|
News Tribune Attic - Freimuth s Department Store long sat in heart of
downtown Duluth
Duluth News Tribune (MN) -
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Author: Andrew Krueger, Duluth
News Tribune
Freimuths Department Store was located
in downtown Duluth at the corner of Superior Street and Lake Avenue, on the
site of what is now an open plaza next to the Minnesota Power building, where
the city Christmas tree is displayed each year.
According to articles in the News Tribune files, the store was founded in
1883, and moved to the corner of Superior and Lake in 1900. It closed in
October 1961, and at that time it was called Duluth's oldest
family-owned business.
After the department store closed, the building known as the Fowler
Building sat largely vacant for several years. It was acquired, along with
the neighboring Fidelity Building, in 1968 by a group called Duluth Downtown
Properties Inc., and was razed in April of that year.
In November 1968, the News-Tribune reported that the group wanted to remodel
the Fidelity Building for use as a motor hotel of about 100 units. It would
be in conjunction with a parking ramp and retail shops to be constructed on
the site of the Freimuth Building.
The Fidelity Building lingered until April 1977, when it, too, met the
wrecking ball.
For more photos and stories from the News Tribune archives, visit the News
Tribune Attic online at attic.areavoices.com.
Caption: Freimuth
's Department Store at the corner of Superior Street and Lake Avenue in
downtown Duluth, circa 1960. (News-Tribune file photo)
|