Spirit Valley Core Investment Area

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Following European settlement of the area, the town of Oneota was established in 1856, and a school was built at 4300 Oneota St; it also served as a church and town hall. (The name "Oneota" comes from “Oneida,” a tribe native to central New York.)

From 1870, Oneota grew as nearby Duluth booms; the town boasted two lumber mills, a brickyard, a furniture factory, the Merritt hotel, a store, the 1856 school, and a church. The first sawmill, Henry Wheeler's sawmill, arrived in 1856, located on the St. Louis River at the foot of 45th Avenue West. Oneota population: 556.

Charle's Lovett's West Duluth Land Company purchased the land from Thirtieth Avenue West to Kingsbury Creek, creating the Village of West Duluth in 1886.

In 1889, West Duluth Village Hall, which also served as a courthouse, firehouse, and police station, opened at 531 North Central Avenue.

The Duluth Beltline Railway, a funicular streetcar running from Sixty-First Avenue West and Grand Avenue to Vinland Street in Bayview Heights opened in 1889. It rose 600 feet and was often called the West Duluth Incline, this transit option increased access to West Duluth.

In 1891, Duluth’s streetcar system was extended west via its new West Duluth Line running along Superior Street from the West End to Thirty-Sixth Avenue West, where it ran southwest for a block before merging with Oneota Street and continuing west to Fifty-Seventh Avenue West. There it ran west to Central Avenue, then south to Raleigh Street and continued west to Sixty-Second Avenue West, where it terminated adjacent to Grand Avenue. At their peak, the streetcars ran roughly every 15 to 20 minutes.

In 1891, Longfellow Elementary School opened at 6015 Elinor Street.

The Financial Panic of 1893 devastated West Duluth metal manufacturers, but lumber mills remained operating. Duluth was the center of the nation’s lumber industry in the 1890's.

In 1892, the Merrill & Ring Sawmill was established on Grassy Point.

Despite lumber industry declines from 1895-1930, the area continued to recover and grow, with numerous businesses and community centers established.

In 1894, the City of Duluth annexed West Duluth as well as the adjacent Bayview Heights.

In 1895, Irving Elementary School opened at 101 North Fifty-sixth Avenue West.

The 20th century was filled with massive changes to the area- the popular streetcars were replaced by busses, industries boom and bust, and prohibition comes and goes. These sweeping changes shifted the neighborhood's character and led to certain challenges in retaining the previously thriving commercial center of Spirit Valley.

In 1903, Union Match began operation at the former Marinette Iron Works; in 1941 its name is changed to Universal Match.

St. James Catholic Church, whose congregants represented many European countries was constructed in 1903 at 721 North 57th Avenue West. St. James School was built next door.

In 1902, West Duluth Blast Furnace reopened as Zenith Furnace.

In 1906, DM&N wooden Ore Dock #4 was built west of Ore Dock #3 (at 2,304 feet long, it was the longest wooden ore dock ever built).

The Peoples Brewing Company opened at 4230 West Superior Street in 1907, providing a key social gathering spot for community members.

In 1910, The Hotel Phillips was renamed the Cody Hotel in honor of Buffalo Bill Cody, who’s sister, Helen Wetmore, lived in West Duluth. Cody Street was named for Helen and her brother.

West Duluth Branch of the Duluth Public Library opened at 701 North Central Avenue in 1912.

The Duluth, Winnipeg & Pacific Railroad (DW&P) was built through West Duluth in 1912. The railroad sliced through the northern portion of Fairmount Park, and its 40-acre rail yard sat between Raleigh & Bristol Streets. From there the line extended through West Duluth’s Commercial District utilizing an elevated line from 57th Avenue west to Michigan Street west of Forty-Sixth Avenue West.

Diamond Horse Shoes & Calk opened at 4702 Grand Avenue in 1912.

The Duluth, Winnipeg & Pacific Railroads built a three-story tall passenger and freight depot at Grand and Central Avenues in 1913.

In 1914, Western Rug Company, aka Klearflax—which made rugs from flax—opened at 6320 Grand Avenue.

The West Duluth Municipal Building, including the police department’s Station No. 3, the fire department’s Engine House No. 8, and a municipal courthouse, opened at 601 North Central Avenue in 1916. The 1889 West Duluth Village Hall was sold.

Duluth Show Case Company relocated to Fiftieth Avenue West and Wadena Street and begins manufacturing refrigerators in 1921. Its name was changed first to Duluth Refrigerator and, in 1932, to the Coolerator Company.

Duluth Zoo was established in Fairmount Park in 1923 and became a key West Duluth destination.

Stone-Ordean-Wells Mill, makers of Empress Coffee, opened at 4832 Grand Avenue in 1924.

The Arrowhead Bridge opened in 1927, connecting West Duluth to western Superior, Wisconsin.

Dr. Edward E. Webber established the Webber Hospital at 5601 Grand Avenue in 1927.

Twenty-eight trees were planted in Memorial Park to honor West Duluthians who served and died during the first world war in 1928. This park, right next to Spirit Valley, is central community green space and leisure space.

The Great Depression and World War Two brought financial challenges to the area, as well as opportunities with wartime manufacturing. New technologies from this period also came to West Duluth.

In 1939, streetcars stopped operating and were replaced by busses.

Coolerator made storage units, ammunition containers, and mess tables for the U.S. war effort from 1941-1944.

From 1945-1960, the post-war industrial decline began in Spirit Valley, across Duluth, and in many areas around the country.

The DW&P Passenger Depot closed in 1961; it was demolished in 1966.

This industrial decline led to the closure of businesses, schools, and manufacturing sites throughout the area.

In 1963, the state began removing houses and manufacturing plants in former Oneota to make way for Highway 35 Expansion through Duluth; everything between Michigan Street and Oneota Street was destroyed.

The I-35 made it possible for vehicles to quickly travel through Duluth, however this construction also led to the demolition of key parts of the neighborhood and continues to cut through the neighborhood today.

Since 1979, there have been concentrated efforts to revive West Duluth, beginning with the "Spirit Valley" rebranding.

In 1984, DW&P railroad abandoned its line through Duluth as new terminal facilities opened in Superior. The DW&P rail line, including trestle, was officially removed in 1985.

Keene Creek Park was established in 1986 on 10.6 acres located under the I-35 overpass between Grand Avenue and Sixty-third Avenue West.

Throughout the 1980's, more homes in Lower Oneota were removed for the future construction of the Bong Bridge. In 1985, the Arrowhead Bridge officially closed and was replaced by the Richard I. Bong Memorial Bridge.

In 1986, New Page Paper mill opened at 4920 Recycle Way; in 2015 ownership shifted to Verso, which sold to Sofidel (Sofidel is currently undergoing an expansion of their plant).

In 1991, K-Mart relocated to a new location in the Spirit Valley Shopping Center and became a key shopping destination in Spirit Valley to meet a variety of needs.

City Center West—including Fire Station 8, the library’s West Duluth branch, a community center, and a police substation—opened at 5830 Grand Avenue in 1991.

West Duluth Revitalization Plan created housing for veteran’s seniors, and special needs residents, rehabilitated 30 homes, renovated apartments, purchased 75 homes, removed blight, revitalized retail storefronts, and welcomed 12 new retail business, providing 47 new jobs.

The renovation and expansion of Denfeld High School was completed, and the new Laura McArthur Elementary opened at 720 N. Central Avenue in 2012.

In 2018, the K-Mart closed permanently.