Related Records

1. A chart showing the difference, in feet, of the water levels for each lake on the Manitowish Waters chain before construction of the Rest Lake dam vs today's level with the dam. - The comparison is done for winter and summer seasons due to the draw down of lake levels in the fall. This document was created by Jim Bokern for use by the MWHS. Included are pictures of an 1878 drawing showing the change in elevation from the Trout and Manitowish Rivers to the dam at Rest Lake. This drawing is displayed at the Koller Library.

   2019

   Record Type: Archive

   
2. A hearing was held at Buck's Spider Lake Resort regarding the high water mark on the chain. 1914 - The Chippewa & Flambeau Improvement Co, owner of the dam, wanted to control the water level on the chain for water power purposes. The Wisconsin Railroad Commission and local citizens thought the levels were too high and damaging fish reproduction. See record # 2021.001.002 to read where the WI Supreme Court sided with the Railroad Commission to maintain control.

   6/12/1914

   Record Type: Archive

   
3. A news clipping that refers to the Rest Lake dam as the "Henry" dam. 10/27/1916 - The clipping reports that the Wisconsin Supreme Court affirmed a lower Circuit Court ruling that the Wisconsin Railroad Commission has the authority to require the owner of the Rest Lake dam, the Chippewa & Flambeau Improvement Company, to fix the water levels controlled by the dam. Local residents complained that the owner's level of a maximum 15' head was too high. The Railroad Commission changed it to 8 1/2' maximum.

   10/27/1916

   Record Type: Archive

   
4. An excerpt from the American Angler magazine about Dan Devine guiding fishing parties from the Manitowish railroad station to Presque Isle Lake, via the Manitowish chain. 1896-97 - Devine would meet the fishermen at the Rest Lake dam and boat them to Clear Lake where they would travel via foot to Papoose Lake and then boat to Presque Isle Lake.

   Record Type: Archive

   
5. An Outing of Waukesha Men in the Wilds of Wisconsin 9/27/1900 - An article telling of a fishing trip to the Manitowish waters and surrounding area. Interesting references: Dan Devine, George Buck, water levels, Divide's logging camp, Lafin's on Big Lake, moonshine, plus many others. The author of the article, A.H.Y., could be the Waukesha Freeman owner, author Henry Youmans.

   1900

   Record Type: Archive

   
6. 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

   
7. Article from the Elizabethville Echo in PA discusses the effective use of the fish lock at the Rest Lake Dam. 8/2/1934 - The article also discusses how the fish lock operates.

   8/2/1934

   Record Type: Archive

   
8. Biography of Romey Theriault 1886-1921 - Born in Canada in 1868, Theriault moved to the US in 1880 and Manitowish Waters area in 1901. He worked on the construction of the Rest Lake dam, as a logger, then a guide for Buck's resort. He tried his hand at farming on Manitowish Lake and eventually settled as the caretaker for P.D.Durant at Rest Lake Lodge. He continued on as caretaker of the property for another 21 years after Durant sold to Charles Nash.

   Family/Historical Narratives & images

   Record Type: Library

   
9. "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

   
10. Brief description of the Barr Fish Lock operation and what eventually happened to the structure per Michael Dunn III 2017 - Included is a diagram of the patented lock mechanism. Note: correction to Dunn's narrative- Harry Barr's daughter was Lowrene Sell, not Trutt.

    May 2017

    Record Type: Archive

    
11. 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

    
12. Cal LaPorte demonstrates his job as caretaker of the Rest Lake dam. 1993 - These images are of the newly reconstructed dam.

    Record Type: Photo

    
13. 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

    
14. CCC Camp Mercer enrollee Elmer Hinke at the Rest Lake dam. 1935

    Record Type: Photo

    
15. Chippewa Lumber and Boom camp on Vance Lake. 1909 - Chippewa Lumber and Boom Camp located below the Rest Lake Dam on Vance (Dam) Lake. Shows detail of Dingle, out building, electric wires, wagon, horse and white pine stumpage.

    Record Type: Photo

    
16. 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

    
17. Construction of replacement dam at Rest Lake Fall 1992- Spring 1993 - A series of photos showing how the replacement dam was built and what the finished structure looked like.

    Record Type: Photo

    
18. "Dam at Manitowish". Picture taken looking down river from the Rest Lake Dam. The logging camp in the background is the Chippewa Lumber and Boom Company. ca 1920s - Prior to 1904 this camp was owned by the Mississippi River Logging Co. Susan LaPorte first cooked at this lumber camp, probably in the 1890's. Susan's great-granddaughter, Ruthie Dickerson Gardner, recalls Susan relating a story about cleaning the cooking griddle with kerosene one day which started a fire and almost burned the building down.

    Record Type: Photo

    
19. Drought Having Great Effect on Lake Levels by Michael Dunn for the Lakeland Times (Minocqua, WI) July 1976 - The article discusses how the lack of rainfall for the last two years is impacting water levels across the entire Manitowish River watershed and how the dam helps to mitigate those effects. Dunn interviews longtime dam caretaker Cal LaPorte and his father, George LaPorte. Included are pictures taken for the article. Dunn also shares a brief history of the role of the dam in river drive logging in the late 1880s- 1906

    July 1976

    Record Type: Archive

    
20. Dunn family at the "new" Rest Lake dam. ca late 1920s - Photo taken by Dunn's good friend Jesse Barber, Harris Lake Resort- Winchester. Dam structure appears to be new so photo taken after 1926 re-build, and before the fish lock was installed in 1931.

    Record Type: Photo