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What if you could go back to
time and observe people living sensibly with nature without
electricity, running water, and telephones?
What if you could
 authentically experience and inter-act with and island folk
that have experienced "boat day" for over 6 generations? What if you
could understand
the lifestyle, culture and feeling of a place going back to a bygone era,
learning about the traditions, heritage and culture passed on over the generations?
Would you consider this a cultural landscape worth preserving?
Isle
Royale is such a place you can experience and question this culture and
history, along with the well
known wilderness. Just a few of the families that once inhabited Isle
Royale still call the island home. We have founded the Isle Royale
Families and Friends Association, a 501(c)(3) organization. We are open to membership to all those committed to
maintaining our feeling of place that existed in the early 20th century,
which was the
height of the Fishing/Resort era of Isle Royale. Working in
partnership with the National Park Service, our members provide Interpretive
Programs, Tours of historic cultural sites, and the maintenance of Island
buildings that qualify for the National Historic Register, including the
two story log building on Barnum that was the first hotel on Isle
Royale. Our efforts are designed promote and maintain the
natural wonders of the Isle Royale wilderness, and at the same time
to tell the authentic story of those who came to Isle Royale over 100
years ago. In the space of Isle Royale's
history, our time on the island has been short, nonetheless, families
representing the commercial fisherman, miners, hotel owners and cottage
folks, provide an authentic link to the rich era on Isle Royale.
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IRFFA NEWS November 2005
Tobin Harbor IRFFA Meeting July
31st, 2005
Our meeting this summer took place in Tobin Harbor on
Merritt Island on July 31st. Over 40 families and friends of the
original families came and enjoyed a wonderful day. Guests of our
meeting included Phyllis Green, Isle Royale Superintendent and Liz
Valencia Isle Royale Cultural Resource Officer, Royce Yeater, Midwest
Director of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and Mary Alice
Hansen and her husband Frank of the North Shore Commercial Fishing
Museum and Brian Lambert, an independent writer.
Group Picture on Merritt Island
IRFFA Meets with the Isle Royale
Superintendent
IRFFA board members, David Barnum, Grant Merritt,
Missy McDonald, and Tom Gale met with Superintendent Green and Cultural
Resource Officer Liz Valencia on August 1st 2005. Royce Yeater of the
National Trust was a guest of our meeting with the park. It was a very
productive meeting. Superintendent Green expressed a desire to work with
families doing preservation projects on historic buildings in the park.
L-R David Barnum, Tom Gale, Missy McDonald, Grant Merritt, Phyllis
Green, Royce Yeater (Liz Valencia was the picture taker)
"Exemplary" Historic Preservation
on Fish Island
Royce Yeater, of the National Trust for Historic
Preservation, toured Fish Island where Jim Anderson's family fished
commercially since 1912. The Anderson's island is located just across
from Belle Isle, where the Belle Isle Lodge once existed. The Jim and
his daughter Carla have been working to restore their camp to it's
original state. They have been assisted by Paul and Patty Stariha. After
his tour Royce termed the preservation work being done as "exemplary".
Royce Yeater of the National Trust and Carla Anderson
The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a privately funded
non-profit organization that provides leadership, education, advocacy,
and resources to save America's diverse historic places and revitalize
our communities.
www.nationaltrust.org
Restoration Project on the "Big"
Boat House on Barnum Island
Around 1910 the large cedar sided boat house built
for George G. Barnum I. It was first used to store a gas boat named the
Sunbeam. From 1919-1971 it was the home of the 25' gas and sailing boat
the Scout. In 1971 George G. Barnum III sold the Scout to Westy Farmer
of Rock Harbor for $1.00. It was donated by Mr. Farmer to the National
Park. The Scout remained on Mott Island for some years and was later
acquired by Fred Funke who brought it to the Apostle Islands. Mr. Funke
donated it to the Bayfield Maritime Museum where it under went extensive
restoration. The Scout now sits as a display out side of the museum.
The big boat house is shown around 1940
Big Boat House prior to the restoration effort
(click on the picture for restoration pictures) |
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Isle Royale
families and friends 2006 Winter Meeting
Join us
for a weekend of Isle Royale fellowship and education
January 27: Informal dinner
January 28th: Planning Meeting 1pm
Social Hour: 6pm-7pm
Dinner:7pm-830pm
Presentation: TBA
Location: Inn on the Lake, Duluth, MN
www.theinnonlakesuperior.com
The Inn on the Lake has rooms available for those
coming from out of town for a rate of $99.00. Rooms are limited and the
rate is only good until December 27th, 2005. Contact information is:
The Inn on the Lake
350 Canal Park
Duluth, MN 55802
1-888-668-4352, or 218-726-1111
Other Great Isle Royale Not for
Profit Organizations
Isle
Royale Natural History association
www.irnha.org
A non-profit educational organization, the Isle Royale Natural History
Association (IRNHA), in partnership with the National Park Service,
promotes the public's understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment of Isle
Royale National Park and Keweenaw National Historical Park.
Northshore
Commercial Fishing Museum
www.commercialfishingmuseum.org
Governed by the Tofte Historical Society, the North Shore Commercial
Fishing Museum operates as an education 501(c) non-profit, dedicated to
"the collection, preservation and dissemination of historical knowledge…
with specific emphasis on commercial fishing and the more general
relationship of early lifestyles to the shore and waters of Lake
Superior" (THS By Laws, Article II). With over 400 members and numerous
volunteers, the Tofte Historical Society and Museum are growing and well
supported.
ISLE ROYALE
BOATERS ASSOCIATION
I
www.isleroyale.org
Our mission is to educate, represent, and promote the interest of power
and sail boaters, sport fishermen, canoeists, kayakers, backpackers, and
all visitors of Isle Royale National Park. |
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A Trip Around Isle Royale on
the Halcyon I
Take a trip around Isle Royale in 1915.
Below is the first installment of the Halcyon I log beginning in August
Halcyon I
Log Book Pages for Halcyon I August 1915
(double click to enlarge pictures)
Commercial Fisherman Stanley Sivertson
PRESS
RELEASES
Watch the news story played on KDLH - Ch. 3 about
Isle Royale
Pick the format below that best matches your internet connection speed
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need Real Player to watch this video.
If you do not have Real Player, you may download it by
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