Craig "Figgy" Ritacco's passion for Eveleth

"Ritacco's Passion," by Linda Tyssen
Published in the Mesabi Tribune, October 11, 2024

Note: The following article has been published here with permission from Mesabi Tribune. "Figgy" Ritacco is a new addition to the Eveleth Heritage Society board and has been a great asset to furthering our mission. To view the article on Mesabi Tribune's website, visit https://www.mesabitribune.com/news/local/ritaccos-passion/article_008f9990-8755-11ef-86dc-13201045fff7.html.

EVELETH—Craig “Figgy” Ritacco is passionate about all things Eveleth. He was instrumental in saving a beloved mural in the Franklin School scheduled to be demolished and was involved in celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Hippodrome.

His latest project was the Benjamin Franklin Elementary cornerstone and the time capsule it contained. Ritacco said in an email, “This story started three years ago. As a board member of the Eveleth Area Community Foundation and the Eveleth Heritage Society, we had approached the Rock Ridge School Board for historical items to be donated to our nonprofit foundation to be kept and preserved in the City of Eveleth. With the help of the Rock Ridge School Board and (school official) Willie Spelts, we were able to achieve these tasks.”

Ritacco said, “As demolition of the Eveleth schools was getting closer, it was important to us to seek pieces of these historic buildings. At that time, we asked the school board if the general contractor, Kraus Anderson, could preserve the granite dedication plaque from More Stadium and the Masonic cornerstone from the Franklin which was documented to have a time capsule in it.” The project was done. Ritacco said, “A special thanks to Wade Engebretson with Kraus Anderson, who headed up the removal of these historic and very heavy items.”

In late September, the Eveleth Area Community Foundation, Eveleth Heritage Society, removed the time capsule from the cornerstone and removed its contents of 103 years. Ritacco said, “The items in the capsule were put in place on November 3, 1921. There was a large dedication ceremony with over 2,000 community members in attendance.”

Items found in the time capsule included the following: 3 newspapers from November 3, 1921, from Eveleth and Duluth; Bible from the Masonic Lodge in Eveleth dated 1901, a Duluth Masonic calendar dated September 1921,10 coins in a paperclip box, the paperwork from the building of the Franklin elementary associated with costs.

The items will remain in the City of Eveleth with the Eveleth Heritage Society. The cornerstone will find its new home within Eveleth.​

Opening the Franklin School time capsule, September 27, 2024