The first
nonindigenous people to visit what is now Wisconsin was a 1634
group, led by Jean Nicolet, in search of the Northwest Passage. A
small group of priests, fur traders and hunters followed. French
control gave way to British control until the 1783 Treaty of Paris
ceded control to the United States and the largest group of settlers
began entering the region. They established the dairy, lumber and
mining industries. Dairy farming was their first major industry and
the state continues to be the country's leading dairy producer. The
area prospered and in 1848 Wisconsin was granted statehood.
www.vilaswi.com
In the years leading up
to the Civil War the state held a place of prominence on the
Underground Railroad because of its proximity to Canada. Only one of
the UGRR sites, The Milton House, can be toured. The 1844 building
is octagonal and has the only portion of the UGRR that is
authentically underground and is a tunnel that is open to the
public.
hhttps://www.miltonhouse.org
Northern Wisconsin's heavy forestation made farming nearly impossible and the area became known for its logging villages. Because of the very cold, snowy, lengthy winters the region become known for its outdoor activities and unique crafts. The Northwoods is estimated to be 30,000-sq. miles rife with hundreds of picturesque lakes, wetlands and forests where you can opt for serenity and tranquility or unique shopping opportunities, great food and a plethora of all-season outdoor activities. The history of the region and its people is seamlessly incorporated in every aspect of a visit and this special combination of history, small town charm, winter sports, attractions and one-of-a-kind gifts makes the region an ideal winter destination.o:p>
Most visitors value the
landscape, create no disturbances and respectfully leave nothing
behind. That was not the case in 1934 when tranquil little
Manitowish Waters was the scene of a series of events that would
make headlines throughout the country and change law enforcement
procedures forever.
By March of 1933 when
John Dillinger escaped from Crown Point Jail he was an infamous
career criminal. The day after his escape he hooked up with Baby
Face Nelson, by all accounts a psychopath, and drove across the
state line. J. Edgar Hoover, wanting to jettison himself and his
force to national fame, turned up the heat on the search. By this
time Dillinger, joined by other gang members, was in Chicago. While
there he heard about a quiet, relatively deserted, lodge in
Wisconsin. They agreed that this would be a perfect hideout and
plans were made to drive the 400-miles. They left the next day in
three cars staggered along the route to prevent an ambush.
They were headed to
Little Bohemia, a lodge originally built in 1929 by Emil Wanatka.
The cost of their 3-day stay was $500, paid in advance. The entire
gang was present by the early evening of April 20th and
all took rooms on the lodge's second floor except Baby Face. He and
his wife took rooms in an adjacent cottage. After a steak dinner
several gang members scouted out escape routes. There was a main
entrance, wooded areas on both sides and the lodge backed up to the
lake.
Wanatka later claimed
that he caught a glimpse of two guns on Dillinger and then found a
photo of the gangster that helped him identify him. There are hints
that Wanatka was aware of who they were, wanted the $10,000 reward
and did not want to be arrested for harboring a criminal. His wife
was instrumental in contacting the FBI. She passed a note to her
brother-in-law, Henry Voss, inside a pack of cigarettes. At that
time all telephones were party lines so Voss drove 60-miles to call
the police who told him to call Melvin Purvis in Chicago. Purvis
chartered two airplanes and told Voss to meet them at Rhinelander
Airport.
The raid, originally
planned for the next day, was moved up because Dillinger was known
to change plans quickly. The agents had one car but managed to rent
or borrow four more. Things then began to go horribly wrong. Voss
was asked to draw a map and he neglected to note a ditch to the
south and a barbed wire fence on the north side of the lodge as well
as two dogs, Shadow and Punch. The local police were not contacted,
many surmise because Hoover did not want to share the credit. On the
way two cars broke down on the snowy roads and some of the 16 agents
had to ride outside on the car's running boards. Headquarters was
set up at a lodge about 3-miles away and once Purvis verified that
Dillinger was at Little Bo they headed to the lodge in the dark of
night. They blocked the entrance, spread out and the dogs began to
bark.
&
Simultaneously three
guests finished their meal and proceeded to their car. They put on
the radio and headed for the blocked exit. The agents, believing
they had Dillinger, commanded them to stop. The falling snow and
loud music kept them from seeing and hearing and the agents opened
fire. All three were hit and one later died of his wounds. The
gunfire alerted the gang and they immediately jumped into the snow
at the rear of the lodge and escaped. The three women, who had been
playing cards, hid in the basement as the agents released a
fusillade of bullets. All of the gangsters escaped. The agents fired
into the house until someone told them they were coming out. To
their dismay they captured only the women who were arrested and
sentenced to 18-months probation.
The failed capture of Dillinger at Little Bohemia continues to be considered an FBI debacle. The spin at the time was that the gangsters opened fire first. Hoover was furious and issued his first "shoot to kill" order in retaliation. The town of Mercer sued, and won, because of the harm done to their citizens and Hoover's failure to include local law enforcement who might have set up roadblocks and assisted in tracking the men. Hoover's resignation was widely called for and the reputation of the new agency plummeted. The raid also resulted in the enlistment of more than 200 new agents, better weapons, additional bulletproof vests, expanded laws and faster vehicles.o:p>
The Dillinger Pontoon
History Tour is a narrated land and water based tour of the sites
and area that figured in the raid. It is a totally unique way to
view the events and understand the role the topography played. From
the water you can follow the actual escape route and see what the
gang saw. The tour stops at the Blue Bayou Inn,
then Kerner's Resort. Nelson fled south alone and stole a car
that stopped in front of the resort during his escape. He crossed
the road and entered the driveway of a nearby property and again
confronted agents killing agent Carter Baum. A tour of the area and
the supposedly haunted Blue Bayou includes memorabilia and
information on the raid.
http://bluebayouinn.com/
The Blue
Bayou is currently one of the best restaurants in the region. The
Cajun/Creole cuisine is a favorite of locals and visitors who come
for the entrees as well as their Bananas Foster Flambeau. Guests can
dine lakeside or watch stunning sunsets from indoors. Manitowash
Lake was the center of regional Native American trade and was part
of an 1837 treaty. An island in the lake was a native burial site
and spirits housed there are believed to guard the lake.
The pontoon portion of the tour begins and ends
at the dock at Little Bo. Walking up from the water you can see the
rear of the building and the windows from which the men escaped. An
addition was made to the lodge in 1936, probably with the reward
money, but it has generally remained as it was in 1934. Bullet holes
are still visible on the exterior and the driveway is virtually as
it was.
The interior has been
preserved including the dining room where the women played cards, a
slot machine and numerous bullet holes. Display cases showcase items
left behind when they fled, suitcases, under garments, grooming
items, shirts and a tin of Ex-Lax. The second floor is the real gem.
The tiny area still shows the carnage wrecked upon the lodge.
Hundreds of bullets peppered the walls leading one to believe these
were the worst shots in the world as no one was hit. The tiny
bathroom seems to have borne the brunt of the attack. The two
bedrooms contain newspaper accounts and artifacts from the raid.
IInterestingly, the
lodge held a museum shortly after the raid and Dillinger's father
served as a tour guide each summer. Dillinger's career lasted less
than a year and left in its wake 12 dead, 7 wounded and earned him
approximately $500,000. "Public Enemies," with Johnny Depp as
Dillinger, was filmed here for a month, at night, in 2008. Depp
actually used Dillinger's real bed in the movie and it and other
movie memorabilia are displayed.
Little Bohemia offers a tour, exhibits and a restaurant. The menu includes seafood specialties and, on occasion, Dillinger's favorite cream pie. The adults only Hideaway Bar & Deck is a great place to spend some time and soak up the atmosphere. http://www.littlebohemialodge.como:p>
Jean Francois St.
Germaine and his Native American wife were the first settlers in the
town named after him. A statue of the mythical Chief St. Germain
greets you as you enter the town in honor of the town's native
heritage.
https://www.townofstgermain.org
The Hammock Hut, a
boutique hammock and messenger bag shop, is one of the town's
specialty shops. Each item is handcrafted of designer fabric and is
both rugged and practical. You can make a selection from an exterior
mall filled with testable hammocks or chose from interior displays
in three showrooms. Purchases can be made online and delivered for
Christmas.
https://www.hammockhut.com
Green Rich Tea is an
interactive shop offering quality teas and a Tea Academy experience.
Guests gain expertise on brewing, serving and drinking natural teas.
Tea was shipped in tins until a vendor in the 50s felt the cost was
prohibitive. He put leaves in small pouches made from his wife's
stockings and stapled them.
wwww.greenrichtea.com
Supper clubs are a
Wisconsin feature that developed in the 1900s. These "clubs" serve
fine, traditional, food and drink and usually depend on local
clientele. Clearview Supper Club is a St. Germain favorite for a
meal to round out your visit. This historic restaurant provides
stunning lake views and classic fare made from natural ingredients.
www.clearviewsupperclub.com
Nearby visitors can
follow in the footsteps of the SyFi Channel and Ripley's and
investigate the Paulding Light. These lights have appeared regularly
since the 1960s. The move around and change size and there are
unproven theories regarding their existence.
The Old Copper Indians
lived in the Eagle River area until settled by whites in 1853. The
town was named because of the huge number of eagles found there. The
largest concentration of freshwater lakes, more than 3,000, in the
world is located around Eagle River. The lakes and Nicolet National
Forest make this an outdoor and winter sports paradise. You
can select from numerous land and water-based activities including
peaceful sails around the lakes. It is a resort town and the
"Snowmobile Capital of the World®." The town hosts the
Amsoil World Championship Snowmobile Derby
and has been rated "The Best Overall Snowmobiling Vacation
Destination" by "SnowGoer."
https://www.eagleriver.org
Northwoods Children's Museum is totally interactive and showcases 24 individual learning stations. Exhibits are both indoors and out and it will be difficult to tear your child away.
https://www.northwoodschildrensmuseum.com
Soda Pops must be on
your itinerary. It was constructed n the 1880s as a tavern but
during prohibition it became a soda fountain. It is now the oldest
soda fountain in Wisconsin. All of the interior elements, booths,
ceiling, floors, etc., are original. The 1940s fountain was located
in PA and installed here. The walls are decorated with memorabilia,
some sold in the adjacent store, the food is wonderful and the menu
has more than 100 possibilities. Try the Water Tower Sundae. It was
made for sharing.
https://www.soda-pops.com
Downtown Boulder Junction, an area that abuts Eagle River, provides wonderful shopping opportunities in an eclectic collection of shops that offer Northwood's treasures. The shops include antiques, arts, home decor and boutique stores. Wiley Miller, a premier wildlife artist, has a studio complex in Eagle River that he shares with his son, a woodcarver of large-scale tree sculptures. There are well over twenty-five shops where visitors can both watch the art being created and make special purchases. o:p>
Another must is The
Raven's Niche and Mykytka Leather, a unique shop where you can
purchase ready to wear moccasins or opt for a handmade pair crafted
just for you. The store also offers items made by other artists that
can only be purchased here. People order special pieces, leather
artworks, clothing, journals, etc. They also make handcrafted seats
for motorcycles that are superb and have been ordered by several
stars.
https://www.mykytkaleather.com
Acorn Lodge is a best bet accommodation. Located in the center of downtown Boulder Junction, it offers, large rooms, pool, spa and breakfast, all in a prime location. https://www.acorn-lodge.neto:p>
GGrab your gang and getaway to a perfect
Northwoods hideaway. https://www.travelwisconsin.com