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Dunn, Michael III

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An article detailing "almost forgotten" businesses and locations in Manitowish and Manitowish Waters as reported by historian Michael Dunn. 10/2004 - Dunn's notes begin in Manitowish and travel south on Highway 51 including downtown Manitowish Waters.
2004

Record Type: Archive
Article written by historian Michael Dunn about train service in the Manitowish Waters vicinity. 2017 - The article covers the evolution of railroads in our area. It discusses rail companies, tracks, operations, locomotives and services provided.
2017

Record Type: Archive
Brief description of the Barr Fish Lock operation and what eventually happened to the structure per Michael Dunn III 2017 - Included is a diagram of the patented lock mechanism. Note: correction to Dunn's narrative- Harry Barr's daughter was Lowrene Sell, not Trutt.
May 2017

Record Type: Archive
Changes in businesses advertising in the 1956 Chamber of Commerce guide vs 1958 guide per Michael Dunn analysis. - Manitowish Waters Chamber of Commerce 1958 Vacation Days brochure with only selected resort and business ads. A forward memo is written by Michael Dunn III noting what businesses and resort listings changed from 1957 to 1959.It was later determined however that the dates written on the Chamber guides were incorrect; he was actually comparing 1956 and 1958.
2005

Record Type: Archive
Cranberry history articles in the MW Chamber of Commerce guides 1944-1977 - Two different articles about the history of cranberry marshes in Manitowish Waters. Written by Michael J. Dunn III for the Chamber of Commerce visitor guides.

Record Type: Archive
Dr. & Mrs E.A. Flancher and the Peggy Line by Michael Dunn 1913-1955 - This is Micheal Dunn's recollection of his interactions with Dr. Edwin A.and Louisa Flancher who had a summer home at Balsam Point on Manitowish and Little Manitowish Lakes. The narrative discusses how the Flancher's house was built and summer life on the property.He recalls Mrs. Flancher talking about the "Peggy line" used by the logging companies that ran towards Alder Lake.
4/2017

Record Type: Archive
Drought Having Great Effect on Lake Levels by Michael Dunn for the Lakeland Times (Minocqua, WI) July 1976 - The article discusses how the lack of rainfall for the last two years is impacting water levels across the entire Manitowish River watershed and how the dam helps to mitigate those effects. Dunn interviews longtime dam caretaker Cal LaPorte and his father, George LaPorte. Included are pictures taken for the article. Dunn also shares a brief history of the role of the dam in river drive logging in the late 1880s- 1906
July 1976

Record Type: Archive
Felix the Muskie by Michael Dunn 1936-1944 - A Michael Dunn story about a "trained" muskie that would regularly appear at Jens and Lenore Larson's bait shop on Little Star Lake, much to the delight of their customers.
2017

Record Type: Archive
Historical narrative about Post Offices around the Manitowish Waters area written by Michael Dunn. 6/2017 - Some area post offices are long gone as they were built along former railroad tracks. Dunn has an interesting observation regarding the origin of the town name Marinesco, MI.
2017

Record Type: Archive
History of Manitowish Waters narrative from 1965-1972 Chamber of Commerce guides and an updated page 3 published in the 1973-78 guides. - Written by historian Michael Dunn III, this narrative covers the area's history from the Ojibwe inhabitants to fur trading, logging, railroads, establishment of the Town and services, development of tourism, resorts, recreation, schools, retail and manufacturing, all in 3 pages! Also attached is page 3 from 1979-1986 published narrative with added images of the airport and Fire Department.
1965-1986

Record Type: Archive
Letter from historian Michael Dunn to MWHS board member, MW Town Chairman and good friend John Hanson regarding sharing Dunn's historical writings. 2017 - Dunn's letter also discusses Winchester's Buswell lumber company and references historic area train service (record #2018.7.12) and post offices along train routes (#2018.7.13). See related records for images of the Buswell building siding Dunn discusses.
2017

Record Type: Archive
Little Trout Lake canals 1890-1928 - "The Little Trout Lake Canals". This narrative discusses the purpose and building of the canals from the railroad stations in Manitowish and Lac du Flambeau to Little Trout Lake to access a vacation estate owned by Richard H. Southgate.
2017

Record Type: Archive
Manitowish Waters Skiing Skeeter advertisements in the Chamber of Commerce guides. 1963-1983 - Michael J. Dunn III, one of the original club members, wrote the original text for these ads. After a few years his name was dropped from the ad but the text remained the same, updated for small changes only. Images were changed occasionally as well.

Record Type: Archive
Manitowish Waters Skiing Skeeter program 1964
MW Skiing Skeeters

Record Type: Library
Michael Dunn III "A Look Back" historical overview of Manitowish Waters published in the 1987-1992 Chamber of Commerce guides. 1600-1999 - The overview covers the period from the 1600s to 1999. The document discusses the Chippewa Indians, logging, resorts, tourism, summer homes, fishing, agriculture and economic and business development. Attached are two documents, both with the same text. One history has images embedded and the other is text only.

Record Type: Archive
Michael Dunn III- logging activities in MW area 1887-1912 - "A Thumbnail Sketch of Logging Activities in the Manitowish Waters Area". This narrative discusses the logging and lumber history from 1887-1912. It references logging and lumber companies and barons as well as railroad companies and lines.

Record Type: Archive
Michael Dunn's brief notes regarding the history of Buck's Spider Lake Resort, Deer Park Lodge and the bridge between Manitowish and Spider Lakes. 10/2004 - Note: current day Manitowish Waters was part of the Town of Lac Du Flambeau until 1927 when the Town of Spider Lake was formed. In 1939 the name was changed to the Town of Manitowish Waters. Dunn prepared these notes for the George W. Brown Jr. Museum in LdF.
10/2004

Record Type: Archive
Michael Dunn's cover letter for a series of 2017 historical narratives he shared with MWHS. 2017 - Dunn's narratives or "sketches" include logging history (record # 2018.7.3), logging and lumbering (#2018.7.4), canals to Little Trout Lake (#2018.7.5), Mrs. Maude Johnson (#2018.7.6), Felix the Muskie (#2018.7.7), Flancher Family &" railroad Peggy" line (#2018.7.8), and Barr Fish Lock (2018.7.10).
05/01/2017

Record Type: Archive
Michael Dunn's notes on lumber company complexes and distinctive equipment.1887-1926 - Michael Dunn's notes on logging and lumber company complexes around Manitowish Waters and the distinctive equipment of logging railroads.
05/2017

Record Type: Archive
Mrs. Maude Johnson by Michael Dunn 1930-1977 - A narrative by Michael Dunn reminiscing about a Mrs. Maude Johnson who the author remembers as their laundry lady when he was young. She lived at Woodchuck Hollow and then later moved to Little Star Lake where she opened Deer Trail Cottages.
04/2017

Record Type: Archive