On this day in what would become Duluth in 1868 at an Independence Day picnic on Minnesota Point, newspaper publisher Dr. Thomas Foster—who produced Duluth’s first paper, the Minnesotian)—gave a grand oration, during which he first called Duluth the “Zenith City of the Unsalted Seas” and outlined the future of Duluth as the “Chicago of Lake Superior.” It was a speech filled with optimism; in January 1869 just fourteen families lived at the base of Minnesota Point. There is no written copy of the entire speech, often mistakenly reported to have been delivered in 1866. Only portions of the speech were published in the Minnesotian, and not until April 24 of the following year. The article focused on portions of the speech concerning the coming of the Lake Superior & Mississippi Railroad, Foster’s inspiration for his optimistic outlook of the fledgling city’s future. In it, Foster describes a network of rail lines that would turn Duluth into a mecca for commerce, as from the Atlantic to the Pacific, all roads would lead to Duluth, and they would offer “the cheapest and most expeditious route into the streets of our Zenith City of the Unsalted Seas.”
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6 Responses to July 4, 1868: Thomas Foster quoins “Zenith City of the Unsalted Seas”
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Mr. Bath Salts Ban—if indeed that is your real name—we thank you for the comments and suggestions. Indeed, we wish to bring more “dynamic” content to the site, but at this point we don’t have the resources to create video or to create graphics beyond the historic images we have access to. Hopefully as we grow and attract more paid advertisers (many of those you see on the right-had side of the site are ad “swaps” and don’t provide income) we can add more of the kind of content you suggest. Meanwhile, if anyone can guide us toward historic video footage we could possibly share with our readers, your suggestions are more than welcome. Comment here or contact us at info [@] zenithcity.com
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I did not know that. Usually these days people use the phrase ironically, to prepare the listener for a cliche that’s about to be launched.
I wonder if many even know the original intent of the thing anymore.
Nope, I meant it. “Quoin” is an old printer’s term for the a metal wedge locking device that held wooden blocks or”furniture” and metal type in a “chase,” which is a metal frame fitted into a platen press for printing. So to “quoin a phrase” is to set it into type or make it permanent. Coin works just as well, as in to mint a coin–literally, to make a coin.
— Tony D.
Am I missing a joke or a reference or did you use the word quoin when you meant coin?