Archive Dive with the Superior Telegram

Forum Communications Co.

Interviews with local historians about a person, place or historic event. Brought to you by the reporters at the Superior Telegram and Duluth News Tribune.

  1. FEB 11

    Superior's former dime stores

    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  mlockwood@superiortelegram.com with ideas for future episodes.

    20 min

  2. JAN 14

    1926 a memorable year in Superior

    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 mlockwood@superiortelegram.com with ideas for future episodes.

    26 min

  3. 12/10/2025

    Superior women were theater, radio and television pioneers

    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  mlockwood@superiortelegram.com with ideas for future episodes.

    22 min

  4. 11/12/2025

    Colorful secret revealed during building renovation

    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  mlockwood@superiortelegram.com with ideas for future episodes.

    21 min

  5. 10/08/2025

    Superior's historic athletic venues and their namesakes

    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 mlockwood@superiortelegram.com with ideas for future episodes.

    22 min

  6. 09/10/2025

    105 years of journalism at UWS

    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 at what was then the Superior Normal School. Fast forward to 2025 and the name of both the school and the newspaper, now the Promethean, have changed, but the award-winning publication has stayed true to its mission. In this episode, Telegram reporter Maria Lockwood is joined by Tom Hansen, senior lecturer in the communicating arts department at UW-Superior and also the adviser to the Promethean and KUWS radio, as well Promethean alumni Drew Kerner, former Editor-In-Chief with the Promethean, and Jeffrey McClure, former sports editor of the Promethean. The four of them discuss the role the paper plays in campus life, some notable former staff members, their own involvement in its storied history and more. Lockwood and Telegram colleague Shelley Nelson are among other Promethean alums. "It's fantastic that students have had 105 years of telling their stories," said Hansen. For more about the Promethean, including archive issues, visit uws-promethean.com. 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 mlockwood@superiortelegram.com.

    26 min

  7. 08/13/2025

    The art of Superior's Yaworski brothers

    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 Alex F. Yaworski, he combined a commercial illustrating career with a fine arts career, leaving his mark in both. Tony Yaworski taught art at Central High School and Superior Senior High School, impacting generations of young artists. His murals once graced many Superior buildings. One is on permanent display at the Superior Public Library and another is in the hallway of Superior High School. Their brother Nick, who worked in Government with tariffs, was also a painter, and even had his work displayed at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington DC. Other topics discussed in the podcast include: Why did the Yaworski family immigrate; where the brothers go to high school; other Yaworski siblings, including a brother who didn't paint but had another claim to fame; another form of the arts the brothers participated in; a unique event Nick organized while attending Superior State Teachers College; the discovery of one of Tony's murals in storage and an associated mystery; where we can see some of Alex's work locally; and how the Spartan Fiesta started. 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  mlockwood@superiortelegram.com.

    23 min

  8. 07/09/2025

    Rene Lagae built over 700 Superior homes

    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 mlockwood@superiortelegram.com.

    20 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.3
out of 5
7 Ratings

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Interviews with local historians about a person, place or historic event. Brought to you by the reporters at the Superior Telegram and Duluth News Tribune.

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