If These Woods Could Talk

Rhinelander District Library
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An oral history of Wisconsin's Northwoods

  1. 1d ago

    What We Breathed with Chris and Bill

    🌳🌲If these woods could talk, they might try in vain to warn you about chasing the mosquito truck on your bike🌲💨🦟 This conversation was recorded this summer while I was in the thick of finishing the Donnerstag series. Chris Sturzl and Bill Vancos grew up near each other in the neighborhood just east of the Phillip Street bridge. They reunited after many years in the Rhinelander Historical Society Museum to reminisce about their Northwoods childhoods. This is a long one so I've done my best to divide the conversation into chapters. Time stamps below. Chapters:00:00 - Introductions 3:00 - The places our parents forbid 6:30 - The things we breathed 16:40 - In the summertime 17:45 - “Bums’ Jungle/Bums’ Island”(I have to point out that these names are seen as disrespectful today, but that is what these places were called once upon a time--they even existed on maps. These names are proper nouns.) 23:30 - Boxing Hill 28:50 - The TANK 31:30 - Gardens 33:50 - Fishing pond 38:10 - We didn't pay for anything 44:00 - Water tower hill/gravity 49:38 - Schools and getting to school 59:33 - Friday nights downtown 61:10 - Christmas and play[ing with]things 74:11 - Pizza Haven (& other establishments) 89:30 - Nun stories 95:40 - outro

    What We Breathed with Chris and Bill

  2. Sep 23

    The Donnerstag Family of Woodboro Chapter 6: After the Thunder

    🌳🌲If These Woods Could Talk, they mightmake a big scene and then just sort of…fade away🌲🎆 In Chapter 6, I sit down again with Doug and Kate to discuss the end of the story to the best of our knowledge. The family is through with their escapades. We follow them through the rest of their lives and discuss if it’s possible to tell a true crime story in a respectful way. We also hear from Harrison at the Library of Congress’ Recorded Sound Research Center.Thanks for listening to the Donnerstag Family of Woodboro series, produced by the Rhinelander District Library. You can follow If These Woods Could Talk on facebook and instagram, youtube, and most podcast platforms. If you’ve enjoyed this series, please consider donating to the Rhinelander District Library Foundation’s building fund. Information can be found at the link below: https://rdlfoundation.org/library-capital-campaign/

    The Donnerstag Family of Woodboro Chapter 6: After the Thunder

  3. Sep 16

    The Donnerstag Family of Woodboro Chapter 5: The Notorious Donnerstag Gang

    🌳🌲If These Woods Could Talk, they might have a hard time readjusting to the outside🌲🛣️ Chapter 5 brings us to 1908, with Hugo fresh out of the pen. He returns to the family home with his mom, his brother Albert, his sisters Clara and Emma, and older brother Rudolph just a few miles away on his own homestead. With Louis out of the picture, Hugo needs to find a way to make some money. Listen as the Donnerstag saga reaches a bloody (and often cartoonish) crescendo. This chapter is told with returning friends Katie, Kerry, and Stevie. Got questions? Leave them in the comments, and I’ll try to answer them next week. If you’re enjoying this series, please consider donating to the Rhinelander District Library Foundation’s building fund. Information can be found at the link below:https://rdlfoundation.org/library-capital-campaign/

    The Donnerstag Family of Woodboro Chapter 5: The Notorious Donnerstag Gang

  4. Sep 9

    The Donnerstag Family of Woodboro Chapter 4: Suicide at Manson

    🌳🌲If These Woods Could Talk, they might threaten your life day after day🌲😠 After last week’s interlude, Chapter 4 of the Donnerstag Saga picks back up where Chapter 2 left off: Louis is out of prison and back at the family home on Manson Lake. We will finally address the news article teased in Chapter 1 and discuss the truth behind the headline, “Suicide at Manson.” This episode contains some graphic depictions of violence. Featuring my friends Doug and Kate. Got questions? Leave them in the comments, and I’ll try to answer them next week. If you’re enjoying this series, please consider donating to the Rhinelander District Library Foundation’s building fund. Information can be found at the link below:https://rdlfoundation.org/library-capital-campaign/

    The Donnerstag Family of Woodboro Chapter 4: Suicide at Manson

  5. Sep 2

    The Donnerstag Family of Woodboro Chapter 3: Seeking Sadie Slack (& other frustrations)

    🌳🌲If These Woods Could Talk, they might keep their secrets all the same🌲🤫 In Chapter 3 of the story we take a slight departure from the main plotline and do a little world-building while exploring a couple of mysteries that befuddled and confounded me. Historical research–especially when it concerns people who were just, well…people–can be difficult and frustrating. I speak with a few friends about those struggles and tell a couple of stories from the Northwoods around the turn of the 20th century, including an investigation into Bessie Harris, the former family friend who testified against Louis in last week’s episode. Visual aids will be available on the If These Woods Could Talk facebook page Do you have lingering questions? I want to answer them next week. Please leave them in the comments.

    The Donnerstag Family of Woodboro Chapter 3: Seeking Sadie Slack (& other frustrations)

  6. Aug 26

    The Donnerstag Family of Woodboro Chapter 2: Thursdays at Tomahawk

    🌳🌲If These Woods Could Talk, they might tell you about grudges and blood in the streets🌲🔫 We’re back again with Anita, Dan, and Lily. Chapter 2 picks up in 1891 where we meet Sherman A. Merritt, a railroad conductor in Tomahawk whose first run-in with the Donnerstags left him with a lasting bad impression that grew into a feud. Do you have lingering questions? I want to answer them next week. Please leave them in the comments.

    The Donnerstag Family of Woodboro Chapter 2: Thursdays at Tomahawk

  7. Aug 19

    The Donnerstag Family of Woodboro Chapter 1: The Staga Begins

    🌳🌲If These Woods Could Talk, they might tell you about the 1880s influx of European immigrants who hacked and sawed their way ever northward, creating the Wisconsin we know today 🌲🪚 Meet the Donnerstag family of Woodboro! In this, the first chapter of the story, we follow Louis and Johanna Donnerstag from German Bohemia to the United States, to Wisconsin, and to Marathon County and further north. This six part series tells the true story–largely lost to time–of a troubled family that once terrorized the Northwoods and almost earned notoriety akin to the James or Dalton gangs. Chapter 2 will be released in a week.

    The Donnerstag Family of Woodboro Chapter 1: The Staga Begins

  8. Season 3 Trailer

    ITWCT: Introducing the Donnerstag Family of Woodboro

    If These Woods Could Talk is bringing the true story of a criminal family that you've probably never heard of before. Episode 1 coming Wednesday, August 19. Listen as I sit down with friends you'll know from the community to discuss this fascinating bit of history the Northwoods forgot.

    ITWCT: Introducing the Donnerstag Family of Woodboro
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About

An oral history of Wisconsin's Northwoods

Information

  • Creator
    Rhinelander District Library
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    40
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Rhinelander District Library
  • Show Website
    If These Woods Could Talk

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