Related Records

1. 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

   
2. Baby Face Nelson ca 1930s

   Record Type: Photo

   
3. 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

   
4. "Dillinger's Escape is Northwoods Legend" 8/1/1988 - George Bazso and Emil Wanatka Jr. tell their memories of Dillinger and his accomplices hiding out and escape from Little Bohemia Lodge in April 1934.

   8/1/1988

   Record Type: Archive

   
5. "Dillinger's Money Still a Mystery" 11/7/1982 - Dillinger allegedly buried $200,000 somewhere in the Northern Highland State Forest. It has never been found.

   11/7/1982

   Record Type: Archive

   
6. Dillinger Wanted Poster ca 1930s - Wanted in 5 states - $20,000 reward

   Record Type: Photo

   
7. Historical overview of Manitowish Waters published in the 2015-2019 Chamber of Commerce guides. - The 2018-2019 narrative is the same as the 2015-2017; only images were changed.

   2015-2019

   Record Type: Archive

   
8. Historical overview of Manitowish Waters published in the 2020-2022 Chamber of Commerce guides. - Slight change in text and layout each of these years.

   2020-2022

   Record Type: Archive

   
9. Island Lake Log Cabins entrance 1900-1957 - Owned by Carter Blatchford of Chicago, IL. Richard Sleight, Sr.built the original cottages and managed the resort for the Blatchford's. His son Dick Sleight, Jr and wife Helene purchased most of the property in 1957 later renaming it Sleight's Wildwood Resort. See included paragraph about the resort history.

   Record Type: Photo

   
10. John Dillinger- 2 images ca 1930s

    Record Type: Photo

    
11. Kidnapped St. Paul businessman and politician Leon Gleckman was held prisoner at Hurley resident Clement Vita's summer home on Rest Lake. 10/1931 - Clement and son were questioned but denied any connection other than renting their cottage to a man from St. Paul

    10/1931

    Record Type: Archive

    
12. Leon Gleckman, a St. Paul businessman and politician, was kidnapped and held for ransom at a cabin in Manitowish Waters. Kidnappers had rented the cabin from Hurley resident Clement Vita. 1931 - Gleckman claims he was simply on a fishing trip. The kidnappers were caught and the leader was sentenced to 40 years in prison. A few years prior to the kidnapping, Gleckman had been released on probation from Leavenworth penitentiary on liquor law violations. PDF files of the 10/1 and 10/3 articles are linked for easier online viewing.

    10/1931

    Record Type: Archive

    
13. 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

    
14. News clipping relating that John Dillinger's father spent the 2nd anniversary of his son's death showing visitors around the Dillinger "museum" at Little Bohemia. Includes a postcard of Dillinger Sr. at the museum. 7/22/1936 - John Dillinger Sr. spent time at Little Bohemia as a museum guide. The museum had belongings left behind by the Dillinger gang, guns, newspaper clippings and bullet holes to view.

    7/23/1936

    Record Type: Archive

    
15. Photos, program, speech and television coverage from the dedication ceremony of the historic roadside marker in Manitowish Waters. 8/24/2024 - The marker commemorates the individuals wounded or killed in the FBI raid at Little Bohemia Lodge in an attempt to capture the Dillinger gang on April 22,1934. Included in the record are links to the dedication speech, given by Kay Krans, detailing the story of the raid and a feature piece done by WSAW- Channel 7 Wausau,WI. Photo #1: Left to right- Rob Swearingen- State Assemblyman, John Hanson, Kay Krans, Michael Hensle, Mary Felzkowski, Scott Mahlock, Nancy Savage and Fritz Heimdahl. (See attached program for the organizations each individual represents). Twenty five FBI agents from across the country were in attendance. A reception was held at Little Bohemia following the ceremony, which was attended by 165 people.

    Click here to read Kay's speech detailing the story of the raid.

    Record Type: Photo

    
16. Robert Johnson taken hostage by the Dillinger gang during escape from Little Bohemia. Two news clippings. 4/22/1934 - Mr. Johnson, carpenter, was renting a cottage with his wife at Mitchell's Rest Lake Resort when he was forced to drive John Dillinger, Red Hamilton and Homer Van Meter to Park Falls. He was "released" once there and the gang drove on to Saint Paul, MN.

    4/25/1934

    Record Type: Archive

    
17. The Leon Gleckman Story from the Rick on Theater Blog Archive 1920s-1930s - This well researched article is about the criminal activities in the St. Paul-Minneapolis area during the 1920s-1930s. Leon Gleckman, one of the biggest crime bosses in St. Paul, is the main focus. Gleckman's criminal activities of bootlegging, gambling and prostitution brought him wealth, power and control. Some of the headlines include his kidnapping to a cabin in Manitowish Waters. He died in a car accident in 1941 that some speculate was a suicide.

    9/29/2018

    Record Type: Archive

    
18. Video by FBI historian, Dr. John Fox, telling the story of the unsuccessful raid on Little Bohemia Lodge in an attempt to capture the Dillinger gang in 1934. - Per Fox, this failed raid was a learning lesson for the FBI. It needed to have better training and preparation for raids and employ more advanced tactics. The video has many historic images of Little Bohemia from that time.

    2010

    Record Type: Archive

    
19. Window at Little Bohemia showing the results of the FBI raid and shoot out with the Dillinger gang. 1934 - Photos taken by Camp Mercer enrollee Elmer Hinke.

    Record Type: Photo

    
20. Wisconsin Historical Society roadside marker unveiled in Manitowish Waters. 8/24/2024. - The marker memorializes the individuals, FBI and civilians who were wounded or killed in the famous raid and attempted capture of the Dillinger gang at Little Bohemia Lodge in Spider Lake, WI (now Manitowish Waters). The marker is located in the parking lot of the Manitowish Waters Community Center-5733 Highway 51. It was sponsored by the Manitowish Waters Historical Society, Wisconsin Historical Society, Town of Manitowish Waters and the Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI.

    Record Type: Photo