In spring, Debbie and Kyle Roeser, of Green Bay, pulled a heavy white pine floater out of the water near the boat landing on Reservoir Pond in Townsend.
It had a U and a D clearly marked in two places, leading to its identification as an original log from the (Uri) Balcom and (Devillo) Holt Lumber Company. It was likely cut prior to 1887, when Holt bought out Balcom and use of the blaze was discontinued.
The Roesers donated the log to the Holt and Balcom Logging Camp Museum in Lakewood.
“The Roesers had no idea how old the log was,” said Kathleen Marsh, museum curator. “Debbie told me it almost ended up in a friend’s woodstove, but thanks to Kyle’s spotting the markings and his Townsend neighbor Al Benson getting in touch with me, we managed to save it for posterity.”
“This artifact is a hugely exciting find and one we are very thankful to have,” camp manager Bob Brown said. “Arrangements are being made to move it to its new home at the museum, where it will be proudly displayed as a precious and rare relic of 19th century northwoods history.”
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