Sunday Photo Fun 7-17-2011

[Seayakbill]

A bunch of MTH Alcos meeting up at the station, I guess crew coffee breaks

 

[Northwoods Flyer]

No doubt about it.  Things are really hot here in the upper midwest.  My wife and I decided to go on a little road trip yesterday.  There was a special event occuring up north a ways in the town of Star Lake.  We got started early yesterday morning, while things were still fairly quiet in the neighborhood.

  

 

 I put the car in gear and headed downtown.

 

 

It wasn't too busy there either.  I think folks were staying inside and trying to stay cool.

 

 

 

 We had to stop at the crossing as we were headed north out of town for one of the "extras" that were running up to Star Lake for the special event.

 

 

 

 

The event that we were headed to Star Lake for was a celebration of part of that town's history and railroad heritage.  Star Lake had at one time been the northern end of the line for passenger service for the Milwaukee Road.  The North Woods Hiawatha, Fisherman's Special, and the Tomahawk had all brought tourists and fishermen to the north woods of Wisconsin.

The Milwaukee Road Historical Society (MRHA) had provided a grant to the Friends of Star Lake to replace a sign that had stood outside of the depot for years when it marked the northern most terminus of passenger service.  July 16th was the day that the sign was being dedicated.

It was a nice drive through the beautiful north woods.  And when we drove into town there was the sign in all its glory.

 

 

  

Because the sign is new and it hasn't weathered yet its kind of hard to see the carving, but it says -

                           Star Lake

                       Elevation 1684

             THE MILWAUKEE ROAD

                Route of the Hiawatha

 

The friends of Star Lake have been working hard to preserve their history.  The have not only restored the sign, but they have preserved the old school house.

 

  

 

 They have also built a replica of the last depot to serve Star Lake for passenger service.

 

  

 

 

 

 

 It was dedicated by some of the local dignitaries and politicians with the smashing of a bottle of locally manufactured wine.

 

 

 

One of the best features of the day was a pig roast and celebration.

 

 

 

 

It was some of the best pork I have ever had.

 

One of my friends has written a book about the North Woods Hiawatha and its route along the Valley Line through Wausau and north to Star Lake.  It was available to members of the MRHA who attended the convention in Wausau last summer.  It was available yesterday too, so I picked up another copy.  It is filled with lots of photos and history.  I'm using the cover of the book here by permission of Merrill Publishing.  My friend told me that the book is still available from the MRHA and from Merrill Publishing. www.merrillpublishingassociates.com  I highly recommend it.

 

 

The sign is really a great addition to the town's history and a reminder to those passing through of the importance of the railroads to the development of the area.

 

 

 

 

As I stood looking at it I imagined what it was like at Star Lake when the lumber mills were at full strength and when scores of tourists came to the north woods.

 

 

 

 

It made me wonder too, how many old photo albums contain photos of the old sign as memories of a wonderful vacation in the North Woods.

 

 

 

Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

Northwoods Flyer

[SantaFe158]

[Seayakbill]

Santafe158, great photos, the black & white pictures give it that 50's retro look.