‘Matriarchs of Grand Marais’ share their stories
Walking around the city of Grand Marais, their impact can be seen everywhere you look.
From Java Moose coffee to the Grand Marais Playhouse, from Betsy Bowen’s studio to World’s Best Donuts, from the Cook County Courthouse to right here at WTIP – we all benefit from the leadership of local women who overcame struggle to build up this community. Artist Jan Attridge has a name for this group of amazing women – the Matriarchs, and she’s painted many of them in a portrait series called the Matriarchs of Grand Marais.
In this special for WTIP, we sit down to hear the stories of several of those matriarchs: Sherrie Lindskog of World’s Best Donuts, Ann Jorgenson of Java Moose, artist Betsy Bowen, Deb Benedict of WTIP, Joan Farnam of NorthShore ArtScene, Anna Hamilton of Hamilton Habitat, and the artist Jan Attridge.
Chuck Olsen October 15, 2025
