Many years ago my great aunt moved from Michigan to sawbill lake. From family knowledge I gathered they built a cabin on one of the islands. A few years ago while cleaning out my uncles house I found some receipts for the grand Maria’s lumber yard and some letters to my grand parents these did not help with location of cabin. I was wondering if anyone knew how to track down a possible location. Thanks folks

About what year?

Below is the location of Sawbill Lake (maybe you already know it). It is north and inland from the town of Tofte and about and hour from Grand Marais. Any other descriptions in the letters or photos? The group here is pretty good at figuring out locations based on photographs.

Sawbill

Best advice would be contact Sawbill Outfitters, and ask for Clare. She is a third-gen owner and her family knows Sawbill area history. I think her grandmother may have written a book about it, and I know Clare’s dad Bill Hansen is still active around the Grand Marais area.

Maiingan: "About what year?"

it would be from 1940is to the the official designation of the BWCA.

Hockhocking: " Best advice would be contact Sawbill Outfitters, and ask for Clare. She is a third-gen owner and her family knows Sawbill area history. I think her grandmother may have written a book about it, and I know Clare’s dad Bill Hansen is still active around the Grand Marais area."

thank you. I have reached out to them and a waiting an e mail i have no photos, wish I did, I’m going on the family’s knowledge and conversation. Thank you all very much so far. The hunt continues

Also if it helps their names were Keneth and violet osman

Did a quick search on google of violet osman. In the 1940 census she was 29. However, this one was from Ohio.

Interesting history search.


The main lumber yard would have been Hedstrom lumber company which changes hands within the past 20 years to sawtooth lumber. Hedstroms still have the lumber mill just a few miles up the gunflint trail from grand marais. They might have the old company records archived somewhere.

Ther is also the cook county historical society and museum, that’s by the worlds best donut shop, doubt they have open business hours in winter but someone might still be taking calls and emails.
Not sure if Tofte has a museum other than the fishing museum.

How old would these people be today? Did they have kids or grandkids?

You could also check with the dnr and forest service. Perhaps their cabin was bought dump to to remove it from the wilderness.

One other thought, perhaps it was up the caribou trail, which has lots more cabins

TAX records from the county would give the info you want.

Excellent idea!

I have information for you from Ancestry.com. But I can't put it here. You don't have an email with your profile. Email me and I will give you what I can from there.

michwall2@aol.com

Email sent

And thank you to the rest of you. This is the first time iv done this and this particular side of the family has been difficult to find information on. I recently found out that my great grandfather was the inventor of the popcorn cone pretty cool he was an interesting guy.