Related Records

1. 1981 Chamber brochure - Manitowish Waters Chamber of Commerce 1981 VacationLand brochure

   Chamber of Commerce Collection

   Record Type: Library

   
2. 1983 Chamber brochure - Manitowish Waters Chamber of Commerce 1983 VacationLand brochure

   Chamber of Commerce Collection

   Record Type: Library

   
3. "A Testimonial to the Guide, ...willing worker and experienced fisherman" found in Henry A. Voss' scrapbook - Printed in "Lunch at Boney's Mound; A Portrait of family and Friends" by Ruth Dickerson Gardner. Ruthie found this poem in her grandfather Henry's scrapbook.

   ca 1940's

   Record Type: Archive

   
4. Brief biography of Robert Loveless, Manitowish Waters pioneer 1924 - Taken from the book History of Lincoln, Oneida and Vilas Counties published in 1924

   1924

   Record Type: Archive

   
5. Carl Christensen oral history interview transcribed. 1930-1993 - Carl Christensen narrative of his personal history in Manitowish Waters. Narrative transcribed from an oral history interview conducted in 1993. Available at Koller Library.

   Record Type: Archive

   
6. Famous fishing guide Chief Basil DeCoteau (Dakota) in Look magazine. June 1950 - The magazine did a section titled "Wisconsin Wonderland" featuring Vilas & Oneida County. They have misspelled "DeCoteau", "Spider Lake" refers to the name of the town before renamed Manitowish Waters. DeCoteau is Native American from the Bad River Chippewa tribe in Odanah, WI and was a famous guide in the Manitowish Waters area.

   Record Type: Photo

   
7. Fishing guide George LaPorte (right) with guest Fred Cassidy at Voss' Birchwood Lodge. ca 1945-1954 - Fred Cassidy from Indiana was a regular guest at the resort. George LaPorte (resort owner Ruth Voss' brother) was one of the resort guides whom guests would hire to have fishing success. Two men standing. One holds a fish. They stand in front of a pillar made of stone and wood. There is also a bit of a vehicle seen in the background.

   Record Type: Photo

   
8. Fishing guides Lloyd LaPorte and Richard Sleight, Sr.. ca 1950's - Lloyd LaPorte is on the left, Richard Sleight, Jr. on the right. They are displaying the day's catch at Voss' Birchwood Lodge. Notice the dinner bell in the background. The bell would ring to call guests to meals. It would ring for the employees first and then a bit later for the guests. Early on in the history of the resort it was tradition to also ring the bell when guest departed for home.

   Record Type: Photo

   
9. Fishing Guides Lloyd LaPorte (L) and Chief Basil DeCoteau (R) ca late 1940s early 1950s - Day's catch of fish from guiding guests at Voss' Birchwood Lodge.

   Record Type: Photo

   
10. Fishing pictures from Buck's camps in the Winchester area. 1894-1895 - George W. and son Fayette Buck had outpost camps located throughout the Northwoods. They operated out of the Divide Resort on Turtle Lake and Spider Lake Resort on the Manitowish waters.

    Record Type: Photo

    
11. "Fish Tales" by Ruth Gardner - Ruthie relates how fishing guides became an integral part of early Northwoods history recalling some of her favorite characters.

    4/2020

    Record Type: Archive

    
12. Forest & Stream Magazine article "The Sportsman Tourist in Muscallunge Country" 1891 - Story of the author's fishing journey beginning on the Manitowish River, camping at the logging camp at the Rest Lake dam, paddling up Rice Creek and portaging to Papoose Lake. The article includes a description of the Mississippi River Logging Co building on Vance Lake and the life of a lumberman, spending a night at Irishman A.R. Andrews homestead on the Manitowish River and meeting the Devine family on Clear Lake. Included in this record is an excerpt from Kay Krans' article about the Rest Lake dam tenders, which discusses the logging camp being used as a summer "hotel".

    Fishing Collection

    Record Type: Library

    
13. Guide Louis (Louie) LaPorte taking a group out fishing. ca 1930. - The outboard motor in this photograph was invented by the Evinrude company in 1909. In this original model the piston and spark plug were facing forward, which could result in shocking the operator.

    Record Type: Photo

    
14. Guide Marty Cain's fishing journal. mid to late 1960's - This calendar journal contain's Marty Cain's written notes with landmarks and hand drawn maps detailing good fishing spots for lakes on the Manitowish Chain and in Winchester. He also lists results of his trapping and hunting efforts. 1/1 - 8/12: detailed descriptions and maps of fishing spots 8/24 - 12./22: lists clients, the day's catch and other guides 12/21 to end of book: trapping results and "good set" locations

    Record Type: Archive

    
15. Guide Richard Sleight, Sr. holding a musky caught by a guest of LaFave's Island Lake Resort. ca 1910s

    Record Type: Photo

    
16. "Guides Hall of Fame His Epitaph" by Les Johnson - A tribute to legendary fishing guides and their work. Printed in "Lunch at Boney's Mound" by Ruth Dickerson Gardner.

    Record Type: Archive

    
17. Historical overview of Manitowish Waters published in the 2013 and 2014 Chamber of Commerce guides.

    2013-2014

    Record Type: Archive

    
18. History of Manitowish Waters page from 1936 Chamber of Commerce booklet - Historical account of Peter Vance's journey to this area in 1884. Included are some of Vance's recollections. Author of this narrative is unknown.

    1936

    Record Type: Archive

    
19. Koerner's resort- Family pictures ca 1916-1940s - These pictures are from a Koerner's Spider Lake Resort photo album.

    Record Type: Photo

    
20. News clippings pertaining to ownership of G.W. Buck & Son resorts and Manitowish Hotel. 1896-1908 - 1893 Divide Resort and tent camps opened 1896-1901 Bucks owned the hotel in Manitowish by the depot 1900 Spider Lake Resort established (although attached 1898 news clipping indicates it existed prior to officially owned) 1908 G.W.Buck & Son dissolves and the resorts properties are divided between G.W. (George) and son Fayette. George keeps Spider Lake Resort for son Roy to manage. Fayette and wife Anna take over the Divide Resort in Winchester.

    Record Type: Archive