Northern Grounds

This location was home to one of the earliest buildings in Ely. In 1890 and 1891, this was a bodega run by Thomas Donnelly and John Hosking.  In 1900, Matt Gustafson’s Saloon and Lunchroom was located here.  In 1905, Peter and Hulda Bergleen, Minnesotans of Swedish descent, operated a saloon on the site. By 1917, the Bergleens had moved to Seattle. And in 1919, the building owners, brothers George and Thomas Hoskin from England, sold the building to the newly formed Ely Jugoslav National Home Organization for $7500. 

The National Home owned the building for 37 years. In 1956, they sold the building to the Ely Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) who retained it for another 59 years.

The stories of the Jugoslav National Home (also known as the National Home, or simply, The Home) and the Ely VFW follow.  

The National Home was developed when the Ely Slovenian Library (The Slovenian Citainica) united with eight local Slovenian fraternal organizations to buy the building and support common programs. Fraternal organizations were critical to immigrants at the turn of the century in providing insurance and social connections to their members. They also supported programs that helped to maintain ethnic traditions, including providing newspapers and books and dramatic performances in the immigrants’ native languages. The eight disparate Ely Slovenian groups united with the Citainica to purchase the building, developing a ‘home’ for the many Slovenian immigrants living in the area.  Money was raised through membership fees ($.50/month/member) and rental income from the first-floor businesses. Even with this limited source of income, the mortgage was paid off by June 1921. By 1929 all membership fees were discontinued. There have been no membership fees since.

Over time the ground floor was home to the Moose Lodge, a pool hall, and later the Tauzel and Lawrich Mercantile Store. In 1940, the National Home procured a club liquor license and operated a private club on the ground level until 1956 when they sold the building to the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and moved to their newly constructed building on the northwest corner of Chapman Street and First Avenue (also included in this tour).

The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Club paid $30,000 for the building in 1956. Ely’s VFW, Post 2717, has been an active organization throughout much of Ely’s history. 

The Post was granted its charter in 1938 with the purpose of promoting patriotism, education, and comradeship. The charter specifically calls out the purpose of maintaining “true allegiance to the government of the United States of America and fidelity to its constitution and laws… and to preserve and defend the United States from all her enemies...” To be a VFW member a person must have served honorably in overseas engagement for which a campaign badge or medal has been authorized. No others may join.

Over the years, the VFW group provided educational scholarships and funding that supported local worthy causes.  They hosted a disabled veterans fishing event for many years. Ely’s post reached its peak membership in 1972 with 620 members. And although a smaller group today, they still provide a presence in local community events including parades, Memorial Day events, etc. carrying on their mission of education and care. The state VFW convention was held in Ely in 1961 - the same year the Ely VFW baseball team won the VFW state championship.

The organization had a large membership due to the city’s high participation rate in World War II.  More than 1600 of Ely’s men and woman served, which was nearly 25% of the population. 

The VFW operated their club here until 2015 when they sold the building to developer John Ott and Family (Alley A Realty). After an impressive renovation which exposed many of the building’s original features, the building began its new life as a Coffee Shop and Wine Bar, ‘Northern Grounds”, under the careful management of Cindy Smyka.

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1890-1891 – Hosking and Donnelly Bodega

1900 – Matt Gustafson’s Saloon

1905 – Peter and Hulda Bergleen’s Saloon

1919 – Jugoslav National Home buys the building

The Moose Club operates their club here

Pool Hall

1925-1931 – Tauzel and Lawrich Mercantile

1940 – The Jugosalv National Home Club

1956 – The Ely VFW Club buys the building and opens for business

2015 – Developer John Ott

2016 – Cindy Smyka opens Northern Grounds

The Sanborn Insurance Maps 1900-1924.

1900 and 1907 Ely City Directories.

Ancestry.com. Accessed April 8th, 2022

The Ely Times, Ely Mn (1890 and 1891)

Ely, Since 1888 (The Blue Book). Ely, Minnesota. The Ely Echo, 1988.

The Anniversary Committee (author), Centennial Roaring Stoney Days – In Commemoration of Ely’s 70the Birthday 1888-1958; Edition Second Edition October 30, 1982, Ely Minnesota; Ely-Winton Historical Society, 1958 (publisher)