The Incident at Hotel Duluth

STRANGE BUT TRUE STORIES FROM THE TWIN PORTS

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 1929

As daylight broke over the watery expanse of Lake Superior, the bustling city of Duluth began to come alive. While many in the metropolis were starting their day with breakfast or a warm beverage from the café down the street, a local fisherman had been racing to the city with his previous catch. With a fresh caught fortune, he made his way southbound into the Congdon neighborhood. A desperate growl shook the man out of his traveling daydream. He noticed in his mirror that a hungry black bear was gaining on his overloaded model T. The only advantage that the truck possessed was the decline that would propel it down London Road from 26th Avenue to Superior Street After 23 blocks the black bear had no doubt lost his vigor to continue the chase anymore, and possibly in hopes of finding an easier breakfast, turned to admire the scent of a local bakery.

A well-known local, who was likely recovering from drinking the night before, felt called to action as the bear shattered one of the 15 foot panes of glass that decorated the front of the Hotel Duluth. The hired watchman, Albert Nelson, attended shortly after the bear had gained entry, only to find the local drunk threatening the bear with a hammer. A chair was thrown and then a table as Nelson attempted to distract the bear while patrons gathered outside. Like the battles of Roman gladiators, the watchman and the drunk did all that they could to wear the young bear down.

With a crowd forming outside on Superior Street, Duluth police officers Eli Le Beau and John Hagen had a much easier time finding the problem than solving it. Multiple attempts were made to lasso or capture the bear with ropes and furniture. Fearfully Nelson and the drunk began to lose adrenaline, allowing the black bear to advance with ferocity. Sergeant Le Beau made a split-second decision, firing once at the bear as it gained upon Nelson. The bear wobbled and folded,  finally stopped by the single shot.

First displayed in the lobby of the Hotel Duluth, the black bear was stuffed and preserved, and later became the namesake for the post-prohibition Black Bear Lounge. The “Bear Shot In Hotel Duluth” has since changed hands and now resides in Grandma’s Saloon and Deli in Canal Park. If you are ever enjoying a meal at Grandma’s, you can always reflect upon the morning that the resident bear took a trip to the local bakery.