This religious association, which was founded by Mary Baker Eddy, was first established in Superior in 1893. The congregation held their meetings in various homes and meeting halls, including Room 233 in the Board of Trade Building, until 1915. They built the large, classic structure at 1902 John Ave for $20,000. A unique feature of the Church of Christ Scientist was the reading rooms, which offered information about religion in general and the teachings of Christian Science in particular. The congregation moved out of the building in 1983. When the vacant building was for sale two years ago, its simplistic beauty caught the eye of Kristbjorg Fisher. Although zoning and property deed issues postponed the sale, Fisher, along with her Setting the Stage partners, Linda Aksnes, Michael Phillips and Barb Wasson, bought the pink-colored stucco building in the fall of 2005. The group has done extensive work this summer to both the outside and inside.

Built in 1914, this beautiful four-square was first owned by Charles A. Swanson, jeweler and owner of Hallmark Jewelers on 1313 Tower. Charles and Adelaide Russell bought the house in 1930. The Russells came to Superior in 1897 and founded the Russell Creamery, which included branches in Hinckley, Milaca, Forest Lake, Brainerd, Fergus Falls and Bemidji, MN. In 2000, Kari and Terry Hart purchased and lovingly restored the home. Kari’s doll collection is beyond compare and a delightful added attraction. A second-floor bedroom holds hundreds of dolls, mostly Barbie, but multiples of Midge, Skipper, Scooter, Tammy and Ken as well. A large Barbie house stands in the center of the room, with Barbies looking through the windows. More of Kari’s other collectibles are displayed elsewhere in the house.

The first occupants of this unusual structure were the Unitarians. Wanting a change from traditional religious beliefs, they united in 1891 and in the same year, built the First Unitarian Church. Architects for the Octagon building with a tall, 60-pitch roof were Young & Young. According to early anecdotes, pioneer citizen, Colonel Hiram Hayes wanted to help the new church group and offered to pay for the shingles. The bill for the job was much larger than he expected, and seeing the shape of the roof, opened the door of the building to look inside. "I just wanted to see if they hadn’t shingled the floor," he told his friends. Failing to find a following beyond their initial charter, their dynamic clergyman, the Reverend C.F. Niles, left, and the dwindling congregation disbanded in 1894. Meanwhile, the African Methodist Episcopal Church, which formed in 1893 under the leadership of the Reverend Lewis Dixon, needed a permanent location. The congregation rented the building from 1899 until 1913, when many members moved away from Superior and the church folded. The building remained in the name of the Unitarian Church until 1931, when lawyers, Thomas Lyons and Henry Butler gave the building to Henry’s sister, Anna Butler, to be used as a club house for the Onaway Club of Women. Following other owners, James and Cindi Brown now call the unique building their home and are currently in the process of listing it on the National Register for Historic Places.

Although the Masons were the first to establish a fraternal association in Superior in 1856, conflict regarding the Civil War lead to its dissolution. In 1888, remaining members reorganized and received their official charter. In August, 1904, 12 Masons living in the Itasca region of Superior petitioned for and received charter for their own lodge. Built in 1922 for $12,000, the Itasca Masonic Temple was designed by the R.C. Buck firm and built by well known local contractor, Alphonse Dauplaise, who just five years earlier served as contractor for construction of the Palace Theatre. Two hundred Masons from Superior and towns throughout northern Wisconsin and Minnesota attended the dedication ceremonies on November 6th, 1922. Gary and Kelly Reed purchased the building May 1, 1996 and transformed a spacious, utilitarian civic hall into cozy but airy living quarters on the first floor and their Reed Graphics business on the lower floor. A lovely view from their living room is the side garden and deck, complete with fountain and pond.

In 1908, Contractors Schmidt Bros & Hill were hired by Wisconsin Central Railroad to build a passenger depot, freight depot, store house, round house, cinder pit, turntable and machine shop. For many years the Soo Line Depot did indeed serve the area as one of the towns busiest travel hubs until other forms of travel forced its closure. In 1991 Jim and Faith DeMeyer bought the 6,700 sq. ft. building from C.P. Rail, moving their family into the depot in October of that year. The building had no heat, no water, electricity, or kitchen. The depot’s offices served as bedrooms, and with 18 ft. ceilings, the lobby area was a natural indoor playground for the kids, complete with basketball hoops. Shortly after moving in, the DeMeyer family was contacted by Disney Productions, who wanted to use the depot for shooting location scenes for their movie, "Iron Will." This opportunity helped tremendously with the financial aspect of renovation. In 2003, DeMeyer built a house inside the depot, with living room, kitchen and bath downstairs. Because of the 18 ft. ceilings, an upper floor was added without altering the exterior of the building. Three bedrooms and a bath were added upstairs. A patio with pond and fire pit, tucked away behind the depot, provides a retreat from his busy life as owner of DeMeyer Capitol Management. The once-basketball court in the lobby area is now what DeMeyer originally envisioned: a gallery for local artists to display and sell their craft.