Paul Colwell has recently succeeded Margaret Sweet as the Executive Director. He hails from College Station TX, and went to college at Reed College in Portland OR. After seminary in Boston, he met his wife who is from Babbitt and moved to the Ely area where he also serves a Hibbing Church. 

 

He described for the trove of information at the Historical Society, from digitized historical photos, artifacts, documents, oral histories, and other valuable information for anyone wanting to know more about our area's history. They have histories of mining, logging, resorts, the history of the protection of the the BWCAW, as well as military uniforms. 

 

He encouraged us to join but also to stop by and see the wealth of information. The latest project has been upon Karelian Fever that took Minnesota Finns to Russia, many never to return who never had the paradise they had been promised. 

 

Thanks for a great history of the Society.