NEWS AND EVENTS

Annual Meeting 2006

The 31st Annual Meeting of the Forest History Association of Wisconsin was held at Camp 5 Museum in Laona on September 22-23. It was an educational, archaeological exploration, and exciting experience!

Friday began on a cool fall day at Camp 5 Museum. Registrants received their “goody bags” courtesy of the U.S. Forest Service – Nicolet Ranger Station – Fire Management Team, as well as Camp 5 Museum Foundation. THANK YOU! Smokey bear buttons were visible throughout the conference, too!

In a caravan of a school bus, pick-up trucks, and autos of over 50 members and guests, FHAW descended on Cleereman Industries in Newald. Our deepest gratitude to Fran, Jr. and John Cleereman. Jeff Krueger, Foreman, with John Cleereman toured us through their plant. A hands-on demonstration of the sawmill carriage and sophisticated new sawmill equipment provided long discussions and the John Cleereman patiently answering questions. The fourth generation has grown up and John, Jr. proudly showed his innovative design projects. The Cleereman Industries computerized carriage and sawmill equipment is distributed worldwide!

Continuing along Jaquette Road (an early partner of Cleereman – see “Chips and Sawdust”) FHAW visited three historic logging camp archaeological sites. The first was a Connor Lumber and Land Company railroad logging camp. Recently logged, the site is disappearing in the mixed deciduous sustained-yield forest. Bob Cleereman, John Cleereman’s uncle, tells the  story of the lumberjacks being able to walk to town on Saturday nights. The bars were open and the brawls were frequent! Artifacts are still hidden under the coniferous trees and the railroad grade is still clearly visible! The second archaeological site was a Cleereman logging camp building – now a converted hunting shack. However, the architectural structure is intact.

The third site was a large Cleereman logging camp. Bob Cleereman visited the site when he was a small boy of age 6 and 7. There was a pig. She would follow you around and especially like the camp cook’s sugar cookies! The well for this site is visible. The root cellar has the original timbers. The bunkhouse and cook shanty timber remnants are intact. Artifacts were constantly underfoot and littered the site. Like the Connor Camp, the vegetation told the story as I pointed out the Blacksmith Shop location. Near this camp is a natural “arena,’ According to Bob Cleereman, he thinks it is where Olympic boxing had its start. It certainly was where the Lumberjacks would compete. No gloves, no headgear, and no mouth guards - last man standing would win. He would represent the camp in inter-camp competition!

Thank you to Pine River Lumber Company and Bob Connor. Bob Connor joined FHAW in the woods to show us several other archaeological sites. Thank you for your time and effort and adding to our knowledge of forest management.

The rain held off until after our lunch at the Popple River Pub in Popple River. Thank you to Larry and Gail for their hospitality and Erin for able assistance!!!
Thank you to Plum Creek Timber Company of Tomahawk for allowing access for our forest visit!

Mike Monte, Editor of Pioneer Express and author of Cut and Run was waiting for our return at Camp 5 Museum. He delighted the audience with his own rendition of “Modern Logging Innovations.” His photos illustrated the changes in modern logging while his story was of contraptions, experience, and potential peril!

Charles Day, author of Silent Ones: Glider Invasion Test and Experiment told of WWII gliders. There were 15 glider companies issued glider contracts during WWII. The planes cost an average of $25,000. Ford, the largest manufacturer made theirs for $15,000. However, one company made a glider for over $1.3M – it never flew!! It seems it was built in a factory, but they forgot the door!

The FHAW Annual Business Meeting was adjourned quickly. Everyone was ready for the party in the tent! Thank you David Prange – a new member – and happy 40th B-day! A Lumberjack feast of ribs and trimmings was succeeded by a wildly FUN auction! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! to the Auction Committee for their HARDWORK! Karl and Helen Baumann – Karl can sell ice cubes to an Alaskan! Helen and Karen – accounting for every penny for FHAW and Bob Brisson, who made the auction possible – it was a great job!! Thank you everyone for their donations!! This cannot end without saying that Sterling Strathe missed his calling – Auctioneer Extraordinaire!! Thank you for your incredible talent!

Saturday morning came early for all of FHAW at Camp 5 Museum. It was not without anticipation! Following our visit to the archaeological sites, FHAW had a hint of being an archaeologist. Brad Pagel’s work on “The History and Archaeology of the Goodyear Lumber Company in Vilas County” was first rate! He was methodical and his research dotted every “I” and crossed every “T.” Years of research contributing to the collective knowledge culminated with well-researched prepared maps and photos! Congrats!

Robert Laplander, author of The Lost Battalion continued the military history theme. The brutality of WWI needs no reminders. The statistics are appalling. However, if you enjoy aviation and have not seen the movie “Flyboys” about WWI, it is recommended!

Central Wisconsin’s role in military aviation during WWII was presented by Sara W. Connor, President of FHAW. Learning about the plywood developed for the Dehavilland Mosquito, American gliders, and Howard Hughes “Spruce Goose,” it was actually Wisconsin yellow birch that came from Price and Vilas counties. It is a story of the genius and foresight of Sir Geoffrey Dehavilland, Henry Kaiser, and Howard Hughes. Strategic air warfare changed with the innovations of the Mosquito, gliders, and post-war “Spruce Goose.”  “Wisconsin’s Flying Trees; Wisconsin Plywood Industry’s Contribution to WWII” will be touring throughout the United States. The exhibit is presently at the University of Wisconsin – Marshfield – Hamilton Roddis Library.

After all of the speakers had presented their papers, FHAW members were able to enjoy the beautiful fall day at Camp 5 Museum and ride the Lumberjack Special Steam Train