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 importance in the community.

With an influx of people coming from Europe in the early 1900s — many of whom did not speak English — these organizations were a valuable resource.

“Their main goal was helping these people to acclimate to their new country,” Meronek said. “Helping them look for a job, helping them to learn English, and they felt that as a support group, this was very important.”

The clubs often held social events such as game nights and dances, but were also known to help immigrants however they could. From sending food, goods and clothing back to family members in Europe to assisting with funerals, illnesses, family crises and loss of jobs; those in need were supported.

“I like that about these organizations, that they cared for so many people who couldn't care for themselves,” said Meronek.

Other topics discussed include: what happened to these clubs, do any still exist today, what buildings and locations were utilized, how was membership obtained, how did the Vasa Club get its name, the Douglas County Historical Society’s purchase of the Vasa Club building, pronouncing Kosciuszko, unique events held at the club buildings, and more.

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.

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 High School served as the Summer White House for President Calvin Coolidge in 1928.

"The 'air conditioning,'" Meronek said is what drew Coolidge. "You could always count on it to be cooler here than Washington, D.C."

Coolidge wasn't the first president to visit Superior and certainly not the last. According to Meronek, presidents Ulysses S. Grant, William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, Herbert Hoover, Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon, Donald Trump and Joe Biden also came to Superior, either before, during or after their terms.

A perk for some was the proximity to some famous fishing.

"A reason that many, many people — presidents even — came to this area was the Brule River," Meronek said.

Topics discussed in this episode include which president was the best angler, which president may have made secret trips to the area to fish, what was Franklin Roosevelt's connection to Superior, which president may have been rescued from water in Superior as a youth, what was the main reason Hoover visited Superior in 1928, Meronek's recommendations for best books about presidents, and more.

Twin Ports neighbor Duluth has had known visits from 16 presidents, either during, before or after their terms.

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.

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 Fitzgerald took on its final load of taconite in November 1975. The cost to put up a historical marker is $7,000-$8,000 and the group is currently fundraising. The Friends hope their effort sets off a year of activities focused on the anniversary, which they're calling “the year of the Fitz.”

For this month’s episode of Archive Dive, Telegram reporter Maria Lockwood is joined by two members of the Friends group, local historian and retired librarian Teddy Meronek and Curator of Collections and Exhibits for the Richard I. Bong Veterans Historical Center Brianna Fiandt. They dive into some of the details of the ship, how the idea of a marker came to be, why having a marker in Superior makes sense, and more.

If you wish to make a donation for the marker, visit www.douglashistory.org/memberships-sponsorships/edmondfitz.

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.