If These Woods Could Talk

13/08/2025

At Demmer Memorial Library in Three Lakes this afternoon for History Digitization Day!
Ready to record. Or just talk about preserving history.

12/08/2025

When we began formulating These Woods, we had a shortlist of people we hoped would record with us. Butch Mattek was at the top of my list. I enjoyed watching him play at Birchwood open mics on Sundays at one time and I had heard stories about his band, Premier, and their regional renown.

I reached out to Butch early on and he agreed readily to participate in our oral history project. In fact, he was the first person to record with me.

I'm not great at interviewing now; I was far worse then. I wish I had done a better job, but he managed to tell some great stories in spite of it.

Thanks, Butch.

When we began formulating this project, we had a shortlist of people we hoped would record with us. Butch was at the top of my list. I enjoyed watching him p...

14/07/2025

🌲🌳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...

23/06/2025

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...

10/06/2025

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

21/05/2025

🌲🌳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...

13/05/2025

🌲🌳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...

06/05/2025

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!

29/04/2025

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.

22/04/2025

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...

17/04/2025

🌲🌳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...

08/04/2025

🌳🌲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?