Family Land on Lake Namakagon to Remain a Haven for Wildlife
When A.J. Pietsch wanted to find respite from the hustle and bustle of city life in the 1920s, he would hop on a northbound freight train in Milwaukee with his canvas canoe. He rode the rails up to the Northwoods to explore and was advised by the conductor where and when he should be waiting if he wished to catch the return trip. He purchased property on Lake Namakagon in 1927.
Pietsch, who specialized in interior woodworking, had a keen appreciation for the natural landscape and set about building a cabin and boathouse on Lake Namakagon that he would enjoy for decades with his wife and children. His daughter Marian Pietsch married LeRoy Holm, and she brought their three children to the family property for extended visits throughout their childhood.
A grove of mature hemlock. Click images to enlarge.
Moss and fungi on the forest floor.
The cabin and its acreage were passed down to this third generation, and Becky Oftedahl and her brothers Dave and Eric Holm have spent a lifetime of summers enjoying the wilderness that surrounds this family retreat. They have continued to care for the land, which includes stands of mature hardwoods, eastern hemlock, old-growth red pines, and white pines so big you can’t reach your arms around the trunks. They have observed a wide variety of flora and fauna such as bears, wolves, bobcats, eagles, ospreys, and thrushes. But as Becky points out, they’ve also observed changes – more homes along the lake, the removal of forests for development, and fewer birds and mammals than in her childhood days.
Becky and Larry Oftedahl
Dave and Cheryl Holm
Eric Holm
A few years ago, Becky and her husband Larry, as well as family members Dave, his spouse Cheryl, and Eric, reached out to Landmark Conservancy as they wanted to take action to ensure their property remains a haven for wildlife and older conifer forests. They worked with staff on a conservation easement which allowed them to identify how they want to manage the property long-term to protect its natural resources.
“It was very much a joint project,” said Conservation Manager Erika Lang. “All three siblings and their spouses felt strongly about conservation, which was instilled in them by their mother’s love of the Northwoods. Protecting their 97 acres complements other protected lands around the lake including the nearby national forest and Fairyland State Natural Area. And it adds to the ecological value of the Owen-Teal Forest which is an Important Bird Area in Wisconsin. We hope to work with additional landowners to do more conservation work in the Namekagon and greater St. Croix River watershed.”
Thank you for your conservation gift to all of us. Great remembrance of the history of the property
awesome work for everyone concerned: generous family members and Landmark staff
It is wonderful to read of the transfer of this land through the generations, and of course the transfer of a conservation ethic. Great work to protect this land and add to the existing protection. We know this was Ojibwe land: the lake is named for a tribal leader.
Patrick and Jan Pesek-Herriges
Namekagon is Ojibwe but actually means ‘place of the sturgeon’. Please see the comment from Michael Heim for more information!
congratulations to the families and your descedents whom I hope continue to share your vision for protection. Wow almost a hundred years of ownership and now protected forever.
Speaking as one of the descendants, we definitely do share their vision for conservation and protecting the land for our children and beyond. I know we’re all extremely grateful for the work they’ve done to set this up, and I hope it inspires others around Namekagon to do the same.
Thank you to forward thinking families. Hope that others can learn from this!!
Thanks to the family and the Landmark staff for their commitment and work in keeping this place wild.
A bit of history:
To the best of my knowledge, Lake Namekagon was not named after “Chief” Namekagon (aka John Tanner, born in Kentucky), but was named after the Namekagon River. “Name” (nah-meh’) is Ojibwe for sturgeon; “Namekagong” means “place of abundant sturgeon”, which describes the river well before the advent of logging and dams.
THANK YOU for preserving our beautiful lake property. Your family is very generous and much appreciated for their gift to all of us.