Hibbing Historical Society

Name: Hibbing Historical Society
Address: Hibbing, MN, US
Telephone: +12182638522

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Hibbing Historical Society

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The Hibbing Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and an affiliate of the SLCHS.

Hibbing Historical Society and Museum
400 East 23rd Street, Hibbing MN
(Lower level of the Memorial Building)
Open year-round from 10am - 2 pm (Tuesday-Friday), or anytime by appointment
(218)263-8522

10/31/2026

More info on our Flashback Friday photos from last week!
Thank you to all who commented and helped us learn more about this image:
This was a fun one!

-Commenters guessed several locations – including the current Hibbing Memorial Building, upstairs of downtown buildings like the previous Enchantwood or Moose club, and the high school gym - noting the similarities in the balcony.

-However, Amy Jaynes did her research and correctly identified this building! The image was taken in the auditorium of the original Hibbing Memorial Building.

-The original Memorial Building opened in 1925 and burned in 1933.

-Our best guest is that this was either the 1926 or 1927 Mother’s Day dinner, hosted and served by the Knights of Columbus for mothers and daughters.

10/30/2026

More info on our Flashback Friday photos from last week!
Thank you to all who commented and helped us learn more about this image:

-Tara Bischoff did some great detective work, noticing the band on the right side of the image. She also used the crowd’s warm coats to rule out a 4th of July celebration 😊

-We zoomed in on the license plates in the image to determine the year was 1931.

-Mary Palcich Keyes wrote that the Village Hall looks “brand-spankin’ new,” and indeed the building was less than a decade old in this image!

-Scanning through the newly digitized Hibbing newspapers, we were able to locate several articles detailing what we believe is this event!

-On May 1, 1931, members of the D.A.R. commemorated the 200th anniversary of the birth of George Washington with the planting of a Washington Elm tree on the Village Hall grounds.

-Minnesota Governor Floyd Olson attended the ceremony and gave remarks.

-Behind the band, you can see the iconic hats of the local boy scouts.

-In 2020, the City of Hibbing, Hibbing Historical Society, and Greysolon Daughters of Liberty (Duluth Chapter DAR) hosted a ceremony to dedicate a new tree in place of the original tree, which was lost to Dutch Elm disease in 1984.

10/29/2026

More info on our Flashback Friday photos!
Thank you to all who commented and helped us learn more about this image:

-Several commenters zoomed in and located the neon sign in the window reading Homer Tavern Hotel!

-The Homer Theater and The Homer Hotel (2215 1st Avenue) begin appearing in the Hibbing newspapers and city directories in 1921. Proprietors are listed as Mike Maras and Frank Berklich.

--The Great Northern Railway calendar on the wall indicates that the year was 1937. Being that the bar is decorated for Christmas, it could also be December of 1936 - with the calendar put up early to ring in the new year.

-Nikki Rose helped us identify her great-grandfather “Big Nick” (second from left) and his father, Mike Maras, in the middle.

-The Homer Bar still resides in the original location on First Avenue!

10/28/2026

Thank you for all the comments on our Flashback Friday photos!

Here are some of the details we already knew and some we learned about this image:

AnnMarie Griffiths, Sandi Suzick, and Ed Fillman correctly identified this snow sculpture as Will Rogers!

Will Rogers was a Cherokee-American performer, actor, writer, and humorist. He traveled around the world entertaining as a radio personality, box office star, and sought-after public speaker known for his philosophical humor. He passed away in a plane crash in 1935.

This 100-ton statue of him was sculpted out of snow and ice by local artist Duane Bryers in January of 1937. The iconic Hibbing High School and Hibbing Memorial Building can be seen in the background of the images.

In 1938, Duane Bryers sculpted another gigantic bust - this one depicting Amelia Earhart - on the lawn of the Roosevelt High School in Virginia, MN.

These works inspired Hibbing native, Robert Mitchell, to produce a snow sculpture of Abraham Lincoln in his own front yard - catapulting his career in art. He eventually became the sculptor of the monument to our town founder in Frank Hibbing Park.

10/27/2026

Thank you for all the comments on our Flashback Friday photos!
Here are some of the details we already knew and some we learned about this image:

Sonaglia-Barbadori-Antonelli Building
412-414 East Howard Street 1920- 1921
Oliver Iron Mining Company Building #10

Hugo Barbadori and Adolph Sonaglia owned a bar at 104 Third Avenue in North Hibbing beginning in about 1909. Herman Antonelli owned the saloon next door at #106 as early as 1902. While it seems the 3 wanted to continue their neighboring taverns in the new building in South Hibbing, Prohibition would force them to go into partnership in a soft drinks enterprise at the #412 location instead.

Polk’s 1922 Minnesota State Gazetteer lists Kallemonis and Stupas’ Billiard Hall as the original tenants at #414.

By 1942, Sonaglia had transformed the 412 address into the Nu Haven Cocktail Lounge, which became Freddie’s Nu Haven Lounge and Bar, The Brothers II Bar and Lounge, Fitz’s Downtown Bar and Lounge, and finally the Bar 412.

Tenants of the 414 address include: Stevenson’s Inc., The Boston Store, The Bootery, Silvia’s Shoes, Donna Burns Shop, Juanita’s Shop, Bender’s Shoes, and the Flower Basket.

Commenters on our post helped us identify various owners and employees over the years!

-While a few comments mentioned the Brickyard, it was not located in this building. It was next door, and you can see it at the right edge of the image.
-Fred Berarducci owned the Nu Haven when it was known as “Freddie’s” as related by his daughter Robin Berarducci-Jensen. Mel Cogger remembers his mother working there.
-Chris Ruzich let us know that The Brothers II was owned by John Baratto and his brother, Maynard
-Tammy Jo Petersen remembers her mom working at Stevenson’s

10/23/2026

Flashback Friday:
Check out these newly digitized negatives from our Aubin Studios collection!

Do you recognize people, buildings, or events? Let us know! 👀😁

10/09/2026

These are just a few of the items that will be on display at our Annual Fall Membership Meeting and Luncheon on Saturday, October 17!

This is your reminder to get your reservations in as soon as possible: https://hibbinghistory.org/

Guests will enjoy a presentation by Discover The Range director, Beth Pierce, and a delicious luncheon. Plus, be one of the first to get our new book, "Celebrating a Century," which details the history of the First Settlers’ Association of Hibbing and 100 objects from our collections!

10/06/2026

A reminder to get your reservations in for our Annual Fall Meeting and Membership Luncheon!

We will be opening our newest exhibit, Celebrating a Century, which includes artifacts featured in our new book of the same title! See details below. The afternoon will include a presentation by Iron Range Tourism Executive Director, Beth Pierce, followed by lunch and a brief Society meeting.

Reservations are required. You can purchase your tickets and pre-order the book from our website:
https://hibbinghistory.org

09/25/2026

Last Friday of September, last week of Hibbing area schools!

The Hibbing School District, originally I.S.D. #27, at one time included over 2 dozen buildings spread across the area.

Be sure to go back and view our past posts from this month to see photos you might have missed:
Week 1 (9/4)
Alice, Brooklyn, Cobb Cook, Kelly Lake
Week 2 (9/11)
Lincoln High -North Hibbing, Maple Hill (old), Park/Glass, Penobscot, Current Hibbing High
Week 3 (9/18)
Assumption, Dupont, Poole, Stevenson, Maple Hill (new)
Week 4 (today)
Carson Lake/Leetonia, Kitzville, Stuart/Lynwood, New Mahoning, Swandale

09/18/2026

We've had such a fun time hearing all your stories as we reminisce over the Hibbing area schools. Plus, you keep coming up with other buildings we should share! Here is Round 3 🍎🛎️

Address

Hibbing, MN

Telephone

+12182638522

Website

http://www.hibbinghistory.org/

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