Marie and I have many memories from our twelve years – 1976 through 1987 – as park rangers in Quetico. Fortunately we captured some of the people from these wonderful times on film.
Tom Miyata worked tirelessly to preserve Quetico and did more than anyone to make Quetico a wilderness park.
Don Bowser had a small resort in Crane Lake, Minnesota. He was a highly respected fishing guide and guided frequently on Beaverhouse and Quetico Lakes. Photo taken in 1978.
Bruce Curtis was a pilot for Handberg's Resort on Lac La Croix and later for the the Ontario MNR until his tragic death in 1980. (photo by Marie Nelson)
Bill Douglas, taking a break from running Tip of the Trail Outfitters with his wife Sue on Saganaga Lake, holding a northern caught on Blackstone Lake in 1983.
Benny Ambrose first came to Ottertrack Lake in the late 1920's and lived here until his death in 1982. (Marie Nelson photo)
Benny with his daughter Holly and his grand-daughter at his Ottertrack homestead in 1981. (Marie Nelson photo)
Benny Ambrose homestead on the day of his funeral on September 2, 1982.
Art and Dinna Madsen at their resort on Saganaga Lake in 1984.
Betsy Powell at her resort on Saganaga Lake in 1981. Betty passed away a few years ago.
John Bouchard, on the Canada Customs dock on Saganaga Lake in 1982, is a terrific artist who was also a personable and dedicated Conservation Officer on the Ontario side of the border for many decades.
Shirley Peruniak with Irv Benson in 1983. Irv guided, trapped and lived an eccentric life on Saganaga until his death in 2009.
Betty Powell Skoog's wonderful book "A Life in Two Worlds" chronicles her years on Saganagon's Lake before it became part of Quetico Park.
Jennifer Garrett showing Leif Nelson how to paint at the Cache Bay ranger station.
John Sansted, at Prairie Portage in 1985, was an exceptional guide/trapper from Winton, Minnesota. (Marie Nelson photo)
Al Mackenzie at Prairie Portage in 1985. Al was a Canadian Customs agent for decades on Basswood Lake.
Dorothy Molter with Anna and Leif Nelson in 1985.
Dorothy's root beer stand in 1984.
Dorothy's brother constructed a fence made from paddles donated by canoe groups who frequented Dorothy's island.
Vera and Joe Meany were rangers at Lac La Croix for twenty-six years. (read article)
Spencer and Don Meany at the XY Paddle Company in Atikokan, Ontario. (see article)
What a lovely collection of people and connections. Thanks for posting.
Max
These are great photos. What a treat to see them. Thank you.
Thanks for all the memories…loved them all…wish we could go back to some of those early daze.
How wonderful to see pictures of people I remember from Saganaga Lake.Being a Customs Officer there on and off for 16 years I became family, and we finally moved into our own cabin in Sitches Island. Thanks for the memories