For this month’s episode of the Archive Dive podcast, we dive into the story of an immigrant from Belgium who changed the landscape of Superior.

Rene Lagae came to Superior in 1907 to make some quick money and return to the old country. Instead, he brought his family to Superior, started Allouez Lumber Company and built more than 700 homes throughout the city, some with unique styles and amenities.

Telegram reporter Maria Lockwood and local historian Teddie Meronek discuss Lagae’s life and his contributions to the community.

“The thing that makes a Lagae home stand out is that it's so well built,” said Meronek. “Most of those houses are 100 years old or more, a lot of them, and they're still standing.“

One of the lasting legacies Lagae left behind was the Hayes Court development where he constructed 36 houses.

New episodes of "Archive Dive" are published monthly. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth Media Group digital producer Dan Williamson. If you have an idea for a topic you’d like to see covered, email Maria Lockwood at [email protected].

In this month’s episode of Archive Dive, we trace the history of Clough Island in Superior - from timber baron's manor to a protected habitat.

Telegram reporter Maria Lockwood is joined by local historian and retired librarian Teddie Meronek as they discuss the piece of land, which is also known as Whiteside Island and is the largest island in the St. Louis River.

The 358-acre island is now a protected wildlife area in the heart of the river’s estuary, but did you know Clough Island once served as a summer home, complete with a creamery, blacksmith, and race track? At one point, there were plans for the site that included an 18- hole golf course, hotel, marina, and 700 homes. It even has a connection to Watergate.

New episodes of "Archive Dive" are published monthly. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth Media Group digital producer Dan Williamson. If you have an idea for a topic you’d like to see covered, email Maria Lockwood at  [email protected].

Barker's Island is a focal point for celebrations, boating, and recreation in the city of Superior. The man-made island created in the 1890s out of dredged material is a popular spot, but there was a time when it nearly disappeared.

For this month’s episode of the Archive Dive podcast, Telegram reporter Maria Lockwood and local historian and retired librarian Teddie Meronek dive into the history of the island. Why was it built? What brought Barker's Island back? How has it been used over the years? Who was Captain Barker, the man for whom it was named? Plus, much more.

New episodes of "Archive Dive" are published monthly. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth Media Group digital producer Dan Williamson. If you have an idea for a topic you’d like to see covered, email Maria Lockwood at [email protected].

For this month’s episode of "Archive Dive," we caught up with legendary broadcaster and former WDIO-TV news anchor Dennis Anderson.

Superior Telegram reporter Maria Lockwood, Duluth News Tribune reporter Jay Gabler and digital producer Dan Williamson joined Anderson at his Duluth home Nov. 7 to hear his memories of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald sinking for an upcoming 50th anniversary project. Stay tuned for more details. In the meantime, we wanted to share some of this visit with you.

"The Fitz" left from the Superior entry Nov. 9, 1975. The ship sank about 17 miles from Whitefish Bay during a severe storm the next day. All 29 members of the crew died.

Anderson, who was 31 years old at the time, broke the story to the Northland and the world. He interrupted the "Monday Night Football" game to give the news. The first update was audio only as it took time for the cameras in the studio to warm up. Beyond the 29 crew members who died, Anderson said the incident affected so many in our community.

"I think the people of Duluth and Superior understand that this was a major, major incident here in the Twin Ports and we shouldn't put it on a shelf and forget about it," he said.

In addition to his memories of that tragic day and the days that followed, Anderson, 81, told us about so much more, including his start in radio broadcasting and how he met his wife of nearly 60 years.

Anderson has spent more than 60 years in broadcasting. He stepped away from full-time work in 2011, retiring from the WDIO anchor desk after 42 years with the TV station. He joined PBS North in 2011 as a co-host of "Almanac North" and continues to contribute to the station.

"Journalism is a fascinating occupation," he said. "It just brings me and others who are in this business so close to the happenings of the Northland, and a lot of people, I think, have a habit of tuning in each night to see what's going on in the region. It's very, very important to them and I like being a part of satisfying that thirst for news."

Anderson went on to discuss his thoughts on the importance of local news.

"A lot of people don't like the news," he said. "They don't want to watch it for whatever reason or read about it for whatever reason. But without a free press, without a free media, we wouldn't have a free country. It's that important."

New episodes of Archive Dive are published monthly. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth Media Group digital producer Dan Williamson. If you have an idea for a topic you’d like to see covered, email Maria Lockwood at [email protected].

Before it was a site for wedding receptions and bingo, the Belgian Club served as a cultural center for immigrants who settled in Superior.

In this month’s episode of the Archive Dive podcast, Telegram reporter Maria Lockwood and local historian and retired librarian Teddie Meronek explore this historic touchstone, as well as two others: the Polish Club and the Vasa Temple, discussing their importance in the community.

With an influx of people coming from Europe in the early 1900s — many of whom did not speak English — these organizations were a valuable resource.

“Their main goal was helping these people to acclimate to their new country,” Meronek said. “Helping them look for a job, helping them to learn English, and they felt that as a support group, this was very important.”

The clubs often held social events such as game nights and dances, but were also known to help immigrants however they could. From sending food, goods and clothing back to family members in Europe to assisting with funerals, illnesses, family crises and loss of jobs; those in need were supported.

“I like that about these organizations, that they cared for so many people who couldn't care for themselves,” said Meronek.

Other topics discussed include: what happened to these clubs, do any still exist today, what buildings and locations were utilized, how was membership obtained, how did the Vasa Club get its name, the Douglas County Historical Society’s purchase of the Vasa Club building, pronouncing Kosciuszko, unique events held at the club buildings, and more.

New episodes of Archive Dive are published monthly. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth Media Group digital producer Dan Williamson. If you have an idea for a topic you’d like to see covered, email Maria Lockwood at [email protected].

President's Day is Monday, and did you know that 12 presidents have visited Superior? Can you name them?

In this month’s episode of the Archive Dive podcast, Telegram reporter Maria Lockwood is joined by local historian and retired librarian Teddie Meronek as they count up all of the commanders in chief who have stopped by our port town and discuss the details behind their visits.

Superior Central High School served as the Summer White House for President Calvin Coolidge in 1928.

"The 'air conditioning,'" Meronek said is what drew Coolidge. "You could always count on it to be cooler here than Washington, D.C."

Coolidge wasn't the first president to visit Superior and certainly not the last. According to Meronek, presidents Ulysses S. Grant, William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, Herbert Hoover, Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon, Donald Trump and Joe Biden also came to Superior, either before, during or after their terms.

A perk for some was the proximity to some famous fishing.

"A reason that many, many people — presidents even — came to this area was the Brule River," Meronek said.

Topics discussed in this episode include which president was the best angler, which president may have made secret trips to the area to fish, what was Franklin Roosevelt's connection to Superior, which president may have been rescued from water in Superior as a youth, what was the main reason Hoover visited Superior in 1928, Meronek's recommendations for best books about presidents, and more.

Twin Ports neighbor Duluth has had known visits from 16 presidents, either during, before or after their terms.

New episodes of Archive Dive are published monthly. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth Media Group digital producer Dan Williamson. If you have an idea for a topic you’d like to see covered, email Maria Lockwood at [email protected].

2025 will mark the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald. The loss of all 29 men aboard has been memorialized in songs, books, and a musical. Now a new group in Superior calling themselves "Friends of the Fitz” is seeking to add a historical marker to that list.

The Wisconsin Historical Society marker would be erected on Barker's Island in sight of the docks where the Fitzgerald took on its final load of taconite in November 1975. The cost to put up a historical marker is $7,000-$8,000 and the group is currently fundraising. The Friends hope their effort sets off a year of activities focused on the anniversary, which they're calling “the year of the Fitz.”

For this month’s episode of Archive Dive, Telegram reporter Maria Lockwood is joined by two members of the Friends group, local historian and retired librarian Teddy Meronek and Curator of Collections and Exhibits for the Richard I. Bong Veterans Historical Center Brianna Fiandt. They dive into some of the details of the ship, how the idea of a marker came to be, why having a marker in Superior makes sense, and more.

If you wish to make a donation for the marker, visit www.douglashistory.org/memberships-sponsorships/edmondfitz.

New episodes of Archive Dive are published monthly. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth Media Group digital producer Dan Williamson. If you have an idea for a topic you’d like to see covered, email Maria Lockwood at [email protected]. 

In this month’s episode of Archive Dive, our focus is on Superior Senior High School (now Superior High School), which brought students from the city's East and Central high schools together in 1965.

The school, which cost $4.5 million, was dedicated on Sept. 12, 1965. It had room for 1,800 students, two pools, a language laboratory, a strict dress code for girls, and a unique circle structure that defined the school for generations. The baby boom generation students attended class in three shifts.

In this episode, Telegram reporter Maria Lockwood is joined by local historian and retired librarian Teddie Meronek as they dive into the stories and history of how the school came to be, as well as some of the changes and challenges, especially with a large student population.

Meronek's family was filled with East graduates until she was the first to graduate from the new “space-age“ school.

“I had a good education,” Meronek said. “I will never ever slight that if there had been fewer people there, it probably would have been a little more enjoyable. But, I'm glad that I went to Superior High School because I met people from all over town, and in those days, you did not fraternize outside your neighborhood.”

 A unique trait for decades was the circle structure. Architects felt it was more efficient, both with cost and space, as it allowed them to make the corridors shorter and eliminate a stairway.

 Meronek remembers one issue in particular that the circle created.

“My problem was that everything looked alike. So you could be there three years and you still didn't know where you were going. Luckily I had a clock right by my locker, so I could always find it,” she said.

Topics also discussed in this episode include Wisconsin’s legislation in 1959 that affected school districts, the impact of Superior Cathedral’s closure in 1969, multiple strikes in the same school year, how the shift structure worked, why the school didn’t have an auditorium, rules on boys' hair length, a homecoming king who went on to become a professional athlete, speculation on why ‘senior’ was dropped from the name, and much more.

Reconstruction of Superior High School, which eliminated the circle, was completed in 2019.

 New episodes of Archive Dive are published monthly. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth Media Group digital producer Dan Williamson. If you have an idea for a topic you’d like to see covered, email Maria Lockwood at [email protected]. 

For this month's episode of Archive Dive, we look back at how Superior celebrated the end of World War II.

There was a marked difference in the way the city recognized VE (Victory in Europe) Day in May 1945 and the more celebratory affair in August when VJ (Victory over Japan) Day was announced. In May, churches opened and work in the shipyards continued. The day was filled with prayer and resolve to work harder. The August announcement triggered a day of wild celebration. The only restaurants that remained open ran out of food and Tower Avenue was covered with paper.

In this episode, Telegram reporter Maria Lockwood is joined by Teddie Meronek, a historian and retired librarian, and Briana Fiandt, curator of collections for the Richard I. Bong Veterans Memorial Center, as they dive into the history and discuss the impact of the war locally.

Besides stories of celebration, other topics mentioned in the episode include prisoners of war from Superior returning, POW camps in Wisconsin, what happened to some of the shipyards, women working in the shipyards, Richard Bong's death, plans for a new grain elevator, early discussion of what eventually became the Blatnik Bridge, what life was like in 1945, a unique advertisement from Roth’s department store, and more.

New episodes of Archive Dive are published monthly. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth News Tribune digital producers Wyatt Buckner and Dan Williamson. If you have an idea for a topic you’d like to see covered, email Maria Lockwood at [email protected].

For this month’s episode of Archive Dive, we examine the children's homes of Superior.

Their history traces back to the Pattison brothers. The city's most recognizable children's home is Fairlawn Mansion, which was built by Martin Pattison.

Following Martin's death, his wife Grace gifted the mansion to the Children's Home and Refuge Association, which had formed in the early 1900s. It served as a children's home for 42 years.

The family home of Martin’s brother, William Pattison, was also used to care for orphans. It would eventually grow into St. Joseph's Children’s Home (also known as St. Joseph's Orphan Home).

In this episode, Telegram reporter Maria Lockwood is joined by local historian and retired librarian Teddie Meronek as they dive into the stories and histories of these homes, which helped children who had a troubled home life or who had lost their parents.

There were children’s homes in the city prior to St. Joseph’s and the Superior Children’s Home and Refuge Association, but they all eventually morphed into those two entities. Fairlawn closed as a children’s home in 1962 and St. Joseph’s closed as a the following year.

Why were children’s homes no longer needed?

“Part of it was the population of the children's home,” said Meronek. “They were decreasing and these were both two huge buildings. The other thing was that the state of Wisconsin stepped in and had rules now that they couldn't take in children of a certain age. They needed to be in a foster home and they were really encouraging fostering for kids rather than putting them in these homes, so that was why they ended up closing.”

Lockwood and Meronek also discuss the “smaller Fairlawn,” how the Pattison family became involved with helping area youth, how funding was raised, the characteristics of the children’s chapel at St. Joseph’s, how the historic Fairlawn Mansion was saved, what happened to the St. Joseph’s building, and more.

New episodes of Archive Dive are published monthly. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth Media Group digital producers Wyatt Buckner and Dan Williamson. If you have an idea for a topic you’d like to see covered, email Maria Lockwood at [email protected].