Alder Lake is one of ten lakes in Vilas County, WI known as the Manitowish Chain of Lakes, which was formed in1887 when the rest Lake dam was constructed by the logging industry to facilitate the transport of white pine to sawmills downriver. the first adventure-seeking vacationers arrived several years later and the first resort in the area was established on Island Lake in 1895. In the 1920's Alder Lake introduced camping facilities. With the influx of resort guests and campers, summer home development followed soon after.

The start of a family tradition

Barbara's parents, after visiting her uncle's lakefront vacation property in the 1940's, followed suit and purchased their own land; two adjoining lots on which her father built a small cottage. Barbara's father, a busy sausage-maker in Ironwood, Michigan, worked Saturday mornings while the rest of the family would prepare for their road-trip. "My mother would have everything ready at noon when my father came home, and literally within moments we would leave for the cottage 38 miles away, which was a substantial distance in 1950," says Barbara. "But believe me, no distance would have been too far to go to Alder lake." Once they arrived at the cottage she would spend the rest of the weekend roaming at will, exploring the nearby area with other children in the vicinity. The children would have the run of the area until Sunday evening, when the family would reluctantly pack their belongings, close up the cottage and make the seemingly endless trip back to their home in Ironwood. "I became very attached to the land and the lake," says Barbara. "It was absolute freedom to play and explore in a safe and wonderful environment."

Alder attraction

As time went on and the family grew, the attraction of Alder lake didn't lose its appeal. Barbara and her sister brought their own families to the twice-renovated cottage, where their children became just as fond of the lake as their parents. Brian Deviley, Barbara's nephew, remembers how much he and his cousins enjoyed it as children. "As younger kids, we'd always want to stay in the area around the cabin and find stuff to do on the property. It was hard to drag us off," Brian says. knowing his grandfather built it with his own hands, the cottage has a strong appeal not just for Brian, but for the extended family as well. Most summer weekends, in fact, all of the beds are full, including the extra sleeping area built above the detached garage. Having a full house is a big part of the fun for Brian, knowing that a lot of other family members will be there to share the weekend together.

Connected to two slightly larger lakes by the Trout river channels on the north and south end, most of the area resorts and the subsequent boater activity are concentrated on the other lakes. "I remember being a young child, of waking up at sunrise and feeling the peaceful quality of the lake, the mist and the mirror of the water in the morning," Barbara recalls. In spite of the influx of summer residents, Alder lake has somehow managed to retain its quiet solitude and retain the same peaceful quality that Barbara enjoyed as a child. "We live in the Twin Cities so one of the most special things for me when we first go there is the silence. The second is the stars. They're so brilliant you feel like you could reach up and touch them."

Most would agree that lake living is more than just a lifestyle. The very nature of lakes themselves tends to affect all of ones senses. When Barbara and her husband make the trip from their home in eagan, she says she can even smell lake Alder as they get close, as if the familiar aroma of fresh water and pine trees is embedded deeply and permanently in her psyche. Brian agrees with his aunt and says there's a feeling he gets at Alder that has to do with memories from when he was very young. "There's something special about Alder...the familiarity and comfort...the fact that we're all there together," says Brian.

Family traditions

With nine other lakes accessible, boating through the narrow channels to explore other areas is a family affair. "I still like going out for boat-rides and with ten lakes, it can turn into an all-day event," says Brian, who explored the other lakes as a boy. "Little Star Lake was where we'd go for snorkeling because the water was so clear. We'd see the pan fish and bass in the shallower waters."

In spite of the attraction of neighboring lakes, coming back home to Alder for the evening is always a welcome sight. "evenings we usually have dinner at the cabin and almost every night, a bonfire in an old steel tire rim," says Brian. depending on the time of year and the family's fishing skill, the lake itself would provide dinner for the family. In earlier times, Brian would help his dad and grandfather catch crayfish. When they had enough for a family meal, they'd boil them in salty water and pick the small amounts of meat out of the claws and tail. It was a tradition that had been started at their home in Green Bay, and one that they carried with them to Alder lake.

Returning residents

As is the case when more people move into an area, other residents tend to leave, especially wildlife. With the increase of motorboat traffic between the lakes, the vegetation that grew in the connecting channels slowly disappeared over time. More recently, however, since the channels were restricted as no-wake zones, the water plants started to re-establish their roots, and the channels are beginning to look more like they did years ago.

Eagles, too, have found their way back to Alder lake. Several years ago a summer storm destroyed a large nest in neighboring Wild rice lake. "We felt a very personal loss," says Barbara. Throughout her childhood she had watched the eagles return every year to bear new young and with the nest's destruction, she was afraid they wouldn't return. But like Barbara's family, the eagle family seemingly had a connection with Alder lake. "Mother Nature, being who she is, made sure that the eagles have gone back to that nest, and they've now built another nest on Alder." The nest is close to the family cottage near the lake's southern channel to Wild rice lake. like Barbara's family, the eagles come back year after year with new members with which to share their home on Alder. "The young cry and scream and holler until their parents feed them. It's pretty much a family affair," Barbara says.

Alder lake is neither the largest nor smallest, the deepest nor shallowest lake on the chain. Visitors tend to give it little more than a passing thought on their way to a bigger lake. For those who live there, however, Alder connects much more than one lake to another. like Barbara's family, those who come to Alder lake become connected themselves...to the lake, to the land, but most of all, to each other.

Ongoing Event Calendar

Summer

The Manitowish Waters July 4th celebration has something for everyone. Local arts and crafts vendors display their wares at the Community Center. The downtown parade is at 1:00 pm. The water-ski show is best seen at Rest Lake Park starting at 7:30 p.m. followed by fireworks at dusk.

The annual Muskie Days in Boulder Junction is a can't miss event. It's worth the trip just for the muskie-meat, a local delicacy.

Loon Days in Mercer features loon sculptures crafted by local artisans, a street festival, food, and arts and crafts vendors.

Cranberry Marsh Tours start in mid-July at the Alder Lake Cranberry Marsh. One-hour tours are offered Fridays at 1:00 p.m.

Fall

The end of September marks the annual Cranberry Colorama, a celebration of the start of fall color and cranberry harvest. Local crafts, fresh fall produce market, cranberry cooking contest, cranberry marsh tours, unique food samples from area restaurants, and fall color pontoon cruises on the chain of lakes are all part of the agenda.

Self-guided fall color tours are best scheduled during peak season, generally from mid-September through mid-October. Visit the Manitowish Chamber of Commerce for a map and trail routes. Free.

Eats and Treats

Michael's Parlor, Manitowish Waters,
www.michaelsparlor.com,
715-543-2550;
Brian likes the large portions and it's within walking distance from their cottage. They have the best ice cream according to Barbara.

The island Café, Minocqua,
715-356-6977;
Barbara's favorite pick for the Mediterranean menu.

Otto's Beer and Brat Garden, Minocqua,
715-356-6134;
a German-style outdoor beer garden.

Quick Clicks

Lake information
http://www.lake-link.com/lakes/lakedetails.cfm?LakeiD=4693&RegioniD=789

Vilas county visitors guide
http://www.vilas.org/

Manitowish Chamber of Commerce
http://www.manitowishwaters.org/

North Lakeland Discovery Center
http://www.discoverycenter.net

Alder Lake at a glance

• Part of a ten-lake chain in Vilas County
  
• 274 acres
  
• Up to 33' deep
  
• Boat landings: Wild Rice lake to the south; Manitowish lake to the north
  
• Fish: panfish, bass, muskie, walleye, northern 

By Liz Pasch