This episode, originally presented in May 2024, will focus on a history of the Boundary Waters, beginning well before the 60-year-old Wilderness Act. From the establishment of the Superior National Forest to the post-WWI popularity of resorting in the Northwoods and the growth of resort businesses in the Ely Area to banning of dams in the Superior Roadless Area - all before 1964.

History Happy Hour delves into the rich history of the Ely, Minnesota Area with pint-sized stories that are informative and entertaining in less than a half an hour.
Join host, Jess Edberg, executive director of the Dorothy Molter Museum as she scratches the surface of a local history topic, inspiring listeners to take a deeper dive on their own.

This program is also offered as a free in-person 30-minute or less presentation October through May, typically on the third Wednesday of the month at 5pm at the Boathouse Brewpub & Restaurant in Ely, Minnesota.

History Happy Hour is supported in-kind by the Boathouse Brewpub, Ely’s Heritage Preservation Commission, the Dorothy Molter Museum, Boundary Waters Connect and the Ely Folk School.

This podcast is made possible in part by a grant from Ely Minnesota’s Donald G. Gardner Humanities Trust.

Theme song "Roll Jordan Roll" provided by The Joy Drops 

Production and mixing by Brett Ross, Ely Minnesota

Cover art by Jess Edberg; Photo credit to Dorothy Molter Museum

Learn more about the iconic Iron Miner lunch food of choice, the Cornish Pasty.
What is it? Where did it come from? Why is it popular in Ely and the Iron Ranges of both MN and MI? Who makes them? What does it taste like? What is the correct pronunciation? All of these questions answered and more!

History Happy Hour delves into the rich history of the Ely, Minnesota Area with pint-sized stories that are informative and entertaining in less than a half an hour.
Join host, Jess Edberg, executive director of the Dorothy Molter Museum as she scratches the surface of a local history topic, inspiring listeners to take a deeper dive on their own.

This program is also offered as a free in-person 30-minute or less presentation October through May, typically on the third Wednesday of the month at 5pm at the Boathouse Brewpub & Restaurant in Ely, Minnesota.

History Happy Hour is supported in-kind by the Boathouse Brewpub, Ely’s Heritage Preservation Commission, the Dorothy Molter Museum, Boundary Waters Connect and the Ely Folk School.

This podcast is made possible in part by a grant from Ely Minnesota’s Donald G. Gardner Humanities Trust.

Theme song "Roll Jordan Roll" provided by The Joy Drops 

Production and mixing by Brett Ross, Ely Minnesota

Cover art by Jess Edberg; Photo credit Yooper Pasty Facebook Page

Who is the "Finnish" St. Urho, what is St. Urho's Day and why is it celebrated in northern MN and not the country of Finland? Let's uncover some details on this quirky and uniquely American tradition.

History Happy Hour delves into the rich history of the Ely, Minnesota Area with pint-sized stories that are informative and entertaining in less than a half an hour.
Join host, Jess Edberg, executive director of the Dorothy Molter Museum as she scratches the surface of a local history topic, inspiring listeners to take a deeper dive on their own.

This program is also offered as a free in-person 30-minute or less presentation October through May, typically on the third Wednesday of the month at 5pm at the Boathouse Brewpub & Restaurant in Ely, Minnesota.

History Happy Hour is supported in-kind by the Boathouse Brewpub, Ely’s Heritage Preservation Commission, the Dorothy Molter Museum, Boundary Waters Connect and the Ely Folk School.

This podcast is made possible in part by a grant from Ely Minnesota’s Donald G. Gardner Humanities Trust.

Theme song "Roll Jordan Roll" provided by The Joy Drops 

Production and mixing by Brett Ross, Ely Minnesota

Cover art by Jess Edberg; Photo credit Fritz Hahn

This pint-sized history talk will be on why we celebrate winter with festivals in the north and how Ely's winter festival evolved into what it is today.

History Happy Hour delves into the rich history of the Ely, Minnesota Area with pint-sized stories that are informative and entertaining in less than a half an hour.
Join host, Jess Edberg, executive director of the Dorothy Molter Museum as she scratches the surface of a local history topic, inspiring listeners to take a deeper dive on their own.

This program is also offered as a free in-person 30-minute or less presentation October through May, typically on the third Wednesday of the month at 5pm at the Boathouse Brewpub & Restaurant in Ely, Minnesota.

History Happy Hour is supported in-kind by the Boathouse Brewpub, Ely’s Heritage Preservation Commission, the Dorothy Molter Museum, Boundary Waters Connect and the Ely Folk School.

This podcast is made possible in part by a grant from Ely Minnesota’s Donald G. Gardner Humanities Trust.

Theme song "Roll Jordan Roll" provided by The Joy Drops 

Production and mixing by Brett Ross, Ely Minnesota

Cover art by Jess Edberg; Photo credit Ely Winter Festival

This episode covers a history of Ely's Ski Jumps - Did you know that Ely produced several State and National Champion ski jumpers as well as an Olympian? Enjoy this pint-sized history on Ely's long and proud tradition of ski jumping.

History Happy Hour delves into the rich history of the Ely, Minnesota Area with pint-sized stories that are informative and entertaining in less than a half an hour.
Join host, Jess Edberg, executive director of the Dorothy Molter Museum as she scratches the surface of a local history topic, inspiring listeners to take a deeper dive on their own.

This program is also offered as a free in-person 30-minute or less presentation October through May, typically on the third Wednesday of the month at 5pm at the Boathouse Brewpub & Restaurant in Ely, Minnesota.

History Happy Hour is supported in-kind by the Boathouse Brewpub, Ely’s Heritage Preservation Commission, the Dorothy Molter Museum, Boundary Waters Connect and the Ely Folk School.

This podcast is made possible in part by a grant from Ely Minnesota’s Donald G. Gardner Humanities Trust.

Theme song "Roll Jordan Roll" provided by The Joy Drops 

Production and mixing by Brett Ross, Ely Minnesota

Cover art by Jess Edberg; Photo credit Central Division Ski Jumping

Our diverse holiday meal traditions give us both a unique identity and shared experiences. Of course, not ALL holiday foods will be covered in this episode but we’ll talk about a handful of the most common cultural dishes and desserts that we hold near and dear to our hearts in the Ely Area and Iron Range of Minnesota – those special ones that sometimes are only made around holidays and special occasions.

History Happy Hour delves into the rich history of the Ely, Minnesota Area with pint-sized stories that are informative and entertaining in less than a half an hour.
Join host, Jess Edberg, executive director of the Dorothy Molter Museum as she scratches the surface of a local history topic, inspiring listeners to take a deeper dive on their own.

This program is also offered as a free in-person 30-minute or less presentation October through May, typically on the third Wednesday of the month at 5pm at the Boathouse Brewpub & Restaurant in Ely, Minnesota.

History Happy Hour is supported in-kind by the Boathouse Brewpub, Ely’s Heritage Preservation Commission, the Dorothy Molter Museum, Boundary Waters Connect and the Ely Folk School.

This podcast is made possible in part by a grant from Ely Minnesota’s Donald G. Gardner Humanities Trust.

Theme song "Roll Jordan Roll" provided by The Joy Drops 

Production and mixing by Brett Ross, Ely Minnesota

Cover art by Jess Edberg; Photo credit Ely-Winton Historical Society

This episode focuses on the history of our in-person site host, the Boathouse Brewpub & Restaurant located in a historic building on main street in Ely, MN. Built on a double lot on Sheridan Street, Gleason Hardware Company offered hardware, furniture and undertaking services on the main floor with second floor space rented by the Independent Order of Oddfellows.

From its initial iteration as a hardware/undertaking business, through decades of ownership and name changes, to new life as a sometimes-rowdy watering hole and eventually to its current state as a possibly haunted craft brewery, this story will transport listeners through over 100 years of interesting and entertaining history.

History Happy Hour delves into the rich history of the Ely, Minnesota Area with pint-sized stories that are informative and entertaining in less than a half an hour.
Join host, Jess Edberg, executive director of the Dorothy Molter Museum as she scratches the surface of a local history topic, inspiring listeners to take a deeper dive on their own.

This program is also offered as a free in-person 30-minute or less presentation October through May, typically on the third Wednesday of the month at 5pm at the Boathouse Brewpub & Restaurant in Ely, Minnesota.

History Happy Hour is supported in-kind by the Boathouse Brewpub, Ely’s Heritage Preservation Commission, the Dorothy Molter Museum, Boundary Waters Connect and the Ely Folk School.

This podcast is made possible in part by a grant from Ely Minnesota’s Donald G. Gardner Humanities Trust.

Theme song "Roll Jordan Roll" provided by The Joy Drops 

Production and mixing by Brett Ross, Ely Minnesota

Cover art by Jess Edberg; Photo credit Boathouse Brewpub