Related Records

1. 1926 Map showing resorts in Manitowish Waters - 1926 Poole Map showing resorts in Manitowish Waters

   1926

   Record Type: Archive

   
2. "78 Vilas County Lakes Given New Names by Federal Board" 3/18/1941 - The article lists eight lakes in the Town of Spider Lake that are renamed.

   3/18/1941

   Record Type: Archive

   
3. 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

   
4. Advertisement for exotic entertainment at 30-30 Lodge on Vance Lake. ca 1960s

   ca 1970s

   Record Type: Archive

   
5. Advertisements for Anglers restaurant and tavern 2015-2016 - Located at the corner of County Road W and Tower Road. Owned by Paul Habram. The restaurant was still operating in April 2024, though had been listed for sale on and off.

   Record Type: Archive

   
6. Advertisements for the Fireplace Inn 1986-2005 - The restaurant was located at the corner of County Road W and Tower Road. Owned by Hanalore "Honey" Mackin with operational assistance from her husband Nick Greran. Note, the Fireplace Inn was previously located on County Road W in Winchester, WI.

   Record Type: Archive

   
7. Aerial photo postcards of Island, Spider, Rest and Vance Lakes. ca 1960s

   Record Type: Photo

   
8. 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

   
9. Bazso's Cocktail Tower Bar and Dining Room 1939-1941 - Interior of the Tower Bar. So named for it's location beside the Rest Lake fire tower. George & Mabel Bazso leased the property for 3 years, with an option to purchase, from Jo Bernard. They could not afford the purchase in 1942 so they went a different direction and bought Haakenson's Resort on the Rest Lake channel and began 50 years as Hillcrest Resort. Included is a matchbook cover advertising the bar.

   Record Type: Photo

   
10. 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

    
11. Cabin key tag from Win-Mar Resort 1930s-1961 - Brass plated steel key tag.

    Key

    Record Type: Object

    
12. Cabins and buildings at the Win-Mar Resort. ca late 1920s - The resort was located on Vance Lake repurposing the old Chippewa Lumber and Boom Co logging camp buildings. One of the cabins was named "Brownie" possibly after guests the Brown family.

    Record Type: Photo

    
13. Camp Mercer enrollees on the Rest Lake Fire Tower ca 1938 - Fire tower construction was one of the Camp Mercer CCC forestry preservation projects. Photographs taken by Camp Mercer enrollee Robert C. Baumann from Neillsville, WI.

    Record Type: Photo

    
14. Charley and Inez Pea's Cabin #1 on Vance Lake 1991-1993 - The Peas kept one cabin to rent after they sold the Pea Patch resort in 1979. By the early 1990s, the other cabins on the peninsula had been abandoned and were severely deteriorated. Roofs were compromised, animals had taken up residence and the docks were ruined to splinters. Oddly, the cabins were still furnished and stocked with dishes and household goods, left as they had been when the last renters checked out. They had not suffered vandalism, and just one of them- old No. 4- was locked. A few cabins and a Quonset hut had already been demolished before this time. (Peas sold their home and this cabin in 1998). Dilapidated Cabin No. 2 with Vance Lake lapping at its western wall was still there in 2017, see attached image. -- Jane Stegemiller

    Record Type: Photo

    
15. Charley & Inez Pea's 1997 interview with Joyce Laabs of the Lakeland Times 1961-1979 - The Pea's purchased the Win-Mar tavern and seven cabins from the "Win-Mar girls" (Winnie Young and Marie Zimmerman) in 1961. By 1964 they changed the name to The Pea Patch.They sold the tavern in 1978 and by 1979 they also sold all but one of the cabins. In 1998 they sold the one remaining cabin and their home on Vance Lake to moved to Mississippi.

    1997

    Record Type: Archive

    
16. 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

    
17. "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

    
18. Dick Hill's Blue Spruce Resort advertisement. 4/6/1956 - Richard C. Hill purchased the Win-Mar property in 1955 and re-named it. The cabins were located on Vance Lake.

    4/6/1956

    Record Type: Archive

    
19. Entrance to the "new" Win-Mar tavern August 1948 - This building was built after the original Win-Mar (located on the east or Rest Lake side of the highway) burned down in 1945. It was located on Dam (Vance) Lake. It was later moved uphill somewhat and enlarged into a tavern with living quarters. This structure is the bones for today's Pea Patch tavern. 1946, 47 or 48 Chrysler in the image.

    Record Type: Photo

    
20. Fern Lodge Resort on Dam (Vance) Lake 1915-1945 - Owned by Ethel Powell. Following her death in 1945 the main lodge, 4 cabins and all contents were auctioned off and were required to be removed from the property. This property later became a state campsite.

    Record Type: Archive