Archive Dive with the Superior Telegram

In this month's episode of Archive Dive, Telegram reporter Teri Cadeau and local historian and retired librarian Teddie Meronek dive into the story of Robert Chapman and his mother Mary Chapman. For 25 years, Mary Chapman was the organist at Cathedral of Christ the King church in Superior and walked there every day, year round. A mother of seven children, Mary Chapman was also a widow at a young a...

For this month's episode of Archive Dive, we take a closer look at a story of love, fame and tragedy involving a Gordon woman. Podcast host and former Telegram reporter Maria Lockwood is joined by Brian Finstad, president of the  Gordon-Wascott Historical Society, as they explore the life of Victoria Lidberg. She met performer Paul Lorenzo Perkinson, who went by the name Paul Lorenzo, while she wa...

Did you know there's a "choose your own adventure" auto trail that passes through Douglas County? It is true and all you need to access it is a cell phone. The Northwest Sands Auto Trail (NWSAT) offers an interactive map that lets users take the wheel. The virtual tour highlights 57 points of interest along a trail of over 200 miles, from Madeline Island to Saint Croix Falls. For this episode, pod...

For this month's episode of the "Archive Dive" podcast, we learn about a Superior journalist's voyage of discovery and take a closer look at his form of transportation. In 1891, Edward Huntington "Ned" Dwight, a journalist with the Superior Leader, decided to launch an in-depth report on whaleback ships. To do so, Dwight took a job on one and sailed across the ocean, sending back letters to newspa...

A discussion on Superior's historic buildings isn't complete without Carl Wirth. The architect put his stamp on Superior, creating structures that were grand, beautiful, and well loved. Many of his buildings have stood the test of time and remain part of the city's landscape. In this month's episode of the Archive Dive podcast, Telegram reporter Maria Lockwood and local historian and retired libra...

Do you remember Superior's dime stores? If so, this one's for you. In this month's episode of Archive Dive, Telegram reporter Maria Lockwood and local historian and retired librarian Teddie Meronek discuss Newberry's, Woolworth's, and Kresge's, all of which could be found on Tower Avenue.  What did they carry? How did they grow? What happened to them? Listen as Lockwood and Meronek dive into their...

2026 marks the 100th anniversary of the Nottingham Apartments and the placement of the James J. Hill Empire Builder statue outside of Superior Central High School. Another notable event in 1926 included a meeting of two baseball hall of farmers: Babe Ruth and Superior's Dave Bancroft, who was the Boston Braves' manager at the time. Ruth even visited children's homes in Superior. Telegram reporter...

For this month's episode of the Archive Dive podcast, we focus on a pair of Superior women who made impacts both locally and beyond. Kathryn Ohman and Alma Kitchell. Ohman was a beloved English and drama teacher at what is now the University of Wisconsin Superior. She taught for 38 years, and a theater named in her honor was the site of lectures and performances from 1960 to 2011. Kitchell was kno...

In this month's episode of "Archive Dive," we peel back the history of an Ogden Avenue building with a colorful secret. When Jeff Dorfman started reviving the Bergstrom Electric building, he found a hidden treasure. A series of landscape paintings on the walls. He asked local historian and retired librarian Teddy Meronek to research the building built in 1890. For this episode, Meronek discusses h...

In this month's episode of Archive Dive, we dive into the history of some green spaces in Superior. Wade Bowl, Ted Whereatt Field and Ole Haugsrud Field were all named after men who left a mark on Superior. Who were they and why do their names continue to live on? Telegram reporter Maria Lockwood is joined by local historian and retired librarian Teddie Meronek as they discuss the lives of Cliffor...

Students are back at the University of Wisconsin-Superior and for this month's episode of Archive Dive, we are diving into 105 years of journalism on its campus. The first edition of the school's student newspaper, the Peptimist, was published on January 15, 1920. The price per copy at the time was just three cents. The semi-monthly paper was devoted to the activities and opinions of the students...

This month's episode of Archive Dive features a trio of artistic brothers. Nick, Alex and Tony Yaworski grew up in south Superior and come from a family that immigrated from Odessa, Russian Federation, which is now Ukraine. Telegram reporter Maria Lockwood is joined by local historian and retired librarian Teddie Meronek as they dive into the lives of the Yaworski brothers. Known professionally as...

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...

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 prot...

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 o...

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 tu...

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 imp...

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...

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 Fitzgera...

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...

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...

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...

For this month's episode of the Archive Dive, we search for retooled school buildings in Superior. Many former schools have found a new life after the final bell. Some are apartments. Others are a church, a business center or something else. We dive into ages, dates and histories. When were they built? How long did they last? What are they now? Telegram reporter Maria Lockwood is joined by local h...

In this month's episode of Archive Dive, we explore the story of the World War II veteran for whom the Blatnik Bridge was named for. Thousands of motorists cross the bridge daily, yet many may not know about the man himself. As a Minnesota congressman, Chisholm native John Blatnik was instrumental in getting the bridge between Duluth and Superior built. As a captain and paratrooper with the U.S. A...

For our 30th edition of Archive Dive, we trace the history of the University of Wisconsin-Superior campus and learn about an "astro-nut" who helped raise money for a Superior hospital. The community's determination to bring a normal school to Superior was rewarded when the school opened in 1895. Built in the latest design, it featured adjustable desks and a system that sucked away chalk dust from...