Dear Reader,
Some stories take decades to complete themselves. Ours began over a century ago in the dense forests of northern Wisconsin, where Camp II operated as a bustling lumber operation near Wabeno. The camp’s rough-hewn building and the thunder of falling timber gave way to silence as the logging era ended, but the land beside Otter Lake held onto its stories, waiting.
As it was, a simple cabin as a part of the lumbering operation with a hand-operated water pump and an outdoor privy was built on that same ground. It became a place of retreat and reflection; eventually it was donated to Saint Norbert College by the FitzGerald and Wood families. Students and faculty found respite there, just as the loggers once had, though their days were filled with contemplation
and learning rather than the crash of trees.
My mother, Agnes McHale (Quinlan) Wood visited this place as a child. She later wrote about one of the occasions of these family retreats in the Ariston when she attended Saint Catherine College in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It captured her heart completelyy. She wrote about it with the kind of vivid detail that only comes from truly seeing a place from past and present memories—not just looking at it, but letting it settle into the soul. Her words, written decades ago, paint a picture of lazy summer days, the gentle lap of lake water, and the profound peace that only special places can provide.
We never could have imagined then that this story would come full circle. Recently, several of our families purchased the property back. A modest wooden lodge now occupies the nearly 40 acre property, a replacement for the original cabin that had been struck by lightning and burned down. The updated structure enhanced the retreat-like atmosphere. The families bought back not just land and buildings, but a piece of family history that included my mother’s college experience and her sister Rose McHale (Quinlan) FitzGerald’s deep connection to this particular corner of Wisconsin paradise.
Standing on the same ground where Camp II once buzzed with lumbering activity, where college students once gathered for quiet reflection, and where my mother once found the inspiration for her beautiful writing, I’m struck by how places choose their people as much as people choose their places. This land has been a working camp, a college retreat, and now it’s a part of our family legacy—a place where future generations can experience the same magic my mother captured in her heart all those years ago. You can read her words below.
Today, as we prepare to welcome new memories to this historic property, I can’t help but think my mother would be delighted to know that her words about this ‘delicious” place have come home in the most literal sense. From Camp II to college retreat to Quinlan Lodge family legacy—some circles take a lifetime to complete, but they’re worth the wait.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here