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Update October 2002
Summer of 2002
 Most
Original Family members will agree that this was one of the nicest summers
in recent memory on Isle Royale weather wise . Everyday seemed endlessly
beautiful and, the evenings
were warm and clear. To me it seemed the summer would go on and on. It was a
unique summer in other ways as well. On July 27 on Merritt Island an Isle Royale
Original Families Association meeting took place. It was an opportunity for our
families to share memories of our history on Isle Royale. We also discussed how
we can move forward to be in partnership with the National Park Service to
preserve the history, culture and heritage of our families on Isle Royale and
fulfill the directive of the report "Rethinking
National Parks for the 21st Century" by the National Park Advisory Board
(click on the link to see the full report) which says that
"The National Park Service should help conserve the
irreplaceable connections that ancestral and indigenous people have with the
parks.
These connections should be nurtured for future generations."
 On
August 12th our Superintendent Phyllis Green came to Barnum Island to visit with
myself, Enar and Betty Strom, Jim and Mary Schliep and Mark Rude to discuss the
future plans
 of
NPS regarding Barnum Island. I presented to her some of the ideas of IROFA for
future participation among the families with NPS and the public. Although she
was non-committal regarding our plans, she sensed our love and passion for our
island life and our desire to be in partnership in preserving the history
our families have maintained through 6 generations on Isle Royale. Phyllis was
joined by Liz Valencia, Cultural Resource Ranger, Mott Island, and Don Stevens,
NPS Historian, Omaha, NE (seen at right).
Our Next Step
 IROFA
stands at a cross roads today. Last winter this site became active and our group
began to coalesce in discussion about our future at Isle Royale. This site has
served as a way for us to communicate our ideas and coordinate our meeting this
summer. Many people have asked how to participate in the future. We are now at
the perfect point to get more involvement. It is critical that as many people
become active in our endeavor as possible to ensure success. I am going to begin
a dialog offline on to study the issues that we face and formulate a plan that
will achieve our mission and assist NPS to achieve it's mission. I ask for the
assistance of anyone who wishes to help shape IROFA as a viable partner with
NPS. I ask that you email me expressing your desire to participate in the
offline discussion that will take place over the next 2 months that will set the
stage for our activities next summer and on into the future. Your participation
will mean engaging in brainstorming, idea development, research and the
formulation of specific actions that will demonstrate that IROFA is a viable
cultural resource for NPS and the public. Finally, we are planning a winter
meeting of IROFA in January in Minneapolis. Details will be upcoming, I hope we
can have a great turn out. Watch our site for specific details.
David C. Barnum
Institute of
Journalism
It was a great honor that Stuart
Sivertson and I were invited to participate with the IJNR at Isle Royale late in
September to discuss the state of commercial fishing on Isle Royale and issues
related to lease holders. IJNR is a not for profit group that awards
expense-paid fellowships to journalists that concentrate on timely themes and
issues that are relevant and useful in the area of environmental issues specific
to different regions. This year's program focused on Lake Superior and Isle
Royale. Stu was invited to make a presentation on commercial fishing to a group
of about 15 journalists from all over the country at Grand Portage Lodge on
September 24th. The next morning we set off with the group to the island on the
Voyageur II. A panel discussion was organized at the Windigo visitor center that
afternoon with two agendas. The first was about the lawsuit between the Isle
Royale Boaters Association. IRBA was represented by Mark Rude, NPS by Phyllis
Green, Pete Armington, Jack Olfke, and Larry Kangas. The second panel discussion
related to lease holder issues. The panel for IROFA was Stuart Sivertson, Mark
Rude and myself. We presented ideas that have been developed among the IROFA
members over the last 6 months. A question and answer session then ensued. The
entire event lasted about 4 hours.
On Friday the group came to
Washington Island and were given a tour of Sivertson Fishery by Stuart Sivertson.
They spent about 2 hours seeing the last operating fishery on Isle Royale. Over
all this group of journalist got a wide range of views regarding most issues
related to the management of Isle Royale. It is anticipated that many of these
journalists will write articles about what they learned. IROFA is greatly
indebted to Frank Allen and Peter Aninin for allowing us to present our views to
these journalists. I hope to see you guys back at the island sometime. You will
always be welcome on Barnum Island.
Focus on an Original Family
George G. Barnum I
George G. Barnum I first came to Isle
Royale in 1895. He purchased what was then Johns Island and renamed it to Barnum
Island. My great grandfather, who was born in 1843 and was a Civil War veteran.
He wrote about his Civil War experience in 1932 at age 89. His parents were "very
religious... and were strict abolitionists". GGB enlisted after "a bunch
of us boys...met...one night and began talking about the war." He and 10
friends promised to enlist the next morning at the recruitment office. The next
day after enlisting with the 100th New York Regiment "I found that only
one other had really enlisted". My great grandfather saw a great deal of
action before completing his service under General Grant at Appomattox, VA where
as a Captain in charge of supplies he was ordered to feed the surrendered rebels
of the Army of Virginia under General Robert E. Lee.
In his war account he discussed his
experience involved in various battles including the hard fought battles in
Charleston Bay in South Carolina. One fight is of particular historical
significance. He wrote "previous to the attack on Fort Wagner, there arrived
from Boston...a regiment of colored troops known as the 54th Massachusetts"
After an initial, but failed assault on Fort Wagner it was decided that "the
honor of the [second] advance was given to the 54 Massachusetts colored
regiment". He goes on to describe the result "That carnage, that carnival
of death, that slaughter of loved ones, that hell of terror and fire, that
thunderous roar of heavy ordnance and din of small arms mingled with one of the
most appalling storms of thunder and lightening ever seen or experienced, such
as only a southern sky can hold, when the faces of the soldiery, as the
advanced, could only be seen by the lurid glare of heaven's lightning!. The 54
Massachusetts obtained a footing on one corner of the Fort, where Colonel Shaw
was killed. No one could have acquitted themselves any better than did this
regiment".
Although this was a backwater battle
in the Civil War its primary significance resides in the fact that the 54
Massachusetts regiment was the first all black unit to fight in the Civil War
for the Union Army. This regiment and the above battle is the subject of the
movie "Glory" which was produced in 1989 and was widely hailed. What a wonderful
gift that this historical event was captured by one of the Original Family
members of Isle Royale.
David C. Barnum
Glory
is a celebration of a little-known act of mass courage during the Civil War.
Simply put, the heroes involved have been ignored by history due to racism.
Those heroes were the all-black members of the 54th Regiment of the
Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, headed by
Matthew Broderick,
the son of an influential abolitionist (played by an uncredited
Jane Alexander).
Despite the fact that the Civil War is ostensibly being fought on their behalf,
the black soldiers are denied virtually every privilege and amenity that is
matter of course for their white counterparts; as in armies past and future,
they are given the most menial and demeaning of tasks. Still, none of the
soldiers quit the regiment when given the chance. The unofficial leaders of the
group are gravedigger
Morgan Freeman
and fugitive slave
Denzel Washington,
respectively representing the brains and heart of the organization. The 54th
acquit themselves valiantly at Fort Wagner, South Carolina, charging a
fortification manned by some 1000 Confederates.
Glory
was based on Lincoln Kirstein's Lay This Laurel and Peter Bruchard's One Gallant
Rush; the latter book was founded on the letters of Col. Robert Gould Shaw, the
real-life character played by Matthew Broderick. The film won an Oscar for
co-star Denzel Washington, and additional statuettes for best cinematography (Freddie
Francis)
and sound recording. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Original Families Restore
Historic Buildings
 E very
building that remains on the island from prior to the arrival of the National
Park Service should probably be listed in the registry of historic places. To
date NPS has had neither the desire or the resources to protect these sites.
Fortunately the Original Families have taken it upon themselves to preserve
them. One of the best examples is the work done by Enar Strom on Barnum Island
and Washington Island. Click on the thumb nails below to see the before and
after pictures of just two of many examples of the extraordinary work Enar has
performed at no cost to the public to preserve Isle Royale's rich history.
Our Mission
Statement
The purpose of Isle Royale Original Families Association (IROFA) is to
continue the over 100-year presence of our families on Isle Royale; preserve our
culture, heritage and traditions; and enhance the experience of both park
visitors and NPS staff by serving as an authentic link to Isle Royale's rich
human history. |
