Related Records

1. Abstract for the property known as the Fireplace Inn. 1872-1987 - The document includes ownership transfers of many different lots from the Rest Lake dam and logging camp on Vance Lake to The Fireplace Inn on Tower Road. Attached are summary real estate transfers by lot, or groups of lots, to help follow ownership.

   Record Type: Archive

   
2. Article about traveling by canoe from Manitowish, WI to the Mississippi River. The group travels with Alexander Andrews from Manitowish, WI to the Rest Lake Dam and through the chain of lakes before heading downstream. 1905 - The clippings are from the Oshkosh Northwestern, authored by Edward B. Barr, the Northwestern Sportsman of Milwaukee. The author provides rich details of the Northwoods post Phase 1 logging and travelling the Flambeau River prior to the creation of the Turtle Flambeau Flowage. He discusses old logging camps and Rest Lake dam caretakers.

   9/25/1905

   Record Type: Archive

   
3. Article about traveling by canoe from Manitowish, WI to the Mississippi River. The group travels with Alexander Andrews from Manitowish, WI to the Rest Lake Dam and through the chain of lakes before heading downstream. 1905 - The clippings are from the Oshkosh Northwestern, authored by Edward B. Barr, the Northwestern Sportsman of Milwaukee. The author provides rich details of the Northwoods post Phase 1 logging and travelling the Flambeau River prior to the creation of the Turtle Flambeau Flowage. He discusses old logging camps and Rest Lake dam caretakers.

   9/25/1905

   Record Type: Archive

   
4. "Birching in the Big Woods". The author recounts a 70 mile birch bark canoe route from the Land O' Lakes area to the railroad depot in Manitowish WI, passing through the Manitowish chain of lakes. 1890 - A series of four articles in Shields Magazine,written by G.O. Shields, titled "Birching in the Big Woods, detailing the author's October 1890 Northwoods fishing and hunting trip via birch bark canoe with guide E.M. Clark. The 70 mile wilderness water route started in the Land O' Lakes area and passed through Boulder Junction, Presque Isle and Manitowish Waters. The author writes about staying at a logging camp below the Rest Lake dam on their way down the Manitowish River to the train depot in Manitowish, WI. The articles discuss camping, hunting and the hardships of such an endeavor in 1890.

   Fishing Collection

   Record Type: Library

   
5. Blacksmith's (or toy) shovel found in 2021 at old logging camp on Fawn Lake ca 1900-1915

   Shovel, Blacksmith's

   Record Type: Object

   
6. Brief mention in the newspaper's Manitowish column of A.M. Riley logging crews occupying the camp at the dam this winter to work for Brooks & Ross lumber company 1905 - A.M. Riley also constructed the Riley Hoist on the north side of Rest Lake in 1906.

   11/3/1905

   Record Type: Archive

   
7. Camp Seven on Birch Lake in Winchester, WI - From the Elva Mussel collection (Eagle River); found in the files of historian Michael Dunn III. Picture 2: To the left of the sled is blacksmith Paul Plettenburg.

   Record Type: Photo

   
8. 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

   
9. Chippewa Lumber and Boom logging camp ca 1940s - Located on the down river side of the Rest Lake dam, this logging camp was built by the Mississippi River Logging Co. in about 1888. It was sold to Chippewa Lumber and Boom some time before 1892. Both companies were owned by logging/lumber baron Frederic Weyerhauser. These pictures were taken long after the logging camp was abandoned and after the Win-Mar used the buildings as rental cottages. Estimating 1940s

   Record Type: Photo

   
10. Deer hunting season at the LaPorte logging camp on the Manitowish River, Iron County. ca 1910 - Harvested deer draped over the log skidding wagon.

    Record Type: Photo

    
11. Double bitted ax head from logging camp on Fawn Lake ca 1900-1915

    Ax

    Record Type: Object

    
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. General history of Manitowish Waters published in the Vilas County News Review Centennial Edition 2/19/1986. 1890-1937 - 1911-1930s: Logging and local sawmills 1890s-1911: First area resorts 1927: Established Town of Spider Lake 1920s-1930s: Town Hall, School, Cemetery, Fish Hatchery 1934: Dillinger gang at Little Bohemia 1937: Became Town of Manitowish Waters

    2/19/1986

    Record Type: Archive

    
14. Harry Case on the Rest Lake dam. October 1920 - The abandoned Chippewa Lumber & Boom Company camp is in the background.

    Record Type: Photo

    
15. Images of Stang Logging Camp operations on Island Lake near Rice Creek. 1890-1905 - Images were part of an article on the mill town of Buswell, writting by Michael Dunn and printed in The Lakeland Times souvenir Bicentennial Issue 6/24/1976.

    1976

    Record Type: Archive

    
16. Iron hook found in 2021 at old logging camp on Fawn Lake ca 1900-1915

    Hook, Logging

    Record Type: Object

    
17. Kitchen at LaPorte logging camp along Manitowish River. 1910 - The LaPorte family established a logging camp along the Manitowish River just north of Circle Lily. L to R: Lloyd, Henry, George, Susan and Nancy LaPorte

    Record Type: Photo

    
18. 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

    
19. Logging crew at the LaPorte logging camp on the Manitowish River, Iron County. ca 1910 - Henry LaPorte and son, George, were contracted to log three forty acre sections along the Manitowish River. The location of this camp was just west of what would later be the baseball field for the CCC Camp Mercer.

    Record Type: Photo

    
20. Logging or blacksmith tool found in 2021 at old logging camp on Fawn Lake ca 1900-1915

    Logging tool

    Record Type: Object