This sound clip highlights the history of Polaris Industries. The Roseau County Historical Society prepared this radio script to share county history through broadcasts on KJ102 FM in Roseau. The topics highlight the history of Roseau County and the people that lived there.
The area west of the Arena Auditorium occupied here by hundreds of parked RVs will be developed into Bay Front Park. In the summer of 1983, an Airstream rally occupied all of the Arena Auditorium parking lot and the area seen here taken by RVs. The dark rectangular building near the stern of the ore boat is the Flame Restaurant building. The slip at the far right will be filled. In the foreground the I35 freeway is under construction and building materials laid out to the right. the Ship Canal piers were being remodeled/rehabilitated in 1985-1986.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
View of the saltie vessel Socrates grounded on Minnesota Point on November 18 and 19, 1985. Ships run aground every day, but not in our own back yard. The exception was Nov. 18, 1985, when a fall gale drove the 584-foot Socrates within 50 feet of a Park Point beach shoreline. It was a soft landing for the Liberian-registered freighter, which had been anchored in Lake Superior awaiting a cargo of grain. Although pounded ashore by waves, the saltie sustained only minor hull damage, recalls Dan Sydow of FedMar International, its local agent. Everyone took photographs of this event and the gigantic ship. In this view lookers on are on the beach observing the Socrates. When the ship is loaded with cargo, the orange-red painted portion of the ship is submerged underwater and not visible. As it os riding high, you know it is light because without the weight of its anticipated cargo.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
View of the saltie vessel Socrates grounded on Minnesota Point on November 18 and 19, 1985. Ships run aground every day, but not in our own back yard. The exception was Nov. 18, 1985, when a fall gale drove the 584-foot Socrates within 50 feet of a Park Point beach shoreline. It was a soft landing for the Liberian-registered freighter, which had been anchored in Lake Superior awaiting a cargo of grain. Although pounded ashore by waves, the saltie sustained only minor hull damage, recalls Dan Sydow of FedMar International, its local agent. Everyone took photographs of this event and the gigantic ship.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
View of the saltie vessel Socrates grounded on Minnesota Point on November 18 and 19, 1985. Ships run aground every day, but not in our own back yard. The exception was Nov. 18, 1985, when a fall gale drove the 584-foot Socrates within 50 feet of a Park Point beach shoreline. It was a soft landing for the Liberian-registered freighter, which had been anchored in Lake Superior awaiting a cargo of grain. Although pounded ashore by waves, the saltie sustained only minor hull damage, recalls Dan Sydow of FedMar International, its local agent. Everyone took photographs of this event and the gigantic ship.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
View of the saltie vessel Socrates grounded on Minnesota Point on November 18 and 19, 1985. Ships run aground every day, but not in our own back yard. The exception was Nov. 18, 1985, when a fall gale drove the 584-foot Socrates within 50 feet of a Park Point beach shoreline. It was a soft landing for the Liberian-registered freighter, which had been anchored in Lake Superior awaiting a cargo of grain. Although pounded ashore by waves, the saltie sustained only minor hull damage, recalls Dan Sydow of FedMar International, its local agent. Everyone took photographs of this event and the gigantic ship. Coast Guard staff are the tiny bits at the bow of the ship.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
View of the saltie vessel Socrates grounded on Minnesota Point on November 18 and 19, 1985. Ships run aground every day, but not in our own back yard. The exception was Nov. 18, 1985, when a fall gale drove the 584-foot Socrates within 50 feet of a Park Point beach shoreline. It was a soft landing for the Liberian-registered freighter, which had been anchored in Lake Superior awaiting a cargo of grain. Although pounded ashore by waves, the saltie sustained only minor hull damage, recalls Dan Sydow of FedMar International, its local agent. Everyone took photographs of this event and the gigantic ship. In this view members of the Coast Guard are attempting release of the Socrates.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
View of the saltie vessel Socrates grounded on Minnesota Point on November 18 and 19, 1985. Ships run aground every day, but not in our own back yard. The exception was November 18, 1985, when a fall gale drove the 584-foot Socrates within 50 feet of a Park Point beach shoreline. It was a soft landing for the Liberian-registered freighter, which had been anchored in Lake Superior awaiting a cargo of grain. Although pounded ashore by waves, the saltie sustained only minor hull damage, recalls Dan Sydow of FedMar International, its local agent. Everyone took photographs of this event and the gigantic ship.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
The New Sweden Feed Store began as a general store, but had been converted to a feed store by the time this 1985 photograph was taken in New Sweden, Minnesota.
View from Second Avenue West of the rubble that was the Glass Block store at 128 West Superior Street. The four floor retail giant in downtown Duluth had dozens of departments. It was located at this location from 1893. The store opened in 1887 at Panton and Watson.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Looking east from West Superior Street of the rubble that was the Glass Block store at 128 West Superior Street. The four floor retail giant in downtown Duluth had dozens of departments. It was located at this location from 1893. The store opened in 1887 at Panton and Watson.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
View from West Michgan Street of the rubble that was the Glass Block store at 128 West Superior Street. The four floor retail giant in downtown Duluth had dozens of departments. It was located at this location from 1893. The store opened in 1887 at Panton and Watson.
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
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
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
When it gets very cold and the water of Lake Superior is warmer than the air, the lake "smokes" as seen here. The smokestack at the left is the Duluth Steam Plant that provides heat to hundreds of downtown businesses. The Duluth business district's tallest building is the Alworth shown here just in front of the Aerial Lift Bridge. The 16 story Daniel Burnham designed Alworth was built in 1909 in nine months opening August 30, 1910. Pioneer Hall is behind the Alworth. Ground was broken on April 7, 1975 for the Pioneer Hall and Duluth Curling Club. The Silver Broom World Curling Tournament in March 1976, drew 41,000 fans from ten countries to the new ice sheets in Pioneer Hall.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
The circular plaza feature of the Duluth Public Library is at the left of the open site where the building will stand. On Michigan Street is the St. Louis County Heritage and Arts Center and the 1977 Depot Theater at the far right. The Flame restaurant is at the top left.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Roy Bernard Oberg is of Swedish descent. His spouse (second) was Lorraine Stevens Oberg. He was interviewed aboard the Voyageur II between Grand Portage, Minnesota and Windigo, Isle Royale, Michigan, by interviewer Barbara W. Sommer.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Lorntsen, Conrad, tape 1, side2, narrator. He was of Norwegian descent. His spouse Fern Williams Lorntsen was present throughout the interview. Mr. Lorntsen is retired. He was interviewed at Mr. Lorntsen's home in Beaver Bay, Minnesota, by interviewer Barbara W. Sommer.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Christopher Tormundsen was of Norwegian descent. His spouse was Mateld Smith Tormondsen. Mr. Tormondsen was 90 years old at the time of this interview. The interviewed was taken at Mr. Tormondsen's home a mile and a half north of Tofte, Minnesota, by interviewer Barbara W. Sommer.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Ragnvald Sve was of Norwegian descent. His spouse was Ragnhild Jacobson Sve. They were married to each other for 51 year. He is one of several people presently allowed a license to fish trout in Lake Superior. He was interviewed at the Sve home in Two Harbors, Minnesota, by interviewer Barbara W. Sommer.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Milford Johnson Jr.'s spouse was Monica Wannebo Johnson. He is currently working at Reserve Mining Company. He was interviewed at Mr. Johnson's home in Two Harbors, Minnesota, by interviewer Barbara W. Sommer.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Hjalmer Louis Mattson is of Finnish descent who calls himself a Swede-Finn. He is not married. He was interviewed at his home in Duluth, Minnesota, by interviewer Barbara W. Sommer.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Ingeborg Holte was of Swedish descent, spouse Edwin Holte (died in 1971) fished as did her father but Ingeborg did not fish; Mrs. Holte is Sam Johnson's and Edwin C. "Steve" Johnson's sister; interviewed at Mrs. Holte's home in Grand Marais, Minnesota; she is the sister of Edwin C. "Steve" Johnson, interviewer Barbara W. Sommer.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
George Torgersen was of Norwegian descent. His spouse was Barbara Eggert Torgeson. He was interviewed at his home at Knife River, Minnesota, by interviewer Barbara W. Sommer.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
The narrator is Edwin C. "Steve" Johnson of Swedish descent. His spouse is Myrtle Eklund Johnson. He is the brother of Sam Johnson who owned a fish dealership called Sam Johnson & Sons. His sister is Ingeborg Holte. Steve was interviewed at his home in Duluth, Minnesota, by interviewer Barbara W. Sommer.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Of Norwegian descent, Aleck, his father and brother operated the H. Christiansen & Sons dealership started in 1898. His spouse's name was Minnie Wiggins Christensen. Betty (of Betty's Pies just north of Two Harbors, is Aleck Christensen's daughter. The interview was taken at H. Christiansen, Inc. Sporting Goods, in Duluth, Minnesota, by interviewer Barbara W. Sommer.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
