Related Records

1. Aerial view of the Town of Winchester, WI ca 1910s-1920s - From the Pearl (Buck) and Lee Allen scrapbook collection found in the files of historian Michael Dunn III. Winchester was the location of two lumber mills- Turtle Lake Lumber Co and Vilas Lumber Co. Included is a picture of the Winchester baseball team.

   Record Type: Photo

   
2. Biographical information about Jesse T. Barber, owner of Harris Lake Resort in Winchester. ca 1920s - Incudes a photo of Harris Lake.

   1920s

   Record Type: Archive

   
3. Black Forest Lodge - WInchester - Black Forest Lodge in Winchester - view of the lodge

   Record Type: Photo

   
4. Camp Mishike- America's First Forestry Camp for Boys is Now Established in Vilas County. 1922 - Three investors purchased 1600 acres of cut-over land in Winchester for a boys recreational camp based on the principles of forestry. Their purpose was to reforest, study nature, canoe, learn woodcraft, participate in out-of-door sports and learn camping skills.

   12/20/1922

   Record Type: Archive

   
5. Camp Mishike brochure- A forestry camp for boys located on Harris Lake in Winchester. 1923-? - Pronounced "Me-she-key".

   Record Type: Archive

   
6. 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

   
7. Charles "Bud" Smith Jr. 1991 interview about the Smith family's long history in Manitowish Waters. 1915-1991 - The original Smith property was on Manitowish and Little Star Lakes. They continue to own Olivida on the northwest shore of Manitowish Lake.

   10/23/1991

   Record Type: Archive

   
8. Charles "Bud" Smith Jr. talks about the Smith family's history at their Olivida compound on Manitowish Lake. He shares many wonderful, and funny, family stories from over the years. 1915-1986 - Bud recorded these memories for his daughters, Ginny and Elizabeth. His recollections include what summer life was like in this area in the 1910s through the 1980s.

   August 1986

   Record Type: Archive

   
9. Divide Resort on the Turtle Lakes in Winchester- brochure 1910-1917 - Fayette Buck operated the resort 1908-1917. He and his father George W ran it in partnership prior to that. See record #2019.3.7 for the inside of the brochure.

   Record Type: Archive

   
10. Divide Resort on the Turtle Lakes in Winchester- brochure and newspaper clippings. 1908-1917 - Fayette Buck took over ownership of the resort in 1908 after dividing the G.W Buck & Son properties between father George and son Fayette. Fayette left the business to his wife, Anna, in 1917 when he moved to Nebraska. Of interest: brochure references Divide, WI; classified ad includes "absolutely no bar in connection"

    Record Type: Archive

    
11. Divide Resort - Winchester - Postcard. Divide Resort North Turtle - Winchester.

    Record Type: Photo

    
12. Fayette Buck obituary and photo of his second wife, Orpha Nokes Buck. 1964 - Fayette Buck 1874-1964. The Buck Family were pioneers in northern Wisconsin in the late 1800's. They owned and operated Buck's Spider Lake Resort in Manitowish Waters and the Divide Resort in Winchester. Fayette was quite a good woodsman in his younger years. MWHS archived several published articles about his Northwoods guiding and trapping adventures.

    Record Type: Photo

    
13. Fayette Buck's narrative about moving to Wisconsin for trapping and later establishing the Divide and Spider Lake Resorts with his father. 1874-1908 - This was written by Fay and cut from the brochure for the Divide Resort. A PDF is attached for easier reading- see below See record # 2019.3.7 in the Archives Catalog for a complete image of the inside of the brochure which includes this narrative and map.

    Record Type: Archive

    
14. Foot paths and portage trails in the Winchester area before railroads were established. 1904 - Used to travel between lakes or from the railroad depots to resorts or out-camps.

    Record Type: Photo

    
15. George Washington Buck and family at the Divide Resort in Winchester ca 1902 - Seated on ground: George Washington Buck, patriarch. Seated Left to Right: Anna Seymour Buck(Fayette's first wife, took over resort management and Fayette left), Nina Buck(Daughter), Elmina Norton Buck(matriarch), unknown male. Standing Left to Right: Fayette Buck(Son), Roy Otto Buck (son), the young girl is either Bernice or Pearl Buck(Daughters of Anna and Fayette), Unknown Woman, Unknown Woman, Mary Jane Sullivan Buck (Roy's first wife). Unknown Woman, Unknown Man.

    Record Type: Photo

    
16. Letter and envelope to William Sell Sr., Winchester, from J. Connley, friend of Al Capone. 4/19/1929 - Connley is writing on Chicago Teamsters & Chauffeurs Union stationery. He is asking Bill's opinion, as a local realtor and acquaintance, of properties in northern Wisconsin by Pardee Lake that the union is considering purchasing. In the late 1920s, Al Capone and his Chicago Outfit had control over some of the city unions.

    4/19/1929

    Record Type: Archive

    
17. 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

    
18. Letter (handwritten) from Alphonse "Al" Capone to William F. (Bill) Sell of Winchester, WI. 6/14/1924 - Capone is writing to ask Bill to locate the bootlegger that previously sold him wine and whiskey as he would like to take another delivery in Cicero, IL. Note that the letter is signed by "Al Brown", a common alias used by Capone. Also, Capone tells Sell to communicate with his associate Fred Pope at 2242 Cicero Ave in Chicago if he (Capone) is not available. Capone and Sell became acquainted while Capone was vacationing in northern WI and staying at Sell's Resort in Winchester. They became good friends and kept in touch over the years.

    6/14/1924

    Record Type: Archive

    
19. Letter written by Al Capone to Bill Sell (Winchester) letting him know he is doing well. 1/14/1925 - This letter is postmarked two days after the assassination attempt on Capone in Chicago by the North Side gang members. Capone and the Sell family were quite close as evidenced by Capone's inquiry about Sell's wife Lowrene and son Bill, aka "Little Slugger".

    1/14/1925

    Record Type: Archive

    
20. Letter written by Bill Sell Sr. in response to Al Capone's 12/13/1929 inquiry about property for sale. 12/18/1929 - Sell informs Capone that the Trostel property he was interested in was not for sale. Sell suggested a different large, private tract by Oak and Forest Lakes near Mercer. (This would be near today's Iron County Highway G). Bill and wife, Lowrene, owned Sell Improvement Company, a realty and insurance company. Sell had previously worked for Albert Trostel & Sons, a Milwaukee tannery; he was a timber and lands manager. Capone and Sell were close friends.

    12/18/1929

    Record Type: Archive