Portfolio > Mesabi

These photographs are from an ongoing project exploring the communities of the Mesabi Iron Range. The project began when the American steel industry, an industry with a history of boom and bust cycles, suffered its worst collapse. There are few photographs of despair and defeat. I quickly discovered that the people of the Mesabi Range are resilient, good humored and generous. The Range is not a place left behind. It is not a melancholy place. It is not living in the past although past events have become the stuff of tradition. Those traditions are celebrated. The frivolity and hi-jinx of Independence Day parades derive from the days when all the towns were company towns and behavior was carefully monitored in accord with policies set by the bosses in the East. Work in the mines was seasonal. As a result hunting, fishing, gardening and food preservation were necessities. Now they are now recreational.
Communities of the iron Range are dynamic in that they reflect contemporary America. Once dependably blue collar Democrats are right leaning conservatives not unlike most of rural, white America.

Although I have pursued other subjects I return to this one and always find fresh possibilities. From the beginning the scrappy, industrial beauty of this area comprised of forests, lakes, and mines captured my attention. There is an equally engaging beauty in the vigor and directness of people of the Iron Range.
My initial introduction to the Iron Range was a Fourth of July parade in Biwabik, Minnesota. My preconception of Rangers was that they were hardworking, durable north country people. That is certainly true but what I didn’t know was that they are dependably generous and embody an extraordinary joie de vivre. There is a very keen sense of history in the communities of the Mesabi Iron Range which describe themselves as having “built America”.
I use a view camera, in part, because it insures a degree of communication between those photographed and myself. Additionally, darkroom processes provide built-in stages for reflection. Evaluations move from a recollection of highly charged enthusiasm at the moment of exposure to a cooler appraisal of the image as a thoughtful, well-made photograph. Remaining throughout is the initial sense of seeing in the negative or contact sheet an expression or gesture that I first glimpsed and can now understand.
Recently I attended a curling bonspiel raising money for the Eveleth-Gilbert High School. I met an acquaintance that proudly told me of the amount of money raised. I responded by saying that it continues the support for education by the early immigrants to the region. The school buildings in Eveleth, Buhl and, especially Hibbing, are notable for their grandeur. He replied, “This is a special place. You know that Dick. That’s why you have been coming here for so many years.” I agreed.

Buhl, Minnesota 2023
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2023
Embarrass, Minnesota 2023
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Embarrass, Minnesota 2023
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Embarrass, Minnesota 2023
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2023
Colvin Township, Minnesota 2022
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Miner, Embarrass, Minnesota 2022
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Ore House, Gilbert, Minnesota 2021
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July 4th, Eveleth, Minnesota 2021
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Hibbing, Minnesota 2021
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2021
Hibbing, Minnesota 2020
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Steve, Memorial Day, Keewatin, Minnesota 2020
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Jeff, Memorial Day, Keewatin, Minnesota 2020
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Greyhound Storage, Hibbing, Minnesota 2020
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July 4th, Melrude, Minnesota 2019
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John, Historic North Hibbing, Minnesota 2020
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Cyril's Trains, Hutter, Minnesota 1996
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July 3rd, Gilbert, Minnesota 1998
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July 3rd, Nashwauk, Minnesota 1986
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Grant Ave., July 4th, Eveleth, Minnesota 2020
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July 4th, Grant Ave., Eveleth, Minnesota 2012
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July 4th, Grant Ave., Eveleth, Minnesota 2014
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July 4th, Grant Ave., Eveleth, Minnesota 2014
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July 4th, Grant Ave., Eveleth, Minnesota 2014
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July 4th, Grant Ave., Eveleth, Minnesota 2016
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July 4th, Grant Ave., Eveleth, Minnesota 2016
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July 4th, Grant Ave., Eveleth, Minnesota 2016
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July 4th, Grant Ave., Eveleth, Minnesota 2016
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July 4th, Biwabik, Minnesota 2016
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July 4th, Eveleth, Minnesota 2018
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July 4th, Grant Ave., Eveleth, Minnesota 2017
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July 4th, Eveleth, Minnesota 2018
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July 4th, Eveleth, Minnesota 2018
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2018
July 4th, Eveleth, Minnesota 2018
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July 3rd, Gilbert, Minnesota 2017
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MaryAnn's Beets, Eveleth, Minnesota 1998
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John, July 4th, Ely Lake, Minnesota 1999
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MaryAnn's Chow-Chow, Eveleth, Minnesota 1998
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Kinney, Minnesota 1986
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Grant Ave.,Eveleth, Minnesota 1983
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Tim, Bill and Jasmine, Gilbert, Minnesota 2017
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Scott's Van, Buhl, Minnesota 1985
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Tower, Minnesota 2022
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Virginia, Minnesota 1985
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American Steel Rally, Virginia, Minnesota 2000
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George, Eveleth, Minnesota 2018
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Costin, near Mountain Iron, Minnesota 2020
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Costin, near Mountain Iron, Minnesota 2020
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Retired Men's Club, Keewatin, Minnesota 2016
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Rouchleau Pit, Virginia, Minnesota 2107
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Eveleth, Minnesota 2016
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Babbitt is a company town built to provide taconite ore to the plant in Silver Bay
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Hibbing Park Cemetery, Hibbing, Minnesota 2016
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Hibbing, Minnesota 1985
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Iron Junction, Minnesota 2016
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Lake Ore-Be-Gone, Gilbert, Minnesota 2018
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Babbitt, Minnesota 1985
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2018
Don's Kitchen, Eveleth, Minnesota 2003
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Mesaba Co-op Park, Chisholm, Minnesota
2014
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Lisa, Mott Pit, Mountain Iron, Minnesota 2016
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Margie's Roosevelt, Eveleth, Minnesota 2014
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Grant Ave., Eveleth, Minnesota 2014
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Veteran's Memorial, Chisholm, Minnesota 2014
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Virginia, Minnesota 1983
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Virginia, Minnesota 1983
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Big Stick Dance, Eveleth, Minnesota 1995
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Sawmill, Virginia, Minnesota 2014
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Nick, near Cusson, Minnesota 1996
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DNR Deer Feeding Site, near Tower, Minnesota 1996
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Christiansen Farm, Lakeland, Minnesota 1997
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John, Eveleth, Minnesota 2001
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Nicholas, former Mayor, Aurora, Minnesota 2004
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Joe's Place, Melrude, Minnesota 2017
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Fishermen's Point, Hoyt Lakes, Minnesota
2017
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Glen Location, Chisholm, Minnesota 2014
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Taconite Tailings, Forbes, Minnesota 1995
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Kotzy's Garden, Eveleth, Minnesota 2003
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Steve's Garden, Virginia, Minnesota 2012
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Tim, Gilbert, Minnesota 2017
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Paul and Timmy, Eveleth, Minnesota 1995
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Paul and Jamie, Eveleth, Minnesota 1995
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Ceal Painting, Silver Bay, Minnesota  2003
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Nick and John, Eveleth, Minnesota 2001
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