December 15, 2010

I got one for the Duluth History Detectives. Where was the J.J. Summers Agency located?

I just received an art book of the famous photographer Stephen Shore, and it was the following photo.

Caption reads: J.J. Summers Agency, First Street, Duluth, Minnesota, July 11, 1973.

I enjoy the rare opportunity to track down the locations of old famous photographs in the area to rephotograph and want to find this one. A quick cruise through Google Street view show a could of store fronts which still looks similar (Glenwood Signs) that I’ll go inspect, but any first hand accounts of the location, or records of an actual address would be great. Visual identification may be hopeless if it has been tore down or remodeled in the past 37 years.

Fortunately, Duluth-Superior put together a great bid for Google Fiber in the Spring as Google Twin Ports. We generated tons of buzz nationwide, and even worldwide and mobilized thousands of community members in support of the project. I was a tiny (miniscule, really) cog in the wheel that was the ad-hoc Google Twin Ports steering committee in the first part of this year. And just like everyone else, I have been anxiously waiting for the end of the year for the community (ies) that will get Google Fiber to be announced.

Unfortunately, as noted in another PDD post, Google has said they can’t decide yet and they’ve kicked the announcement date down into 2011.

Fortunately, that aforementioned PDD post from Brian B was on the coveted first page of “links” on the most recent official Google Fiber blog post!

This could mean anything or not much so try not to call me too naive here. But one thing is certain: They haven’t forgotten us. I say that means we are still in the hunt folks, and I think we’re a front runner when I consider all the factors I can think of, climate, community support, integration, availability of “dark” fiber, competing delivery systems (WiMax, 3G, Cable, DSL, even Superior Broadband’s nifty radio thing) attractiveness of the community and the list goes one. And I’ll just add in one more huge asset we have: Perfect Duluth Day. And that there screenshot proves they know that, too.

Regular folks getting drunk used to be front page news. Ah, the good ol’ days.

From the first issue of the Duluth Herald, April 9, 1883:

James Clark got drunk yesterday and was run in by Officer Turcotte. He was taxed $8.50 this morning by Justice Martin.

A. Lonquest was drunk and disorderly at Rice’s Point last night and Officer Peloski found considerable difficulty in arresting him. He had an infernal machine called a self cocking revolver on his person besides a dangerous looking knife. He contributed $10 to the city treasury this morning.

P. Peck was a plain drunk who was picked up by Tom McLaughlin yesterday. He paid the customary $8.50 this morning.

Mary McGraw got beastly drunk yesterday and fell into the clutches of the police. This morning she woke up financially embarrassed and the result was she was sentenced to ten days confinement in the county jail.

These are our people; this is our heritage.

ScottTridgellUPDATE: Tridgell was found on Jan. 5, 2011.

Duluth Police Dept. news release:

Scott Michael Tridgell, age 26, of Duluth was reported missing by his family on Dec. 14. Family members said Tridgell left his residence in Duluth on the morning of Dec. 13, leaving a note that he was going to a job interview. He has not been seen or heard from since.

Tridgell suffers from a form of amnesia which limits his ability to recall important details regarding his personal life, such as where he lives or where he has been. In 2007, Tridgell was listed as a missing person by the Edina, Minnesota Police Dept. after he failed to show up at his residence there. He was located three weeks later by police at a rest stop in Menominee, Wis. He had no ties to that city.

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