Publishing Company, Minnesota Point and Park Point

Mystery Photo #70: East Superior Street in 1908

Aug 05, 2018 9 Comments

This photo from Detroit Publishing Company is dated 1908 — 110 years ago — although some evidence in the comments to this post indicate suggest it could have been shot prior to that year. It depicts a scene on East Superior Street in Duluth. The mysteries: What block? Are the homes in the image still there? Can someone recreate the mystery photo with a modern image from the same spot?

History, Photos Detroit Publishing Company, Mystery Photos

Old Duluth Photos on Shorpy

Mar 06, 2013 26 Comments

While watching Lost Duluth 2 on WDSE-TV (great show!), I wanted to pass along some awesome old photos that have been scanned in very high resolution and submitted to the wonderful archive site shorpy.com. Anyone who likes looking at good historic photos of Duluth will love these large images. Most of these were taken in 1905 and were published by the Detroit Publishing Co. using glass negatives.

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