Listen to this: Superior Telegram's Archive Dive features the footprint of the Grand Foot Path
This past week, the Superior Telegram released it’s 15th episode of Archive Dive, which is a monthly history podcast hosted by Telegram reporter Maria Lockwood. Each month, Maria and a local historian dive into the archives of historic events, people and places in Superior and Douglas County.
This month’s episode of Archive Dive focuses on two Superior Central High School graduates who made a name for themselves in the literary arena.
Gordon MacQuarrie was a newsman, reporter and the nation’s first outdoors writer. An avid hunter and angler, MacQuarrie is credited with establishing the modern school of outdoor writing. His magazine stories of the Old Duck Hunters Association Inc, a fictional group based on friends, family and neighbors in the Barnes area, remain popular today.
John William “J.W.” Beecroft graduated with MacQuarrie from Central in 1919. Beecroft began his career as associate for Crowell Publishing and went on to become the sole editor for Doubleday’s Literary Guild, the Book League of America and the Dollar Book Club. As an editor, he made choices that influenced what millions of Americans read.
Maria is joined by frequent guest, Teddie Meronek, who is a retired librarian and local historian. In this episode, they discuss the early and professional lives of MacQuarrie and Beecroft.
Also in this episode, Maria and Teddie talk about some of the other notable names during the time period of the late 1910s and early 1920s that were Central graduates; MacQuarrie’s interest in music; and Beecroft’s interest in the theater; and much, much more.
You can find that episode at Superiortelegram.com or whatever streaming service you listen to this podcast.
In case you missed Archive Dive’s 14th episode, we are re-sharing it here. In March, Maria and Brian Finstad of the Gordon-Wascott Historical Society looked into the history and importance of the Grand Foot Path. Enjoy!