Holt & Bascom Logging Camp Museum closes for 2020

Statement from the executive director
By: 
By Kathleen Marsh

TOWNSEND — The coronavirus that has ravaged our country has ended our 2020 season before it even began, something none of us at Holt & Balcom could ever have imagined. This will be the first summer in many decades that the camp will be closed. Please know this was not an easy or quick decision.

When our Camp Curator/School Tours Coordinator Bob Brown and our new Camp Manager Dave Zuleger and I met on March 13, we had no idea of the depth and breadth of the fallout from the pandemic. Ironically, that day, exactly two months ago, was a Friday the 13th. Throwing all superstitious caution to the wind, we nevertheless met at the Old Town Hall in Townsend to discuss the upcoming season.

Bob was already busy preparing for our annual school tours offered to fourth graders as part of their education about Wisconsin history, specifically their Northwoods heritage. Dave brought samples of print ads promoting “A Night at the Museum,” scheduled for June 3. This was our first attempt at a joint venture, and we were so excited to join the Wabeno Area Players, a highly acclaimed Northwoods community theater group, in staging the event.

At the time, we were planning an extra-special and ambitious summer schedule. To satisfy public demand to bring back iconic characters Cate and Whiskey Jack, I was writing another comedy program titled “The Lost Lumberjack,” which was to be presented July 11 and feature a special performance by Pat the Troubadour Lowery. After the guys gave me a thumbs-up on another new proposal, we chose Aug. 15 as the date for an 1890s hands-on demonstration of logging tools.

Then, the virus reared its cruel and deadly head. Of course the school field trip visits were out of the question; the kids were sheltering at home. What about Saturday tours? Could we make them work safely for both visitors and guides? Sadly, the answer is no.

Why? Our museum is small; social distancing is not possible. We could not assure that guests would be masked. We often have children who come; how could they be expected to practice the behaviors required to keep all of us safe? How could our docents conduct effective tours while masked? Worst of all, a large part of our appeal is that we are a hands-on museum where visitors are encouraged to touch and hold our artifacts. Proper sanitation would be very difficult, if not impossible.

So, the museum will be eerily quiet in summer 2020. As a result, the source of our financial support will disappear, but our annual expenses will not. Thus we would be especially grateful for donations of any size. Please send (tax-deductible) contributions to: Kathleen Marsh; Holt & Balcom Logging Camp Museum; 16965 Nicolet Road, Townsend, WI 54175.

Thank you for past support. We are heartsick but hopeful that we will have a rousing comeback in summer 2021 when we will again be open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays from Memorial Day to Labor Day. If conditions improve, special tours might again be available by calling Camp Curator Robert Brown (715-276-3505) or Director Kathleen Marsh (715-276-6515). In the meantime, stay safe, stay well and stay in touch!