Hidden behind the ball fields, down a path lined with raspberry bushes, lies a small cemetery; a relic from the logging heyday in Fosterville/Winegar/Presque Isle.To find this cemetery, park behind the Presque Isle Town Hall located at 8306 School Loop Road, walk down between the ball fields, and take the path to the right once you hit the woods. Down a path lined with raspberry bushes, you'll find a sign constructed from a saw from the original mill and the story of the Shanty Boys that reads, "As lumbermen they lived inshanties in the woods. They were the workers who cut our forests, rode the logs, broke the jams, and, often died doing these things."
The Turtle Lake Lumber Company named their company town after their principle investor, Walter Winchester. When the mill closed the economy revert back to tourism, but lasting impacts on the land, water and people remain. The Stueben Outdoor Company bought much of the property and describe Winchester as follows in their brochure. “Winchester is in the Manitowish Country, right in the heart of the big north woods and this location was chosen because a chain of lakes, streams and rivers led right up to it. Winchester was a lumber mill town and water was the means of transportation.As great trees were felled and their branches lopped off they were floated down to the chutes of the mills of Winchester where they were sawed into boards and shipped to lumber markets.”
During the cutover of Wisconsin's Northwoods, both river drive and and railroad hoists brought millions of board feet of lumber to market each year. Along the Manitowish chain of lakes, loggers used steamboats to move rafts of brailed logs to Riley's Hoist. The lakes became much larger as water was raised by as much as 16 feet to facilitate steamboat operations up creeks and into bays to retrieve logs decked along the shorelines. Riley occupied the old Mississippi River Logging Camp at Rest Lake Dam to house his lumnerment and conduct operations.Today, Riley's Hoist is on state forest land and can be accessed from Serbin Park by following the shoreline west. Private property marks the end of the Riley Hoist area and should not be entered. It is illegal to dig, metal detect, or take artifacts on public lands without a permit from the DNR Archaeologist and State Archaeologist. Riley's Hoist is a cultural site recorded in the Archeological Site Index and protected by state law. Observing, taking photos and sharing stories around this exciting destination are encouraged.When visiting the site, do not contribute to the bank erosion by walking down to the water or climbing the hill. Just stay on the extra wide railroad grade and observe. Riley's Hoist is about 120 years old and visitors being good stewards will ensure others can enjoy this unique cultural destination for generations to come.
The most defining feature in the community of Manitowish Waters is the Rest Lake Dam. Discover the origins of the Rest Lake Dam and the large river drive lumber camp that was located at the inlet to Vance (formerly Dam) Lake. In 1902, the sprawling lumber camp was the site of the largest river drive ever conducted on the Chippewa River. Imagine 150 "River Pigs," drinking to celebrate this historic event before ushering millions of board feet of logs to Chippewa Falls. From the Army Corps of Engineers' surveys of 1878 until today, the location and operation of the dam has been debated. For over 130 years, dams between Vance Lake and Rest Lake have created one of the finest Northwoods impoundments for both early logging and long-term recreation.
Just above Sturgeon Lake, the Manitowish River narrows into a shallow rapids that proved vexing to river drive loggers from the 1880s until about 1910. Each spring. the mighty force of the waters behind Rest Lake Dam were released to move white pine logs hundreds of miles to massive sawmills. After the ice melted in April, paddle boats rafted logs to just above Rest Lake Dam, and when the sluices on the dam were opened, millions of feet of fresh cut timbers were sent down stream. Unfortunately, the first mile of the Manitowish River below Rest Lake has several dogleg turns and rapids that frequently created troublesome jams. Ultimately, logging companies installed a log boom on Sturgeon Rapids to easily separate white pine logs before they jammed; otherwise, dynamite on a stick was the typical solution..This important site can be accessed by water or on state land to the north of the Manitowish River. The land to the south of Sturgeon Rapids is private, which should be respected by all travelers. The North Lakeland Discovery Center maintains a trail under a DNR Land Use Agreement that connects hikers, bikers, skiers and snowshoers to the high bank right above Sturgeon Rapids. In the winter, the water stays open and attracts eagles, swans and other wildlife. Evening hikers following the trail downstream can also enjoy the sunset.
Benson Lake is located on the western most part of the Manitowish chain and flows into the Flambeau and Chippewa rivers. A mix of public and private land surrounds the 28-acre lake. The inlet of Manitowish River is wide, shallow and sandy due to repeated logging drives from over 100 years ago. Original survey notes from 1862 suggest that Benson and Rest lakes were logged during the Civil War. River drive logging remnants rise out of the 15-foot-deep lakebed and are still visible as deadheads. Just up the hill of Benson Lake's southern shore marks the termination of a railroad logging spur operated by the Lac du Flambeau Lumber Co. Red pines and hardwoods were moved to mills by numerous logging companies using that railroad spur.
Two different river drive logging camps are located along the Camp Mercer Interpretive Trail. Logging camps are marked on the trail map as signs 21 and 25. The LaPorte logging camp is located at sign 21. The LaPortes were among the earliest pioneers and noted for their logging expertise. Louie LaPorte lived in the cabin after the logging job was completed in 1911. The logging camp located at number 25 has no sign because scholars are still debating the status of the camp. The camp located by number 25 is on a trail loop and very easy to identify. Sadly, some of the cabin structure and most of the blacksmith shop have been looted by modern treasure hunters. It is illegal to dig or take artifacts from public lands without a permit. Camp Mercer and other cultural sites like the logging camps are even more protected because they are recorded on the Wisconsin Archaeological Site Inventory. Observing, taking photos and sharing stories around the logging camps are encouraged.The logging camps are on public land and can be accessed by river or by the bike trail and the Manitowish River Access Road. Following the markers on the Camp Mercer Trail maps is the most efficient way to get to these sites.
Along the river a mile below the town of Manitowish marks a massive logging landing. During the winter, sleds moved white pine across a massive swamp to the northern bank of the Manitowish River. Logs were then unloaded and decked next to the Manitowish River to be rolled into the river in April. Rest Lake Dam provided the power for river drives by releasing its waters. Paddlers along the Manitowish River and hikers following Murray Landing Road will have no problem identifying the landing area for the ice road. Acres of dense buckthorn outline the decking area for the white pines. Along the river, buckthorn reaches off of the bank and threatens canoers and kayakers who venture too close to shore. Massive disruptions of soils from decking and driving logs created a perfect environment for invasive species like buckthorn.It is illegal to dig or take artifacts on public lands without a permit from the DNR Archaeologist and State Archaeologist. Manitowish River Ice Road and other cultural sites like 6 Pause Portage are even more protected because they are recorded on the Wisconsin Archaeological Site Inventory. Observing, taking photos and sharing stories around the logging ice road are encouraged.The ice road is mostly on public land and can be accessed by river or by Murray Landing Road.Those who wish to hike the Manitowish River Ice Road on a guided tour should check the events calendar at the North Lakeland Discovery Center (NLDC). A link for the NLDC events calendar is provided below. The hike needs to be in winter and is about two miles. Snowshoes and hiking poles are often needed to navigate the swampy areas, which will be frozen, just like the historic ice road.
Prior to Wisconsin’s newly formed Department of Forestry setting up their headquarters on Trout Lake in 1912, numerous lumber companies had been logging the region for decades. Yawkey-Bissell Lumber Company had a logging camp on North Trout Lake and operated a rail line that would ultimately be linked to Boulder Junction in 1913. The Yawkey-Bissell logging camp and railroad provided important logistical support for the fledgling Department of Forestry.Yawkey-Bissell operated a classic Northwoods second phase or railroad logging operation until 1912. The old logging camp, railroad and cutover land soon became part of Wisconsin’s Forest Reserves and ultimately the Northern Highland American Legion Forest.No real remnants of the Yawkey-Bissell logging camp remain, but the site of the camp is the current parking lot for North Trout Lake boat landing and the campground entrance.
Discover a cultural gem within the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest! Located at the idyllic headwaters of the South Fork Flambeau River on the Pike Lake Chain, one of the last artifacts of the the fabled pine logging days of the late 19th century is available for public exploration. Hiking and interpretive trails with picnic areas in the Doering Wilderness Study Area presents a visit to the past in a pristine setting. Visitors will experience the dam that was rebuilt in 1995, according to authorized specifications of 1878 with the original 1876 iron equipment in place. Quite a unique living history adventure!Round Lake Dam is a four-season destination to see the natural beauty of a significant historical site.
This Tour is a Driving or Biking Tour.
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Welcome to the Northern Wisconsin Heritage Council's Logging Clio Tour. Clio allows you to explore fun and historic destination using any digital device. Just click on an entry and explore our amazing logging heritage. Please enjoy all the themed tours and join us in preserving our history for future generations.
