Archive Dive with the Superior Telegram

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 histories. Meronek remembers them well.
"A dime store, it was just like magic," Meronek said. "Because they had everything. If you had a dollar, you could get a lot of stuff because most of it was 5 and 10 cents, as they advertised when they first opened up. A lot of 29-cent stuff. They had everything from household goods to parakeets. You could eat at their lunch counters. You could buy candy. It was just a wonderful place to be."
Topics discussed in this episode include: What set dime stores apart from department stores When did dime stores arrive in Superior? Where else was Woolworth's located in Superior? What were the differences among the three big dime stores? The types of pets you could get at Newberry's and a story of their escape. What was "Ridiculous Days"? What was Meronek's favorite dime store and why? What did the national Kresge's chain morph into? Other dime stories once located in Superior. What led to the end of the dime stores in Superior? What businesses currently use the former dime store spaces, and what happened to the Kresge's building? Plus, more.
"They (dime stores) were fun," said Meronek. "You could always get a good meal there and excellent ice cream at all of them."
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. Email Maria Lockwood at  [email protected] with ideas for future episodes.

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 Maria Lockwood is joined by local historian and retired librarian Teddie Meronek as they explore these 100-year old stories.
"It is an interesting year. I hope our 2026 is as interesting," said Meronek.
Topics discussed in this episode include why was Ruth in the Twin Ports, the role that the Telegram played for his stop in Superior, Ernie Nevers' connection to Ruth, a historic league Bancroft managed in, where did Bancroft work in Superior, approximately how much did it cost to build the Nottingham Apartments, some of the Nottingham's amenities, other businesses in the building space, the sad story of Dave Kaner, Gordon MacQuarrie's connection to the Nottingham, reasons why Superior has a James J. Hill Empire Builder statue, which directions has the statue faced and which direction was it reportedly supposed to face, when had Superior originally planned to dedicate it, the cost of the statue and the committees involved, other spots considered for displaying the statue, and other buildings in Superior turning 100, and more.
Other notable events in Superior from 1926 including the formation of a skating society, a garden club, the Douglas County Sheriff's Office using seized items from illegal liquor due to Prohibition, turning them into scrap and donating the proceeds, the "Almost Bank Robbery" on Tower Avenue, and new studios for WEBC at a former site of the Telegram.
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. Email Maria Lockwood at [email protected] with ideas for future episodes.

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 known as the "golden voice of golden age radio." She sang her way into a radio job in New York in 1927 and went on to make history. Kitchell was a trailblazer in both radio and television, launching the first women's talk shows and starring in the first televised cooking show.
Telegram reporter Maria Lockwood is joined by local historian and retired librarian Teddie Meronek as they dive into the lives of Ohman and Kitchell.
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. Email Maria Lockwood at  [email protected] with ideas for future episodes.

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 her research and what she's discovered so far.
The murals were created by artist named Herbert Bartlett in 1933.
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. Email Maria Lockwood at  [email protected] with ideas for future episodes.

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 Clifford Wade, Ted Whereatt and Ole Haugsrud and the impacts that they made.
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. Email Maria Lockwood at [email protected] with ideas for future episodes.