Related Records

1. An estimated 8000 acres burned near the Town of Spider Lake. 8/8/1933 - The cause of the fire was blamed on a women berry picker who had cooked coffee over a camp fire.

   8/8/1933

   Record Type: Archive

   
2. Biennial Reports of State Conservation Commission of Wisconsin. 1915-1936. - Eleven biennial reports are linked to this record detailing the activities of this commission or department. The areas of reporting include Forestry, State Parks, Fisheries, Forest Products and Game.

   Conservation Collection

   Record Type: Library

   
3. Bill Summers' photos from CCC Camp Mercer. 1933-1942 - Bill was the Project Superintendent at Camp Mercer for most of its existence and was well respected by supervisors, staff and enrollees. He was on staff at the time the Camp was closed and dismantled in 1942.

   Record Type: Photo

   
4. CCC Camp Mercer: Bulldozer working on fire lanes 1937 - CCC Company 660 Camp Mercer image from 1937 Sparta District, Sixth Corps Area annual or yearbook. "Bulldozer working on fire lanes". Wisconsin Historical Society https://wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/search.asp?id=1651

   Record Type: Photo

   
5. CCC Camp Mercer crew cleaning plowline around edge of forest fire. 1936 - Camp Mercer CCC crew cleaning plow line after tractor-plow unit has cleared a path around the edge of the forest fire. University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries Digital Collections https://uwdc.library.wisc.edu OR https://digicoll.library.wisc.edu Search for WI.dnr.1908.bib or CCC fire control crew Neg 2561

   Record Type: Photo

   
6. CCC Camp Mercer crew working to hold the forest fire to the plowline. 1937 - Camp Mercer CCC crew working with shovels and back cans holding the fire to the plowline. University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries Digital Collections https://uwdc.library.wisc.edu OR https://digicoll.library.wisc.edu Search for WI.dnr.1915.bib or CCC fire control crew Neg 813

   Record Type: Photo

   
7. CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) 660th Company State Forestry S-79 Camp Mercer. 1933-1942 - History of Camp Mercer written by Jim Bokern. This narrative is posted on the MWHS web page and a summary was highlighted on the MWHS June 2025 newsletter (link included).

   2020

   Record Type: Archive

   
8. CCC men at a fire camp 1933-1934 - CCC men at a fire camp Civilian Conservation Corps Camp 660, Mercer, WI Photograph album 1933-1934

   Record Type: Photo

   
9. Company 660 crew working to keep fire to the plowed line. 1936 - CCC Camp Mercer crew using pack cans and shovels to keep fire to the plowed line. University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries Digital Collections https://uwdc.library.wisc.edu OR https://digicoll.library.wisc.edu Search for WI.dnr.1225.bib or CCC fire control crew Neg 2563

   Record Type: Photo

   
10. "E.M. Griffith and the Early Story of Wisconsin Forestry" written by Fred Wilson, forest ranger at the Trout Lake ranger station. (1903-1915) - A personal account by Fred G. Wilson, forest ranger at the Trout Lake Ranger station from 1911-1952, recording the life, vision and works of his superior E.M. Griffith, Wisconsin's first state forester. It was published in 1982 but covers the time period 1903-1915.

    Logging Collection

    Record Type: Library

    
11. Excerpt from the Blue Book of Wisconsin showing the number of acres of state forest reserve land by county, 1906 vs 1908 statistics. 1909 - This excerpt also discusses the importance of permanent state forest reserves, especially in the headwaters area of northern Wisconsin.

    Conservation Collection

    Record Type: Library

    
12. Fire in Powell Marsh burns 1200-1800 acres. August 1948 - Fire may have been started by sparks from the Chicago and Northwestern engine. High winds and dry conditions flamed the fire. Damage was comparatively light as the swamp is composed mostly of grass and leatherleaf.

    8/21/1948

    Record Type: Archive

    
13. Forest Fires seen near Manitowish, WI. Summer 1933 - Over 100 fires were burning in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and northern Wisconsin. Careless smokers and berry pickers neglecting to extinguish campfires were to blame. The drought of 1933-1934 created terrible forest fires in the Northwoods. Fire suppression was most difficult and the newly created CCC at Camp Mercer helped a great deal, but 600-700 men hat to fight the 1933 fires. Manitowish Waters was barely saved in both 1933 and 1934. During the "smaller" fires of 1934, Camp Mercer dedicated 36,000 man hours to fire fighting.

    1933

    Record Type: Archive

    
14. History of the Mercer Ranger Station 1928-1989 - The first office/residence building was constructed in 1928. The concrete block service building was built in 1933. State agency re-organizations changed the territory and staffing of this location over the years. In 1989 however it was still fully operational. Image source: Wisconsin Historical Society Image ID 5717

    1989

    Record Type: Archive

    
15. I Saw Conservation Grow by Harry Kozel (1951) ca 1890-1935 - Kozel interviews Iron County "oldtimers" for their thoughts, recollections and reflections on conservation needs and efforts after the cut-over logging period. They discuss forest fires and prevention, deer populations and hunting, and fishing and stocking of lakes.

    1951

    Record Type: Archive

    
16. Loveless - Forest Fire - 1930 - Loveless Photo collection "Whats left after a forest fire went thru - 1930"

    Record Type: Photo

    
17. Newly constructed Rest Lake fire tower. 1933-1934 - Newly constructed Rest Lake fire tower. Civilian Conservation Corps Camp 660, Mercer, WI Photograph album 1933-1934

    Record Type: Photo

    
18. News clippings about Tom Devine. 1958 & 1960 - Tom was recognized for 22 years of fire fighting and forest protection. He was a guide and brook trout fishing addict.

    Record Type: Archive

    
19. Opinion piece on state politicians shift from agriculture to reforestation in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. 7/18/1925

    July 1925

    Record Type: Archive

    
20. Over 100 images of daily life at Civilian Conservation Corps 660, Camp Mercer. 1934-1935 - Photographer and Camp Mercer member Ambrose S. McKloskey's photo album of life at the camp. 1933-1934

    Record Type: Photo