Forest Lodge 2015 - Passport in Time

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Current Projects > 2015
Wisconsin - Chequamegon-Nicolet NF
Closed!  Rehabilitation of the Greenhouse and Grounds at Forest Lodge



WI-4248
June 29-July 3; July 6-10, 2015

Must commit to one entire session; may participate in both

Join us for another summer at the Historic Forest Lodge complex on the beautiful Lake Namekagon! The century-old estate was established as a logging camp in 1884, and was purchased in 1902 by Crawford Livingston, a wealthy businessman from St. Paul. The buildings and style of landscape he and his heirs created were and remain remarkably similar in material, form, and style. The property is comprised of 870 acres, all of which is on Forest lands. Within this area is a 50-acre property consisting of 15, Rustic-style buildings designed to blend into the landscape, and which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). In 1999, Mary Griggs Burke, one of Livingston's heirs, entrusted the property to the Forest Service. The property was fully transferred to the Forest Service upon Mary Burke's death in 2012. The Forest Service's goal since the time Mrs. Burke first conveyed the property has remained the same: to respect and interpret the property's ecological richness and preserve its architectural character.

The passage of time and the elements have, of course, taken a toll on the property, but since 2012, PIT volunteers have joined crews made up of Forest Staff, military veterans, volunteers from the Student Conservation Association (SCA), and craftsmen from HistoriCorps (HC). Our "TLC" efforts follow the Secretary of the Interior's "Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties," which provide guidelines for the restoration and rehabilitation of NRHP properties. This year, we will be rehabilitating the Greenhouse and working on the surrounding grounds. At the Greenhouse, we will replace the shake roof and about a third of the shingles along the walls. The front steps also need repair, and glass needs to be affixed to the window frames. All three doors will be stabilized and, along the Potting Shed at the front of the Greenhouse, the chimney requires re-mortaring. Additional work at the Potting Shed will include re-glazing the windows, replacing panes, and stabilizing some of the window frames. If time allows, we also plan to tackle several other tasks, such as repair to the interior finish of the lower walls below the glass, rebuilding the three flower bins in the front and removing new growth from the flower beds so that the heirloom plants can thrive and spread and, finally, some areas of the structure requiring re-painting. Your help in this work is very important and appreciated - the Greenhouse and grounds, which are near the entrance to the overall property, will welcome visitors to the site, and your contribution will ensure that is indeed a warm welcome!

HC craftsmen, who specialize in this type of building restoration, will be leading the crew throughout the Greenhouse rehabilitation. They will show participants what is required, will provide the tools, safety equipment, and training necessary to complete the tasks, and they will also provide volunteers with three delicious meals each day. So, not only will you get the unique opportunity to restore an important piece of this historic property, you'll also walk away with some useful new skills and full bellies! There is also much to see and do here during the hours "off the clock," such as fishing, wildlife viewing (elk are abundant here), mountain biking, and hiking, and you should not miss the opportunity to visit the nearby Ashland Northern Great Lakes Visitor's Center. We hope to see you this summer for another great project at Historic Forest Lodge!

Number of openings: 12 (6 per session)

Special skills: Must be physically capable of standing, stooping, lifting, and kneeling for extended periods each day, and (for the roof work) must be able and willing to work above ground level on scaffolds and ladders with safety harnesses; basic carpentry, roofing, construction, or related experience desired and helpful, but not required; those with a strong interest in gardening are very welcome!

Minimum age: 16 years old, under 18 with a responsible adult

Facilities: Tent and RV (up to 45') camping are available on site at Forest Lodge at no charge; potable water, flush and chemical toilets available at nearby Cow Palace; no hook-ups; additional camping available at FS Namekagon Campground; water, vault toilets, swimming beach, fishing pier, picnic ground and shelter, and boat ramp; no hook-ups; meals provided by HC at no charge; Cable, Clam Lake, Hayward, and local resort areas boast a wide variety of lodging, restaurant, and shopping options, as well as a full range of other amenities; volunteers responsible for own lodging/personal camping equipment, and daily transportation to designated meeting areas

Nearest towns: Cable, 8 miles; Clam Lake, 10 miles; Hayward, 25 miles

Applications due: Closed

 
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