History Archives - Cascade Vacation Rentals

28 06, 2023

Fire at Papa Charlie’s
Fire at Papa Charlie’s

Fire at Papa Charlie’s

Jaye2023-07-06T17:42:57+00:00History, Local Businesses, Lutsen, News & Updates|

While many were enjoying and celebrating a local man's victory at the Lutsen 99er, just a mile away another scene was playing out. Up on the hill at Lutsen Mountains, a fire had started at the beloved Papa Charlie's restaurant and events center. The fire started sometime before 6 am. While crowds were gathering at the nearby golf course for the bike race, fire crews from six area fire departments were rushing towards Lutsen for to try to battle the fire. Many of those called had also volunteered to help at Lutsen 99er Aid Station. Instead, they were battling [...]

12 04, 2023

Sydney’s Frozen Custard & Wood-Fired Pizza
Sydney’s Frozen Custard & Wood-Fired Pizza

Sydney’s Frozen Custard & Wood-Fired Pizza

Jaye2024-07-09T19:09:26+00:00Grand Marais, History, Local Businesses, News & Updates|

Around 11:30 AM on April 10, 2023, a fire broke out at Sydney's Frozen Custard & Wood-Fired Pizza. On what was otherwise a beautiful spring day in Grand Marais, Minnesota. Responding fire departments fought the fire for over two hours, extinguishing it around 1:30 PM. Unfortunately, the intense fire destroyed the interior of this beloved downtown eatery. Luckily, through quick thinking and a little ingenuity, Sydney's reopen a short time later in a temporary location, not missing a season. Then, less than a year and a half after the fire, Sydney's Frozen Custard & Wood-Fired Pizza reopened at the [...]

12 10, 2021

Grand Marais Lighthouse
Grand Marais Lighthouse

Grand Marais Lighthouse

Martha Finley2024-03-21T15:23:50+00:00Grand Marais, History|

The lighthouse that sits in Grand Marais has become a destination for many visitors in the area. If you’ve been to Grand Marais, it’s likely you’ve walked along the breakwall to visit the square pyramidal structure, but do you know the history behind it? The Grand Marais lighthouse was built in 1885 on the eastern end of the harbor breakwater. In the year or two prior, construction was completed on the piers that guarded the harbor entry. These new piers required a light and fog signal to guide mariners through the opening, so congress allotted just over $9,500 for [...]

12 10, 2021

Grand Marais Breakwall
Grand Marais Breakwall

Grand Marais Breakwall

Martha Finley2024-03-21T15:25:05+00:00Grand Marais, History|

What looks just like a bunch of rocks in the middle of the water is actually one of Grand Marais’ best attractions! What spurred the development of the Grand Marais Breakwall and the Lighthouse you might ask? Well, in 1881 the Schooner Stranger wrecked just outside of the Grand Marais Harbor. Unfortunately, all of the crewmen were killed in this wreck. The people knew something had to be done to make it more safe. In 1882, the development of the first breakwater and lighthouse began. The breakwall was to be stretched around 300 feet of rocks of all sizes. [...]

25 02, 2021

Split Rock Lighthouse
Split Rock Lighthouse

Split Rock Lighthouse

Jaye2021-02-25T16:53:04+00:00Activities & Attractions, Beaver Bay/Silver Bay/Finland, History, Two Harbors/Castle Danger|

Split Rock Lighthouse is one of the most iconic buildings on Lake Superior's North Shore. Now decommissioned, the lighthouse has been beautifully preserved and is a popular destination for visitors and locals alike. Read on to learn more about the history of the lighthouse. Why A Lighthouse at Split Rock? Starting on November 27, 1905, a massive storm, known as the Mataafa Storm, hit the Great Lakes region. The storm caused a total of 29 shipwrecks on Lake Superior during a two-day period. One of those ships, the Madeira, sank near the area known as Split Rock. Recognizing a need [...]

20 01, 2021

Grand Portage National Monument
Grand Portage National Monument

Grand Portage National Monument

Martha Finley2021-02-15T18:28:27+00:00History, Hovland/Grand Portage|

Grand Portage National Monument is a United States National Monument located on the north shore of Lake Superior in Grand Portage, MN. It is an Ojibwe monument that forms a bridge between time, people, and culture. You'll learn about and explore the partnership between Grand Portage Ojibwe and the North West Company during the fur trade. While there you can see historic cooking and baking demonstrations and learn about fur trade history, and area history. History of the Grand Portage Known by the Ojibwe as the Gitchi Onigaming or "Great Carrying Place" the 8.5 mile portage trail allowed American Indians [...]

16 11, 2020

King of Neptune Statue
King of Neptune Statue

King of Neptune Statue

Martha Finley2021-02-22T17:05:43+00:00Duluth, History|

Once upon a time, a 26-foot gold-colored statue once reigned over Canal Park in Duluth. A popular tourist attraction, The King of Neptune Statue was gifted to Duluth in 1959 to honor the city's designation as a Foreign Trade Zone and the furthest inland freshwater seaport in all of North America. Then, in just a matter of minutes, a freak accident destroyed the statue forever. What happened to the King of Neptune, and how did Canal Park look when he was around? A Prized History In 1959 the Modern Seaway opened which allowed Duluth to be Designated as a Foreign [...]

5 11, 2020

SS Edmund Fitzgerald
SS Edmund Fitzgerald

SS Edmund Fitzgerald

Martha Finley2023-10-31T17:03:18+00:00History|

The legend lives on from the Chippewa on downOf the big lake they called Gitche GumeeThe lake, it is said, never gives up her deadWhen the skies of November turn gloomyWith a load of iron ore twenty-six thousand tons moreThan the Edmund Fitzgerald weighed emptyThat good ship and true was a bone to be chewedWhen the gales of November came early These iconic lyrics from the late Gordon Lightfoot song "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" describe the last hours of one of the most famous iron ore ships to ever sail the Great Lakes. Made famous not because [...]

2 10, 2020

Northern Lights Cottage
Northern Lights Cottage

Northern Lights Cottage

Martha Finley2021-02-19T22:25:48+00:00Grand Marais, History|

Curtis and Adair Erickson and the Northern Lights Cottage Newlyweds Curtis and Adair Erickson moved to Grand Marais late in 1937 to begin their new life together. Curtis’ job was placing, managing, and maintaining slot machines, known as “amusement machines”, in any gas station, bar, restaurant, resort, and even car dealerships who were willing to share in gambling profits by having machines located within their establishments. The Ericksons set down roots in Grand Marais and built a cabin we now know as Northern Lights Cottage. The Early Years When the couple first moved to town they rented a small cabin located [...]

1 05, 2020

Organized Crime
Organized Crime

Organized Crime

Martha Finley2021-09-03T16:56:42+00:00History|

Organized Crime on the North Shore The North Shore of Lake Superior and areas up the Gunflint Trail served as a “secret hideaway” for many notorious Chicago-area gangsters of the 1920s and 30s. The area was also home to one of the most prolific bank robbers in US history. Being so far north, far away from major cities, and with Lake Superior in its backyard, the North Shore was the perfect place for making moonshine, running illegal liquor, and just a great place in general for someone to hide out, when needed. Al Capone and the Lutsen Resort Fish House [...]