Related Records

1. Aerial view of Rest Lake by the dam. ca 1930 - Image shows the Northern Lights Hotel, the Win-Mar, the old Chippewa Lumber and Boom logging camp buildings and the Tower Tea Room.

   Record Type: Photo

   
2. 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

   
3. Arvid Seppala photos including an ad for Seppala's Cottages on Rest Lake. ca 1930s-1954 - Arvid lived on Rest Lake, current address 13828 Ilg Road (Long's). He was a mason and a guide. He would troll with silver spoon tackle and row all around Rest Lake. A frequent customer of his was Mr. Corson (owned what is now Murphy's, 6014 Zephyr Point Lane). Arvid was in charge of the timbers at the dam to control the lake level; he went through the dam twice!

   Record Type: Photo

   
4. A Weekend to Remember... 4/20-4/22/1934 - A photographic booklet about the people and places involved in the Dillinger shoot out with and escape from the FBI in Spider Lake, WI (later named Manitowish Waters).

   2018

   Record Type: Archive

   
5. "Big Development Around Rest Lake" 12/1928 Iron County Miner (Hurley, WI) - Lakeland Lands, Inc, managed by Morris Holzman of Eagle River, had land holdings in what is now downtown Manitowish Waters and on Rest Lake. In the 1920s they began selling the property for development and summer homes. The article discusses the building for the Northern Lights Hotel, Tower Tea Room and Schuster's Bakery.

   12/7/1928

   Record Type: Archive

   
6. Camp Mercer CCC enrollees at the Rest Lake dam 1938 - Photographs taken by Camp Mercer enrollee Robert C. Baumann from Neillsville, WI.

   Record Type: Photo

   
7. 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

   
8. Commerce in the 1920s. By JoAnn Miller - The article explores some of the first resorts and businesses opening in the Town of Spider Lake in the 1920s as tourism was begining to grow.

   2/2021

   Record Type: Archive

   
9. Dedication speech given by Kay Krans at the unveiling of the historical roadside marker in Manitowish Waters on August 24, 2024. - Her speech tells the story of the FBI raid on Little Bohemia Lodge on April 22,1934 in an attempt to capture the Dillinger gang hiding out there. The historic marker commemorates the individuals wounded and killed by the gang as they made their escape.

   August 24, 2024

   Record Type: Archive

   
10. Five acre floating island on Rest Lake in front of Kuhnert's Northern Lights Hotel. August 1940 - The island then "wandered" over to the Joe Ilg property. The island had floated there in about 1925 as well. Joe Ilg Sr. was interested in mooring it to his property both times it landed there.

    August 1940

    Record Type: Archive

    
11. Intentional burning of Northern Lights Hotel ca mid 1970s - The resort had been closed since the late 1950s. It was burned to remove the building.

    Record Type: Photo

    
12. Lillian and Charles Rayala Sr. family photos. 1934- ca early 1940s - Lillian & Charles wedding photo-Ironwood, MI 1934. Charles was born in 1911. They had 9 children: Charles II, Donald, Audrey, Mike, Jerry, Martin, Caroline, Bonnie and Tari. Dr. Kate delivered Don, Audrey, Mike, Jerry and Martin in their cabin/home on the County Line. Picture 2 at their home L to R: Sitting-Don, Audrey, Mary Naegele, Mike; Standing- Charles II, Alfred Naegele, Lillian. Picture 3 L to R: Sitting- Audrey, Don, Mary (Girlie) Nagel, Mike; Standing-Lillian, Charles II dog named Mo.

    Record Type: Photo

    
13. Lobby at Zigray's Northern Lights Hotel 1940s - Located on Rest Lake, just west of the Rest Lake dam.

    Record Type: Photo

    
14. News articles about attorney Mark Catlin applying and receiving a liquor license from the Town of Manitowish Waters for the Northern Lights Hotel, which he was leasing from owner Albert Zigray. 1958 - Zigray had sold the hotel and resort property in 1955 to the Van Syoc and Dounda families. He repossessed the property in May 1958 and wanted to open up to the public but was not able to secure a liquor license as he was a Florida resident at the time. A former guest, Catlin, "leased" the property from Zigray to obtain the necessary license, although Zigray was going to manage the resort.

    July 1958

    Record Type: Archive

    
15. Northern Lights Bar ca 1972 - Located just north of the Rest Lake Dam. The tavern was originally associated with the Northern Lights Hotel across the road and was in existence before 1934. In the early 1970s it was Poor Henry's owned by Henry Voss. Subsequent businesses at this location were George Kontusch's Keep Schmil-Inn, Pine Barons and Aurora Borealis.

    Record Type: Photo

    
16. Northern Lights Hotel 1935 - Picture taken by CCC Camp Mercer enrollee Ed Radosevich.

    Record Type: Photo

    
17. Northern Lights Hotel ca 1928-1930s

    Record Type: Photo

    
18. Northern Lights Hotel. ca 1930s - Owned by either Otto Oestreich (1928-1930) or Henry Kuhnert (1930-1941)

    Record Type: Photo

    
19. Northern Lights Hotel owned by Henry & Sophie Kuhnert 1930-1941 - Originally built by Otto Oestreich in 1928, Kuhnert was the next to own it. Zigray's purchased the resort from Kuhnert in 1941. Included is Henry's 1959 obituary.

    Record Type: Archive

    
20. Northern Lights Hotel postcards ca 1929-1930s - The resort was built by Otto Oestreich in 1928. The main lodge included a dining room to serve 60-70 guests and 10 bedrooms complete with lavatory and hot & cold water. In addition, the resort included 8 cabins. Included is the 1961 obituary for Mr. Oestreich.

    Record Type: Photo