I was reading a post about how a member had found two cabins inside of the BWCA. I was just wondering if anyone else has ran across them? Where at?

I understand if you would not wish to divulge the information, because you fear of people ruining them.

Jon

Think there is a ranger cabin on south side of Little Sag???

I have come across remains of old trapper cabins, but nothing that was an intact cabin. Could these be ranger cabins?

Not abandoned but there is a cabin that is used by the Forest Service on Insula. I think that it is a working cabin. A very small part of the lake just East of Stingray Island on the south end is part of the Superior Forrest and Insula Forrest land.

There also is an abandoned outhouse and shed on the of Kelso Mtn. Old lookout tower.

I have seen many of the building footings and fireplace footings where there used to be cabins.

I will be going to where the Root Beer Lady's/ Dorothy Molter's was in June.

Ranger cabin on Little Sag.

Seem to recollect a small, dilapidated cabin south out of Gillis into the lake just south, which escapes me now. Maybe Crooked? Always wondered about its origins.

It's along the portage between Gillis and Crooked

There is an unbuilt cabin kit that was air dropped in and is sitting on pallets NW of Baskatong Lake. The receipt was from a place in Wisconsin and all the hinges and screws were there too.

quote Chilly: "There is an unbuilt cabin kit that was air dropped in and is sitting on pallets NW of Baskatong Lake. The receipt was from a place in Wisconsin and all the hinges and screws were there too. "

did you start on it?

there is a cabin..ranger cabin i believe in the bay just below lower basswood falls.

I mentioned the cabins in another thread, but they were north of the BWCA. One was north of Chapleau. Three were northeast of Kenora. My sense is that trappers' cabins are pretty common outside of the BWCA, but from this thread, it seems that are a few in the BWCA too!

There used to be a trappers cabin near the mouth of the Boulder River. Sig Olson mentioned it in one of his books. So from the vague description he gave of it's location, I went looking for it, and found what remains of it, and there wasn't much. Just 3 horizontal logs with long spikes nailing them together, mostly buried, and once again becoming part of the forest floor.

We also found the remains of an old cabin on Tanner Lake in the Q.

white otter castle on white otter lake, ontario canada (photo March 1990). it's probably more common to find abandoned cabins in wilderness areas that don't have the strict rules like the usfs.

Jim McQuat, the builder

There used to be quite a few outpost cabins in Quetico, but these were abandoned over the years, especially when air travel became widespread and reliable. Some of these were dismantled, and many burned during the big fire year of 1936.

Outside of the parks there are countless old trappers cabins scattered throughout the North, all the way up to the Barrenlands. Some are still used in winter, but most are in various stages of decay.

there is a nice chapter in callans "quetico and beyond" about that....white otter castle.

There was one on an island about half way up Fraser that was privately owned till the 40's. USFS torched it about 15 years ago along with most of the island.

Bruceye, that cabin on Fraser was there in about 1980. I talked to an older man there who said the owner had been a young man when he had to choose whether to sell the cabin to the F.S. or keep it and never be able to sell it or pass it on (when he would die, it would become F.S. property). He kept it and used it winter and summer for another 30 years or so. The F.S. would let him bring a snowmobile in in the winter, and a motor on his canoe in the summer. After the owner died the FS gave the family time to take anything they wanted, took all the metal stuff out, and then burned it.

Other cabins: another private cabin on an island in Knife Lake, gone since about 1995. The ruins already mentioned on the Gillis portage.
Ranger cabins on Little Sag, SW side of the lake, on LLC south and east of Tiger Bay, still in use (with a great old boathouse from back when the FS could have boats). Lower Basswood Falls had a cabin (Furtman stayed in it one summer and wrote a book about it) but that cabin burned, probably arson. A FS cabin on Kekakabic that was restored and used by a husband and wife ranger team, and they got it put on the Nat. Reg. of Hist. Places! That site lost most of its trees during the 99 storm. There is also a cabin just outside BW with easy access to Wood Lake. I know of another cabin still in use in the west end of the BW, probably with the very quiet permission of the FS...perhaps some arrangement made when buying other property from the owners back in about 1975.

I have seen over a dozen cabin ruins or cabin sites in the Q, probably all old trapper cabins. The trapper cabins almost all were on the north side of the lake, facing south to get as much winter sun as possible. You can often find bed springs from a bunkbed, and broken pieces of an old stove.

In the BW there were many resorts and private cabins that were bought out and burned. Often you can identify the site by the lack of bigger trees, just bushes, in an area the size of a small yard. They are often on a slope, near the water...the cabin must have been on stilts on the front side. If you go up and walk around the back side of the area, you can sometimes find a hole with old junk in it (I hope it isn't the latrine!).

I remember camping by that cabin one winter many years ago. Must have been a great place to hang out on a cold winter's night.

I was under the opinion that our USFS tends to dismantle/destroy/burn the old cabins once the owners die, and the lands are 'passed on' to Government ownership.

Under this assumption, there will be very few unused, old, abandoned buildings in the BW.

I do not know what the Canadians do to these types of buildings.

Here is a video that provides more color on the Frasier island cabin. The stuff about the cabin and the owner's story starts at about 13 minutes in.

BWCA Video

for the best info on cabins in the Q read Quetico an illustrated history by Shirley Peruniak.they had a lot of cabins that the rangers wintered over in to keep the poachers out.when they went to the use of aircraft most of the cabins were burned--to keep "wandering tourists" from using them.by the way the first winter patrol by the game wardens was in 1909 and they used tents.

quote n8ville: "there is a cabin..ranger cabin i believe in the bay just below lower basswood falls."

Actually it is boathouse used by the FS for storage tucked back by Lower Basswood Falls. You have to go back in the bay to see it. I bet many people miss it in their hurry. If you hike back in the woods you can find the foundation of the old Ranger Cabin that was located at Lower Basswood Falls. Furtman writes about in one of his books. He stayed a few summers in that cabin working for the FS.

If you look around on Fraser you can find some logging relics and a fireplace.

Zupps resort used to be near Curtain Falls. You can find some foundations, dumps, and tiling if you look. It is amazing how the forest reclaims some areas.

T

quote bruceye: "There was one on an island about half way up Fraser that was privately owned till the 40's. USFS torched it about 15 years ago along with most of the island."

In an earlier printing of the Beymer book, "The Western Region", he mentions the cabin on Fraser, and warned that if you hear the drone of a small outboard, not to panic, it was a resident of an island on Fraser Lake, one of the few allowed to live in the BWCA...I believe that was as current as the late 70's early 80's

My impression is that no one lived there, but it was a recreational cabin for a long time.

All that is left now is a plaque bearing the guys name, and a set of concrete steps. I stopped there a few years ago.

Not BW, but I stumbled over this one while Elk hunting in the Flat Tops in Colorado.

Mooseplums
Are you sure you're not confusing Fraser Lake with Otter Track (Cypress)
Benny Ambrose lived there for many years, appeared to have died from a gas stove explosion when they found the body????
There is a plaque left on the island he lived on.
Had two cabins, the summer cabin overlooking the lake, and the winter cabin made out of huge white pine logs.
The forest service torched both of them.

This is the boathouse/cabin just below Lower Basswood Falls. After you portage around LBFs head west into a bay just beyond the campsite right at the falls. You'll spot the cabin as you enter the bay and there is a dock just in front of it.

There is a abandoned cabin on the north-west shore of Batchewaung lake in the Quetico, where the creek flows from the small lake to the north. Does anyone know of its previous purpose? Ranger cabin?
Anthony

These photos were taken on the north side of Lake Three. According to Walter Okstad, Forest Service Historian, this is the remnant of a 1932 NIRA (National Industrial Recovery Act) camp. NIRA was only active for about one year before the law establishing it was declared unconstitutional so this camp was only active for a few months.

MR. Barley
In what year was your photo taken? My photo was taken in 2007. The cabin in your picture looks exactly like the one in mine..... right down to the knots on the logs. Maybe my comments about maintenance are not appropriate

On Little Sag, supplies within this cabin (presumably used by Summer work crews) showed that the cabin was far from abandoned...... what has been abandoned was maintenance of the building....... need not get on that soapbox here....... but it don't make a lick of sense (to me) to let history die in the name of a wilderness designation

There is an old cabin in the Crystal Lake area (East BearskinEP) I was told to look for it in the fall. During summer it was possible to fall into the old mine pit.

quote The Great Outdoors: "Mooseplums
Are you sure you're not confusing Fraser Lake with Otter Track (Cypress)
Benny Ambrose lived there for many years, appeared to have died from a gas stove explosion when they found the body????
There is a plaque left on the island he lived on.
Had two cabins, the summer cabin overlooking the lake, and the winter cabin made out of huge white pine logs.
The forest service torched both of them."

Nope it was on Fraser Lake. It was a wooden sign on a tree

quote HighPlainsDrifter: "MR. Barley
In what year was your photo taken? My photo was taken in 2007. The cabin in your picture looks exactly like the one in mine..... right down to the knots on the logs. Maybe my comments about maintenance are not appropriate


On Little Sag, supplies within this cabin (presumably used by Summer work crews) showed that the cabin was far from abandoned...... what has been abandoned was maintenance of the building....... need not get on that soapbox here....... but it don't make a lick of sense (to me) to let history die in the name of a wilderness designation


"

summer work crews do use it. There was a stack of new latrines, as well as tools. They raised it off the footings, as if they were leveling it, and it was freshly painted.
Barley and I were there in May of 2010.

Solotrek is there some place to get more info about this cabin?

quote solotrek: "
These photos were taken on the north side of Lake Three. According to Walter Okstad, Forest Service Historian, this is the remnant of a 1932 NIRA (National Industrial Recovery Act) camp. NIRA was only active for about one year before the law establishing it was declared unconstitutional so this camp was only active for a few months."

We found that cabin too while we were spending a night at the site. It seemed odd that it was so far from the water. Lots of small garbage pits around with rusty cans, bottles, and snus boxes.

quote jamotrade: "

quote solotrek: "
These photos were taken on the north side of Lake Three. According to Walter Okstad, Forest Service Historian, this is the remnant of a 1932 NIRA (National Industrial Recovery Act) camp. NIRA was only active for about one year before the law establishing it was declared unconstitutional so this camp was only active for a few months."

We found that cabin too while we were spending a night at the site. It seemed odd that it was so far from the water. Lots of small garbage pits around with rusty cans, bottles, and snus boxes.


"

I, too, thought it was interesting that it was set so far back from the main lake. However, it appeared that the water was much higher at one time so they built the cabin on the back side of what may have been an island. There seems to be a shallow bay by the cabin which may have provided access to the main lake and also provide some shelter from the elements. Interesting....

quote bdavid1157: "Solotrek is there some place to get more info about this cabin?"

I got my information from Walter Okstad. His email address (at that time) was wokstad@fs.fed.us

Good luck!

Another view of the lower basswood falls boathouse.


The Fraser Island cabin site also has a cement engraving with a name and the date the cement was poured. The signifcance was June 6, 1944---D-Day. I am sure there is a cool story behind that.


T

quote HighPlainsDrifter: "MR. Barley
In what year was your photo taken? My photo was taken in 2007. The cabin in your picture looks exactly like the one in mine..... right down to the knots on the logs. Maybe my comments about maintenance are not appropriate


On Little Sag, supplies within this cabin (presumably used by Summer work crews) showed that the cabin was far from abandoned...... what has been abandoned was maintenance of the building....... need not get on that soapbox here....... but it don't make a lick of sense (to me) to let history die in the name of a wilderness designation


"

My photo was taken last May. As you can see they have it jacked up and are doing some fixing on the foundation. There was a stack of the new latrines behind the cabin and also a huge aluminum canoe.

I think I stayed in that cabin in 1979. Please forgive us but we were young and rules were stretched. We had three permits and 24 people who went on a canoe trip together- three campsites each night. I think we came to this cabin one afternoon with rain starting to come and we were grateful for the shelter. The skies opened up and poured so all 24 of us wedged into the cabin overnight and stayed dry during the storm. In the morning we were visited by rangers who were quite kind and just told us to move on.

I visited two old cabins in the Quetico in August. I had seen both of them a number of times over the years but wanted to point them out to the younger group of guys I take one trip a year with.
Sure enough, both cabins have now completely fallen in and are barely visible in the overgrowth.
Both the cabins and I have been at this for a long, long time. I guess I, too, will be fallen in and lost in the overgrowth.....

Barley and Plums

Your picture jogged nice memories of our fall 2007 trip (came up from Kawishiwi Lake via Boulder, Ledge, Hoe, Vee, etc)

Some of the character of the old cabin has been lost in the face lift. I do not like the paint color. I think the old faded green fit the environment a bit better. They should have kept the moose jaw and thermometer on the wall....... the place looks way to sterile.

I have a tooth from that jaw. In my picture, I was holding a little tin Log Cabin Syrup container. I left that there. The aluminum canoe was on the side of the cabin when I was there (you can see the bow)

The place had a special feel. I am glad they fixed up the cabin.

What about the 70 year collection of crap out back? ...... from old mattresses to cast iron stoves..... Have they hauled the junk out? Was the log out house still there? How about the flat bottom wood boats?

quote mr.barley: "It's along the portage between Gillis and Crooked "

That's it! Thanks for the pic. Been about 4-5 years since I was there. Love that portage.

quote HighPlainsDrifter: "
Barley and Plums


Your picture jogged nice memories of our fall 2007 trip (came up from Kawishiwi Lake via Boulder, Ledge, Hoe, Vee, etc)


Some of the character of the old cabin has been lost in the face lift. I do not like the paint color. I think the old faded green fit the environment a bit better. They should have kept the moose jaw and thermometer on the wall....... the place looks way to sterile.


I have a tooth from that jaw. In my picture, I was holding a little tin Log Cabin Syrup container. I left that there. The aluminum canoe was on the side of the cabin when I was there (you can see the bow)


The place had a special feel. I am glad they fixed up the cabin.



Yeah that stuff was all there. The wooden boats were pretty rotted out.

What about the 70 year collection of crap out back? ...... from old mattresses to cast iron stoves..... Have they hauled the junk out? Was the log out house still there? How about the flat bottom wood boats?"

March Lake, Quetico

quote solotrek: "

quote jamotrade: "

quote solotrek: "
These photos were taken on the north side of Lake Three. According to Walter Okstad, Forest Service Historian, this is the remnant of a 1932 NIRA (National Industrial Recovery Act) camp. NIRA was only active for about one year before the law establishing it was declared unconstitutional so this camp was only active for a few months."

We found that cabin too while we were spending a night at the site. It seemed odd that it was so far from the water. Lots of small garbage pits around with rusty cans, bottles, and snus boxes.



"

I, too, thought it was interesting that it was set so far back from the main lake. However, it appeared that the water was much higher at one time so they built the cabin on the back side of what may have been an island. There seems to be a shallow bay by the cabin which may have provided access to the main lake and also provide some shelter from the elements. Interesting...."

Hmmm. We didn't even consider the higher water theory but we did notice the shallow bay. Our theory was that it was a trapper's shack and he wanted to be closer to the backwater areas.

A warm welcome to the site, bolavand. A very touching first post.

quote bolavand: "The cabin on Fraser was owned by my grandfather, Nordal Anderson. He purchased the island in the 1920's and was allowed access to it until his death in 1991. He spent 60 quality years up there."

Thanks for the history bolavand. How cool it must be to have a link to the past in that area. Did you ever get to spend any quality time there with him?
Welcome to the site.

On my first canoe trip, in 1967, we came upon an old abandoned Geologist camp on the "Man Chain" in the Q. It was fallen in, but chocked full of drilled rock "core samples".

At one time in the 60's, geologist's were all over that area looking for "oil" of all things.

There is a nice cabin that is still in use that is located between Range Lake and Sandpit Lake. I'm not sure who owns it.

quote bolavand: "
Thanks for the history bolavand. How cool it must be to have a link to the past in that area. Did you ever get to spend any quality time there with him?
Welcome to the site."

My grandfather passed away when I was quite young, just short of his 89th birthday. Unfortunately, I have no memories of him. I have grown up hearing fantastic stories from my parents, older brother, and other people who knew him. I have made an effort to visit his cabin-site at least once a year, beginning when I was two years old."

I read somewhere or it was told to me that asparagus still grows there

Bovaland - Any pictures of the cabin? Thanks.

Tomster

Ranger cabin, complete with outhouse on Insula Lake. Believe that it burned to the ground following the fire this fall.

My grandfather passed away when I was quite young, just short of his 89th birthday. Unfortunately, I have no memories of him. I have grown up hearing fantastic stories from my parents, older brother, and other people who knew him. I have made an effort to visit his cabin-site at least once a year, beginning when I was two years old."

That's really cool! I'd love to hear some of those stories.

Thanks, bolavand!!

quote bolavand: "

quote cheesewiz: "That's really cool! I'd love to hear some of those stories."

Nordal was born in Cottonwood, Mn. in 1902, he was one of 10 children born to Anton Anderson. As a teenager he became a skilled trapper, selling pelts to help provide for the family. Nordal moved to Duluth in the mid-1920's and became a teacher. On weekends and in the summer he found himself taking frequent hunting and fishing trips. He eventually decided that he needed more land for these pursuits. At some point he purchased a waxed-canvas and wood canoe and began to look for a suitable location in what is now the BWCAW. He and several friends pooled their money and purchased the land on Fraser in the late 1920's. By the 1960's Nordal was the only owner left. He received help building the cabins from an old Scottish trapper named Hugh MacMillan, who was living nearby and from a seasonal resident of Insula by the name of "Doc" Williamson. In 1933, Nordal began guiding groups to the area during the summer, to fish and enjoy the wilderness. When the BWCAW was formed, Nordal opted to retain life rights to his property, under the agreement that upon his death the land would be forfeit to the government. He was able to keep motor and snowmobile rights as well. He died in 1991, just short of his 89th birthday. During the more than 60 years my grandfather owned that land he exposed literally hundreds of people to the pristine beauty of the BWCA. "

Your Grandfather sounds like a really interesting person. That era was around the time my Grandfather lived. I always thought that would have been a very neat time to be alive.

As you face the mouth of Pagami Creek on Lake One, there is the remains of an old cabin and some kind of camp (mining or logging perhaps) on the right side. It is perhaps a hundred yards down the show from the actual creek mouth. Here is link with an image: http://www.bwca.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=forum.editMessage&threadId=312214&forumID=12&confID=1&action=replyToMessage&parentId=312214

quote bruceye: "There was one on an island about half way up Fraser that was privately owned till the 40's. USFS torched it about 15 years ago along with most of the island."

Yup - I was there - years ago-mid-1980's as I recall.

quote Savage Voyageur: "Not abandoned but there is a cabin that is used by the Forest Service on Insula. I think that it is a working cabin. A very small part of the lake just East of Stingray Island on the south end is part of the Superior Forrest and Insula Forrest land.


There also is an abandoned outhouse and shed on the of Kelso Mtn. Old lookout tower.


I have seen many of the building footings and fireplace footings where there used to be cabins.


I will be going to where the Root Beer Lady's/ Dorothy Molter's was in June. "

Use to be a Conservation cabin on On Insula. The The Pagami Creek Wildfire Area on September 11, 2012 burnt it up,than the following year MN. DNR cleaned up and flew the debris out of there.

Picture of the geologist camp on the Man Chain......Since originally posting on this, I have since found out that it was silver they were hunting for.

White Otter Castle this last September: could be one of the largest cabins ever built by one man. It has been restored at least a couple of times. The last restoration was in 1985 I think.


















This is an old trappers cabin on the second portage going northwest off of White Otter Lake. It has a tin roof and is amazingly preserved. It looks just like it did 30 years ago.

quote IceColdGold: "White Otter Castle this last September: could be one of the largest cabins ever built by one man. It has been restored at least a couple of times. The last restoration was in 1985 I think.



















This is an old trappers cabin on the second portage going northwest off of White Otter Lake. It has a tin roof and is amazingly preserved. It looks just like it did 30 years ago.





"

Very cool! I hope to see these some day.

One can find remains of peoples lives in all most all man made wilderness areas where peoples property was forcefully taken by the government.

Spaulding Lake cabin

Jack Lake mine

Crooked Lake cabin

Artifacts thread

quote riverrunner: "One can find remains of peoples lives in all most all man made wilderness areas where peoples property was forcefully taken by the government."

Interesting point ....one not often mentioned here ....

My family being one of those who's life work and business was forcefully sold to the government.

I know to well about it.

I dreamed I was out on skis in 1985 and came upon an old log cabin far from any road in northern MN. Frustration set in because GPS's were not around yet and without knowing the location ownership info could not be obtained. It's a dream so a local forester tells me who owns the cabin. I find his number in downstate MN and call him before heading to my afternoon shift. He informs me the cabin sits on 40 acres he has title to and for $1200 the whole works is mine. The best part: IT'S NOT A DREAM!!!

Marten's cabin history in video

quote Marten: "I dreamed I was out on skis in 1985 and came upon an old log cabin far from any road in northern MN. Frustration set in because GPS's were not around yet and without knowing the location ownership info could not be obtained. It's a dream so a local forester tells me who owns the cabin. I find his number in downstate MN and call him before heading to my afternoon shift. He informs me the cabin sits on 40 acres he has title to and for $1200 the whole works is mine. The best part: IT'S NOT A DREAM!!!


Marten's cabin history in video "

Very nice

quote Marten: "I dreamed I was out on skis in 1985 and came upon an old log cabin far from any road in northern MN. Frustration set in because GPS's were not around yet and without knowing the location ownership info could not be obtained. It's a dream so a local forester tells me who owns the cabin. I find his number in downstate MN and call him before heading to my afternoon shift. He informs me the cabin sits on 40 acres he has title to and for $1200 the whole works is mine. The best part: IT'S NOT A DREAM!!!


Marten's cabin history in video "

Very, very cool!

quote Marten: "I dreamed I was out on skis in 1985 and came upon an old log cabin far from any road in northern MN. Frustration set in because GPS's were not around yet and without knowing the location ownership info could not be obtained. It's a dream so a local forester tells me who owns the cabin. I find his number in downstate MN and call him before heading to my afternoon shift. He informs me the cabin sits on 40 acres he has title to and for $1200 the whole works is mine. The best part: IT'S NOT A DREAM!!!


Marten's cabin history in video "

I know what I'm going to watch tomorrow. Thanks for posting this.

Part 1 of the series

quote Marten: "I dreamed I was out on skis in 1985 and came upon an old log cabin far from any road in northern MN. Frustration set in because GPS's were not around yet and without knowing the location ownership info could not be obtained. It's a dream so a local forester tells me who owns the cabin. I find his number in downstate MN and call him before heading to my afternoon shift. He informs me the cabin sits on 40 acres he has title to and for $1200 the whole works is mine. The best part: IT'S NOT A DREAM!!!


Marten's cabin history in video "

Just awesome. I just watched all your YouTube videos.

Tomster

In late September of last year my wife and I did a trip from
Gunflint lake to Daniels lake. Just after entering North lake
where you get into the big water from the narrows my wife turned around and said "I want off the water now!" The wind was pretty strong
and the waves were high and white capping.

I got my map out and saw what would be the first legal campsite you would come to on North lake from that direction, first one on the right.

Once we all got settled I started poking around the area. There were a lot of paths to follow in the area. Far more than you would usually find. Not too far from the tent pads I found the remains of a massive stone chimney. It would have held heat for a long time. There was also a concrete foundation around it that was not all that big.

There was also a lot of trash from the early tripping days. Really old Primus gas cylinders and old beer cans, All piled inside the walls of the foundation. That cabin had been burnt or torn down a long time. I wondered about it's history.

I have often wanted to go back to Saganagons and see what remained of the cabins that Frank Powell owned that my father used to take me to in the early Seventies.

Just bumping up any new info

Anyone know anything about a resort or cabins one time on Gun Lake (the one between Gull and Fairy). Stayed at a site there one time--#1085--and back in the trees a bit it looked like depressions and maybe even some concrete slabs that might have been remnants of a long-gone resort. Also curious about site #1637 on Basswood Lake at the mouth of Wind Bay. That site seems to have "terraces" up the slope from the lake to the main part of the site that cabins could have set on at one time. Also some flat areas there that it was hard to tell if they were man-made pavement or just very flat rock.

quote bottomtothetap: "Anyone know anything about a resort or cabins one time on Gun Lake (the one between Gull and Fairy). Stayed at a site there one time--#1085--and back in the trees a bit it looked like depressions and maybe even some concrete slabs that might have been remnants of a long-gone resort. Also curious about site #1637 on Basswood Lake at the mouth of Wind Bay. That site seems to have "terraces" up the slope from the lake to the main part of the site that cabins could have set on at one time. Also some flat areas there that it was hard to tell if they were man-made pavement or just very flat rock. "

You can use this site to research a lot of these kinds of questions. I looked up the site on Gun and they have a 1964 topo map that shows a cabin at that location. As to the Basswood site, there is a 1959 topo that shows four cabins at the location of that campsite.

A lot of people lost property to eminent domain or other means throughout our history, none more than the natives. My family lost property in 1937 that had been in our family for over 300 years in St Mary's County, MD. It is what it is. I have very few issues with protecting wilderness areas. Not so much for roads and shopping malls. In our case it was for what is now a Naval Air Station.

It is cool though, seeing some of these relics of history that have cultural significance, like White Otter. I don't mind them eliminating the old trapper's cabins though. It is lovely to see pure nature without our embellishments. There are so few remaining places like this.

quote bottomtothetap: "Anyone know anything about a resort or cabins one time on Gun Lake (the one between Gull and Fairy). Stayed at a site there one time--#1085--and back in the trees a bit it looked like depressions and maybe even some concrete slabs that might have been remnants of a long-gone resort. Also curious about site #1637 on Basswood Lake at the mouth of Wind Bay. That site seems to have "terraces" up the slope from the lake to the main part of the site that cabins could have set on at one time. Also some flat areas there that it was hard to tell if they were man-made pavement or just very flat rock. "

I know this is old, however site #1637 on Basswood Lake was Maple Leaf Lodge. Across the opening of the bay to the NE was Su-Sha-Nan Resort.

I found this link on the old resorts some of you might like. basswood-resorts

Maple Leaf Lodge

I love when this thread is resurrected.

Me too. Cool.

Found the link to part 1 of the article.

part-1-link|summer

Brule Lake Resort - There was a resort on the south side of the portage to South Temperance from Brule on the Brule side. I was there on a canoe trip once about 25 years ago, and at that time, you could still find footings for cabins and some tin cans, etc.

My canoeing buddy at the time would ferry out supplies to the resort from the Brule landing battling west winds on some days in a flat fronted barge driven by an outboard. This was probably in the 1960's for him. Crazy big waves and the barge certainly did not part the waves well at all. He had a lot of great stories about those times.

Tomster

Very cool thread! I like to find remnants of the past and I believe there should be some left. They don't need to remove everything!

Was inside the Fraser cabin once on Fraser lake and they had photo's of big stringers of walleyes all over the wall.

quote Pinetree: "Was inside the Fraser cabin once on Fraser lake and they had photo's of big stringers of walleyes all over the wall."

When was that?

Mike

quote MikeinMpls: "

quote Pinetree: "Was inside the Fraser cabin once on Fraser lake and they had photo's of big stringers of walleyes all over the wall."

When was that?


Mike"

My brother has a better memory than mine I will ask him but it is very close to 1988 in March. It was not too many years after that it burnt down.
Also remember like the year before in the summer there was a lot of people staying there opening day of fishing season as we canoed by.

quote Marten: "...The best part: IT'S NOT A DREAM!!!"

If I said I was not jealous, it would be the biggest lie I could ever possibly tell :)

Enjoy your treasure!

Marten: "I dreamed I was out on skis in 1985 and came upon an old log cabin far from any road in northern MN. Frustration set in because GPS's were not around yet and without knowing the location ownership info could not be obtained. It's a dream so a local forester tells me who owns the cabin. I find his number in downstate MN and call him before heading to my afternoon shift. He informs me the cabin sits on 40 acres he has title to and for $1200 the whole works is mine. The best part: IT'S NOT A DREAM!!!


Marten's cabin history in video "

I'm so glad he sold it to you. You're the perfect person to own it and love it.

Decals1970: "I've been to this cabin by Sandpit Lake that Egknuti had mentioned . It is a beautiful spot, and I had the impression that no one has been using this cabin for quite a few years. There are some really amazing cliffs with giant clusters of boulders close by this cabin, just alongside the portage from range lake to sandpit. "

I can't remember who owns the cabin. An old ranger told me but I forgot the name. I don't know if it still gets used, but it appears the owner still keeps his canoe licenses up to date.

egknuti: "

Decals1970: "I've been to this cabin by Sandpit Lake that Egknuti had mentioned . It is a beautiful spot, and I had the impression that no one has been using this cabin for quite a few years. There are some really amazing cliffs with giant clusters of boulders close by this cabin, just alongside the portage from range lake to sandpit. "

I can't remember who owns the cabin. An old ranger told me but I forgot the name. I don't know if it still gets used, but it appears the owner still keeps his canoe licenses up to date. "

Not sure how appreciative the owner would be with people walking , looking , hanging around his cabin. It still gets used.

I'm not sure how appreciative a person would be who is intending to take a sauna in the old wood-burning sauna shack. They probably wouln't be very appreciative of the neglected state that sauna is in.

mr.barley: "Ranger cabin on Little Sag. "

The last that I heard with regards to this site is that it is staffed from time to time.

Decals1970: "I'm not sure how appreciative a person would be who is intending to take a sauna in the old wood-burning sauna shack. They probably wouln't be very appreciative of the neglected state that sauna is in. "

Skulking around private property isn't very wise. I'm sure people can "find" all sorts of cabins and shacks in NE Minnesota.

You're being quite presumptuous, Oh Great One. There was no "sulking" involved on my behalf. I accidentally happened upon this spot on my canoe trip 5 years ago from following an out-of-date map which indicated there was a portage trail leading directly through that property.

Decals1970: "You're being quite presumptuous, Oh Great One. There was no "sulking" involved on my behalf. I accidentally happened upon this spot, on my canoe trip 5 years ago, from following an out-of-date map which indicated there was a portage trail leading directly through that property. "

I apologize.

kanoes: "

quote Chilly: "There is an unbuilt cabin kit that was air dropped in and is sitting on pallets NW of Baskatong Lake. The receipt was from a place in Wisconsin and all the hinges and screws were there too. "

did you start on it?"

LOL! That kanoes (RIP) sure did have a sense of humor and wit about him.

Decals1970: "I'm not sure how appreciative a person would be who is intending to take a sauna in the old wood-burning sauna shack. They probably wouln't be very appreciative of the neglected state that sauna is in. "

I was just informing you that the property is still used on occasion; not what state the sauna is in. Must of been a pretty out dated map

Not an abandon cabin, but there's an abandon logging camp on Fourtown Lake. A walk through the woods from a specific campsite will get you there. The site contains old barrels, mattress springs, discarded cans, and this sweet vehicle.

Okay, Harv-meister.

Forest Center old town site.

missmolly: "

Marten: "I dreamed I was out on skis in 1985 and came upon an old log cabin far from any road in northern MN. Frustration set in because GPS's were not around yet and without knowing the location ownership info could not be obtained. It's a dream so a local forester tells me who owns the cabin. I find his number in downstate MN and call him before heading to my afternoon shift. He informs me the cabin sits on 40 acres he has title to and for $1200 the whole works is mine. The best part: IT'S NOT A DREAM!!!



Marten's cabin history in video "

I'm so glad he sold it to you. You're the perfect person to own it and love it."

Wow, what a cool story!

mgraber: "

missmolly: "

Marten: "I dreamed I was out on skis in 1985 and came upon an old log cabin far from any road in northern MN. Frustration set in because GPS's were not around yet and without knowing the location ownership info could not be obtained. It's a dream so a local forester tells me who owns the cabin. I find his number in downstate MN and call him before heading to my afternoon shift. He informs me the cabin sits on 40 acres he has title to and for $1200 the whole works is mine. The best part: IT'S NOT A DREAM!!!



Marten's cabin history in video "

I'm so glad he sold it to you. You're the perfect person to own it and love it."

Wow, what a cool story!
"

This old cabin has provided a lot of enjoyment for many over the last 30+ years that I have been blessed with its ownership. There are no " No Trespassing" signs on the property and a sign over the door says "Velkomen" and all are welcome to go inside. Many enjoy the cabin vicariously through my videos.



https://www.youtube.com/user/TheNorthwoodsman1 Marten's Videos

Marten: "I dreamed I was out on skis in 1985 and came upon an old log cabin far from any road in northern MN. Frustration set in because GPS's were not around yet and without knowing the location ownership info could not be obtained. It's a dream so a local forester tells me who owns the cabin. I find his number in downstate MN and call him before heading to my afternoon shift. He informs me the cabin sits on 40 acres he has title to and for $1200 the whole works is mine. The best part: IT'S NOT A DREAM!!!


Marten's cabin history in video "

Wow. What a cool experience! Hopefully we all find our slice of heaven on earth.

mjmkjun: "

kanoes: "

quote Chilly: "There is an unbuilt cabin kit that was air dropped in and is sitting on pallets NW of Baskatong Lake. The receipt was from a place in Wisconsin and all the hinges and screws were there too. "

did you start on it?"

LOL! That kanoes (RIP) sure did have a sense of humor and wit about him.
"

Gullible youngster here. So was this a joke? I spent a good hour yesterday searching Google maps and historic aerials for this "pallet" lol.

Gman42: "


Not an abandon cabin, but there's an abandon logging camp on Fourtown Lake. A walk through the woods from a specific campsite will get you there. The site contains old barrels, mattress springs, discarded cans, and this sweet vehicle."

Would you be willing to share the location of this site? I am planning a trip in this area this summer and would like to check this out.

Thanks,
JC

South east side of the lake. There was a family that had a cabin there. They would drive up the Cloquet line ( old logging north south rail bed starting north of Fall lake, now a road and trail) and take a spur of it to thier cabin. The car hauled supplies on this spur, also old logging rail bed.

jmchev: "

Gman42: "



Not an abandon cabin, but there's an abandon logging camp on Fourtown Lake. A walk through the woods from a specific campsite will get you there. The site contains old barrels, mattress springs, discarded cans, and this sweet vehicle."

Would you be willing to share the location of this site? I am planning a trip in this area this summer and would like to check this out.


Thanks,
JC"

The vehicle is at N48° 03.759' W91° 47.529'
Back behind camp #1110
But please resist the temptation to deface or pull parts off of the vehicle. Sort of sad to see how much it has been degraded over the years.

The degradation through pilfering is sad to see. Like I mentioned above, I have an extensive list of things in the woods, but I am reluctant to disclose much for fear of stuff walking away. Though much of the old stuff that can be found may be (technically) trash, to me it represents the history of the area, before the wilderness declaration, when logging was king.

As an aside, the Forest Service has a list of over 7000 archaeological sites in the Superior National Forest, most related to Native Americans. The list is classified and is not subject to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) for fear of desecration, disruption or thievery.

Mike

Pine Lake in the eastern BWCA. I remember it being on the northern shore probably somewhere in the eastern portion of the lake. Photo taken in 1979

Kevlar: "Bruceye, that cabin on Fraser was there in about 1980. I talked to an older man there who said the owner had been a young man when he had to choose whether to sell the cabin to the F.S. or keep it and never be able to sell it or pass it on (when he would die, it would become F.S. property). He kept it and used it winter and summer for another 30 years or so. The F.S. would let him bring a snowmobile in in the winter, and a motor on his canoe in the summer. After the owner died the FS gave the family time to take anything they wanted, took all the metal stuff out, and then burned it.


Other cabins: another private cabin on an island in Knife Lake, gone since about 1995. The ruins already mentioned on the Gillis portage.
Ranger cabins on Little Sag, SW side of the lake, on LLC south and east of Tiger Bay, still in use (with a great old boathouse from back when the FS could have boats). Lower Basswood Falls had a cabin (Furtman stayed in it one summer and wrote a book about it) but that cabin burned, probably arson. A FS cabin on Kekakabic that was restored and used by a husband and wife ranger team, and they got it put on the Nat. Reg. of Hist. Places! That site lost most of its trees during the 99 storm. There is also a cabin just outside BW with easy access to Wood Lake. I know of another cabin still in use in the west end of the BW, probably with the very quiet permission of the FS...perhaps some arrangement made when buying other property from the owners back in about 1975.


I have seen over a dozen cabin ruins or cabin sites in the Q, probably all old trapper cabins. The trapper cabins almost all were on the north side of the lake, facing south to get as much winter sun as possible. You can often find bed springs from a bunkbed, and broken pieces of an old stove.


In the BW there were many resorts and private cabins that were bought out and burned. Often you can identify the site by the lack of bigger trees, just bushes, in an area the size of a small yard. They are often on a slope, near the water...the cabin must have been on stilts on the front side. If you go up and walk around the back side of the area, you can sometimes find a hole with old junk in it (I hope it isn't the latrine!)."

Good morning. Whereabouts a Knife Lake are you talking about a cabin on an island? Are you sure this wasn’t the remains of Knife Lake Pete’s camp? They camped on the same island for about 25 years, but there was no permanent structures there. Dismantled in 2002 when Pete was not physically able to go up anymore.