Lake Avenue is perpendicular to Superior Street in downtown Duluth. Lake Avenue runs up and down the hillside. In Duluth, you are either directed "up the hill" or "down the hill", "away from the Lake" or "toward the Lake." Lake Superior is the primary fixture we orient people to. Lake Avenue is the road that leads you to the Aerial Lift Bridge. When you have crossed the bridge you are on South Lake Avenue on Minnesota Point. The businesses on South Lake Avenue in Canal Park are the businesses "below" Superior Street en route to the Bridge. Many of the buildings on South Lake Avenue are original frame or brick and stone buildings dating from the 1870s and 1880s. The little frame building at the right in the foreground of this photograph is 241-243 South Lake Avenue, the Standard Salt and Cement Company. Across the avenue is General Electric Supply Company at 244-246 South Lake Avenue. The board walk is still functioning. The Coast-to-Coast Stores bought the Duluth division of Marshall-Wells-Kelley How-Thomson Company in 1958, which ended the Duluth Marshall-Wells hardware firm's operation. The sign is not fibbing, Marshall-Wells was in fact the world's largest wholesale hardware company.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
This building at 302 East First Street in downtown Duluth has had many occupants. It was a roller skating rink and dance hall in 1911. It was the Shrine Auditorium from about 1927. Here, in about 1937, it is Agen Motor Company a Dodge Plymouth sales and service business.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Superior street businesses; Alworth building 306 to 308 west Superior street was built in 1909 and is Duluth's tallest building with 16 stories; photo number 1912
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Cornice and upper floors of Minnesota Surplus store and Mr. Nick's hamburgers, in the old Duluth Herald newspaper building, and Livingston's Big Duluth men's clothing store, on the lower side of West Superior Street.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Cornice and upper floors of Minnesota Surplus store and Mr. Nick's hamburgers, in the old Duluth Herald newspaper building, on the lower side of West Superior Street.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Retail and office building at 10 East Superior Street or the corner of Lake Avenue and Superior Street. Stories were added in 1924 to total four. It was razed in the summer of 1979.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
The Bradley building was located at this Lake Avenue and Superior Street intersection of downtown Duluth. In 1924, upper floors were added making it four stories. It was razed in the summer of 1979.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Bridgeman-Russell was founded in 1888, and incorporated in 1903 by Duluthian Henry Bridgeman. Newell Francis Russell was born on a farm near Rush City, Minnesota in 1869. There were a number of Bridgeman ice cream stores in Duluth. This building is at 16 West First Street.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Bridgeman-Russell processing plant at 1102-1116 West Michigan Street in Duluth. Their fleet of delivery truck have the PURITY brand on each one. The Primus Butter sign on the roof was another brand. Henry Bridgeman founded the company in Duluth in 1888 and incorporated 1903. Russell is Newell Francis Russell who was born on a farm near Rush City. The first retail store opened in 1936 in Duluth, and the company moved into the Twin Cities the following year.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Lower side of West Superior Street of signs for downtown businesses Ace Hardware 212 West Superior Street, Jensens Shoes at 208 West Superior Street with the Endion Station Art Gallery above and Bud's Clothing at 206 West Superior Street.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
The Berg Brothers Drapery Shop and Universal Electric Supply Company are on the street level of the Builders' Exchange office building at the corner of First Street and Lake Avenue North. In 1902, the Duluth Builders' Exchange incorporated. Local builders saw advantages in mustering the most reliable firms into one accessible organization.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
The Berg Brothers Drapery Shop and Universal Electric Supply Company are on the street level of the Builders' Exchange office building at the corner of First Street and Lake Avenue North. In 1902, the Duluth Builders' Exchange incorporated. Local builders saw advantages in mustering the most reliable firms into one accessible organization.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
The appearance of South Minnesota Avenue has changed considerably since this photograph, which looks to the north from a location between Nassau and Grace Streets, was taken in 1968 in St. Peter, Minnesota.
Ritt's Electric Center, the Skelly Service Station, and the State Theatre are among the businesses that have disappeared since this 1968 photograph was taken. The view looks to the south along South Minnesota Avenue in St. Peter, Minnesota, from a location between West Nassau and West Grace Streets.
St. Germain Street was converted to a pedestrian mall. Workers putting finishing touches to downtown mall as shoppers and onlookers walk by. Woolworth's store can be seen in background.