Chisholm Travel Guide

Looks like an old WPA project. But it is hard to know for sure since the information available about Chisholm on the internet is sketchy at best. One thing I know--it is not on the National Register of Historic Places. In fact only three buildings in all of Chisholm made that venerable list. I have photos of none of them but they are: Saint Peter and Paul Ukranian Church (530 Central Ave.), Bruce Mine Headframe (Hwy 169 outside of town), and Pyrinto's Boarding House (111 Central Ave.)

As John Lee Hooker, the old bluesman, would say: "Mr. Bartender. One bourbon, one scotch, one beer." Or as Tom the cat might say, "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em."

One thing--there is no shortage of bars and taverns in northern Minnesota. The people populating this part of the state were always hard drinkers. Add mine closings and depressed economic times to the mix and drinking is now the official pastime.

An old theater that probably hasn't put on a movie in decades. Like the O'Neil Hotel, the building is now boarded up and the prospects of viable business being conducted here are slim.

For any movie buffs: Chisholm, MN is the hometown of the real Dr. Moonlight Graham. You may recall that the ghost of Moonlight Graham played a pivotal role in the movie "Field of Dreams."

www.chisholmmnchamber.com/history/moonlight_graham.htm

Someone seemed to be at least nominally in business at Grahek's. Interesting name-Grahek, typical of the slavic, czech and finnish names that are found in abundence in these parts. My guess is that it is a Slovenian name.

At one time the O'Neil Hotel and Supper Club must have been a hoppin' joint. Now it is boarded up. No accomodations. No supper.

Almost every small town in the midwest had a supper club or two in the period after World War II. A place for a steak, a martini. Simple times, simple pleasures.