November 10th, 2021

Fall:  A Time for Reflections (November 9, 2022)

This time of the year often has my mind wandering to the past.  Gramma and Grandpa were huge fans of the holidays.  They loved the “magic.”  Of course, as my mind wanders to holiday seasons past, and how much Gramma delighted in all the decorations and Grandpa looked forward to the holiday feasts, my mind wandered further past and I broke out the old photo albums.

Let me tell you a story about a man from Chicago that had a dream.  Great-Grandpa (The Original Musky Joe!) brought his family up to vacation at Big Musky Resort on the Chippewa Flowage wayyyyyyy back in the 1930s!  He fell in love with the area and fell in love with Musky Hunting in particular.  He vowed one day his family would own a slice of paradise too.  His own personal wilderness getaway. 

In 1950 his dream became a reality.  He had his opportunity and put down his savings on a piece of land near Musky Bay (how fitting as he had made a name for himself with the locals as MUSKY JOE!). Well, Great-Grandpa had a full time job back in Chicago working at the bank, but he also had a 20 year old son, fresh out of the military.  He packed up his boy and dropped him off in the great wilderness of northern WI with a hand saw, an old jeep and a few bucks.

Well, that son of his (aka Grandpa aka Nory) was a resourceful, hard-working young man.  He knuckled down and went straight to work clearing that land.  In the midst of it all, he picked up odd jobs and some steady jobs, working with the local construction groups.  His main trade was electrical, and he got to know his way around Hayward quite well.  

There was one main lumber company in Hayward at that time, owned by the Bodenschatz family.  And wouldn’t you know it, there was a particularly beautiful young lady with a wit to match her looks, working as the accountant for the lumber company.  Great-grandpa had set up an account for his son to pick up supplies and such,  AND THAT is where the love story of Gramma and Grandpa began.  

Follow along with the photo story of a great adventure, from the beginning of our beloved resort and the couple that made it all possible all the way to today.  

*** Stay tuned, pictures will be added in batches.

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