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Washington Island Observer

News originally published in the Washington Island Observer.

2018 Photo Contest Winners!

October 30, 2018

2018 Photo Contest Winners!

First-ever "You oughta be in pictures" contest draws 140 entries The Washington Island Observer thanks all of the many subscribers who entered our first annual photo contest. You captured the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Washington Island Observer

‘I remember Jens’

October 23, 2018

‘I remember Jens’

By Howard Scott, Jacobsen Museum director Jens Jacobsen did far more during his lifetime than build his museum beside Little Lake. Arriving as an immigrant boy knowing no English, he eventually … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Washington Island Observer

FOPPI Update: Explore Plum Island Day 2018

September 11, 2018

By Tim Sweet and Gordon Vieth Nearly 30 people turned out for Explore Plum Island Day on August 18. Visitors – who hailed from Oregon to Washington Island, and points in between – were given tours … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Washington Island Observer

Washington Island Weather June-July 2018: It’s Tough Being a Clucker

August 24, 2018

Washington Island Weather June-July 2018: It’s Tough Being a Clucker

It is hard to imagine that on these mild, 65 to 75-degree days of Island summer, with lush vegetation and soil all around us, a chicken would be depressed. Granted, we are past the peak of summer … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Washington Island Observer

A Plea for Plum and Pilot Islands: Continuing My Family Legacy

August 24, 2018

A Plea for Plum and Pilot Islands: Continuing My Family Legacy

My family has the distinction of having members of three previous generations work on Plum Island, beginning in 1895. Now, the baton has passed to me. They were building and serving on Plum. I, with … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Washington Island Observer Tagged With: Pilot Island, Plum Island, Washington Island

Everyday Nature: Being Mindful, Seeing Anew

August 24, 2018

Everyday Nature: Being Mindful, Seeing Anew

Humans are adaptable — one of our most appealing traits. We can get used to just about anything. When I was living in South Los Angeles after college, I got used to stepping over trash while I walked … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Washington Island Observer

Jonas Thor, Historian of Icelandic Emigration to America, Visits Washington Island

December 11, 2013

Jonas Thor, Historian of Icelandic Emigration to America, Visits Washington Island

By Mary Marik In 1870, when emigration from Iceland to North America began, the population of the whole of Iceland was about 70,000. (The population of Green Bay today is about 105,000.) During … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Washington Island Observer

TOWN SQUARE – A Love Note to Washington Island

December 9, 2013

TOWN SQUARE – A Love Note to Washington Island

By Rick Carson As a child from suburban Chicago, I spent many enjoyable summer weeks on the Island in the early 1950s with my fishing-loving dad (and sometimes mom) at Cedar Lodge on West Harbor … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Washington Island Observer

Timothy Tree Frog: From a small Ohio pond to the Island

December 9, 2013

Timothy Tree Frog: From a small Ohio pond to the Island

By Patricia Hewitt A few years ago Island resident Audrey Nourse was visiting her granddaughter, Giulia Shelton, now age 10, in Ohio. One spring evening they heard frogs singing. Giulia was … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Washington Island Observer

The Jacobsen Museum: Full of Surprises

June 20, 2013

The Jacobsen Museum: Full of Surprises

Howard Scott, the new director of the Jacobsen museum, says he is having fun discovering new surprises. “Hmm, what is this?” “Do you know who made this?” Most visitors to the museum, located on the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Washington Island Observer

Electric Co-operative Banner Project

June 20, 2013

Electric Co-operative Banner Project

For many years, The Washington Island Electric Co-operative has hung American flags during the summer and Scandinavian flags during the Scandinavian Festival in our downtown area. These flags were … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Washington Island Observer

Capturing Island Beauty in Watercolor: Cathy Meader, Artist

May 9, 2013

Capturing Island Beauty in Watercolor: Cathy Meader, Artist

Cathy Meader loves to paint in the open air—in the manner of certain schools of French impressionist painting, “pleinair” in French—coloring our Island sky with gorgeous hues in pinks and purples; our … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Washington Island Observer

National Postal Museum: Cheryl Ganz

April 25, 2013

National Postal Museum: Cheryl Ganz

On a recent trip to Washington D.C., Jim and Kathleen Morris met up with Island resident Cheryl Ganz, who is chief curator of philately at the National Postal Museum of the Smithsonian … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Washington Island Observer

Circumnavigation of the Island: on the Ice With Lee Engstrom & Friends

April 25, 2013

Circumnavigation of the Island: on the Ice With Lee Engstrom & Friends

On March 12, 2013, at 10:00 a.m., Lee Engstrom and friends Bill Benson, Merrill Lundberg, Jim Morris, and Dave Ranney, set out on the beach at Sunset Resort to circumnavigate the Island. Friends, Don … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Washington Island Observer

Island 1950s Baseball: a Conversation with Jake Ellefson and Ray Hansen

April 11, 2013

Island 1950s Baseball: a Conversation with Jake Ellefson and Ray Hansen

Islanders have been playing baseball since 1875 when the boys from St. Martin’s Island came over for a game. After that, games were mostly played between Island players. In 1903, Will Jess organized … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Washington Island Observer

Early Maple Sugar Camp on Rock Island

March 14, 2013

Early Maple Sugar Camp on Rock Island

Making maple syrup has been a springtime ritual on Washington Island for so many years, and has involved so many families, that I was surprised by the lack of photographic images and documentation in … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Washington Island Observer

The Pipes are Calling: Bob Gillespie, Piper

February 28, 2013

The Pipes are Calling: Bob Gillespie, Piper

When Bob Gillespie reached 50 years of age, he decided that he would learn to play a musical instrument. “I considered piano lessons,” he said, “but when I heard the robust sound of the great highland … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Washington Island Observer

Bald Eagles Return to the Door Islands

February 28, 2013

Bald Eagles Return to the Door Islands

The largest “top of the food chain” bird inhabiting the Door Islands is the bald eagle. The scientific name, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, signifies a sea (halo) eagle (aeetos) with a white (leukos) head. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Washington Island Observer

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