Discovering the Northwoods

Brenna Reilley

5.0 (2)
History
Updated Monthly

Welcome to “Discovering the Northwoods” from the Manitowish Water Historical Society. We will take you on a journey through our local history with the help of primary source documentation. To learn more about this rich history or about the historical society - check out our website at mwhistory.org for blog posts, show notes, our YouTube Channel, and a full transcription of this episode!

12/16/2025

An Outing of Waukesha Men in the Wilds of Wisconsin

Today’s episode takes us all the way back to 1900, when a group of seven friends from Waukesha decided they needed a break from everyday life and headed north. They weren’t going to a resort, or a guided tour, or anything remotely convenient. They were determined to find lakes so remote they basically didn’t have names yet. Think: no roads, barely a trail, everything hauled in by canoe or on foot.It sounded great… until the luggage went missing, the blankets turned out to be wildly insufficient, and a two-week wilderness escape slowly turned into a comedy of weather, logging camps, and detours. Along the way they met lumber crews, Ojibwe families harvesting wild rice, and colorful Northwoods characters—including a guy named Buck, who may or may not have been pranking city tourists for sport.Their adventure was recorded in the Waukesha Freeman in September of 1900, and today we’re telling that story—complete with long portages, unexpected snow, great fishing, and a campsite called Windy Point that lived up to its name a little too well.

27 min
11/05/2025

Woods and Water: Bob Becker's Adventures in the Northwoods

In this episode, I will cover five articles from Bob Becker's Woods and Water series that explore the Northwoods in the 1920s. Bob Becker was a very influential media figure during the rise of radio in the 1930s. He consistently gave high endorsements of the Northwoods on a national scale and showcased its beauty and wonders across the country through the media.

21 min
08/19/2025

By and Large

By and Large is a story of a canoe voyage aboard a “Belle Isle” Special – Described in a 1910 advertisement as “The Triumph of the canoe builder’s art. Swift, Safe, Strong, Durable. Easy to paddle, comfortable, graceful.” From photographing timber wolves to baking pickerel over open coals, dodging rocks in roaring rapids, and drifting silently past deer on moonlit waters, this story isn't just about travel — it’s about immersion. Into solitude. Into wildness. Into a different way of moving through the world, but all under the guise of an advertisement for an excellent canoe. This article was published in the Press of Atlantic City, New Jersey, in 1927, and the author is unknown.

14 min
07/06/2025

Recalling the Day with the Pike

Welcome to Discovering the Northwoods from the Manitowish Waters Historical Society. In this episode, we turn back to August 1917, when Omaha journalist Sammy Griswold recounted a vivid day spent alone at Manitowish Falls. What began as a fishing trip quickly became a profound encounter with the Northwoods—where the roar of the falls, the solitude of the forest, and the thrill of catching thirty-one pike came together in an unforgettable experience. Through the voice of Sarah Krembs, we bring this remarkable story to life.

17 min
05/19/2025

Interview with Maribeth Kolarchek

Maribeth Kolarchek is a lifelong Manitowish Waters resident, living on Nazdar Drive right next to her brother Steve, adjacent to Little Bohemia. Little Bohemia and the grounds are very familiar to Marybeth and Steve, as they grew up there while mom cooked at Little Bow and dad tended bar as well as the grounds. Marybeth sat down with Frank DeLeonardi from the Manitowish Waters Historical Society to share her history and memories on March 11, 2025, in her home.

49 min
12/23/2024

The Sportsman Tourist in the Muskellunge Country

In this episode, we're revisiting a fascinating article from Forest and Stream Magazine, published in 1892. Richard Gear Hobbs takes us on a fishing trip to the Northwoods, offering a unique snapshot of late 19th-century life in America's wilderness. From fishing on the Manitowish River to encountering the hardy lumbermen of the region, Hobbs' account provides a rich window into the outdoor culture and the challenges of the time. From the wonderful narration of Sara Krembs, we will dive into this historical account and explore what these experiences can teach us about the past.

19 min
11/27/2024

Adventures in Conservation

Through the help of three different documents, this episode details the adventures of Glyn Bud Roberts during his time in Conservation highlighting the wonders and excitement of the Northwoods.

18 min
10/29/2024

They Used the Rod

On today's episode, we revisit August 1894, a time when two teachers, Edward Dvorak and Samuel Kayzer, sought refuge from the confines of city life in the Wisconsin wilderness. Their journey to the Northwoods was not just an escape, but a quest for adventure, marked by fishing, hunting, and the company of the enigmatic guide, Bob Loveless. Through their experiences, we’ll explore their remarkable expedition, filled with challenges, unexpected encounters, and the profound beauty of the natural world.

9 min

5

out of 5

2 Ratings

Welcome to “Discovering the Northwoods” from the Manitowish Water Historical Society. We will take you on a journey through our local history with the help of primary source documentation. To learn more about this rich history or about the historical society - check out our website at mwhistory.org for blog posts, show notes, our YouTube Channel, and a full transcription of this episode!

Creator

Brenna Reilley
Years Active

2023 - 2025
Episodes

42
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© Copyright Brenna Reilley
Show Website

Discovering the Northwoods