The Deer Shack
by Delores Miller
NOSTALGIA and REMINISCES
August 9, 2008
Four women, long past middle age ventured forth like the adventurers their Fathers were shortly after the Second World War to the North Woods of Wisconsin in Forest County.
Delores Miller whose Pa was
William Zillmer
Wilma Lucia whose Pa was
Alfred Schmidt
Arlene Knaack whose Dad was
Paul Bartelt
LaVerne Sell whose Dad was
Bernie Krueger
whose original share came from
Herman Brei
OFF WE GO
And off we went at 7 a.m. to make that 150 mile trip north to the deer shack with Delores driving her husband’s brand new automobile, a Ford Taurus with all the bells and whistles which she did not know how to operate.
CEMETERY GHOSTS
First stop at Antigo to the cemetery to visit and pay our respects, first to Harold Schmidt, whose share in Club Ten came from his father Alfred Schmidt. Harold passed away and his share went to his son Donald. Others there were Gene Knight, whose wife is Sharon Rennpferd. Sharon lives in Antigo and came to the cemetery on her small motor bike, and gave us a history of who is buried there. Her parents Chuck and Gen Rennpferd and their daughter Elaine are buried near by.
WILMA’S HOUSE
Picking up Wilma, who has a lovely old home on North Superior Street, which was built by a dentist in 1915. Hardwood floors, doors, large library, beveled glass doors. Wilma and her husband have another home on Post Lake.
RECOLLECTIONS
With Wilma guiding us north, detouring because of bridge construction on ‘A’ at Pearson, near the tavern at ‘T’ in the township of Ainsworth, Langlade County. This was known as Irma Lazalier’s place, all those years ago, a Kentuck. Then Mischlers, where Alfred and Elsie Schmidt celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in March, 1972, shortly after their son Ronald passed away. It seems to have shrunk now too, the tavern building. They have a campground in the back now. Wilma and Delores along with their Fathers made a moonshine run to Johnny Conn’s place when they were little shavers. Once, too Wilma and Delores went ice fishing with their fathers and because it was so boring, went around pounding holes in the ice with the axe. It was a one shot deal the fathers never again took their daughters ice fishing. We think it was Rolling Stone Lake.
MOLE LAKE
On to Highway 55, through Mole Lake and the Indian Casino, huge new hotel with many automobiles, with their occupants sticking money in the slot machines. Now they use tickets.
SPRING WATER
It was near this area that a ‘spring’ was next to the road, where in the olden days one had to stop and catch a gallon of the delicious water. We couldn’t really find the spot.
ROSIE
Crandon, Argonne, Alvin and Nelma, a quiet highway in the Nicolet National Forest, then to ‘A’ and west about five miles, near where Rosie had her Elvoy tavern, a stopping place for refreshments and hard liquor to fortify oneself before trekking into the shack.
THE ELVOY
Crossing the Elvoy creek where in the olden days, it was just a plank bridge, and we would lay on our bellies and watch the fish. Now it seems to be just a culvert, but the creek looks clear and neat. Oh, how good those pink native trout tasted to our young appetites.
LAVERNE’S DRIVING
Because of Delores’ delicate automobile and orders from her husband of not scratching the paint, Paul Knaack had left his 4X4 truck half way into the shack. Parked the car, transferred our grub and with LaVerne driving, we made our way the half mile into the shack. Ruts, Rocks, waterholes along the way, but it was much better than we remembered when one did really get stuck.
SIGNS
Road signs along the way like: Historical marker, 1/4 mile ahead, Slow, etc. Someone must have confiscated the signs from the county.
THE SHACK
And then around a curve, there it stood, the deer shack from our memories. It had been 50 years since Delores was there in 1958 with her parents and husband Russell. Bill Zillmer in the middle of the night shot with a 12-gauge shotgun a porcupine, which was chewing, on the steps. Russell went trout fishing, and swears he saw a 12 foot pine snake crawling over a log. Never again would he set foot in the deer shack. Course five children came along and 40 milk cows, so that, too put a crimp in the Miller travel plans.
SHRINKING
Similar except it seemed to have shrunk from our retentive recollections. The tin on the outside of the shack, remains the same, from when the shack was built in 1945. Records show it came from the house of Nels Mortenson and cost $3. A newer type red metal roof replaced the hail damaged room from the Hintz Brothers.
DOORS
The door is in the same location, except a new one to replace the one built of one-inch boards of the 1945 era. A back door was built near the four bunk beds, with easy handicap access to the toilet.
OUTHOUSE
Boardwalk to the building, which is also a wood storage shed holding paraphernalia. Off to the side was another structure, which Don Schmidt built so he could take a shower. An apparatus heats the water and a drain out the side so one can wash off the sweat and wood ticks after a hard day’s work of hunting. The older toilet still stands guard, which was built to replace the original 3-sided outhouse with only a board to sit on.
MODERN CONVIENCES
A generator provides power for the air-conditioning and refrigerator. Gaslights replaced the kerosene lanterns of long ago. Cabinets hold dishes and pots and pans and groceries. Small wood heater with a metal pipe for the smoke to escape. Gas stove for cooking and baking.
IN MEMORY
Oh, if our parents could only see how nice it is in the shack now, they would be so proud of their descendants and how they treasure the deer shack, which was only a dream in 1945. Most of these younger generations also have other acreage ‘up north’, they still hold loyalty to the original ‘deer shack’.
MASTER CHEF
Don Schmidt is the Master Chef, a position he inherited from Bob Zillmer. He is in charge of purchasing groceries and planning meals. Deep fryers, gas fired are out the door.
TABLE COVER, FIRE PIT
Fire pit to keep away the bugs. The original long table, big enough for a dozen people to eat Don’s food. So surprising for us old women was the table cover, a sort of linoleum, which remembered from our days. Record of expenses in 1945 says that Alfred Schmidt bought it for $1.90. It has lasted well through 63 years and hundreds of meals being served.. Oh, the stories that table cover could tell.
ANNUAL MEETING, WORK DAY
It was the annual meeting and workday. About a half dozen young people showed up, Dave and Al Barnick, Paul Knaack and Dan, Don Schmidt, Daniel and friend and others. They clean the shack, vacuum all the floors and mattresses. Al washed all the windows; some have storms on, which he took off and with his paper toweling and Windex got the scum and crud off the glass. All us women wanted to hire Al to come do our windows.
BEER AND LUNCH
So it was a sort of pot luck meal, but Chef Don had prepared most of it, from deep fried broasted chicken, boiled red potatoes, cucumber salad, bars, cookies, sausage, watermelon, cheese, and to wash it all down was Chef Don’s brewed beer which flowed by the gallons.
POUNDING A POINT
The men, when they had a spurt of energy tried to pound a point for a well. It has been tried through the years, to no avail, but ever-hopeful try again and again. They had a water witch come in to show them where to pound, but they seemed to keep hitting rocks. So they may have to keep totting water into the shack in their huge blue containers.
UPDATING
Throughout the years, extensive upgrading has been done to the shack. Beds and bunks gave been relegated to the back end, with a sliding pocket door to close for privacy. A loft area has been built above this area for additional sleeping space, with a pull-down ladder.
SPLIT LOGS & VANDALS
At some point, split logs were added to the walls, which had been plastered. Carpeting on the floor. Air tight now, no longer can the mice made their winter home in the shack.
LOCKS
No one locks the doors anymore. Vandals through the years have broken in, stolen silverware, dishes and kettles, but the most damage was to the door.
DEER
No one seems to hunt deer at the shack anymore. There are more deer down in Waupaca County. The only deer us women saw was one standing in the middle of the road near Argonne.
BEAR HUNTING
Bear hunting seems to be a big deal for the hunters and sometimes even bait the bear. Once, for an annual meeting, bear meat was served, but LaVerne was sick and sent Lyle to the meeting.
ANNUAL MEETING
The annual meeting was held, Dan Knaack is the President, with Al Barnick Secretary and Treasurer. Although it is always announced election will be held, some one makes a motion and seconds that the present officers be reelected. It is generally understood that once an officer, it is a life-time job. Various topics of discussion, the big one was the sale of timber to the Sollin Brothers from Deerbrook and what to do with the proceeds, whether to divide it amongst the share owners as was done in 1972, or to keep it in the Club’s treasury. It would be decided at the next annual meeting to be held August 15, 2009 again at the shack.
FOUR O’CLOCK
So the clock on the wall was crawling towards 4 o’clock and time for departure. But the young men, said ‘no you have to stop at Rosie’s Elvoy Tavern for s snort’. We traipsed back to Delores’ Car and the trip to the bar and on the way home. Stopped at an old gas station at Argonne, where Delores’ son’s Father-in-law now has for a summer home. Just a short stop, before again on the road. Drove into Pickerel and south past Louie Lembke’s old home, which he purchased in 1965 from Herb and Verean Malueg. Past John Malueg’s huge farm, the barn is collapsing, the house abandoned. The former Alfred and Elsie Schmidt farm, now owned by Connie and Don Schmidt.
SUMMITT LAKE
Into Summit Lake, where during the early 1940s Paul Bartelt had a saw mill. Arlene can remember when he stayed in the brick hotel which still stands, but again, like our memory has shrunk. LaVerne spent time at a cabin on Summit Lake with friends and relatives including Gen Schmidt and her Rothchild cousins.
ANTIGO
Dropped Wilma off at Antigo, Bucky her husband always graciously let us use his toilet, as us older women always need rest stops.
HEADING FOR HOME
And back through Marion, Dupont, dropping Arlene off, and LaVerne near Clintonville and Delores heading for home in the twilight and got home at 9 p.m.
WHO KNOWS?
301 miles and wonderful memories of once again visiting the deer shack of our youth. Perhaps this is the only trip we will make there, although the young men welcomed us again and again.
Who knows?
copyright 2008, Russell and Delores Miller
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