The Priley Fountain, is a feature of the Duluth Civic Center that draws residents, downtown workers, and visitors. Joseph Carl Priley (1902-1981), born in Duluth, was elected in 1953 to the office of Finance Commissioner of the City of Duluth. He was elected Second District County Commissioner in 1958, serving until his retirement in December 1974. "Petunia Joe" instituted a civic beautification program which received national attention and a letter of appreciation from Lady Bird Johnson. On July 26, 1970, Mayor Ben Boo dedicated the courthouse fountain and circular drive to Mr. Priley for his courthouse flower gardens. He was also a well known musician, playing the viola in the Duluth symphony. In 1986, Duluth city officials announced they would extend the streetscape project to include the Civic Center. The $900,000 project involved paving Priley Drive and the sidewalks with bricks, renovating the fountain, and planting trees and shrubs.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
The Priley Fountain, is a feature of the Civic Center that draws residents, downtown workers, and visitors. Joseph Carl Priley (1902-1981), born in Duluth, was elected in 1953 to the office of Finance Commissioner of the City of Duluth. He was elected Second District County Commissioner in 1958, serving until his retirement in December 1974. "Petunia Joe" instituted a civic beautification program which received national attention and a letter of appreciation from Lady Bird Johnson. On July 26, 1970, Mayor Ben Boo dedicated the courthouse fountain and circular drive to Mr. Priley for his courthouse flower gardens. He was also a well known musician, playing the viola in the Duluth symphony. In 1986, Duluth city officials announced they would extend the streetscape project to include the Civic Center. The $900,000 project involved paving Priley Drive and the sidewalks with bricks, renovating the fountain, and planting trees and shrubs.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Winter view of the remnants of the Whitney Brothers rock crushing business that stand in Lake Superior off the shore at Canal Park near the Aerial lift bridge. William A. Whitney and E. Harvey Whitney of Superior, Wisconsin, had a sand and gravel processing business. The largest concrete form was the dredging or crushing building. The structure was built in 1919. A tunnel ran from the building to Minnesota Point. There was a conveyor belt and railroad spur adjacent to the concrete building. Sand from the Apostle Islands and gravel from Grand Marais were carried to Duluth on a small vessel named LIMIT. There was also a tug the WILLIAM A. WHITNEY.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Noronic was the largest Canadian passenger steamship vessel on the Great Lakes. It was owned and operated by the Canada Steamship Lines Limited. On September 16, 1949, docked in the Toronto harbor, the ship burned in the middle of the night with more than 130 passengers losing their lives. The fire started in a linen closet. The design and construction of the 36-year-old ship were also found to be at fault. The interiors had been lined with oiled wood instead of fireproof material. Exits were only located on one deck instead of all five. None of the ships fire hoses were in working order. Damage suits for the Noronic were settled for just over $2 million. In 1911, the peak year, 80,000 passengers traveled to Lake Superior. After 1920, the number of passenger cruise ships diminished with the advent of "motor-cars." Very few cruise ships were still in service after World War II. The last of those, the South American, made its last visit to Duluth in the 1966 season.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
On Monday, July 1, 1929, the suspended car made its last trip across the canal. The bridge's modification to operate with a lift span began on April 8, 1929, with a low bid of $448,000 by the Kansas City Bridge Company. The Aerial Lift Bridge was first operated on March 19, 1930. The bridge has a clearance of 138 feet when the lift section is completely up and when down it is 16.5 feet above the water. The length of the span is 386 feet and weighs 900 tons. The distance from the water to the lower edge of the truss is 172 feet 7 inches; to the top of the truss it is 227 feet. During the shipping season it makes about 25 lifts a day. The new bridge is owned and operated by the City of Duluth on permit authorized by Congress. The Ship Canal and grounds are under the authority of the Lake Superior Area Office of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
West Duluth; Iron Ore Docks; Duluth Municipal Stadium that would be renamed Wade Stadium; harbor; houses; baseball diamond; cars; Berwind Fuel Company at South Fiftieth Avenue West and NP Railway tracks; ore carriers; ore boats; iron ore docks; Thirty-ninth Avenue west; summer; trees
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Wade Stadium was Duluth Municipal Stadium. Wade Stadium was dedicated on July 16, 1941, 3:00 p.m.
Duluth Municipal Stadium located at 34th Ave West and Grand, or 35th avenue west and Michigan Street, was renamed Wade Municipal Stadium February 3, 1954, to honor the late Frank Wade, former owner of the Duluth Dukes baseball team. Wade was sited as having made durable contributions to Duluth. Letters from the community were sent to Mayor George D. Johnson encouraging the name change. The letters were sent on to Frank Wade's widow. The stadium was constructed by WPA workmen under sponsorship of the Parks Department with a seating capacity of 6,000. It was originally built in 1940-1941 at a cost of $223,000. It is sometimes called the Duluth All-Sports Stadium. It should not be confused with Public School Stadium. West Duluth; ore docks; harbor; two baseball stadiums; Duluth Municipal Stadium located at Thirty-Fourth Ave West and Grand, was renamed Wade Municipal Stadium February 3, 1954, to honor Frank Wade, former owner of the Duluth Dukes baseball team; baseball diamond; trees; gain elevators; coal dock; coal unloading cranes; Elliott meat plant
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
In the foreground is the wholesale district on the waterfront of the Duluth harbor. In the background are grain elevators. In this photo, Michigan Street is at the far right in front of the Union Depot. Railroad Street is parallel to Michigan and runs in front of the Duluth Terminal building and Northern Cold Storage Company (with the white steam) at 400 South Ninth Avenue West. The Patrick Building at 302 South Fifth Avenue West and Commerce Street is between the Hickory sign and the Northern Drug Company building. Hickory is the main brand of Kelley-How-Thomson Company. It and Stone-Ordean-Wells are wholesale grocery businesses. The elevated streets are Sixth and Ninth Avenues West. A number of railroad depots and tracks are prominent.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
West Duluth; Duluth Missabe and Northern Railroad; Erecting Steel Dock; construction of number 6 dock; equipment; cranes; workers; workmen; concrete; September 1, 1917
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Duluth Missabe and Northern Railroad; West Duluth Foundation showing Piers of no. 6 dock construction; steam equipment; workers; workmen; ore dock; railroad tracks; July 24, 1917; photograph number 33; forms; concrete structures; barges
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
West Duluth; Duluth Missabe and Northern Railroad; Foundation showing Sheet Piling; construction of number 6 dock; winter; snow; ore dock; tug boat; crane; railroad tracks; piling foundation; pile driver; June 21, 1917; photograph number 28
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
West Duluth; Duluth Missabe and Northern Railroad; Erecting Approach of number 6 dock; number 6 dock construction; equipment; steel girders being placed; crane; workers with guide wires; workmen; houses; tents; June 21, 1917; photograph number 29
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
West Duluth; Duluth Missabe and Northern Railroad; Material Yard of no. 6 dock construction; view of Duluth waterfront land; pilings; building materials; workers; workmen; aerial bridge in distance; grain elevators in distance; railroad yards; railroad tracks; railroad spurs; open iron ore cars; June 21, 1917; photograph number 31
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
West Duluth; Duluth Missabe and Northern Railroad; Junctions of Steel with Concrete wall approach; number 6 dock construction; steam equipment; steel girders being placed by crane; workers; workmen; equipment; building materials; railroad tracks; photograph number 26; April 6, 1917
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
West Duluth; Duluth Missabe and Northern Railroad; number 6 Dock Construction; pile foundation; pile driving; workers; workmen; winter; snow; ore dock; Lake Superior; photograph number 23; equipment; March 22, 1917
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
A view of the shore of an unidentified lake. This snapshot by Stella Stocker is from her photograph album. Stocker, a musician and music educator, studied American Indian music among the Ojibwe people in Minnesota.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Clara Stocker appears to be laying a fire on the point of Pelican Lake. This snapshot by Stella Stocker is from her photograph album. Stocker, a musician and music educator, studied American Indian music among the Ojibwe people in Minnesota.�
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
A view of an unidentified lake. This snapshot by Stella Stocker is from her photograph album. Stocker, a musician and music educator, studied American Indian music among the Ojibwe people in Minnesota.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
West Duluth; Entertainment near the ore docks and train trestle; advertisements; spectators; horses; dare devil entertainers; advertisement for The Big Duluth clothing store
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections