Lost Duluth II - Full Documentary

There's more to rediscover in "Lost Duluth II", a history documentary found exclusively on WDSE WRPT Public Television. Uncover hidden underground tunnels beneath Duluth's streets, century-old tributes to the forgotten men and women who built the city. We'll remember a World War I-era shipyard that once employed thousands in western Duluth's Riverside neighborhood.

#history #historical

[lorik.]

Excellent video!!
My grandfather (b. 1871) came from Norway to America and then Duluth after his brother said "There's a ship leaving for America tomorrow, let's go! My grandfather was 16yrs old.
He was a soldier in the Spanish-american War (1898).
He settled in Duluth and worked in a foundry in West Duluth and had a home built there. He had three daughters (b. 1910-1915's). One taught home economics at Ordean Jr High. The middle sister was a professor of Art Education in the New York University System and my mother was an honor graduate from Northwestern University and taught choral music education in Winnetka Illinois and in the suburbs just west of Milwaukee.
He saw a lot of changes to Duluth over those years. He never learned to drive a car and passed away at 96 with a full head of pure white hair. The most polite manners of any one I ever knew.

[JulianKeller-omwz]

This is a great documentary. I've only been to Duluth once in my life, and that was for work for five days. So I didn't have a lot of time to do a lot of exploring around the town, but for the little I did, I found it facinating. Especially the area close to the waterfront. Icould see the various cultures in the different architecture of the hones and buildings in different areas of the town. The town is just full of rich history. I bet it was something to behold in it's hayday. I would have loved to spend more time there.

[samgetta]

Mr. Greg Grell, cast and crew, thank you for your time and effort, and passion for preserving the history of this small American town. I've been there a few times, and have considered moving there many more. Thanks again for such a rich and informative lesson in history, What a fabulous resource! If only more communities took the time to preserve their heritage, thank you!

[rhondalee]

I was mesmerized when this came on!! Amazing city and now in my bucket list! Thank you guys for sharing this!! So amazing!😘💕🙏

[kendavid]

In NJ where I lived for 30 years century homes have those carriage stones still, street are narrow through the town which was incorporated in 1776, I love historical sites and homes, I found a newspaper in the attic of our home from 1907!!I was enthralled!!

[AntJonez]

Been meaning to watch this for the past 6 years. Finally watching it. February 1st 2021.

[DTM-Books]

The fascinating thing about Duluth is that there are all these ruins scattered everywhere - pavement, stairs, foundations, walls, parts of buildings. Growing up in the 1980s was like living in a graveyard, surrounded by lost history. Of course, the local economy was reeling from the collapse of the Iron Range and the US Steel plant, and the transition to tourism hadn't yet occurred. But Duluth was a big town, far larger than its population suggested. Its many neighborhoods had their own character, and traveling from London Road and St Scholastica to, say, Morgan Park was like visiting several different cities. A lot of that is now lost today, another 20 years added to the graveyard.

[chuckness]

I was the youngest in a family of eight children growing up in Duluth during the height of it's growth of the 1960's. Born in 1956, I remember Duluth with much fondness. My father was useless, and eventually went to prison. I remember moving from place to place around Duluth. I can count 8 different places we lived, and I am sure my older siblings remember many more. Most of the places we lived were usually condemned after we moved. I would eventually leave home for the first time when I was 16, in 1972. 

We lived in the East end, the middle of town, in the North of town, in West Duluth, out in Gary/New Duluth area, Herman Town, Proctor, and even on the very outskirts of town along old Hy 61. I was quite young then, but I bet that I could still spot the place we buried our dog under the old pole in the yard that held a bird house. It's now under I-35, but I bet I could get close. We were one of the earliest families who lived in the old housing project above Duluth.

I still remember our address when I was 8 years old in 1963, 1201-C East 1st Ave W. I may have it a bit off, but that would be close. As I would learn later it was after Dad was sent to Stillwater. While we lived there my oldest four siblings all attended Central High on Lake Ave and 2nd while two other brothers attended Denfeld Junior High. One of them, Angie, would eventually graduate from there. Me and my other sister both attended Neddleton school at the time. 

One memory that will be with me forever. was that during that first year we lived there. It was Winter and started snowing early in the day. Like all young kids do, me and my friends got our sleds and decided to go sledding. I remember heading out after one of my older sister made me some lunch. It was snowing pretty steady all day, and me and a few friends wanted to take advantage of the fresh snow. As usually, we played out till it got dark, not thinking how long we were gone. Well the street lights started coming on knew it was time to quit. We all said our goodbyes and headed to our home. I remember how everything looked the same. And eventually I got lost, because all the apartment buildings looked the same. I could not tell one place from another.

With all the fresh snow I remember being disorientated and started to worry, as the snow just kept coming down. I remember pulling my sled from building to building looking for our apartment. Mind you, I was only eight, and had not remembered the apartment number yet. After all, we had only lived there a short time. Finally I sat down on the steps in front of someone's house and started to cry. I was sure I was never going to find my home. As I sat with my head in my hands, getting colder and colder, I just cried, not loud, but more like sobbing. 

Then a lady sat down next to me and asked my why I was crying. I mumbled through my mittens that I was lost. The lady then put her arms around me, pulled me into her and started saying something that turned my sadness into joy. She told me, “Clarence, you're not lost, your at home". It was then that I recognized my Mom's voice. I looked up at her and jumped up into her arms, as she hugged me and laughed, but more of a kind of chuckle a parent has when their kid does something cute and silly. I was home, and I didn't even know it.

So many memories of those years growing up in Duluth. I could write stories all day long about the many things I did. Like the time we built a raft one spring when I was 10 or 11, and tried to float it down through those tunnels in the drainage canals to Lake Superior. To this day I'm sure we would have made it, if the raft hadn't come apart after about four blocks down the hill. I remember each of us helping each other get out of the water that was coming down pretty fast. Never a thought about drowning, we were pioneers, and on a mission. All wet and soaking, I finally got home. When I walked into the home, the look on my my Mom's face was priceless as I stood in the kitchen dripping water onto the floor from my very soaked cloths.

Or the time we used to ride our Bicycles from West Duluth down to Leaf Erickson Park on the weekend and then to Park Point, being gone from morning till dark. Other times we rode our bike up the hill just to see how fast we could come down the hill, without any thought about traffic from cars. We were daredevils and crazy. It's by the grace of GOD any of us lived past 12. So many memories, I could write a book about those days.

[Sahiyena]

There is something special about that graveyard. I literally live right on the upperside of it a minute's walk away and I often stroll through there to clear my head and relax.

[terrencejohnson]

Very enjoyable and I would like to visit your city.

[AmigoKandu]

Duluth history is mentioned in Bob Dylan's song "Desolation Row". The lyrics "circus in town" refer to the 1924 lynching of 3 Black circus workers by local Duluth people.
They stood for a photo with the 3 dead bodies. These photos often became postcards, which Dylan saw later on, and wrote his song.
Like Dylan, we can reflect upon this evil today, and keep working for better tomorrows.

[tjmctube]

As typical kids we use to get into some of those tunnels in the late 60s, early 70s. Toxic gasses were the furthest thing from our minds as we dodged massive spider webs and their creators.

[Paige-Turnner]

Please do a documentary just on lost houses and neighborhoods. I have a particular request for history on the house that once stood at 407 N 1st Avenue West. It was built in 1890 and torn down somewhere in 2011-2013. That's all I know, but want to know more. Especially if that area was affluent, middle class or lower class back in the early 1900s.

[TheBandit]

I have some friends in Duluth. They invited me to come snowmobiling. It was in January. They didn't warn me how cold it can get. Holy Jeebus! it was -20! My poor diesel truck! I had to go buy warmer clothes. Still had a good time but I won't visit in January ever again. Maybe a summer fishing trip.

[candykane]

I loved the storm sewer brick tour….my St. Paul ancestors were always recorded as “masons” but their company was mostly for sewers. So this meant a lot to me. Another look into the past. Then other relatives worked for the city of Duluth.

[lorik.]

You're missing an entire bridge connecting Superior and Duluth. There was a mostly wooden steep and scary (for us kids) toll bridge (if not all) in the 50-60's.
A 9hr drive from Milwaukee WI on a two lane "highway". We'd arrive after dark and the bridge was white with bright spot lighting. It freaked us out. I had my eyes closed.
That's my bridge story.

[mikemaatta]

I get to go through Duluth when I visit my family in the UP of Michigan!

[richardnailhistorical]

Duluth should be studied as a prime example what happens when something of value is discovered and what happens afterward. I see this history as a rather depressing example how humanity/civilization, exploits something w/o ever considering the consequences and impact. There are 'Duluth's' all over this world today, being exploited just for the wealth a region may possess and left a wasteland after exploiters have made their money & have no further interest in area.

[steveg]

Very interesting but it's a shame that it's so difficult to hear. My computer speakers are cranked and youtube volume is as well. :(

[tonysigsby]

The Helpful step down I heard in her voice