Queries Posts

Sylvester’s Downtown Duluth Store

Something to keep your mind busy today … Does anybody remember a store in Downtown Duluth in the 1990s named Sylvester’s? What did they sell and where was it located?

Parking Structure, Michigan Avenue, US Bank

What did I miss? Why is the US Bank-labeled parking structure on Michigan Avenue in Duluth closed?

Does anyone have any info on the pioneer behind the name of the Lester River?

My maiden name is Lester. Through the years we have been told of a great-great grandfather Albert Julius Lester, who fathered a son William O. Lester.

1970s Duluth Radio

I believe WEBC had a slogan and I had won a T-shirt of this:

“WEBC blew the WAKX outta my ears”

I cannot seem to find any archives of this.

Any thoughts?

“Duluth” is a Small Drill-Hole on Mars?

Over the past few years Duluth has occasionally had colder temps than the temp measured on Mars on the same day. I have gleefully pointed this out to friends in the warm south when it happens.

But, if PDD covered this last year, I missed it — how a small test drill hole on Mars made by the Curiosity Rover get named “Duluth”?

Duluth Trunk Factory

I recently came across this footlocker-style trunk and inside it had a sticker from the Duluth Trunk Factory. I’m wondering if anyone knows the history of this particular company.

Old photos sleuths: where did I get these?

Photo sleuths: instead of figuring out the subject or date, I’m hoping one of you knows where I downloaded these photos, possibly 10 years ago. I’ve been searching for them online off and on for years, and my Google-fu is usually excellent, but I’m not having any luck with these.

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!

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?

Mysterious Biz White Song about Duluth

We need to unearth some Duluth-based songwriter history. The current reference librarians at the Duluth Public Library are unable to track down the lyrics to a song about Duluth by Biz White, a female librarian during the 1980s and ’90s.

Here’s the conversation:

I was visiting with friends yesterday and one of them said he had been trying to find the lyrics to a song written about Duluth. It was written by Biz White, who used to work at DPL, and he thought it may have been for a Playhouse production. Some of the lyrics he remembered were, “Oh Duluth, your granite hills rise,” and “Oh Duluth, your heartless hills.” I was hoping you had some ideas.

Thanks,
Kim

Help! Does anyone have these lyrics recorded?

Duluth Dog Etiquette

Last Thursday, shortly after 6 p.m., I was out for a walk with my dog on the west side of Chester Creek between Skyline and Eighth Street. We were heading up the trail and passed a gentleman out for a jog with his two dogs, heading down the trail.

As we approached each other I said, “Hello, my dog’s friendly.”

He replied with, “Hi. My dogs are not,” and kept running.

What the heck is that thing?

Here’s something I always wonder about when I see it, but then immediately forget: Across from the cemetery on Highland Street there is a series of roofs built on the ground in a field, enclosed by a fence.

A cursory search on PDD and Google revealed no answers about its purpose. It’s probably capping something boring like an old dump or the sewer, but I remain curious.

So, does anyone know what it is?
 

What’s Rick Steves’ deal with Duluth?

Does Rick Steves have a beef with Duluth? While I was doing a searching for something Duluth related, I discovered a PDD post from Nov. 22 titled  “Rick Steves offends his Duluth friends.” Which surprised me, as I had just recently noticed yet another slight from Rick Steves regarding Duluth.

How much ship traffic goes through Superior Entry?

It seems most ship traffic going onto the lake from Duluth-Superior goes through the canal under the Aerial Lift Bridge. How much ship traffic uses the Superior Entry, which is between Minnesota Point and Wisconsin Point? Only the ships going to and from Allouez?

Coffee, dessert and football in Duluth

Does anyone know of a quiet location to watch the Packers/Vikings game? Preferably one with good desserts and coffee?

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