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WMoH aut09 S,/l/Q9 1:07 PM Page i ^> ktk* CONSIN \\ 0 r M WL IBi' • iVSiL-^ iii Isfr,:,, -^> t*'k^ •'%«^- ^Jiw 'ir:^A. ^ View froin the Water Northern .Wisconsin's Wet Boa ses She Taught Him ^fj. ajrVX^th Bis Eyes"^ ?^OK EXCERPT "" ' le of the Sturgeon WMoH aut09 8/12/09 9:34 AM Page ii ^> I^MiCa^sKlthe,CinlWcn FASCINATED BY THE CIVIL WAR? tw\l WiVi- l^t^aU^ ffwy Whether you are a Civil War buff, or just interested in learning more about this monumental event in t^^^^Jfif jfWi ii^ii^aa^:^ our nation's history, the Wisconsin Historical Society can help. With our vast collections and incredible ^^^^•i programs and services, you'll find countless ways to m>-?^;^P explore the Civil War or whatever topic interests you. 1 '^J:*--*^^^^* • See the Civil War Loyalty flag at the Wisconsin ^^ Historical Museum's Odd Wisconsin exhibit Curd WaXy Wiikl/ru(,aX- WcUt- H<Mi<, • Discover one of the nation's largest collections of photographs, newspapers, and hand-written letters and diaries from the Civil War era at the Society's library and archives • Be part of the action at Wade House's 19th Annual Civil War Weekend, September 26-27 • Purchase a book on the topic from the Wisconsin Historical Society Press at wisconsinhistory.org/ whspress • Explore our digital collection "Turning Points in Wisconsin History" at wisconsinhistory.org/ turningpoints • Find properties of Civil War-era significance ^""^l^^'MdaU f">^*taA^ in the National Register Database at wisconsinhistory.org/hp/register wisconsinhistory.org What fascinates you? . 7... i^^<^ ^^^-^ ^ /Zc^-^- WMoH aut09 8/12/09 9:35 AM Page 1 ^>- WISCONSIN HISTORICAL SOCIETY Division Administrator & State Historic Preservation Officer Michael E. Stevens Editorial Director Kathryn L. Borkowski Editor Jane M. de Broux Managing Editor Diane T. Drexler Research and Editorial Assistants Jesse J. Gant, Joel Heiman, John Nondorf, 2 The Roosevelts in Superior Andrea Rottman, John Zimm by David J. Siemers Designer Zucker Design 14 Kids, Cops & Beboppers THE WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY (ISSN 0043-6534), Milwaukee's Post-\VWII Battle with published quarterly, is a benefit of full membership in the Wisconsin Historical Society. Juvenile Delinquency by Jason L. Hostutler Full membership levels start at $45 for individuals and $65 for institutions. To join or for more information, visit our Web site at wisconsinhistory.org/membership or contact the Membership Office at 888-748-7479 or e-mail whsmember(a)wisconsinhistory.org. 28 View from the Water Exploring the History and Heritage -^>- The Wisconsin Magazine of History has been published quarterly since 1917 by the Wisconsin Historical Society. Copyright © 2009 of Northern Wisconsin's Wet by the State Historical Society of Wisconsin. Boathouses ISSN 0043-6534 (print) vM^ by Christina Slattery ISSN 1943-7366 (online) For permission to reuse text from the Wisconsin Magazine of History, 36 She Taught Him to "Hear (ISSN 0043-6534), please access www.copyright.com or contact the ^L E7.. Copyright Clearance Center, Inc. (CCC), 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, With His Eyes" MA, 01923,978-750-8400. CCC is a not-for-profit organization that by Nancy K. Plant provides licenses and registration for a variety of users. For permission to reuse photographs from the Wisconsin Magazine 48 BOOK EXCERPT of History, identified with WHi or WHS contact: Visual Materials Archivist, 816 State Street, Madison,WI, 53706. People of the Sturgeon Wisconsin's Love Affair with Wisconsin Magazine of History, welcomes the submission of articles and image essays. Contributor guidelines can be found on the an Ancient Fish Wisconsin Historical Society website at by Kathleen Schmitt Kline, wisconsinhistory.org/wmh/contribute.asp. Ronald M. Bruch, The Wisconsin Historical Society does not assume responsibility for Frederick P. Binkowski, statements made by contributors. with photographs by Bob Rashid Periodicals postage paid at Madison, Wl 53706-1417. Back issues, if available, are $8.95 plus postage (888-999-1669). 54 Letters Microfilmed copies are available through UMI Periodicals in Microfilm, part of National Archive Publishing, 300 N.Zeeb Road, 56 Curio Ann Arbor, Ml 48106, www.napubco.com. On the front cover: Located on Lake Minocqua, this unique boathouse displays a prominent octagonal corner turret. PHOTO BY CHRISTINA SLATTERY VOLUME 93, NUMBER 1 / AUTUMN 2009 -^>- WMoH aut09 S,/l/Q9 1:08 PM Page 3 ^> THE ROOSEVELTS IIV SIJP^ BY DAVID J. SIEMERS CAWNT DO 'T you Kj^OW JM - ->. rfri^^;*- * I- - — fe- ^-J^ ••^xr^.^i^^ ^ ^. .r-ne*^ •=^^ ii- .1J?--^ t-^^-^-V -^^ WMoH aut09 8/7/09 1:09 PM Page 4 ^>- WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY n late September 1932, during owned by James Roosevelt. Setting out the depths of the Great Depres from Chicago on the evening of April 9 Ision, Franklin Delano Roosevelt meant that Franklin would be sleeping campaigned for the presidency in Wis during much of their journey. Even so, consin. Speaking at Milwaukee's the rambunctious youth from the Hud Eagle's Club on West Wisconsin son River Valley must have enjoyed see Avenue, the governor of New York pro ing the farms carved out of the prairie claimed that "back in the days when I and then the North Woods travel past his was in college ... and began to ponder railway car window. Franklin undoubt the great principles of political life, I edly took note of Wisconsin's birds on his learned much and profited much by way from Chicago to Superior, for this what was going on in Wisconsin." was the same year that he would start his FDR identified his own "New Deal" extensive collection of eggs, nests, and with the Progressive tradition of stuffed birds, which can still be seen at Robert M. La FoUette. This appeal the FDR home in Hyde Park, New York. worked well in Wisconsin, as Roosevelt What attracted Franklin Delano received more than twice as many votes Roosevelt's father to invest in a small here as President Herbert Hoover on town in the upper Midwest? James was election day. This was a stunning Franklin Roosevelt campaigning in Milwaukee looking to parlay his already substantial result in a state where ninety percent of during the 1932 presidential race wealth into a fortune. If things would the seats in the state legislature were go as he hoped in Superior, he would held by Republicans, and it ushered in become one of the nation's richest men. the modern era of Wisconsin politics. As the Roosevelts traveled to Superior, the town was at the The 1932 campaign trip was not Roosevelt's first visit to the peak of a decade of spectacular growth. Superior had been a Badger State. Nor was his first visit during his Vice Presiden sleepy, neglected outpost into the early 1880s. But in the ten tial run in 1920, when he came to Milwaukee to speak in sup years from 1883 to 1892, Superior experienced an economic port of the League of Nations.* Franklin Delano Roosevelt first boom the likes of which no city in the state had ever seen. A for came to Wisconsin in 1892, as a ten-year-old boy. His father mer Civil War general named John Hammond saw an oppor James, a prominent businessman, had meetings to attend in tunity in the harbor lying at the western end of Lake Superior. Chicago because he was a commissioner of the upcoming Hammond convinced St. Paul's great railroad magnateJamesJ. World's Fair. But the Roosevelts' trek through Wisconsin was Hill that Superior was ripe for development. Both Hammond not a side trip. One of the reasons that James Roosevelt had and HiU knew that transporting materials by ship was much less agreed to be a fair commissioner was so that he could conve expensive per mile than transporting an equivalent weight by niently check up on the substantial investments he had made in rail. If Hill could build a ship and harbor industry at Superior, the city of Superior, Wisconsin. James Roosevelt set out from it might corner the market on delivering grain from the Great the Windy City to fulfill his duties as president of the West Plains to the East by utilizing ships instead of railcars. Hill Superior Iron and Steel Company. pledged that "I will not rest until I have taken from Chicago all This visit was already James Roosevelt's fourth business trip of that immense traffic which belongs to Superior." In short, to Wisconsin in three years.^ The West Superior Iron and Steel Hammond and Hill envisioned in Superior a new Chicago, Company had just completed building a massive new factory which would rival the City of Broad Shoulders as the nation's on the western edge of town abutting St. Louis Bay. He had commodities and transportation hub. also just financed the building of "Roosevelt Terrace," a resi Railroad tracks were laid to connect Superior to points East, dential block of luxury townhomes sprawling out from the cor West, and South. John Hammond founded the Land and River ner of 21st Street and Ogden Avenue. Additionally, the elder Improvement Company, which bought up numerous tracts. He Roosevelt was on the board of directors of the Superior and solicited investment in Superior from the wealthy businessmen Duluth Loan and Debenture Company and the First National of the eastern seaboard. During the next few years the Land and Bank of Superior. He was also director and chairman of the River Improvement Company would be responsible for devel West Superior and Duluth Gas and Water Company.' oping most of the key properties within the city. By 1891, a pro Thus in early April 1892, James, his wife, Sara Delano Roo motional pamphlet titled "Souvenir of Superior" put out by the sevelt, their only son Franklin, and Franklin's governess traversed local Evening Telegram, called Superior "the second city in the entire length of Wisconsin, moving from its southeast corner importance and the first in commerce in the State of Wisconsin" to its northwest extremity.