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Learn about the historic significance of witness trees from Kerry Bloedorn and our good friends at WJFW Channel 12. Kerry will share how witness trees determined early surveys and created a system for land ownership, townships, and much more. Please visit Pioneer Park in Rhinelander and visit one of the best Northwoods museums, including a comprehensive display on witness trees..

Explore VHS videos from past decades that have been recently converted to TH-cam videos by our interns. The interview from 2017 with Robert "Bob" Kassien explores his family history of his grandfather, Robert Loveless, and the Virgin Forest Park. Robert Kassien recounts stories of the local tavern and store. NOTE: This was one interview done with Robert Kassien. There is another on file at the ...

Explore VHS videos from past decades that have been recently converted to TH-cam videos by our interns. The interview with Bill Waffle explores his family history on Wild Rice Lake. Bill Waffle recounts stories of the Bakken family and resort, the New York Central Railroad, adventures of his childhood, raising his own family, and retirement.

This video includes Part I. and II. of My Memories of Yesteryear: Life on Island Lake In the Early Days. These episodes explore numerous stories written by John LaFave about life in the Northwoods in the order presented in My Memories of Yesteryear: Life on Island Lake In the Early Days. Sarah Krembs from the Frank B. Koller Memorial Library is the narrator for Part I and Part II.

Cap Smith was a colorful early visitor and resident who built a family destination on Manitowish Lake they called Olivida. His love for the outdoors, family and the Manitowish Waters community is evidenced in the huge photo collection shared with the Manitowish Waters Historical Society. In this video, Jeanette Smith Davis shares detailed stories about Cap Smith and his family in the Northwoods.

Cheers to Agnes and Dan at WJFW Channel 12 for helping spread the news of a small batch historic brew that is available to the Northwoods. Brewmaster Kirby Nelson has created a pilsner beer base on a Schlitz pre-prohibition pilsner recipe that matches the beer served to the men at CCC camps across Wisconsin. Raise a glass to these men from the Greatest Generation who delivered environmental rec...

Tracing the legacy of the Sleight family, discover how some of the earliest pioneers made a living in the Northwoods. Importantly, the Sleight family significantly influenced the development of several area communities. Starting in the 1880s as timber cruisers documenting timber for logging, generations of the Sleight family have developed diverse businesses and supported communities.

This episode covers Part I. and II. of the 1820 journal of James Duane Doty, secretary attached to the 1820 Lewis Cass expedition exploring the western portions of Michigan Territory. Territorial Governor Cass had many objectives on his 1820 expedition, including delivering some of the earliest Northwoods reconnaissance. The accuracy of the map and narrative are limited, and should only be cons...

After 100 years of operation by the Rest Lake Dam we get to celebrate the legacies of the Win-Mar/Pea Patch! During the Roaring 20's, businesses sprung-up round the dam, creating the foundation for what becomes Manitowish Waters. Learn about the how friends and families cherished their time on this historic property. Although, what sustains the success of the Win-Mar/Pea Patch are the owners wh...

The Manitowish Waters Historical Society is proud to collaborate with Jessie Van Rossum and Rachel Osep to document some of The Guide's Inn's traditions. After 40 years of delivering amazing food and service, it is important to preserve a bit of The Guide's Inn legacy created by Jimmy Dean and Jessie Van Rossum for current and future generations. Boulder Junction and surrounding Northwoods comm...

Discover how Moonshining impacted a large swath of Wisconsin's Northwoods. New stories, research and images will reveal how ambitious locals and crime lords embraced moonshing before, during and after prohibition. This presentation is a product of a 13 month research project at the MWHS, and is the latest iteration in our ongoing and growing investigation into moonshine in the Northwoods. We ho...

On this episode, we explore the history and origins of the Manitowoc Club. This is a brief history of the Manitowoc club located on Big Lake Vilas County, Wisconsin, as told by George T. Gill, on July 4 1960. In 1935, George T. Gill interviewed Mr. Louis Kuntz about the founding and background of the Manitowoc Club.

This is a recording of local World War II veterans presenting their personal narratives of their time in the service. Forrest Johnson (Navy - South Pacific), Harriet (Army Nurse Corp) & Ralph (Army Corp of Engineers) Swanson. This presentation was held at the Frank B. Koller Memorial Library in Manitowish Waters on June 8, 2016. The main part of the presentation is approx 44 mins. A question an...

On today's episode, we explore Keith Island which is an important part of Big Lake. As mentioned in the last episode on France C. Badger, A.S. Badger of Chicago owned the Keego Estate on Big Lake, and it is believed he told Carl Keith about the island, as both Badger and Keith were from Kenilworth, Illinois. In 1908, Carl and Cornelia Keith purchased the island for a summer home for their famil...

Linda Sargent-Parks Interview - The Morichetti Family

History of famous muralist Frances Badger and her connection Manitowish Waters

Phoenix Steam Log Haulers 2 24 23

Connecting the Dots Witness Trees of the Northwoods PKG 7 27 23

Kidnapping of St. Paul Gangster Leads to Manitowish Waters

Frances Badger, Muralists and Artist

Frances C. Badger

Northwoods Missionaries

Exploring Manitowish Waters Historical Society Podcasts

Celebrating the 90th Anniversary of Repeal Day and Manitowish Waters

Journals of A.B. Gray

Sylvan Lodge - Diane Zierer and Barb Ings Zierer interview

Harry Kaczmarek - Harry's Super Market - The Lettuce Complaint

WJFW Channel 12, 2023 Fixmer Award Presented to Jim Bokern

History of Snowmobiling in Manitowish Waters