Duluth Historical Society Blog

Preserving our history, recording the present and reaching for the future

Category Archives: Duluth News

Staycation at the Museum!

During the Duluth Staycation 2012, the Duluth area businesses and local attractions feature the Fun Friday Series. At the Duluth Historical Society, we will sponsor “Fun Friday Games.” From 12-3 pm, Pamela Nye, volunteer archivist, will show kids historical games that children used to play. Meet her in the gazebo for lots of great ideas, such as:

  • Marbles
  • Stick-and-hoop
  • Hopscotch
  • Jumprope and jumprope rhymes
  • Frisbee

While you are here, be sure to visit our museum. We currently have a very interesting Military Exhibit, featuring uniforms and information on residents of Duluth. You can also take a walk and see our Community Garden Plots and get one for your family. There is still plenty of growing time left. Museum admission is $1.00 for Kids and $3.00 for Adults. Give us a call at 770-232-7584. Hope to see you there!

Historical Society Member Honored at Duluth’s Memorial Day Service

One of our members, Mr. Glen Faulkner, was honored at the City of Duluth’s annual Memorial Day Service. Mr. Faulkner, a Korean War veteran, was presented with a certificate of appreciation and a commemorative coin at the service on Saturday, May 26, 2012. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Korean War. Thank you, Glen, for your service to our country and for your dedication to the Duluth Historical Society. We appreciate you!

Annual Plant Sale

Exciting things are happening at the historic Strickland House in Duluth this Saturday, April 21, 2012. The Duluth Historical Society will hold its annual plant sale from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. A variety of outdoor and indoor plants, shrubs, flowers, fruit trees, vegetables, herbs, and pass-along plants will be available for sale. In addition, on Saturday, the historical society will have a ribbon-cutting ceremony to debut its newly opened community garden. Plots are now available for rent. And, while you’re there…please explore our Certified Wildlife Habitat, created by Duluth Girl Scout Troop 1941, and attend the dedication ceremony to celebrate this new designation on the grounds of the Strickland House.

All proceeds from the plant sale support the Duluth Historical Society.

April is a busy month!

We have a lot going on this month at the Duluth Historical Society. It’s a great month to see the museum and it will be last month to see the 100 Years of Girl Scouting exhibit.

April 10: We will have a special speaker at our monthly meeting. Join us and your neighbors at 7:00 pm.

April 13-14: The house will be closed for a very special event. We love having weddings here!

April 20-21: The New Dawn Theater has graciously offered all proceeds from this weekend of their production of “Murder on the Nile” to go to the Duluth Historical Society. Tickets are only $15 for the show and only $25 for dinner and the show. Dinner will start at 6:30 pm and the show starts at 8:00 pm. It’s a great way to spend the evening and support your local history at the same time! Visit http://www.newdawntheatercompany.com/ for more details.

April 21: ANNUAL SPRING PLANTS SALE! This is a very fun event. We will start at 10:00 am and go until 4:00 pm, or until all the plants are sold. Be sure to get to the house early to get a good selection. Many of the plants have been donated by local residents, so you know it will do well in the area. We will also be answering questions about the new Duluth Community Garden and dedicating the area as a Certified Wildlife Habitat!

April 28: Historical Society members will be on hand at the grand opening of the Chattapoochie Dog Park. The ribbon cutting will be at 10:00 am, and during the day, one dog will be named “Top Dog.” This special pet will be the Grand Marshal for the October Poochfest event. It should be a lot of fun!

Pancake Breakfast with Santa’s Elves

Breakfast in the Tea Room

It is time once again for our annual Pancake Breakfast! Join us at the Strickland House on Saturday, December 10, 2011, from 8:00 am to 11:00 am and let us do the cooking for your whole family. Afterwards, enjoy a story read by Santa’s Elves in front of the fireplace. You can even bring your own camera to take a picture of your children with Santa’s Elves.

The cost is only $5 per person. Come on out and meet fellow Duluth residents. This event is always a lot of fun! All proceeds go towards the Strickland House and the Duluth Historical Society.

Duluth alcohol plan headed to city council

DULUTH — A daily jaunt through the Town Green with wine in a plastic cup is less likely after Duluth’s Alcohol Review Board balked at the idea.

The board decided against recommending a Savannah-inspired idea to allow people to stroll through shops while finishing a drink.

Instead, members recommended extending the benefit of leaving a restaurant with a glass to enjoy a special event at the Town Green. If the City Council follows the unanimous recommendation, any restaurant in the historic district would be allowed to sell to patrons going to the park, instead of only those that back up to the Town Green.

The option would open up to Chocolate Perks, which is located along Main Street, and any other restaurant that opens in the area. Steverino’s and Cafe Park already have the privilege, said Economic Development Manager Chris McGahee.

“They (review board members) wanted to restrict it to just the times the city has already sanctioned events where alcohol can be on Town Green,” he said. (Event-goers are also allowed to bring alcohol from home on those days.) “They made the determination that at this time Duluth was not ready, and did not need that option (every day).”

Duluth to seek info on theater project

The Duluth City Council agreed Monday to authorize the Duluth Downtown Development Authority to seek architectural drawings for replacing part of the Red Clay Theater downtown.

The proposed building includes a large lobby for gatherings, a box office, restrooms, and an administrative office. The sketches, created by the Duluth architectural firm of Hill Foley Rossi & Associates, were labeled “Duluth City Playhouse.”

See rest of report here.

Fine tuning: Violin maker calls Duluth home

DULUTH — Ok Kyum Kim’s face is staid as he drags the bow across the viola’s strings.
A viola hums in a small downtown Duluth store. Inside Huthmaker Violins, a bespectacled, short Korean man with wavy, dark hair is playing.

Ok Kyum Kim - Huthmaker Violin Guy

Staff Photo: Jason Braverman
Ok Kyum Kim went to the top violin making school in the world in Italy and recently placed third in the international viola making competition, his first time entering. Kim, based in Duluth, also restores and repairs violins and works at Huthmaker.

Huthmaker is located on Main Street in Downtown Duluth.

Read the full story HERE

Rexall Grill Closed for Tax Issues

Thursday was chicken and dressing day, but Rexall Grill regulars had to fend for themselves after the state closed the legendary Duluth diner.

“It’s devastating,” Duluth Economic Development Director Chris McGahee said. “This is one of those places that is more than just a restaurant. It is one of those places the community would gather. … The place means so much more than just the food.”

Last year, the grill celebrated its 40th anniversary, and owner Linda Alley said it will celebrate more.

A few weeks ago, state officials showed up because the business was behind in paying sales tax, Alley said. On Wednesday, they came back and closed the grill.

Following are comments that were NOT in the Gwinnett Daily Post. The Duluth Historical Society neither agrees or disagrees with any of the following comments. We are just posting the thoughts of the Gwinnett Daily Post readership.

Posted by: bill Location: suwanee on Jun 25, 2010 at 03:32 PM
id been going to the rexall for years, up until the food got to expensive. i love the girls that work there . they are the main reason people go there. gail just kept raising the prices were she started losing the core of her regular customers. 8.oo for a meat and two vegs. is crazy. then two dollars for tea. dessert is nuts 2.95 for a small bowl of cobbler. she also didn’t pay all of her employees fairly.it was just 4 or 5 years ago you had a line out the door on saturdays not anymore. me and several family n friends would accidently get overcharged . not anymore ! lynda lower the overall prices 15% and everyone will start coming back ! shame on you gail !!!

Posted by: Anonymous on Jun 25, 2010 at 03:09 PM
There is a huge difference in needing help and knowingly doing wrong for years.

Posted by: PI Location: Duluth on Jun 25, 2010 at 11:55 AM
Truth be known Mrs. Herrin has over 40 liens of public record against her all from the Georgia State Dept of Labor for non-payment of employer unemployment contributions. Last lien was filed June, 2010 and as early as 1997. This should not come as any surprise to her! Shame on you!!!

Posted by: Erin Location: Duluth on Jun 25, 2010 at 11:29 AM
Health Department didn’t have anything to do with it. Also Health Dept . scores nowadays are not what they used to be 5-10 years ago. Health Dept is just another government agency that is in business of collecting money. It has nothing to do with food safety anymore. They give bad scores to restaurants for insignificant or ridiculous reasons in order to return back for a fee of $250. Government is in bad need of revenue ,so they are using every means possible to extract money from taxpayers.

Posted by: Pat Location: Duluth on Jun 25, 2010 at 09:43 AM
Sometimes everyone needs help Ben there and done that we will try to help you. Pat

Posted by: Patron Location: Norcross on Jun 25, 2010 at 08:33 AM
I’m sure the Duluth Police Department could move their spot from across the street to the Rexall parking lot and donate all ticket proceeds to the diner. They would have that thing up and running before lunch! (but how would they be able to pay for the fancy courthouse?)

Posted by: David Location: GA on Jun 25, 2010 at 08:30 AM
All cash and voiding the sale after paying gets you in T-R-O-U-B-L-E! Don’t care much for the GA Dept of Revenue Sales & Use division, they are on a war path right now, so beware to all business owners!

Posted by: rexall worker Location: duluth on Jun 25, 2010 at 07:52 AM
The health department had nothing to do with it. We scored an A on our last inspection only this past April. Gail tried to make a payment plan on her taxes she was behind on, but the dept of revenue turned it down. She wasnt stealing, just behind, and tried to make it right. The state didnt give her a choice. And the girls that work there now dont wear short shorts or let their cleavage hang out, we are all mothers and wives trying to raise our families.

Posted by: Oh Well Location: Duluth on Jun 25, 2010 at 07:47 AM
I wonder if it was their payroll taxes or their business taxes that they didn’t pay. Because if you don’t send in payroll taxes that you’ve already deducted from your employees’ checks, you’re stealing from your employees.

Posted by: Steve Location: Lawrenceville on Jun 25, 2010 at 06:40 AM
Something just doesn’t add up with this story. The state shouldn’t close the place of there was an honest accounting issue with tax receipts. I smell a rat and I doubt it is the business owner. Governments everywhere are short on tax receipts. Could it be that are getting heavy handed with small business?

Posted by: Carrie Pruitt on Jun 25, 2010 at 05:59 AM
I worked for Gail for years, and that woman treated us like we were one of her own. She always took fantastic care of her employees, and we all love her. Shame on any of you for passing judgement. I hope anyone that has said anything negative about Gail Herrin doesn’t live in a glass house.

Posted by: Joe Location: Norcross on Jun 25, 2010 at 05:05 AM
Irresponsible comments like that are childish at best – the last time I was there the Health Certificate showed a 96 rating. I’ll be back as soon as the doors open!

Posted by: CitizenofDuluth Location: Georgia on Jun 24, 2010 at 09:26 PM
Maybe the Health Dept. played a role in the closure as well. Tell the entire story, GDP!

Posted by: Nancy Location: Duluth on Jun 24, 2010 at 06:22 PM
Nothing worse than a tax deadbeat, they just cause the rest of us to have to pay more. I love the Rexall grill but this is very disappointing. Failing to pay over sales tax is the same as stealing.

Posted by: thomas cooper Location: lilburn on Jun 24, 2010 at 05:01 PM
i remember back around 86 this place started fixin home cooked meals and all us construction homebuilder guys went there the food was jus gettin better everyday ,but the girls workin there in tigh tight shorts and the cleavage is what really brought the guys in ..