Escanaba, MI

1 Aug 2018

After crossing the border from Wisconsin into Michigan, our first stop was Escanaba. The Sand Point Lighthouse was activated in 1868 and remained in service until 1939. Just before the lighthouse went operational the appointed lighthouse keeper died. His wife Mary Terry took the job and served as the keeper until her death in 1886 under mysterious conditions. The lighthouse was set on fire and Mary died in the blaze. Circumstances suggested that the fire was intentionally set, perhaps to cover up the robbery and murder of Mary Terry. The case was never solved.

The lighthouse is well preserved and furnished for the period.  It has a commanding view of the area and well worth a visit.

Also, on the property is a Coast Guard lifesaving station that was moved from another location in the early 1900’s

Next to the lighthouse is a museum dedicated to preserving local history. 

The end.

Cheese making and a city park with campground

30 July 2018

As we continued across Wisconsin, Anneke knew about a Dutch immigrant woman who had started a cheese making business and restaurant along our route. We stopped there for lunch and looked around.  They have their own dairy farm and cheese producing facility.  Judging by the volume of customers, it seems to be a going concern.  In addition to lunch, you can take a tour of how the cheese is produced and shop for cheese and other products onsite.  My favorite part was the doors of the bathrooms.  The food was fine but the service could use improvement.

We spent the night at a city campground in Medford. The sites are located on either side of the thru road in the park. You self register at a spot on one side of the road. 15 dollars per night with electric and water. They had eight sites.  The road was not busy and we explored a portion of the walking trail in the park.  A nice place to spend the night.

Villa Louis

29 July 2018

Leaving Iowa and crossing the Mississippi River into Wisconsin at Prairie Du Chien, our first stop was the visitor's Center. We learned that there was a well preserved home from the early 19th century along the river.  Hercules Dousman made a great deal of money in the fur trade and many other investments in the early 1800's and moved with his family to Prairie Du Chien around 1830. He build the first family home along the Mississippi. By the time of his death in 1868, he was among the wealthiest  men in Wisconsin.  

Shortly after his death, his son build a new, far grander home on the same property after demolishing the first home. The family lived in this home, which is part of an historical park along the river which includes several other buildings and history of the war of 1812.

The home was certainly one of the best homes of this period that we have toured.  The lavish interior was meant to impress all who entered with the wealth of the family. Unfortunately, no pictures were allowed inside. It is a must see home of the mid 1800's.

We stopped for the night at the ACOE park in Desoto, WI