May 20, 1940: Work Begins on Wade Stadium

On this day in Duluth in 1940, dignitaries broke ground for the Duluth Municipal All-Sports Stadium, south of 2nd Street at 35th Avenue West, nearby the dilapidated 1903 Athletic Park on a site called the “old circus grounds.” The project was overseen by the Work Projects Administration. Officials included advisory committee member Rueben Johnson, committee chairman Martin Hilber, Duluth Baseball Club vice president Tom Bell who also acted as master of ceremonies), Duluth Mayor C. R. Berghult, and WPA District Manager A. T. Gilberston. Dallavia Construction Co. laid approximately 381,000 paving bricks salvaged from the reconstruction of Grand Avenue, which was repaved in concrete earlier that summer. Duluth’s professional baseball team, the Dukes, played their first game at the brand new stadium on July 16, 1941. Frank Wade died on Jan. 12, 1953. A year later the old stadium advisory committee came together to propose that the city rename the municipal stadium in Wade’s honor, citing Wade’s work over the years: “(He) gave so freely, gladly and generously of his time, effort and money to perpetuate the great American game of baseball and to afford so much clean, wholesome recreation and entertainment to our citizens.” The stadium was officially renamed Wade Municipal Stadium on February 3, 1954. Duluthians would soon refer to it simply as “Wade” or “The Wade.” Read more about the history of Wade Stadium here.

A photograph of the Dukes’ first home game in their new digs on July 16, 1941; Duluth lost 6–3 to the Superior Blues. (Image: Tom Kasper)