Minnesota
The story behind Minnesota’s abandoned mine town Taconite Harbor
![The story behind Minnesota’s abandoned mine town Taconite Harbor The story behind Minnesota’s abandoned mine town Taconite Harbor](https://assets2.cbsnewsstatic.com/hub/i/r/2024/08/14/26475a08-f9b4-4005-80b0-b279781292b4/thumbnail/1200x630/325b0693ae397ccfe9396d96425d499c/fmn-taconite-harbor-pkg-lauritsen-durenberger-00-02-2827.jpg?v=d8f7565ef3e8b72561ee316b5993cbf9)
TACONITE HARBOR, Minn. — If you’ve never heard of the town of Taconite Harbor, it might be because it doesn’t exist anymore.
“There’s still a light pole. And this was Main Street right here,” said Skip Lamb, pointing to a street that nature has slowly taken back. “This was all mowed lawns, and this was where all the folks lived.”
From the mid-50s to the mid-80s, the Taconite Harbor community thrived. There were about 20 homes along with a town hall, fire hall and even a school with sports teams.
A basketball court remains, which used to mark the middle of town.
Lamb was once a little league coach in Taconite Harbor. Now, he’s a historian for a time that was. The town’s history goes like this: a break wall was built around two nearby islands on Lake Superior to protect boats picking up iron ore.
“Then they needed a town for the people to live in that were going to run it. And they had to build them houses because there wasn’t any housing here. They built the entire city,” said Lamb.
Many residents worked at the loading dock, and during the boom, they shipped taconite pellets to the East Coast. Ten million tons of taconite a year came from the town. Then came the bust. In the early 80s, the industry hit an all-time low, forcing many families to leave and find work elsewhere.
“This is part of the Iron Range saga. Where towns get abandoned, moved out, homes get moved,” said Lamb.
After the residents left, a real estate developer bought the houses, moved them and sold them off one by one. They were gone by the early 90s. A decade later, the dock was also abandoned.
“We feel very committed in telling the rest of the story about Taconite Harbor,” said Steve Schug.
In the nearby town of Schroeder, Taconite Harbor lives on.
“At one time, it was the fastest ore-loading facility on the Great Lakes,” said Schug.
Schug is the president of the Cross River Heritage Center. This summer they have an exhibit celebrating the abandoned harbor town.
“We have Taconite Harbor reunions frequently here at the Heritage Center and a lot of people come for that,” Schug said.
The exhibit looks at the highlights and lowlights of the community’s history. For instance, at one point, taconite dust would turn a lot of things red. That included fresh laundry hanging from clotheslines.
“I had a laundry mat. I had to have three washing machines just to wash red clothes,” said Lamb.
There was also a train derailment involving more than 90 cars loaded with taconite. Thankfully, no one was seriously hurt. But for people who once lived and prospered here, the good memories far outweigh the bad.
“It’s important that people understand that it was a viable community, it was a town,” said Lamb. “It was a fun place to live, and it was a fun place for these kids to grow up.”
You can still visit a portion of the abandoned Taconite Harbor on the North Shore.
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Minnesota
Minnesota Vikings WR Jordan Addison reportedly carted off field at joint practice with Cleveland Browns
![Minnesota Vikings WR Jordan Addison reportedly carted off field at joint practice with Cleveland Browns Minnesota Vikings WR Jordan Addison reportedly carted off field at joint practice with Cleveland Browns](https://assets1.cbsnewsstatic.com/hub/i/r/2024/08/14/03fe3f1a-16ac-4a2c-8aee-e49a734d3d13/thumbnail/1200x630/7ccfb98b9a860caa15f008e28bb140f4/gettyimages-2165970717.jpg?v=d8f7565ef3e8b72561ee316b5993cbf9)
CLEVELAND — Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison was reportedly carted off the field with an injury during a joint practice with the Cleveland Browns Wednesday.
Alec Lewis of the Athletic said Addison went down after jumping for a contested ball. The Vikings have not yet commented on Addison’s injury.
Addison, a first-round pick a year ago, finished his rookie season with 70 catches for 911 yards and 10 touchdowns. He is the firm No. 2 to superstar Justin Jefferson, whom the Vikings signed to a massive contract extension this offseason.
The 22-year-old Addison was charged with DUI in California after allegedly falling asleep behind the wheel on a Los Angeles freeway in July. He has not yet been disciplined by the Vikings or the NFL, but has said he will accept whatever punishment comes his way.
If Addison’s injury causes him to miss time, the Vikings will be thin at the receiver position behind Jefferson. Jalen Nailor has shown flashes this offseason, and Trishton Jackson and Trent Sherfield impressed in the first preseason game, but none of them are proven talents. The Vikings will also likely be without star tight end T.J. Hockenson to start the season.
Earlier in the day, the Vikings announced rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy will miss the entire season after having surgery to repair his meniscus. Veteran Sam Darnold is set to be the starting quarterback, with Nick Mullens as his backup.
Minnesota
Results of the Minnesota primary’s biggest races
![Results of the Minnesota primary’s biggest races Results of the Minnesota primary’s biggest races](https://assets2.cbsnewsstatic.com/hub/i/r/2024/08/14/580d9c31-54c1-4264-9fc4-ac3b244e4f09/thumbnail/1200x630/de16d2c307ebff0869dacf70b82208cf/d93e92cd31f38f54e79ae19f8bbb9902.jpg?v=ca135fae0838bc5b23b70dacd2a620f1)
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Minnesota
Gunnar Johnson, Shawn Reed survive tight primary in northeast Minnesota judicial race
![Gunnar Johnson, Shawn Reed survive tight primary in northeast Minnesota judicial race Gunnar Johnson, Shawn Reed survive tight primary in northeast Minnesota judicial race](https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/startribunemedia/TRWO6UVB5RF6RO3RRNIXDU7MO4.jpg)
It’s the rare judicial race without an incumbent on the ballot. The Sixth District opening was set in motion when longtime Judge Dale Harris, who is chambered in Duluth but covers St. Louis, Carlton, Cook and Lake counties, announced earlier this year that he would retire at the end of his term. More often, retirements occur midterm and judges are appointed by the governor.
Johnson, 56, is Duluth’s former city attorney and currently with Overom Law Office. He secured the most votes — 6,545 — but not by much. Shawn Reed, 53, was a few hundred votes shy but also advances with 6,198 votes. He is in private practice with Bray & Reed. Both have been practicing law for decades.
Peter Raukar was in third place with 5,834 votes and will not advance to the November ballot.
Johnson, who has raced in the Iditarod, said he wants to finish his career in public service; Reed, who was a top three finalist for judge under Gov. Mark Dayton, has said he is interested in the positive changes that a judge can make in people’s lives.
Early evening voters at a West Duluth precinct were well-versed in the judicial candidates — for better or worse. Molly Rathke said that in doing her homework on each of the candidates, there was little information to differentiate their public profiles. They all just seem like good people, she said.
“It’s frustrating,” said Rathke. “How do you make an educated decision about it?”
Brooke Lunski, too, researched the candidates and couldn’t decide who was best for the community. All of the candidates seemed to have the experience to do the job. She turned to people around her whose opinions and values she respected before voting for Gerald Wallace.
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