For this month’s episode of "Archive Dive," we caught up with legendary broadcaster and former WDIO-TV news anchor Dennis Anderson.

Superior Telegram reporter Maria Lockwood, Duluth News Tribune reporter Jay Gabler and digital producer Dan Williamson joined Anderson at his Duluth home Nov. 7 to hear his memories of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald sinking for an upcoming 50th anniversary project. Stay tuned for more details. In the meantime, we wanted to share some of this visit with you.

"The Fitz" left from the Superior entry Nov. 9, 1975. The ship sank about 17 miles from Whitefish Bay during a severe storm the next day. All 29 members of the crew died.

Anderson, who was 31 years old at the time, broke the story to the Northland and the world. He interrupted the "Monday Night Football" game to give the news. The first update was audio only as it took time for the cameras in the studio to warm up. Beyond the 29 crew members who died, Anderson said the incident affected so many in our community.

"I think the people of Duluth and Superior understand that this was a major, major incident here in the Twin Ports and we shouldn't put it on a shelf and forget about it," he said.

In addition to his memories of that tragic day and the days that followed, Anderson, 81, told us about so much more, including his start in radio broadcasting and how he met his wife of nearly 60 years.

Anderson has spent more than 60 years in broadcasting. He stepped away from full-time work in 2011, retiring from the WDIO anchor desk after 42 years with the TV station. He joined PBS North in 2011 as a co-host of "Almanac North" and continues to contribute to the station.

"Journalism is a fascinating occupation," he said. "It just brings me and others who are in this business so close to the happenings of the Northland, and a lot of people, I think, have a habit of tuning in each night to see what's going on in the region. It's very, very important to them and I like being a part of satisfying that thirst for news."

Anderson went on to discuss his thoughts on the importance of local news.

"A lot of people don't like the news," he said. "They don't want to watch it for whatever reason or read about it for whatever reason. But without a free press, without a free media, we wouldn't have a free country. It's that important."

New episodes of Archive Dive are published monthly. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth Media Group digital producer Dan Williamson. If you have an idea for a topic you’d like to see covered, email Maria Lockwood at mlockwood@superiortelegram.com.

Before it was a site for wedding receptions and bingo, the Belgian Club served as a cultural center for immigrants who settled in Superior.

In this month’s episode of the Archive Dive podcast, Telegram reporter Maria Lockwood and local historian and retired librarian Teddie Meronek explore this historic touchstone, as well as two others: the Polish Club and the Vasa Temple, discussing their importance in the community.

With an influx of people coming from Europe in the early 1900s — many of whom did not speak English — these organizations were a valuable resource.

“Their main goal was helping these people to acclimate to their new country,” Meronek said. “Helping them look for a job, helping them to learn English, and they felt that as a support group, this was very important.”

The clubs often held social events such as game nights and dances, but were also known to help immigrants however they could. From sending food, goods and clothing back to family members in Europe to assisting with funerals, illnesses, family crises and loss of jobs; those in need were supported.

“I like that about these organizations, that they cared for so many people who couldn't care for themselves,” said Meronek.

Other topics discussed include: what happened to these clubs, do any still exist today, what buildings and locations were utilized, how was membership obtained, how did the Vasa Club get its name, the Douglas County Historical Society’s purchase of the Vasa Club building, pronouncing Kosciuszko, unique events held at the club buildings, and more.

New episodes of Archive Dive are published monthly. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth Media Group digital producer Dan Williamson. If you have an idea for a topic you’d like to see covered, email Maria Lockwood at mlockwood@superiortelegram.com.

President's Day is Monday, and did you know that 12 presidents have visited Superior? Can you name them?

In this month’s episode of the Archive Dive podcast, Telegram reporter Maria Lockwood is joined by local historian and retired librarian Teddie Meronek as they count up all of the commanders in chief who have stopped by our port town and discuss the details behind their visits.

Superior Central High School served as the Summer White House for President Calvin Coolidge in 1928.

"The 'air conditioning,'" Meronek said is what drew Coolidge. "You could always count on it to be cooler here than Washington, D.C."

Coolidge wasn't the first president to visit Superior and certainly not the last. According to Meronek, presidents Ulysses S. Grant, William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, Herbert Hoover, Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon, Donald Trump and Joe Biden also came to Superior, either before, during or after their terms.

A perk for some was the proximity to some famous fishing.

"A reason that many, many people — presidents even — came to this area was the Brule River," Meronek said.

Topics discussed in this episode include which president was the best angler, which president may have made secret trips to the area to fish, what was Franklin Roosevelt's connection to Superior, which president may have been rescued from water in Superior as a youth, what was the main reason Hoover visited Superior in 1928, Meronek's recommendations for best books about presidents, and more.

Twin Ports neighbor Duluth has had known visits from 16 presidents, either during, before or after their terms.

New episodes of Archive Dive are published monthly. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth Media Group digital producer Dan Williamson. If you have an idea for a topic you’d like to see covered, email Maria Lockwood at mlockwood@superiortelegram.com.