Related Records

1. Abe LaFave brief biography and tales of being a pioneer family in the Northwoods. ca 1880s-1920s - Includes Abe's 1931 homestead claim certificate. T42N R6E S18 Lot 7

   Record Type: Archive

   
2. Biography of Abe LaFave. 1858-1924 - Includes establishment of Island Lake Resort and Inland Resort. Obituraries attached

   Family/Historical Narratives & images

   Record Type: Library

   
3. "Forest fire burned the life out of Buswell" by Jean Rein 2000 - "8 1/2 years the village was established, prospered, burned and ceased to exist" The article lists Buswell's doctors and teachers and includes a history of the town's Post Office.

   Logging Collection

   Record Type: Library

   
4. John LaFave fishing in a boat. - John LaFave fishing in a boat.

   Record Type: Photo

   
5. LaFave family history on Island Lake as reported in a series of three newspaper articles. The articles cover the time period 1860-2007 and reflect on early resort and pioneer days. 1897-2007 - LaFave family history on Island Lake and Island Lake Resort in Manitowish Waters (1897-1967) as reported in a series of three 2007 articles in the Lakeland Times newspaper. The information for the series is drawn from resort brochures, "My Memories of Yesteryear-Life on Island Lake in the Early Days" written by Abe LaFave's son, John, as well as interviews with Abe's granddaughters Olive Johnson and Suzie Bauer. The articles cover the time period from 1860-2007 including John LaFave's reminiscence of the early pioneer and resort days.

   2007

   Record Type: Archive

   
6. LaFave's Island Lake Resort 1897-1967 - Resort ads in the Chamber of Commerce guides 1938-1966.

   Record Type: Archive

   
7. 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

   
8. "My Memories of Yesteryear: Life on Island Lake- In the Early Years" by John LaFave 1901-1973 - Anecdotes and short tales by John, son of Abe and Sarah LaFave, early pioneers in the Northwoods. Also linked is a slightly different version of these recollections titled "Stories from Island Lake" by Jack(John) and brother Charley LaFave as well as a collection of Gumps comic strips by Sidney Smith based on his experiences as a guest at LaFave's Island Lake Resort.

   1970

   Record Type: Archive

   
9. "Old towns now gone: Buswell typifies old northern towns" by Alan G. Barbia 1992 - This article discusses the lumber town of Buswell on Papoose Lake (1895-1910). It also mentions the towns of Fosterville, Winegar, Presque Isle, Winchester and Oxley as well as the push to sell logged land for farming purposes.

   Logging Collection

   Record Type: Library

   
10. "The Big Island on Island Lake" by Kay Krans 1888- 2023 - In addition to delineating the ownership history of the "Main Island", the article also shares what island life was like for the LaFave family, the caretakers of this property over the years and the changes made.

    6/2023

    Record Type: Archive

    
11. The Manitowish chain of lakes stocked by seining of fish from Dam (Vance) Lake. 1930 - The work was initiated through the cooperation of the Wisconsin Conservation Commission (DNR), the Isaak Walton League and Assemblyman C.L. Lacy.

    5/6/1930

    Record Type: Archive

    
12. "The Other Islands of Island Lake" by Kay Krans - Names and histories of the smaller islands.

    6/2023

    Record Type: Archive

    
13. The Schools in Manitowish Waters as presented by Marie Pepowski, Town Treasurer in 1966. Late 1800s - mid 1960s - Mrs. Pepowski discusses the progression of school options for area children, including the different school locations and teachers including colorful tales of how some children were transported.

    3/1/1966

    Record Type: Archive