DULUTH.com Nov/Dec 2018

ROLLER DAMES ROCK THE DERBY SCENE

MEET DULUTH’S FAVORITE MONGOOSE

MOVING THE WILLIAM A. IRVIN

NOW PLAYING Matthew Dressel brings love of movies to Zinema 2

GROUP PUBLISHER

Neal Ronquist

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Rick Lubbers

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR

Megan Wedel

ADVERTISING MANAGER

Eric Olson

FEATURES EDITOR

Beverly Godfrey

ADVERTISING EXECUTIVES

Ali Comnick

ali@duluth.com

218.428.2929

Dee Munson dee@thewomantoday.com

218-940-8434

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Kayla Ronngren

CONTRIBUTORS

David Ballard Photography

Peter Baumann

Tony Bennett

Pamela J. Erickson

Brooks Johnson

Dennis Kempton

Bob King

Melinda Lavine

Christa Lawler

Kathleen Murphy

Mark Nicklawske

Desmond Scott

Alison Stucke

to our readers

Our back issues are posted online in a “flip book” format. Go to Duluth.com, scroll down to “Read the Magazine Online,” and click on the current cover to open a bookshelf of past issues. Follow that path, and you’ll see the first cover of Duluth.com magazine featured the Roller Dames, a roller-derby league we revisit this month. We’re happy to report they’re still rolling.

This issue includes other blasts from the past. If you haven’t heard of Mr. Magoo, you’ll meet Duluth’s favorite mongoose. The Karpeles Manuscript Museum puts history on display, and visits are free. You’ll also read about an author who delves into the folklore of the paranormal across the Midwest. And in a sad of example of “what’s old is new again,” learn about the death of a Finnish immigrant 100 years ago.

What’s old is new, but what’s new is new, too. You’ll meet Matthew Dressel, the man behind new promotions at Zinema 2. He’s breathing new life into the independent theater with the addition of more old movies. Then there’s sushi in Superior, paddling on Lake Superior, moving the William A. Irvin and more — Duluth, as always, has a lot going on.

ON THE COVER: Matthew Dressel is programming and communication manager at Zinema 2. Pictured here, he takes a photo of a White Russian cocktail as part of his promotion of the theater's showing of “The Big Lebowski.”

DAVID BALLARD PHOTOGRAPHY

‘The Coolest Thing’ HARBOR CITY ROLLER DAMES KEEP ROCKING THE DERBY SCENE

BY MARK NICKLAWSKE

PHOTOS BY DAVID BALLARD PHOTOGRAPHY

Abby Jean Goodell (Aurora Whorealis), Catie Dahl (Dahlinquent), Mandy Wenberg (The DEVLIMAMMA), Megan O”Brien (Dready Krueger) gathered at Chester Bowl on Sept. 8

Elbows fly, legs twist and bodies crash as the Harbor City Roller Dames and North Star Roller Derby from Minneapolis wrestle around an oval track lined with fans in folding chairs awash in loud music, referee tweets and excited announcers

Ten skaters, five from each team, pile up on the concrete floor of an old hockey rink deep inside the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center. Wheels squeak, and a knee pad is ripped apart as the battle features all muscle and brawn.

And then — maybe a minute into the jam — lightning on wheels strikes: Emma Peters-Axtell, a Roller Dame known as “Soko Rebel,” finds a seam in the moving body wall and breaks through. She spins and does a sideways tip-toe dance along the out-of-bounds tape, turns backward and raises her arms as if she just nailed a Triple Lutz. The scoreboard racks up five more points for Harbor City.

The Roller Dames go on to defeat North Star Roller Derby 199-125 in the second bout of the three-bout Northshore Ottaline Derb-a-thon Sept. 15. The event, part of the Northshore Inline Marathon weekend, served as a showcase for Midwest women’s roller derby.

For the first-time fan, this is a good place to learn about the game.

“How I describe roller derby is NASCAR plus hockey,” said Abby Jean Goodell, who helped establish the Harbor City Roller Dames in 2007. “It’s full contact, pass as many people as you can … you play offense and defense at the same time.”

It’s a sport where players on four wheels deliberately crash into each other at high speed, own and operate the team and feature creative nicknames on jersey backs.

Goodell, who uses the skater name “Aurora Whorealis,” discussed derby strategy, culture and business with teammates Megan “Dready Krueger” O’Brien, who serves as team general manager, and Stephany “WhattheSteph” Kline, team treasurer, prior to Derb-a-thon events.

One thing for sure, today’s roller derby has little in common with the high-banked, made-for-TV melodrama of the 1970s.

“It’s less WWE and more athletic,” Goodell said. “There are actual rules.”

Unlike professional wrestling, participants are not allowed to punch, trip or clothesline their opponents. More athletic moves such as jumping, fast footwork and whipping a teammate ahead for speed are encouraged.

“Even if you have no idea what’s going on, it’s super fun to watch,” she said.

O’Brien agreed. She said she fell in love with the sport the first time she saw it at the DECC.

“I literally had no idea what was going on,” she said. “I just knew there was a ‘jammer’ and I was like ‘JAMMER! Yeah.’ Every time they got points it was, ‘You’ve been jammed! I don’t know why.’ It was a fun three hours for me.”

Kline was in the middle of the action that same night. Her memories are more painful.

“I got injured,” she said. “I fell and dislocated my left kneecap. That’s why it’s still in a brace. It’s loose and forever will be.”

Goodell said derby is a rough sport, and its first lessons teach skaters how to fall. Knees and elbows take the worst pounding.

“It only hurts when you’re not playing derby,” O’Brien said.

Like O’Brien, Goodell knew she had to be involved the first time she saw derby. “It was the coolest thing I’ve ever seen. I was like rock and roll mixed with sports mixed with you get to yell and hit people and still be friends with them. That’s the coolest thing.”

The group said derby teaches women how to use their body in new ways and instills determination and teamwork.

For example, Kline discovered the sport when she was a teenager and joined the Roller Dames after she turned 21. “I’ve never been on a team before. I’ve never been athletic,” she said. “I looked at all these different types of women and thought, ‘I can do this.’ A week later, I went to my first practice.”

The Harbor City Roller Dames also serves as a social network and business incubator. Team members sell t-shirts and other merchandise, manage a website and social media feeds, recruit sponsors, organize road bouts and hold fundraisers such as dog washes, drag shows and art displays.

Goodell said her work as a founding team member taught her important business lessons that she uses now as the owner of a Superior tattoo shop. O’Brien manages the Hot Topic store in the Miller Hill Mall, and Kline is a dental hygienist.

The Harbor City Roller Dames currently have 15-20 skaters who pay monthly dues for practice space and are responsible for their own gear and insurance. It also has a large group of non-skating officials who serve as announcers, promoters and scorekeepers. New skaters are always welcome, as are new officials and referees.

The Roller Dames are members of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association and stage their home bouts beginning in the spring at Wessman Arena in Superior. Each home bout is special, said team members, with a handpicked national anthem performer, a ceremonial first whistle and side attractions like a kid zone, live music and giveaways. Bouts are already scheduled for next May and June.

Goodell said the Roller Dames are currently ranked at a Division III level, behind teams from larger cities, including St. Paul and Minneapolis. North Star Roller Derby, for example, has enough players for three teams.

“We don’t want to play the (nationally ranked) Minnesota Roller Girls because we would just die,” Goodell said. “It’s hard because we don’t have a ton of skaters and, like, we all have real-life stuff that we do.”

But on the roller derby track, real life disappears. The “Soko Rebel” can blast through jams like an NFL running backs on wheels.

“I love it,” said Peters-Axtell, as she greeted fans and friends after the DECC bout. “I helped start the team more than 10 years ago, and I just love it.”

Mark Nicklawske is a Duluth freelance writer and entertainment reviewer for the Duluth News Tribune.

Q A&

MATTHEW DRESSEL BRINGING MOVIES TO A SCREEN NEAR YOU

David Ballard Photography

Matthew Dressel is a movie guy — whether it’s writing Coen brothers-style dark comedies, gathering like-minded folks together for meetings of the Duluth Film Collective, or finding a way to get movies like “Videodrome” or “The Big Lebowski” on screen at Zinema 2, where he’s the programming and communication manager. Dressel, who last lived in Los Angeles, talked to Duluth.com magazine about cinematic deep dives, his muse, and a favorite, albeit complicated, movie snack.

Q: What is the first movie that had an impact on you?

A: I wish it were something profound, but it�s definitely when my dad took me to see “Arachnophobia” when I was six. My sister and I begged my dad to take us, and then we were begging him to let us leave about five minutes into the film when a giant tarantula bit and killed what we thought was the main character. If you put a gun to my head, I couldn�t tell you anything else about that film, except for the first five minutes. Those five minutes are seared into my brain and probably influence every decision I�ve made since then.

Q: What is the best bad movie you’ve ever seen?

A: That�s such a hard question to answer, but one movie conquers all: a science fiction/horror film called “Feeders.” I was 15 when I was lucky enough to find a copy of “Feeders” at my local Blockbuster. It was about an alien invasion with two paper mache puppets wreaking havoc on two unlikely heroes� camping trip. After I watched it, I couldn�t stop. My friends and I ripped a VHS copy and watched it over and over again. We even brought it on a field trip and made our whole senior class sit through it. It�s beyond terrible. The acting, the make-up, the special effects — everything. And I have one of the few remaining copies because it�s out of print and no one cares to bring it back.

Q: You have 24 hours, a dark room, a big screen. What genre or director or era do you dig into?

A: I would make my way through the Coen brothers� entire filmography, beginning to end. They�re hands-down my favorite writer/directors, and I�m obsessed with their films. Not only are they incredibly versatile, but their style begs for multiple viewings. It would be amazing to be able to watch them evolve as filmmakers and take in all the similarities between their films.

Q: What movie have you most delighted in sharing with your daughter?

A: Believe it or not, I�m holding off on sharing important films with my daughter until she�s old enough to thoroughly appreciate them. Don�t get me wrong, I have a list of things I want her to see, but most of them would go straight over her head at this point. Especially comedies, because her sense of humor isn�t quite developed yet. I do love going to the movies with her, though. Her face lights up when she�s watching a film, and I absolutely love sharing the experience with her.

Q: What’s the best movie snack?

A: Popcorn and some type of citrus drink. You see, the key is to cram your mouth full of popcorn and then take a big swig of the drink, so the pop melts the popcorn in your mouth and mixes with the butter. You think it�d be disgusting, but it�s amazing.

Q: What shapes your own writing?

A: Humiliation. Anything bad that happens to me is just fuel for future screenplays. I�m able to see the humor in most things, so if something awkward or embarrassing happens, I just tuck it away and use it later. Most of my comedies are about average Joes getting in over their head and then a series of unfortunate events (Netflix, please don�t sue) unfolding where everything goes wrong for them. It�s so much funnier to watch someone fail than to succeed.

Q: Do you spend more time writing or watching?

A: Watching. But I can get away with that because it�s all “homework” in my mind. I�m legitimately studying these films, seeing what works and what doesn�t. It�s how I�ve been able to learn proper structure and pacing.

Q: What projects do you have going on right now?

A: For the last six years I�ve been working to get my first feature film off the ground. It�s called “Killing Daniel,” and it�s in development with Darius Films in Toronto, Canada, and we�re oh-so-close to production. It�s hands-down the funniest thing I�ve ever written, and I can�t wait for people to see it. If it ever gets made, you better believe we�ll screen it at the Zinema.

G IVE KAYAKING A TRY

PADDLE FESTIVAL ENCOURAGES LOCAL LAKE ADVENTURES

BY MARK NICKLAWSKE

Katie Bressler wanted to test kayaks for her dog Rebel. “I have a busy work schedule so I want an activity where my dog can come with me,” she said. “He’s my running buddy. He does well on paddle boards and in canoes so I think he would be fine in a kayak.”

Bressler, who is currently working through a medical residency in Duluth, figured her 60-pound “mutt” could balance on the front of the kayak while she paddled through adventures on lakes and rivers of the northland.

Surrounded by brightly colored red, yellow and blue kayaks of various shapes and sizes, she picked up a paddle, stepped into a boat and glided out a short distance into Duluth Harbor. Dozens of other people were doing the same thing.

The test voyages went well. There was only one thing missing.

“I might actually have to go home and get (Rebel),” she said.

Approximately 50 kayak-curious water enthusiasts attended the inaugural Twin Ports Paddle Festival at the Park

Point Recreation Area boat launch Aug.19. The four-hour event was organized by the Northland Paddlers Alliance to promote kayaking and raise water recreation awareness at the Head of the Lakes

“The idea is just to have a chance for people to come down and try out boats, get together with fellow paddlers and find out what people are doing,” said Northland Paddlers Alliance Vice President Shawna Anderson. “Just have a nice day on the water.”

The nonprofit Northland Paddlers Alliance was formed in 2015 to support a variety of human-powered water sports like whitewater rafting, canoeing, kayaking and paddle boarding. The group develops educational and youth programs, reaches out to underrepresented communities, leads regular group paddles and adopts waterfront public access areas.

“We’re really about promoting access to the water for everybody,” Anderson said. “It’s literally just trying to be a voice for the paddle community.”

The organization has worked with the St. Louis River

Jenny Peterson of Duluth smiles while she paddles a kayak during the Twin Ports Paddle Festival held August 19 at Park Point.

David Ballard Photography

Alliance, Western Waterfront Trail development and the parks departments in both Duluth and Superior. It also works closely with community youth organizations like Neighborhood Youth Services, Center City and Valley Youth Center.

“We’re coordinating with a lot of the community groups that wouldn’t as often get out,” said Northland Paddlers Alliance Secretary Alaina Pilate. “We just try to reach out.”

Organizers launched the Twin Ports Paddle Festival with money left over from the discontinued Two Harbors Kayak Festival. The Duluth Experience, Swiftwater Adventures, Skihut, North Shore SUP and Daytripper all provided equipment and expertise.

The kayak demonstration is the only event of its kind all summer in the Twin Ports area.

Anderson said one visitor confessed to a fear of boats but wanted to try a kayak. The $10 admission provided access to dozens of different kayak styles, brands and sizes, a lifejacket and advice from experts both on the shore and in the water.

“I’ve seen her out there,” Anderson said. “She’s tried at

least three different boats. It’s been awesome. She was smiling. That, for me, is what this is all about.”

Mark Seefeldt of Carleton, Minn., was another new kayaker, but his first voyage didn’t go as planned: “I went swimming,” he said.

Seefeldt tipped his kayak and watched his glasses sink to the bottom of the harbor. His next two kayak runs were better, and his wife, also a first-timer, had no problems.

“I think you gotta get used to it, that’s for sure.” he said. “It’s all part of the experience.”

Greg and Jenny Peterson, both longtime members of the Duluth Rowing Club, attended the festival because they would like to buy a kayak. Jenny Peterson said the couple has rented kayaks on vacation and they have always enjoyed the experience.

“I like that it’s a silent sport. I like the fact that you’re on the water, close to the water,” she said. “It’s just that water does something for my soul.”

The inlets and bays of the St. Louis River estuary are ripe

Shawna Anderson (left) and Alaina Pilate of the Northland Paddlers Alliance.

Mark Nicklawske / Duluth.com

for exploring, Jenny Peterson said.

“We’re so fortunate to live in Duluth and have all these water opportunities,” she said. “I love that we can experience the water rather than just looking at it.”

Anderson and Pilate said the Twin Ports Paddlers Alliance is set up to help both water sport newcomers and veterans.

Anderson, a Michigan native, is new to Duluth and first used the group for finding new float places. “I’m new to river paddling, so it was really great for me to have a group that was willing to show me where to go and show me the ins and outs,” she said.

Pilate, a first-grade teacher, was introduced to paddling as a college student 20 years ago and now leads whitewater adventures all over the country and in Canada.

“You can go to such amazing places,” she said. “We live in such a unique resource. For people to not have ever experienced being on water, you just see a different perspective.”

“What I love about kayaking is that you’re in control. It’s you and nature,” Anderson said. “You’re working with Mother Nature to have a great afternoon on the water.”

Mark Nicklawske is a Duluth freelance writer.

Jim Suttie of Duluth races a solo kayak through others as he participated in a time trial fun race during the Twin Ports Paddle Festival August 19 at Park Point. David Ballard Photography

Jeff Mara and Elizabeth Paszko, both of Duluth, paddle a two-person kayak in waters of the bay side of Park Point during the Twin Ports Paddle Festival August 19. The event offered the chance for people to try various kayaks and paddle boards.

David Ballard Photography

Mark Seefeldt of Carlton tries out a kayak during the Twin Ports Paddle Festival August 19 at Park Point. This was Seefeldt's first time in a kayak.

David Ballard Photography

PLATED: WASABI SUSHI SHINES IN SUPERIOR

DIVERSE JAPANESE-AMERICAN MENU MAKES FOR A MEMORABLE MEAL

BY DENNIS KEMPTON

The spot at 3333 Tower Ave. in Superior seems to have nine lives. Formerly a drive-through liquor store that was formerly a Wendy’s, the space has been renovated for yet another life — this time as Wasabi Japanese Cuisine. Sushi in Superior? Oh yes, dear reader. Oh, yes.

Americans have had a complicated relationship with Japanese cuisine. Japanese immigrants, like so many others, brought their food culture with them to America but it wasn’t until about 40 years ago that it sort of exploded onto the American scene, beginning on the coasts. Over the years, it has found its way to every place in the country in around 5,000 Japanese restaurants — even in northern Wisconsin.

Sushi, sashimi and teriyaki are Americans’ favorites, and the Japanese have had to heavily adapt their native food to please American palates. A California roll, for example, is a purely American invention. True Japanese sushi is all about the freshest fish and vegetables. It doesn’t feature avocado or some other fillers that overpower the fish so acutely. The thing about America, though, is that we fold our cultures together, until the result is something distinctly our own.

The illuminated bar at Wasabi fronts the dining room.

Photos by Dennis Kempton

Wasabi’s vegetarian sweet potato roll (left) and Futo Maki roll are two of more than a dozen rolls prepared by sushi chefs on site.

Wasabi is easy to find on the long stretch of Tower Avenue across from Essentia Health’s hospital in Superior. The transformation of the interior is modern with dark woods and complementary Asian decor. The one big flaw is a large flatscreen TV in the dining room. It was tuned to a sports game when I was there. It’s unfortunate. We should be able to enjoy good food and good company without TVs in any place other than a bona fide sports bar.

Sushi chefs are set behind the bar in front of the main dining room, adding some flair. And the menu? It’s big, but don’t get overwhelmed. There’s an all-you-can-eat option for $19.99. You can pace yourself and try everything on the menu without having to take out a loan.

I started with a classic miso soup. This traditional soup is made from a base of dashi made with kelp. It adds tremendous umami to the soup, along with the miso paste and tofu. Wasabi’s miso is rich and flavorful. The menu offers a spicy version as well. It’s a little light on the tofu, which would add some texture and smoothness to the soup, but the miso is an excellent starting point.

American sushi has a lot of filler, and it’s usually served rolled with rice to cover the traditional nori wrap. The thing I like most about American Japanese sushi is the fulsome variety it presents, welcoming almost everyone to the table. Wasabi’s vegetarian options include a roll made with roasted sweet potato, and it’s addicting. Flavored with a hint of maple and sesame oil, it has a subtle crunch and smoothness that follows. The texture is almost meaty inside the rice and nori.

I tried two more rolls because how can you not? The Futo Maki, a harmonious combination of creamy avocado, cucumber, pickled radish, crab, egg and squash, is perhaps the most filling roll I’ve had at any restaurant in recent memory. The chefs know their sushi, and found balance with crisp vegetables. It’s fresh-tasting and bright.

Eel? Yes. Wasabi’s eel roll is light, with just the right mouthfeel of firmness and chew. Eel’s subtle flavor doesn’t overpower the cucumber, and the roll is delightfully simple.

To round off the abundant menu, I also had the Hibachi chicken. I love Hibachi cooking and its showmanship, but this dish, compared to the expertise and flavor of the sushi, was almost forgettable. The vegetables were lackluster, and the chicken, while tender, can’t compare to the fresh sushi fish.

Wasabi is an above-average representative of JapaneseAmerican cuisine. That it’s nestled in Superior makes it stand out all the more. Its star is the sushi, rolled tight and bursting with freshness and diversity. Everything else is too familiar, like a well-worn sweater. Comfort-food for sure, but if you want a memorable night, make sure you roll with the sushi. Dennis Kempton is an arts and culture writer in Duluth.

Wasabi’s Eel Roll features fresh eel and cucumber hand-rolled in nori and rice.

BY BEVERLY GODFREY

The William A. Irvin passes through the opening of the Minnesota Slip into the Duluth Harbor late at night on Sept. 21. The ship was headed to Fraser Shipyards in Superior.

PHOTO BY BOB KING / DULUTH NEWS TRIBUNE

The blue bridge wasn’t there in 1986. When the William A. Irvin was placed in its slip, there was a little more wiggle room. But the bridge is there now, leaving only seven inches of space on each side when the Duluth landmark was moved on Sept. 21.

It took a lot of planning, outside support and hands on deck to make the move successfully. Among those onboard was the crew of Lt. Davan Scott, 31, commanding officer of the Twin Ports Division of the U.S. Navy Cadet Corps, a firefighting and medical unit based in Duluth.

Despite the high profile of the move, not a lot was heard about it beforehand. It had been widely reported that a $10 million environmental project will cap contaminated sediments in the Minnesota Slip. Nevertheless, “Operation Rivet,” as it was called by those in the know, was classified.

“We were actually told not to tell anyone about it,” Scott said.

On the night of the move, Scott was surprised to see a crowd had gathered.

“We got on deck, looked over the side, and there was this huge crowd there,” Scott said. “We knew towards the end that there was gonna be a bunch of people anyway, but we were to keep it as quiet as we could for as long as we could.”

Scott, a Duluth firefighter, started with the Navy Cadets in 2002 when the local unit was established. He worked onboard the Sundew back then and received on-the-job training during ice-breaking operations. He also worked on the Irvin for 14 years, starting out as a tour guide. Despite the large public interest in moving the lake freighter, he described it as “another day at the office.”

The relocation reportedly took only 4 hours, but Cadets

Photo by Desmond Scott

started at 6:30 p.m. and didn’t get back to the DECC parking lot until 7:30 in the morning.

“We watched the sun go down and come up,” Scott said. Scott said his division worked 87 man-hours onboard the ship over the course of seven days about a month before the move. He counted figures quickly off the top of his head: 52 metal window coverings; 19 hatches to secure; 1,174 rusty “dogs” (clamps) fixed; 18 manhole covers; 24 threaded bolts; 11 welding jobs. They resurfaced, repainted, made sure ballast tanks were dry and did other general maintenance. He emphasized that maintenance personnel from the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center also did a lot of work to get the ship ready.

“It had been 32 years since they’d been used,” he said, explaining that there were moving parts that needed to be coaxed back into moving.

As for moving day, the third time was the charm.

“We were supposed to move the boats two other times this week,” he said. “Those both canceled due to the weather.”

The sudden notice and changing schedule meant not all the cadets were onboard at the start. Those who were started taking in lines and cables as excavators on the ground pulled the ship from the slip. There were stopping points along the way, though, and that allowed more workers to board to make the trip to Howard’s Pocket at Fraser Shipyard.

“By the time we got to the end of the dock, I had all my sailors on,” Scott said.

One of those on for the duration was Scott’s brother, Desmond Scott, 19. He graduated from the Navy Cadets in 2017 after five years of service, during which he attained the rank of petty officer third class as a damage controlman. As

an experienced hand, he was asked to assist in the operation. As the ship slowly made its way out, he took a few photos.

“Since I have some experience doing stuff like that on the ship, I kind of hopped back and forth, line handling,” he said.

Desmond’s experience on the Irvin includes haunting it at Halloween, something he used to prepare for all September, then perform all October.

“I miss that a bit because 2017 was my sixth year doing it, third year being a core actor,” he said.

Desmond recently was seen onstage in “Of Mice and Men” and “The Toxic Avenger.” Although the Irvin acting gig is closed this year, he said he hopes to return when the Irvin is moved back.

Davan Scott said the move was stressful and took “three years” off his life, but it would have been five years had everyone not done such a good job. It was a long, slow, careful process, the ship moving along at 1 foot every 4 seconds.

A wind coming up from the west was a concern but wasn’t detrimental to the operation, Scott said, though the ship seemed to want to pull toward the lift bridge and pier wall near Bellisio’s.

“Once we started shifting from barge control to tug control, we had to let out a few lines,” Scott said. “The stern started slowly swinging toward the dock by Grandma’s Sports Garden because of the wind.”

He said in the end, the operation went smoothly, and the tug had it under control. Scott said he hopes to have Cadets help move the ship back in the spring of 2019. Beverly Godfrey is features editor of the Duluth News Tribune and Duluth.com magazine.

Davan Scott

Desmond Scott

DULUTH RELICS ILLEGAL MONGOOSE BECAME NATIONAL CELEBRITY

BY KATHLEEN MURPHY

The cover of a book found at a library sale featured a small animal resembling a weasel in a porthole window, and included a quote by President John F. Kennedy. I posted a photo of “The Duluth Mongoose” on a few Duluth-centered Facebook pages, asking people if they remembered or had heard of Mr. Magoo, an Indian mongoose that lived at the Duluth Zoo (now Lake Superior Zoo) in the 1960s.

The large and vehement response made me feel that not only was Mr. Magoo fondly remembered, but I had somehow failed as a Duluthian by not knowing his story. One commenter called him “Duluth’s most famous celebrity.” Another informed me she had done some research on Mr. Magoo and was in the process of writing a new children’s book in his honor.

The story of Mr. Magoo goes like this: Sailors on an oceangoing vessel that came into the Port of Duluth had a tame Indian mongoose on board. The mongoose was so tame, it

even enjoyed evening tea with the crew. When they docked, they contacted the Duluth Zoo and asked if someone would come pick up the mongoose, which the zoo director at the time, Lloyd Hackl, agreed to do. They named him Mr. Magoo, and the personable, tea-drinking mongoose quickly became a favorite at the zoo.

Within a short time, however, a federal customs agent heard about the mongoose. It was ordered seized, and Hackl was told it would be euthanized. Mongoose are prolific breeders and therefore banned in the United States in order to protect the native wildlife. The Duluth Herald ran a headline that read: “Mongoose Seized as Undesirable.”

Duluthians, however, already saw the mongoose as one of their own, and acted accordingly. The mayor got involved, as did the city attorney. Duluthians encouraged each other to write to their congressperson, as well as anyone in the federal

Mr. Magoo's "signature" on the title page of the book "The Duluth Mongoose" by Jack Denton Scott.

Photo by Kathleen Murphy

government who could possibly help, such as the head of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Petitions were circulated requesting authorities to make an exception, as Mr. Magoo was under lock and key, as well as a lone male with no chance of reproducing.

The grassroots campaign worked. On Dec. 8, 1962, Stewart L. Udall, the U.S. Secretary of the Interior, issued an authorization for the Duluth Zoo to temporarily keep the mongoose. Four months later, he was granted full permanent asylum. Rumor has it that President Kennedy himself issued the pardon, and when he visited Duluth in September of 1963, he declared the story of Duluth’s fight to save Mr. Magoo as a “classic example of government by the people.”

Mr. Magoo lived out his life at the Duluth Zoo, dying of old age in January 1968. Before his death, Jack Denton Scott wrote the book “The Duluth Mongoose.” It was sold at the zoo with Mr. Magoo’s “signature,” a stamp of his pawprints. A children’s book written by Herb and Mary Montgomery and illustrated by Marilue Johnson was published a few years later. Both books and Mr. Magoo can be seen on display in zoo’s main building.

Mr. Magoo was such big news at the time that the mayor of Duluth in 1965, George D. Johnson, appeared on the national game show “To Tell the Truth,” with the story of the mongoose as the central plot. The show featured celebrity panelists who are told a true story about a person, then are presented with three people to question and make their best guess as to which

Lake Superior Zoo

of the three is the person in question. In this episode, the panelists were told the story about the acquisition of the illegal Duluth mongoose, then had to determine which person was the real Mayor Johnson. The clip is fun to watch and can be found by a quick search on YouTube. Mayor Johnson even gives a stereotypical Minnesota bashful look when he reveals himself to be the true mayor of Duluth.

My Facebook commenter was right: Mr. Magoo was indeed a national celebrity. Enough time has passed since then, however, that most zoo patrons today do not remember the mongoose or the city’s fight to save him.

“When I first came to work at the zoo, Mr. Magoo was hidden at the back of a display case,” said Sarah Wilcox, education director at the zoo. Wilcox and her colleagues decided to create a new display for the mongoose, bringing him back to a more prominent position.

Today he is the center of a display on invasive species. Wilcox wanted to provide a permanent home for Mr. Magoo, but also thought it important to explain to present-day zoo visitors why the government was so concerned about a mongoose taking up residence in the U.S.

“Mongoose have very high reproductive rates,” Wilcox said. “There are examples of mongoose being released onto islands, and they very quickly took over and competed with native species for their habitat. It could be devastating to an ecosystem.”

Kathleen Murphy is a freelance journalist who lives in Duluth.

Mr. Magoo still resides at the Lake Superior Zoo, in a display case in the education center of the main building. The small framed photo features the zoo's director at the time, Lloyd Hackl, holding Mr. Magoo. It is assumed that Hackl named Mr. Magoo after the near-sighted cartoon character of the same name.

ABOVE: The invasive species display at the Lake Superior Zoo, where Mr. Magoo is now on permanent display. The display reminds zoo patrons that non-native animals like mongoose, feral cats and snakes can compete with native animals for food.

RIGHT:

The novelization of Mr. Magoo's story by Jack Denton Scott, "The Duluth Mongoose." Notice the $1.00 price tag in the upper right corner, as well as the quote from President John F. Kennedy: "A classic example of government by the people."

A page featuring the Duluth Zoo from Herb and Mary Montgomery's children's book, "Mongoose Magoo," published in 1968.

THE WEIGHT OF HISTORY ON DISPLAY KARPELES MUSEUM ROTATES ITS COLLECTION OF MANUSCRIPTS AND MORE

BY KATHLEEN MURPHY

If there is one thing Sandy Metzdorf would like everyone to know, it’s that Duluth’s Karpeles Manuscript Museum is not a dusty, boring place. “Something about the words ‘old manuscript’ makes people think of dust and dark spaces,” said Metzdorf, a museum greeter at Karpeles. “And that’s definitely not what we are.”

The building itself, the former home of First Church of Christ, Scientist, is what draws some people in. Large stained glass windows allow natural light to flood the building, which for the most part, was renovated for the museum but allowed to retain its church feel. “It hasn’t changed much inside,” Metzdorf said. “A lot of people come in just to look at the architecture of the building, then stay for the exhibits.”

The Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum system consists of several locations nationwide and boasts the world’s largest private collection of original manuscripts and documents.

The museum’s founders, David and Marsha Karpeles of Santa Barbara, Calif., have strong ties to Duluth; it is David’s hometown. An alumni of both Duluth Denfeld High School and the University of Minnesota-Duluth, David Karpeles made his fortune in real estate.

Their interests lie in collecting and preserving original manuscripts, but it was their decision to share the knowledge that prompted the creation of the Karpeles foundation and museum system. They wanted anyone with the desire to learn to have free access to their collection. None of their locations charge an admission fee. Many of the documents in their collection of over two million rotate throughout all of the system’s locations, which means the exhibits are always changing.

David and Marsha Karpeles already had most of their museums open and operating when they came back to

The Karpeles Library Manuscript Museum at 902 E. 1st Street in Duluth.

Photos by Kathleen Murphy

Duluth for a 40th class reunion. While there, a classmate teased Karpeles about not having one of their museums in his hometown. One can only guess what went through Karpeles’ mind that evening, but the next day, he made an offer to buy the former church and had the museum operating within a year.

Duluth is fortunate to have such a museum. Rotating through the system’s vast collection are rare and historical items such a proposal draft of the Bill of Rights, as well as Babe Ruth’s original signed contract (though neither are on display in Duluth at the time of this writing). The idea behind displaying original documents is to allow guests to see the formation of an important piece of writing, to see the corrections and thought process that went into a document that we usually know about

only in finished form.

In the Duluth museum in late August, for example, visitors could read a diary page written by Helen Keller, as well as a handwritten page of notes from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “We Shall Overcome” speech. It is a weighty feeling to be in the presence of documents held in the hands of such important American figures, knowing they were carefully considering words that would later become so important to our history.

If that thought isn’t enough to bring a person to explore this museum, the non-manuscript items might be of interest. Several wooden ship replicas, for example, are scattered predominantly throughout the gallery. They are behind glass, so don’t be worried about bringing small children, who are sure

An original copy of a draft version of Wagner's "Wedding March," otherwise known as "Here Comes the Bride," is seen on display at the Karpeles Museum.

A sandstone carving from Egypt, on display at Karpeles. It is uncertain which pharoah or ruler this is a depiction of, but it dates back to Egypt's 18th Dynasty, or 1550 to 1290 B.C.E. It is pictured on display Aug. 30.

to enjoy the large, colorful ships.

Get close to a detailed replica of a Viking longboat, as well as several tall ship replicas such as the Swedish ship “Vasa,” named after Sweden’s King Gustavus Vasa. Of course, a document accompanies the ship, one of only nine known documents in the world to bear King Vasa’s signature. It is a letter to Queen Mary I of England, asking her to cease trade with Russia and instead begin trading with the newly developed country of Sweden. She did.

A display of ancient Egyptian sand carvings and other artifacts sit feet away from a shelf of telephones, displayed in order from oldest to newest (one of the original car phones in a case). Of local interest, the museum houses medical equipment once used by Dr. Harry M. Stoel, a physician who practiced medicine in Duluth more than 100 years ago. Along these same lines, the Karpeles Museum system owns one of only five remaining original mold spores from the development of penicillin. “That display hasn’t been in Duluth,” Metzdorf said. “It is definitely something I would like to see.”

The museum engages with the community when it can. They rent the space for events such as parties and weddings. The first Sunday of every month, the museum hosts chamber music, coffee and cake for attendees to enjoy while taking in the exhibits. Check with the museum’s website for the time.

They also provide exhibit space for area artists. Recently on display was the artwork of Clare Cooley, featuring her exhibit “Warblers & Wildflowers,” 26 pieces depicting a different species of regional bird and bloom. On Tuesday evenings from 5:15-6:05 p.m., a yoga class is held in the museum, open to the public. “The high arching ceilings, beautiful skylight, and huge vibrant stained glass windows provide a calm and healing environment for yoga,” said yoga teacher Kyle Leia Heyesen.

“This museum truly is a hidden gem in Duluth,” Metzdorf said.

Kathleen Murphy is a freelance journalist who lives in Duluth.

A letter written by Helen Keller is available to view on Aug. 30 at the Karpeles Museum in Duluth. In the letter, she explains how, as a person who is both blind and deaf, she was able to learn how to write.

A replica of the warship H.M.S. Victory, a naval vessel that was launched in 1765, is seen on display in the Karpeles Museum on Aug. 30. It is still in use today as a museum.

Kyle Leia Heyesen teaches yoga classes at the Karpeles Museum on Tuesday nights. See her website, www.kyleleiayoga.com for prices and times.

UFO

BY TONY BENNETT

ON

It has been noted, now that so many people have highdefinition video cameras in their pockets at all times, that UFO evidence hasn�t really skyrocketed. One would imagine that the sightings that used to be so vividly described would now be accompanied by crisp, clean video evidence, but this hasn't been the case. Some people feel that this dearth of proof is actually proof of the nonexistence of extraterrestrial visitors, at least in the classic flying-disc form.

Chad Lewis, a UFO researcher and author based in the Eau Claire, Wis., area, isn't bothered. For him, it�s not that stories of aliens or sasquatches or weird hellmouths in country graveyards are to be disproven or proven — it�s about the stories themselves, and about what they tell us about the people who lived in a particular place and what their beliefs may have been at the time that any given supernatural event is purported to have occurred. Lewis isn�t looking for the truth in the way that Scully and Mulder did on “The X-Files.” He�s just interested in collecting the stories and telling them to others.

Lewis is a busy guy — he�s constantly on the road, driving from one small Midwestern town to another, giving lectures

and checking out sites where strange things are said to have happened. He recently stopped in Duluth, where he gave a talk at the Depot that drew a couple handfuls of curious people.

“I blame my interest in the weird and unusual on my home state of Wisconsin,” Lewis said. “I grew up in Eau Claire, which is not too far from one of the three UFO capitals of the

Luke Moravec of Duluth talks to UFO researcher Chad Lewis recently at the Depot. Lewis writese about the folklore of the paranormal.

David Ballard Photography

world that Wisconsin claims to have. Three different cities all claim to be the UFO capital of the world, here.”

He related this information without remarking how this is logically impossible, but by noting it so clearly, the implication is there. But he�s not looking to determine which city is the true UFO capital. He�s just demonstrating that he was raised in an area where the bizarre was beloved.

It was as he was finishing high school and readying to head off to college to study psychology — which he holds a master� s degree in — that he got the UFO bug. He wanted to find out, as he said, “Why people believe in the strange and unusual, and why some people don�t. I was studying psychology, looking at human perception and belief systems, and I started lecturing about it.”

Lewis said people at his lectures would come up to him afterward and relay tales of haunted houses, of creatures in the woods.

“It really just started from there,” he said. “I ended up doing my master�s thesis on student belief in the paranormal.”

The road from psychologist to UFOlogist was a short one,

for Lewis. He soon realized, though, that he couldn�t spend his time hunting for hard evidence of supernatural events. “I think you quickly realize that that�s not the way things work,” he said. “If you don� t, you �ll burn out. I know so many investigators that don�t do it anymore, because they�re just tired of never coming to a conclusion, never collecting a great piece of evidence.”

“For me, my whole take on the paranormal really shifted a while back to seeing the folklore in it and looking at how these things move and progress over the years,” Lewis said. “I talk to seniors, and they tell me a version of a story, and I talk to high-school kids, and they tell me a different version of the same story. I love that.”

“It�s really about the adventure, as well,” Lewis said. “I love hitting the back roads, stopping at mom-and-pop motels, interviewing people. For me, the idea of whether these things are true or not has taken a back seat.”

Lewis was brought to Duluth this past summer by the St. Louis County Historical Society�s “Lunch With the History People” monthly lecture series. Julie Bolos, manager of

Chad Lewis displays books about the paranormal focused on the Midwest during a presentation at Duluth's Depot.

David Ballard Photography

“Every season,” Bolos said, “we strive to schedule themes for our Lunch with the History People� series that will intrigue and educate our audience. Our speakers� backgrounds vary as much as their subjects, but they all have a passion for history. Each presentation discloses another facet of the past just waiting to be revealed and remembered.”

“Chad Lewis rivets attendees with legends from the mysterious side of history, which is always fascinating,” Bolos said. “Reports of UFO sightings and aliens are a part of history. These accounts go back many years, in this area and across

the United States. History is documented by researching and recording these reports.”

Bolos said that Lewis is “an excellent speaker who is wellreceived by our audiences. He researches stories from news reports and captures the personal accounts of individuals. Chad does not tell you what to think. He shares his findings and allows guests to form their own opinions.”

“For a long time, historical societies kind of shunned this work,” Lewis said. “It�s history, whether it�s true or not.”

Chad Lewis, a UFO researcher and author based in the Eau Claire, Wis., area speaks recently at the Depot.

David Ballard Photography administrative services for that organization, said that Lewis� work is valuable as a collection of oral histories.

Tony Bennett is a Duluth freelance writer and entertainment reviewer for the Duluth News Tribune.

Reports of UFO sightings and aliens are a part of history. These accounts go back many years, in this area and across the United States. History is documented by researching and recording these reports.

NEIGHBORHOODS HILLSIDE COMMUNITIES UNITE DURING ANNUAL FESTIVAL

BY ALISON STUCKE

For one afternoon each year, there is no divide between between Central Hillside and East Hillside — there is only The Hillside. HillFest, a tradition since 2010, has united the neighborhoods for one Sunday in August. Fourth Street was closed to traffic between Fifth and Seventh Avenue East. So was Sixth Avenue East, a busy street that is considered the neighborhoods’ boundary.

“We decided we’ll just close Sixth Avenue East and be one big neighborhood for one afternoon,” said Mona Cheslack, Hillfest’s co-coordinator.

Fest-goers were free to stroll, play and visit on the street.

“We probably have the most diverse gathering of people for a local festival,” Cheslack said. “They come to listen, they walk, they talk to the vendors, they gather information, they stay. People really do come and hang out for a while.

“Our primary purpose is to connect the Central and East Hillsides together.”

This year’s event, held Aug. 19, included dancers from CHOICE, unlimited, a costumed pet parade, arts and crafts, a children’s bike rodeo, basketball, bounce house, climbing wall and a tofu toss.

Information tables included hillside-located organizations like Essentia, Whole Foods Co-op, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, the Family Practice Center and others. Entertainment featured musical group Wood Blind, and Daniel Oyinloye, a musician, storyteller and community organizer. Hillside resident JP Rennquist was emcee.

Gloria Dei, at 6th Avenue East and Third Street has participated in HillFest all of its nine years — despite being damaged in a fire in 2016.

Ian Woodall (left) uses a hoop to create a huge bubble out of soapy water in a swimming pool during Hillfest. The pond was created by The River Church. David Ballard Photography

“Gloria Dei is situated right on that edge of Central and East Hillside neighborhoods,” Pastor David Carlson said. “And our ministry is all about reconciliation through relationship with God and our neighbors.”

This year, Gloria Dei offered free beading sessions for festival attendees. Church member Tom Uecker, president of Monarch Buddies, brought his educational materials and chrysalides, which people could observe in the process of transforming into butterflies.

Cheslack said that at this event, there are not a lot of vendors selling items, but many are giving away items such as a piece of fruit or bottle of water.

“Many people come to HillFest with no money,” she said.

Cheslack said that she has lived in the East Hillside neighborhood since 1979, and that it’s a great place to live.

“There are many pluses to living in Hillside,” she said. “The Hillside has easy, accessible bus routes. There’s the ease of commute, walkability and access to health care. If you own a car, we’re about 15 minutes to anywhere in the city. The Hillside really is a nice, welcoming neighborhood, even if all we do is wave and smile to one another.”

While Cheslack said she loves the Hillside, she wants the neighborhood to participate in more community building. That’s why she keeps HillFest going.

“My personal feeling is that we don’t make the time to meet our new neighbors while they are here,” she said. “HillFest gives people the chance to say ‘hi’ in an easy atmosphere.” Alison Stucke is a Duluth freelance writer.

Julie Jagim and Ryan Jagim react as their granddaughter Lydia Burns celebrates scoring during a game of bean bag toss on Sixth Avenue East during Hillfest. The Jagims are members of Gloria Dei church.

David Ballard Photography

Jamare Young (right) tries to dribble past Keyon Dunn during a basketball tournament on Fourth Street during Hillfest

David Ballard Photography

“

The Hillside really is a nice, welcoming neighborhood, even if all we do is wave and smile to one another.

— Mona Cheslack

Christin Waaseyah, holding her son Wright (left) and Darcy St. John visit Jason Wussow on Fourth Street during Hillfest.

David Ballard Photography

Jordan Moses (left) and Daniel Oyinloye catch up along Fourth Street during Hillfest on Aug 19. Moses used to live in the Hillside area but recently moved to Woodland. David Ballard Photography

Veikko Lepisto and Jason Wussow entertain attenders of Hillfest on Aug. 19. The pair make up the band Woodblind.

David Ballard Photography

Jordan Moses tries to stay upright on a bike as he takes part in the “Worlds Slowest Bike Race” sponsored by Bike Cave. Moses did not beat the best time of 31.88 seconds.

David Ballard Photography

EXPERIENCE THE FITGER’S WAY TO ENJOY THE HOLIDAYS – IT’S MAGICAL AND MEMORABLE

Fitger’s, on the shore of Lake Superior in downtown Duluth, is beautifully decorated both inside and out for the holiday season.

The holiday kickoff begins Friday, Nov. 16, during the Christmas City of the North Parade. People can watch the parade at Fitger’s and enjoy complimentary hot cocoa and cookies. Santa is known to play the leading role — showcased in the “Fitger’s red truck.”

Santa and his real, live reindeer arrive on Friday, Nov. 23, at noon in Fitger’s Courtyard. The Fitger’s family of businesses invite you to meet Santa and bring your camera to snap some family memories until Dec. 16. Santa and his reindeer will be at Fitger’s on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 3 p.m.

Trains board at FITGER’S, and bring passengers to the Bentleyville Tour of Lights display at Bayfront Park, with convenient, optional return times.

Photo provided by Fitger's

SHOPPING IS FUN

IN ALL THE LOCALLY OWNED SHOPS

We’re here to help you make Christmas morning a day to remember for everyone on your list. Make sure you get some time for yourself. Make your appointment today at the Fitger’s Salon, where the highly trained staff is ready to offer you the best level of service.

• Kitchen Co. & Gourmet Market

• Trailfitters

• Brewhouse beer store

• The Bookstore

• Whimsy

• The Snow Goose

• A Place for Fido

• Lotus on the Lake

• Fitger’s Wine Cellars

Photo provided by Fitger's

TRADITIONS ARE IMPORTANT AND FUN AT FITGER’S

Riding the train to Bentleyville is sure to put smiles on faces. Bentleyville is an amazing, spectacular show of lights that you won’t want to miss. Trains leave Fitger’s at 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., returning at 6:15, 6:55, 7:45 and 8:30. Before boarding the train to Bentleyville, take time to enjoy a meal at one of the great restaurants, including The Boat Club, Fitger’s Brewhouse Brewery and Grille, and Mexico Lindo. If a snack is all you’re looking for, check out The Vanilla Bean Coffee House. Train tickets are available at duluthtrains.com.

Photo provided by Fitger's

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM YOUR FRIENDS AT FITGER’S

Enhance your visit by staying at the historic Fitger’s Inn. Gift certificates make a nice gift for a future stay. Gift certificates are also available to use in any of the shops and restaurants. Go online, fitgers.com/ shop, or call (218) 722-8826 for a Fitger’s Mall Certificate. For your convenience, we will mail.

Shop • Eat • Sleep

Fitger’s Mall Hours: Monday–Saturday 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Enjoy covered parking

Steve Kuchera / Duluth News Tribune

Pamela J. Erickson / pjefamilyresearch.blogspot.com

ISSUES THAT WON’T GO AWAY IT HAS BEEN 100 YEARS SINCE IMMIGRANT OLLI KINKKONEN WAS FOUND HANGING DEAD

BY TONY BENNETT

In downtown Duluth, there�s a quote emblazoned on the Clayton Jackson McGhie memorial by Edmund Burke, the 18th century Dublin-born philosopher. It comes from the time of the trial of an English politician named Warren Hastings, although that context matters little.

“An event has happened,” go Burke�s words, “upon which it is difficult to speak, and impossible to be silent.”

The quote is from 1789, so it has nothing to do with the horrific lynchings of Elias Clayton, Elmer Jackson and Isaac McGhie, three black circus workers passing through Duluth who were accused of the rape of a woman and lynched by a

crowd of thousands on June 15, 1920. The three men were ripped from their jail cells and hanged from a pole just feet from where, today, their memorial stands. But this quote could also be applied to the tragic death of Olli Kinkkonen, whom some believe to be the first person lynched in Duluth�s history.

The details of Kinkkonen�s story are vague in certain places, but the main points are enough to tell the tale. He was a Finnish immigrant who decided to renounce his U.S. citizenship in the run-up to World War I, and, as a result, he was snatched from the boarding house in which he resided by a group of people calling themselves either the “Knights

Photo by

of Loyalty” or the “Knights of Liberty,” who proceeded to tar and feather Kinkkonen for his pacifism, his race, his socialist beliefs, or some combination of those factors. For two weeks, Kinkkonen was nowhere to be found. Local headlines called him a “tarred alien.” Upon the discovery of his body hanging from a tree branch in the Lester Park area, the news suggested he had taken his own life. Kinkkonen was buried in a grave that went unmarked in Park Hill Cemetery, not far from where the bodies of three black circus workers would be buried only two years later. In 1993, long after his violent death, Kinkkonen�s grave was marked by a Finnish group. “Victim of Warmongers,” the stone reads, a statement of truth and anger.

The reasons Kinkkonen�s story isn�t more well-known are probably many, and are probably complicated. His death was quieter than the deaths of the three men who were slain two years later. There were no national headlines admonishing Duluthians for allowing such a heinous hate crime, as there were with Clayton, Jackson and McGhie. Whatever the reason, his tale has gone undertold. This Sept. 18 marked the 100th anniversary — if such a joyful word can be used to describe such a sickening event — of Kinkkonen�s death.

The question is: Is there anything that Duluthians can learn from the story of Olli Kinkkonen, a whole century later? Is there a lesson that can be taught to people in 2018? Local historians say yes, and they aren�t afraid to draw a number of conclusions to the tone and tenor of the present political and social climate in America and around the world. The prevalence of anti-immigrant sentiment and spread of casual jingoism in the wake of events like the death of Heather Heyer, who died while protesting a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville in 2017, or in the ongoing talk of “illegals” are, to some, extensions of the same hatred that 100 years ago took the life of a peaceful Finn who took a stand.

Tony Dierckins of Zenith City Press points out that 1918 was a time of great upheaval in Duluth. There was the Spanish Flu, World War I and the Cloquet fire, among other things.

“It was an explosive time all around,” Dierckins said. “The Olli Kinkkonen stories get lost in that.

“I see a lot of similarities and reflections in today,” Dierckins said, bringing up the ongoing firestorm about football player Colin Kaepernick as an example of how peaceful protest can produce anger in some. “Back then, Olli Kinkkonen had fled Finland because he didn�t want to get involved in the war in Europe, and then, he comes to the United States, and they want to force him to participate. I can see the parallels to today — they question his patriotism.”

“He wasn�t even particularly active in opposing the war,” said University of Wisconsin-Superior history professor Joel Sipress. “What we know is that

people who thought of themselves as super-patriots grabbed him. At that time, people from Finland were viewed by a lot of people as subversives or un-American. We see a similar thing, today — there are groups that are being targeted.”

Ask Sipress what makes people in 2018 different than those in 1918, and he points to the death of Heyer. “She was targeted for her own political activity. It�s the same mentality.”

It�s a bleak thought. What, then, can Duluthians do to prevent such occurrences in the future? “One thing to learn is the dangers of how this gets stirred up,” Sipress said. “The people who did this, they didn�t just come up with this out of their own heads. They were responding to cues being sent to them by the country�s leadership.”

“You had guys like Congdon speaking in front of church groups and beating the war drum,” Dierckins said, referring to the moneyed figure of Duluth�s past who built Glensheen Mansion. Then, as now, Dierckins said, there are people who look to charge the citizenry in an emotional way, turning differences into battle lines.

“I think it�s more timely than ever to learn the Olli Kinkkonen story,” Dierckins said. “Patriotism was a divisive thing, then, and it�s become a divisive thing, now.”

Time will tell if Kinkkonen�s sad tale will become more well-known in the region in one way or another, but it�s surely worth marking the century since his murder, if just to remind ourselves that intolerance is not a dead language, and that the things that divide us haven�t changed a whole lot in the last hundred years. Perhaps, though, by looking back, we can get a better view of our present.

Tony Bennett is a Duluth freelance writer.

What We’re Into FUN

I finally made it to Jay Cooke State Park, and I loved everything. The overlooks, the Swinging Bridge, the otherworldly rock formations on St. Louis River Gorge, and the Silver Creek hiking trail. The latter is 3.5 miles of woods and some slopes. Only twice did I came across other humans, and both times, we seemed surprised to see each other. I’m not an avid hiker; I’ve been to Gooseberry a couple times, Chester Bowl, Lester Park. Maybe because it was new to me, Silver Creek felt a bit easier to get lost in the woods, which is exactly what I wanted that day.

MELINDA LAVINE, Duluth News Tribune reporter

Zenith Bookstore features handwritten recommendations on their “staff picks.” That, along with the inviting space, good music and elegant-looking chairs, drew me in something fierce. Oh, and the rows and rows of books.

I spent more than an hour perusing their local author selections, cookbooks, the latest by Sarah Seidelmann. None of that was why I went there.

I’d just finished my first soiree into the wonderful world of Anne Lamott, and I was hungry for more. The bookstore clerk directed me to Lamott’s area, where I sat cross-legged on the floor. Something about the Zenith Bookstore reminds me of being a 7-year-old again. I remember my family making a stop at a two-story chain bookstore while we were on vacation. The wonder in my eyes, the excitement in my heart. Now, at 35, I find the same joy in the intimacy and personality within the four walls in West Duluth.

MELINDA LAVINE, Duluth News Tribune reporter

Dessa’s memoir “My Own Devices: True Stories from the Road on Music, Science and Senseless Love,” is (sound of brain exploding). The singer-songwriter-rapper who is a longtime member of Doomtree, the Minneapolis hip-hop collective, has created a book of essays centered largely on what it has been like to not be able to stop loving P.O.S. — referred to as X in the collection. He was her gateway into Doomtree and despite break-up, make-ups and years of negotiations, they’ve stayed crew-mates first. First she tried moving from Minneapolis to New York City — which, at the very least has been good for expanding her career — then she tried rewiring her brain. Dessa teamed up with brain specialists to find out if she could use wires and brain exercises to change the way she feels about X. “My Own Devices” is also about life in a van, her very cool family and digging into her genetic makeup. It only confirms what you’ve seen on stage: Dessa is a wicked writer, thoughtful and smart.

CHRISTA LAWLER, Duluth News Tribune reporter

DULUTH NEWS TRIBUNE PHOTO

Beef stroganoff is not a particularly fancy dish. It� s not exactly pretty, either.

Neither of those things matter when it�s done well. In the hands of a good cook, stroganoff can be the food equivalent of well-worn afghan, both familiar and warming.

With both cremini and oyster mushrooms galore, Zeitgeist Arts Cafe�s wild mushroom stroganoff is a perfect blend of nutty earthiness and savory cream. Add in fork-tender sirloin, and you�ve got a hearty sauce perfectly suited to a cold, dreary day.

While I typically prefer egg noodles with stroganoff, Zeitgeist�s take comes with pappardelle noodles cooked just a skosh or two past al dente. The noodles might seem an insignificant part of a dish, but they can spoil an otherwise good meal if they�re undercooked or overcooked — an unfortunately common occurrence in the hustle and bustle of restaurants. But Zeitgeist nailed it with the noodles, just one more thing that helped push the dish from good to great.

Topping everything was a dollop of sour cream and a smattering of fresh dill, both of which helped give the dish a fresh and lively flavor that�s a fun counterbalance to the overall comfort-foodiness of stroganoff.

PETER BAUMANN, Duluth News Tribune managing editor

I�m a sucker for simplicity, which is probably why I� ve ordered this uncomplicated treat more often than any other menu item in town.

Behold the California burger at 7 West Taphouse, nothing but meat, American cheese, shredded lettuce, tomato and mayo on a bun. While it would be easy to mess up the execution, these pros never have and, I expect, never will. Everything is in proportion, fresh and flavorful, and it�s always served right off the griddle with a lightly toasted bun. At $5.29 without sides, you can see how easy it is to get hooked.

You can sub out the beef for a veggie burger or turkey burger or grilled chicken, but I usually stick with the classic. I�d recommend parmesan-dusted chips, beer-battered fries or beercheese wontons if you�re looking to fill out your plate; I�d also recommend keeping the pickles on the side, as they�re served.

It has become almost a nostalgic tradition, harkening back to that long-ago time of autumn 2016 when I first got to town. I came down to the Superior Street pub to watch a Vikings game and ordered the Cali with a stout (recommended over a palate-wrecking IPA to pair with this meal). It�s still a lovely Sunday tradition, yelling at the TV with deliciousness hanging out of my mouth.

BROOKS JOHNSON, Duluth News Tribune reporter

Some people are into travel and reading and discovering new restaurants. I’m into all that, too, but if I’m being honest, lately, I’m happy to finally start getting some kills in Fortnite.

Fortnite is a first-person shooter, multiplayer online game that came out last year. My son in college plays it, and I’m trying to get better so I won’t be as much a burden when we play together as I’m sure I am in real life.

I’ll use my headset sometimes, connecting with other, random players in squads of four. It’s an interesting social experiment to see the wide variety of people I’ll run across. Some are little kids who can’t pronounce their R’s yet; others are foul-mouthed, perpetually angry young men whom I pretend not to hear. The best, though, are groups of funny, open-minded people who play together and let this random, middle-age mom into their group. It’s fun to run around the game world with a well-rehearsed, talented team who will give me their extra ammo and bandages, even revive me when I’m wounded.

BEVERLY GODFREY, features editor

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