The Hunt for Red October: Cherry Edition
When you’re from Cherry, Minnesota, you get used to certain conversations. For instance, “Where is Cherry?” (Just east of Hibbing). “Lotta hayfields out there.” (Ya). And of course, “Isn’t Gus Hall from Cherry?” (Yes, of course). In fact, I know that fact better than most. I was the last journalist to interview Hall before he… Read More →
Power in the Wilderness podcast available on major platforms
Readers here have probably gotten used to the fact that I’m only posting my newspaper columns these days. I’ve been working on my book, “Power in the Wilderness.” This process grew complicated when I returned to campus for my full time teaching assignment. Months ago Karl Jacob and I promoted our podcast, also called “Power… Read More →
Wanna hear the most annoying sound in Duluth?
Hey, wanna hear the most annoying sound in the world? That would be the sound of the fully loaded freighter Presque Isle scraping the side of the canal on its way out of the Port of Duluth this morning. Nobody was hurt. Somebody, however, has a bad case of the Mondays. Related posts: No related… Read More →
When giants walked upon the earth: Latest Reformer column gets personal
In 2008, I turned out 800 blog posts a year, an insane output devoted almost entirely to my hyperactive political opinions. If you’ve been reading my site these last few years you know that I’ve slowed way down. Part of that is just the normal sort of time commitments that turn many “bloggers” into “ex-bloggers.”… Read More →
Labor navigates northern Minnesota political crosswinds
My latest column for the Minnesota Reformer is out today. Let’s call it a Labor Day think piece. Northern Minnesota has been a wellspring of the American labor movement for more than a century. However, in more recent years, organized labor has shifted into the role of mature old power, increasingly wedded to politics and… Read More →
This just in
The Hunt for Red October: Cherry Edition
When you’re from Cherry, Minnesota, you get used to certain conversations. For instance, “Where is Cherry?” (Just east of Hibbing). “Lotta hayfields out there.” (Ya). And of course, “Isn’t Gus Hall from Cherry?” (Yes, of course). In fact, I know that fact better than most. I was the last journalist to interview Hall before he… Read More →
Power in the Wilderness
Aaron J. Brown is currently writing “Power in the Wilderness,” a book about the late Hibbing mayor Victor Power and his tumultuous early 20th Century world. Until the book is done Brown is collaborating with independent filmmaker Karl Jacob on an exciting new podcast of the same name. The program is a special production of KAXE/KBXE Northern Community Radio where it will also air on the radio. To listen or read show notes, check out “Power in the Wilderness.” Meantime, Contact Aaron with any Hibbing-area recollections from 1900 to 1926, especially if they involve Victor Power. Family histories and old letters are great, but even second-hand stories are useful. We are trying to solve a historical mystery and need your help to get it right.
