If These Woods Could Talk

07/14/2025

🌲🌳If these woods could talk, they might tell you to eat more kale.🌳🥬

The Rhinelander Area Food Pantry was ahead of its time with the addition of its own garden to contribute to their selection of fresh produce. The garden was the focus of this roundtable conversation, as well as how much they all love being a part of this organization.

Follow the link below to learn more about RAFP's initiatives, current events, and how to donate or get involved.
https://www.rhinelanderareafoodpantry.org/

🌲🌳If these woods could talk, they might tell you to eat more kale.🌳🥬The Rhinelander Area Food Pantry was ahead of its time with the addition of its own g...

06/23/2025

The Rhinelander Area Food Pantry was a concept in 2004, and in early 2005 it became a reality.

As they prepare to celebrate their 20th Birthday in style, Executive Director Courtney Smith invited These Woods to come hear the history of the food pantry as told by the volunteers who made it what it is today with their blood, sweat, and tears.

Thank you to all the volunteers who came to share their recollections.

From RAFP:
In celebration of our 20th Anniversary, we are having an Open House Party! You are invited to come take a look behind the scenes and meet the folks at the heart of our work. Come by for tacos, cupcakes, live music, prizes, and tours.
Be sure to enter to win The Legendary Raffle - the perfect Green Bay get-away!

The Rhinelander Area Food Pantry was a concept in 2004, and in early 2005 it became a reality.As they prepare to celebrate their 20th Birthday in style, Exec...

06/10/2025

I've never seen this silly poem before.
Taken from the New North on May 6, 1897 (p. 8 )

My question is: Kentucky?

Monster of Many Horns

A bovine spiritualis, or black hodag, was discovered last fall by E. S. Shepard, of Rhinelander, Wis. --Timberman [??]

The hodag has a curving horn upon its mammoth nose
Another from its head, it seems, to great dimensions grows
With these two terrors, one would think, it might its victims rend
And yet it has another horn upon the other end

And all along its hideous back still other horns appear,
Until one wishes that their use might some time be made clear
For if the hodag chanced to “roll” he’d smash of horns a few
Or else he’d find that upside down he’d stick a day or two

And when attacked, unless by birds, that couldn’t do much harm
There’s little in the row of horns to cause one much alarm
Unless he could turn in the air and make a total wreck
Of anything that was beneath by landing on his neck

And yet, it seems quite possible, so many horns are found
It may be proved a native of the state where “horns” abound
And if it should be really so, as many have maintained,
It hails from old Kentucky and the mystery’s explained

05/21/2025

🌲🌳If these woods could talk, they might tell you about a damp engineer and a missing hat.🌳🎩

A listener recently reached out and asked if I had or could direct them to information about the Hat Rapids Dam. I did some digging and went through a handful of Wisconsin River-related books here at the library, but it turns out there is little in the way of printed scholarship on this particular dam. Instead, I called a Wisconsin River expert who came in to share what he knew. So here is our first return guest, Bob Martini.

🌲🌳If these woods could talk, they might tell you about a damp engineer and a missing hat. 🌳🎩A listener recently reached out and asked if I had or could d...

05/13/2025

🌲🌳If these woods could talk, they might tell you about a spider so big, it made Jaws look like a goldfish.🕷️🌲

I went up to the Superior shore to talk with legendary Wisconsin filmmaker Bill Rebane about his life making independent science fiction movies in Northern Wisconsin, his film studio, and what he fondly–or not–refers to as the “Giant Spider Disaster.”

BILL WILL BE IN RHINELANDER THIS FRIDAY, May 16, 2025 for a special Hodag Heritage Fest showing of his film, "Attack of the Hodag!" as well as a Q&A.

Tickets available at the following link:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/attack-of-the-hodag-with-bill-rebane-tickets-1310680824629

🌲🌳If these woods could talk, they might tell you about a spider so big, it made Jaws look like a goldfish.🕷️🌲I went up to the Superior shore to talk with...

05/06/2025

Pulled from the Rhinelander District Library archives—another small mystery--
his poster from the library’s 1985 building campaign, given new life last week by Childs Frame Co on Brown, where they very Jaronously offered to frame it for us!

After the original Carnegie building was constructed and opened in 1903, it sat like that for almost 80 years. Eventually, it became clear that the library had, like the city itself, grown well beyond its humble origins. It needed to expand or face the risk--the immediacy of which the sketch accurately portrays--of surpassing the building’s threshold of biblioelastic criticality, and eventually of librothermic detonation.

Physicists still don’t know what would happen if a library went Supernovel (is that a stretch?).

Many of you will recall Pete the Penny and the campaign to raise funds one cent at a time.

Having asked people who were employed at the library during that time, it is clear: nobody remembers. But, we are pretty sure it wasn’t a staff member. May there have been a contest? Maybe you know the person who created it!

04/29/2025

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬?
A few weeks ago we shared an old photo of a young woman in a severely fashionable, quilted hat. It was an example of what is called a “cabinet card.” These photos were printed on sturdy cardstock and were so named because they were the right size to be displayed in or on a decorative cabinet and able to be seen from across the room.

So, then, at maybe one-quarter of the size of a cabinet card, what was the purpose of a calling card?

To let someone know that you’d come a-calling.

Rarely used now, calling cards were a part of social etiquette that predates photography. These small cards were originally blank except for where the caller wrote their name. Soon they would become more ornate, with printed designs or illustrations. Eventually portraits became the standard of the calling card. Addresses were rarely included, though one might have written the name of the fraternal order, professional society, or gentlemen’s club they belonged to. In most cases, the photographer would include their own intricate design or business logo on the backside.

So how were they used? If I were making an impromptu visit to a friend’s house, I would bring a card along in case the person I sought was out. I would leave a card at the door, indicating that I had been there and would like to speak with you at your convenience.

Of course, in higher society the rules were slightly different. I might be met at the door by a butler, who would offer me a silver tray on which to set my card. He would then take the tray to the head of the manor. Another possibility is that I would send a servant of my own to deliver a calling card. Thus, if I delivered the card in person, I would indicate so by folding up one corner.

Calling cards could also be part of a courtship. Let’s say I wanted to see you socially. I might come to your house with my calling card–remembering to fold a corner, of course. Maybe I initial the card “p.p.” from the French “pour présenter,” indicating that I would like to make an introduction with you. I leave my card, and the ball is in your court.
Now, let’s say you weren’t put off, and decided that a visit with me in your home would not be unwelcome. You would have your own calling card delivered to my door.
In contrast, let’s say you were revolted by the offer and wanted me to stay away. In this case, you would put my calling card in an envelope and have it returned to my home. And I would get the message.

There you have it–calling cards: Tinder for the Victorian Era.

I have included pictures of a few of our favorites. All were found in a dusty box within a dusty box in Rhinelander District Library archives.

04/22/2025

This was the most listened-to episode of 2024, now on youtube.

This was our most-listened episode from 2024.I have perhaps never put myself in greater peril than when I visited the Michlig home to hear a ghost story that...

04/17/2025

🌲🌳If these woods could talk, they might have more to say about Rhinelander history than Frederick Fisher. Though that’s not certain.🎣🌲

He's an almost-lifelong resident of the area who you will know if you are part of the “You grew up in Rhinelander WI if you remember…” page.

Mister Fisher came to the library with a bin full of old photos and papers, as well as a number of pieces of memorabilia he has collected–trinkets related to the city or certain businesses. Without anything in particular to discuss, we just sort of talked about his items and followed the conversation. We will pick up the conversation when I asked him about an ornate dinner plate that is inscribed with the words “compliments of Chas. Pautz, Groceries, Rhinelander, Wis.”

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🌲🌳If these woods could talk, they might have more to say about Rhinelander history than Frederick Fisher. Though that’s not certain.🎣🌲He's an almost-life...

04/08/2025

🌳🌲If these woods could t--say...where'd you get that bomb hat, man?🌲👒💣

Portrait found in a box in storage at Rhinelander District Library. The quilted bucket hat masterpiece has yet to be found.

It brings up three important questions:
Do you know who this person might be?
Are you or is someone you know a milliner?
Please would you make one for me?

04/01/2025

About a year ago I had the chance to sit down with the general manager of the Rhinelander Brewing Company to learn about the company's history. In our conversation, she mentioned that there were supposedly photos--published in a newspaper amid the company's 1967 bankruptcy--of federal agents watching as RBC employees were made to dump their beer into the sewer. After spending some time digging, I finally came up with one such photo. (Find full photo in comments)

July 1, 1967 on the front page of the Rhinelander Daily News (& New North).

Caption: 𝐃𝐎𝐖𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐍--𝘜𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘦𝘺𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘓𝘰𝘶𝘪𝘴 𝘑. 𝘊𝘩𝘶𝘥𝘺, 𝘈𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘰𝘯, 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘤𝘰𝘩𝘰𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘰 𝘵𝘢𝘹 𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘜.𝘚. 𝘛𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘺 𝘋𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘑𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘱𝘩 𝘈𝘭𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘯, 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘺𝘦𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘉𝘳𝘦𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘊𝘰., 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯 291 𝘣𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘴𝘦𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘮 𝘤𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘍𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘺. 𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘸𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘥𝘶𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘹𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 $10 𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘵. (𝘋𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘕𝘦𝘸𝘴 𝘗𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰)

SO it seemed a fitting time to republish the conversation to our youtube page and share the very sad photo.

There were a few questions left at the end--𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐬𝐚𝐲 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠! Leave a comment.

About a year ago I had the chance to sit down with the general manager of the Rhinelander Brewery to learn about the company's history. In our conversation, ...

03/27/2025

Rhinelander made the cover of this quarter's issue of Dime Novel Round-Up Magazine!

From wikipedia: "The dime novel is a form of late 19th-century and early 20th-century U.S. popular fiction issued in series of inexpensive paperbound editions."

While doing research into a particular family that lived in our neck of the woods, I found an article from the New North dated January 28, 1909 (p. 8):
---
𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐬 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐚𝐧 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬

It is expected that Rhinelander and Oneida will soon be brought before the attention of the outside world in a highly colored manner thru the medium of the dime novel.

Robert Coniff, a Minneapolis newspaperman and writer of considerable ability, spent part of the week in [Rhinelander] securing information and material for a book on the Donnerstag brother, counterfeiters. Coniff, whose writings appear under an assumed name, is the author of several books bordering on the yellow literature nature. One of these is an account of the life and daring exploits of Harry Tracy, the famous outlaw who escaped from the Washington State Penitentiary several years ago.

In his work on the Donnerstags, Coniff intends to give a complete story of the career of the brothers during their time in this county and will dwell for some length on their counterfeiting operations. Their sensational arrest will also occupy much attention. The story will no doubt be overdrawn and will be illustrated with half-tones and pen drawings of people and scenes connected with the case. Coniff says that the book will not appear until next summer.
---
But I can't find any such book or any such author. So I contacted the Falvey Library at Villanova University to see if they could help. They were very willing! But they couldn't find anything, either. So the library's Dime Novel special collection curator referred me to the editor of this publication, allowing me to ask questions to their audience. Maybe some enthusiast will have an answer for us?

But as long as I've got your ear: do YOU know anything about who Robert Coniff may have been?