1868

State of Wisconsin designates area as park.
1872
State rescinded park designation and opened up to lumber companies.
1889-1890
Williams, Salsich & Company of McKenna, Wi. opened lumber camp across the road from the present day Star Lake Store.
1894
Bob & Harry Starr (lake & town eventually named for), under instructions from Hamilton Salich of the lumber company chose & started construction on what is now known as the North Star Lodge.
1895
Star Lake had large saw and planing mill, 84 company houses, a large boarding house, warehouses, general store, butcher shop, 3 room school house with 3 fulltime teachers and a resident physician.
1896
Other lumber companies arrive.

1898-1904

Lumber boom, 1.5-2 billion board feet of pine logged from Star Lake area.

1899
Eugene Shepard, Cruiser for Goodyear Lumber Company, and built and ran the Ferncroft Resort on Ballard Lake--the real home of the "Hodag.".
1903, 1908, 1910, 1920
1908

Fires ravaged area-- The fire of 1910 burned most of the summer.
Last log lumbered in Star Lake. Most of the 600 residents moved away and houses were dimantled and shipped by train to southern Wisconsin. The Fredrickson home is the last of the original lumber town houses.
Lodge operated as Hotel Waldheim and managed by Mr. Laut.

1909
Olivers bought Hotel Waldheim leading Star Lake from it's lumbering days to a fisherman's northwoods haven.
Princess Escanaba settled at Partidge Lake.
1925
State of Wisconsin designates area as park thus creating the Northern Highlands State Forest and game refuge.
 


star lake history- the resort years
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