Listen to this: Superior Telegram's Archive Dive explores the history of UW-Superior

Duluth News Tribune Minute

The Superior Telegram recently released it’s 30th episode of Archive Dive, which is a monthly history podcast where we “dive” into the archives of historic events, people and places in Superior and Douglas County.

In this month’s episode, we explore the story of the World War II veteran for whom the Blatnik Bridge was named for. Thousands of motorists cross the bridge daily, yet many may not know about the man himself.

As a Minnesota congressman, Chisholm native John Blatnik was instrumental in getting the bridge between Duluth and Superior built. As a captain and paratrooper with the U.S. Army Air Force. Blatnik spent eight months working behind enemy lines in Yugoslavia. The work included setting up an escape system for downed American airmen. One of them was a Duluth man: Swante Norlund.

For this episode, Telegram reporter Maria Lockwood is joined by Briana Fiandt, curator of collections and exhibits for the Richard I. Bong Veterans Historical Center in Superior, as they discuss the life of Blatnik.

You can find that episode at superiortelegram.com or wherever you also get this podcast. You can find additional episodes here.

In case you missed last month’s episode, we are resharing it here. In July, Maria and local historian and retired librarian Teddie Meronek discussed the history of the University of Wisconsin Superior and tell the story about an “astro-nut” who helped raise money for a Superior hospital. Enjoy!