Thursday, March 27, 2025

Lunch Buffet

Doors Open 11:30 AM

At

 

 

Ph.D. in Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry

 

Current projects include quantifying the microplastic content in Minnesota waters and surface sediments, understanding the seasonal and interannual variability in pH and pCO2 in surface waters in the Laurentian Great Lakes, understanding the effects of storm plumes on nutrient delivery and primary productivity western Lake Superior, and investigating the effects of salt on the photochemical alterations of aquatic dissolved organic matter.

 

 

 

Looking for Gala Auction Items!

 

 

By Darlene Anderson

The Rotary Club of Duluth met for their weekly meeting in the historic Kitchi Gammi Club. President Elizabeth Simonson rang the Rotary bell and following the “Pledge of Allegiance” and “Rotary 4-Way Test”. Rob Hofmann shared his Reflection about historic preservation. It is not only the maintaining old buildings, but also a way to keep the past alive and enrich the character of a community. In Duluth we value these sites such as Glensheen Mansion, the Duluth Depot, Fitger's Brewery and the Kitchi Gammi Club as living, breathing parts of our community's landscape.

 

 

President Elizabeth Simonson recites The Pledge of Allegiance

 

Our guests were then introduced by President Elizabeth including John Jenkins who is the newest member of Club 25 (Welcome, John Jenkins!). He will be formerly introduced at an upcoming meeting. We also brought back a club tradition of recognizing the club members whose birthday is in the current month: Jennifer Smith, Allison Hanig-Landrus, Andy Thielen, Past President Chana Stocke, Allen Anway, Past President Bill Gravelle, Ruth Westra, John Magas and Rob Hofmann. No ages were mentioned as we sang the birthday song. We also recognized those who had Rotary anniversaries in March: Mike Orman (43 years), Steve Burgess (12 years), Geiger Yount (36 years), Past President John Baumgarten (53 years), Tammy Sundbom (3 years), Pat Pfahl (14 years), and Bob Richert (49 years).

 

May 8 is the much-anticipated Rotary Gala and Auction to be held at the Kitchi Gammi Club. Greg Hansen shared that the auction committee is looking for items and ideas for the raffle baskets and higher valued items/trips for the live auction. If you have ideas and/or can contribute please contact Past President Chana Stocke, Renee Burns or Rob Hofmann. Your special dessert is also desired, and President Elizabeth Simonson is coordinating that. Please mark your calendars for this very special Rotary event and invite family and friends to attend with you. Tickets are $75.

 

Greg Hansen looking for Gala auction items

 

Chair of the Day Past-President Sandy Hoff noted that today's speaker needed little introduction as he seemed to know each person who came into the meeting room. Dennis Lamkin is a retired property manager for US Bank and a consultant for historic restoration. He is a board member for Glensheen, the Depot Foundation, Duluth Preservation Alliance and Minnesota Historical Society as well as numerous other organizations. Today Dennis shared a bit of the history of the Kitchi Gammi Club where “if the walls could talk, we might all be in trouble”.

 

Past-President Sandy Hoff

 

It was in 1883, only 13 years after the city of Duluth was organized, that 16 men gathered in one of their offices to form the club. Kitchi Gammi Club is the oldest private club in the State of Minnesota. Kitchi Gammi means Lake Superior in the Ojibwe language. At first, they met in the Temple Opera Building where Bell Bank is located today. After a fire that destroyed the top four floors of that building, they relocated to the Lyceum Theater. A permanent home was desired, and they sought a location that was convenient to downtown and close to Lake Superior.

A few of the founding members of the Kitchi Gammi Club

 

The site chosen was on Superior Street. The home located there was moved to 17^th Avenue East and construction began. The clubhouse was designed by world renowned architect Bertram Goodhue who also designed numerous churches and buildings along the East Coast including West Point Military Academy. In Duluth his designs included St Paul's Episcopal Church, the Hartley Building and Hartley's home at 3800 East Superior Street.

 

 

Works of architect Bertram Goodhue

 

 

The construction began on the clubhouse in 1911 and was completed in 1913 with a grand opening on January 3, 1914. A few interesting items regarding the construction were that all steel windows were made by a firm in England, shipped to Duluth and each one fit perfectly into place. For the plaster work the workmen were instructed to use copious handfuls of horsehair in the mixture. Thus, it would hold the desired shapes and designs better. Then the excess horsehair had to be burned off with a blow torch once the plaster work was completed. The tiles for the fireplaces came with exact instructions as to how they were to be placed. No random installation allowed. The landscape was designed by the same firm that designed Central Park. However, no documents relating to the landscape plan have ever been found. Of note: The building cost was budgeted at $400,000; however, the final cost came in at $400,200.00 - over budget by $200.00. This excess did not get unnoticed!  "Someone is going to answer for this" - Guilford Hartley, Kitch Founding Member

 

Today we still appreciate and enjoy the beautiful building a group of businessmen envisioned and built more than a hundred years ago. Yes, the walls do contain many a story if they could only talk.

 

A Club 25 favorite, Dennis Lamkin with President Elizabeth Simonson