If These Woods Could Talk

04/08/2026

🌳🌲If these woods could talk, they might need to tell you a few stories before they can properly tell you the story they wanted to tell you in the first place🐦🌳

A recent donation to the Historical Society catalyzed this conversation. A pair of snowshoes once belonging to Stewart “Jumbo” Lester led Rhinelander Historical Society president Bill Vancos to contact Greg Umland, Bill’s old classmate whose father used to hunt with Stewart, for some information. The two of them sat down with me here at the library to record some memories. What followed was a wayward conversation that wended its way through decades of Rhinelander history, businesses, names, landmarks, events, deaths--and even a little bit about Mister Lester.

Stewart and his friend Victor Umland were recognized in the area for their hunting prowess. Through his life, Stewart also ran a service station and bar, drew people in as a musical performer, and worked as a carpenter. I’ll let Greg take it from here.

Follow the Rhinelander Historical Society on facebook
https://www.facebook.com/RhinelanderHistoricalSociety
Also follow the Rhinelander District Library
https://www.facebook.com/RhinelanderLibrary

🌳🌲If these woods could talk, they might need to tell you a few stories before they can properly tell you the story they wanted to tell you in the first pla...

03/04/2026

🌳🌲If these woods could talk, they might tell you the difference between a RESTROOM and a REST ROOM 🚺💆‍♀️

Cindy Goll from the GFWC Rhinelander Woman’s Club came into the library to tell us about the Oneida County Rest Room for Women that existed for more than 60 years. It may not have been what you think!

A unique slice of day-to-day life from a century ago. Thanks, Cindy!

Follow GFWC Rhinelander Woman's Club on Facebook!

🌳🌲If these woods could talk, they might tell you the difference between a RESTROOM and a REST ROOM🚺💆‍♀️Cindy Goll from the GFWC Rhinelander Woman’s Club ...

02/23/2026

Friend of the podcast, Mark Miazga, has ANOTHER upcoming book! Big news. We can't wait. Put us on the delivery list!

I've been hard at work after the release of my third book on a fourth! This one will be entitled The Hunt for the Hodag in History and will focus on a myriad of Hodag stories, the use of the word going back centuries, and its growth in newspaper coverage throughout North America. The book will debut on Saturday, May 16th at the Hodag Heritage Festival at Pioneer Park Historical Complex. I will also have it available for purchase after that date at The Hodag Store in Rhinelander and Kid's Korner Pizza as well as online at Etsy.com. I'm attaching the cover and back cover here which were just finalized today! I will also provide some photos from the new book in the coming weeks on this page.

02/16/2026

You may be aware that Rhinelander lost a notable resident this weekend.

Almost two years ago, Paul Haftarski along with his family let me into his home and shared a great deal of his riveting life story ahead of his 100th birthday. He also showed me his woodshop and photographs and the things he continued to tinker with and build. I'm sharing again because I think it's an amazing story that too few people enjoyed when I originally shared it.

This weekend at age 101, Paul passed. As well as being intelligent and fascinating, he was a very sweet man. This episode is an hour long, but if you can find the time, I promise it is worth listening to Paul Haftarski tell his story.

April 28, 1924 ~ February 14, 2026

Obituary and arrangements will be found here:
https://www.hildebrandrussfh.com/obituary/paul-haftarski

If these woods could talk, they might tell you about an exceedingly bright young man in Poland who graduated high school just in time for N**i occupation; wh...

01/21/2026

Well, I should say so.

(From "The Hodag 1919" - Rhinelander High School yearbook)

01/13/2026

Another re-upload from last year.

When he was a teen in the forties, Glynn “Bud” Roberts’ family bought a resort in Arbor Vitae. Bud talked about the resort and other memories of the Northwoods, including trips to the Rhinelander Boat Company. Check it out!

If these woods could talk, they might tell you about a rowboat with Rhinelander written all over it. When he was a teen in the forties, Glynn “Bud” Roberts’ ...

01/12/2026

Another upload of one of our first recordings. Jeff Scandin is an educator and football coach who spent most of his career in Rhinelander. In his time, he coached for and against a number of very talented athletes. In this short episode, hear Coach Scandin recall the Wisconsin Valley Conference's golden era.

An upload of one of our first recordings. Jeff Scandin is an educator and football coach who spent most of his career in Rhinelander. In his time, he coached...

01/12/2026

This is a re-upload of one of our early episodes. The recording came to us a year and a half ago by way of Oneida County 4H. It's a recording a young 4H-er and her brother made of their grandmother, Betty Preu, several years ago now.

This is honestly the reason I wanted to start this project: because my Great Grandmother lived to be 104 years old, and for the last 15 years of her life we often talked about how we HAD to make a recording of her talking about life then and now and her perspectives. And we never did. So, anyway, listen to Betty's recollections.

This recording first came to us about a year and a half ago from an Oneida County 4H-er. She states:This is my great-grandmother, Betty Preu, who lived from ...

11/17/2025

This is a republication of one of the first episodes of ITWCT.

In this edition of If These Woods Could Talk, Bob Martini shares first-hand knowledge of Wisconsin’s history at the forefront of water conservation policy. He has been speaking on this topic for decades and his expertise on the matter is evident. Hope you enjoy learning with Bob!

This is a republication of one of the first episodes of ITWCT.In this edition of If These Woods Could Talk, Bob Martini shares first-hand knowledge of Wiscon...

11/04/2025

This is a re-upload of one of our very first episodes. Former resident Mike Haney, whose posts I enjoyed on the "You grew up in Rhinelander WI if you remember..." page, recorded some recollections from his years living here. It's short and very sweet.

🌲🌳If these woods could talk, they might reminisce fondly about their sapling days.📷🌲

In this edition of If These Woods Could Talk, we hear from Mike Haney. Mike lives in Texas these days, but he spent a few formative years in Rhinelander. I reached out to Mike after I saw a contribution of his to a Rhinelander history page. I hope you enjoy his recollections.

🌲🌳If these woods could talk, they might reminisce fondly about those golden sapling days.📷🌲In this edition of If These Woods Could Talk, we hear from Mik...

10/31/2025

NEW BOOK ALERT
🌳🌲If these woods could talk, they might ride the pine and keep on cheering.🌲🏀

We’re extending our range a bit for today’s storyteller. We spoke with Thomas L. Pelissero of Bessemer, Michigan, author of the new book “Bring One Home: A Memoir of Boyhood, Basketball, and Hometown Spirit.” The book juxtaposes the decline of Bessemer’s mining industry in the 1960s with their high school basketball team’s years-long losing streak. It’s a compelling concept, and the book is filled with far more stories from Bessemer’s heyday than could reasonably fit in an episode.

The book’s release party will be Saturday, November 1 at the Bessemer City Hall auditorium.

🌳🌲If these woods could talk, they might ride the pine and keep on cheering.🌲🏀We’re extending our range a bit for today’s storyteller. We spoke with Thoma...

10/07/2025

TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE!
If these woods could talk, they might be "next." I got to speak with Dr. Scott Bonn about a different sort of history than usual! He talked a bit about his philosophy on media portrayals of grisly events and what to expect from his upcoming presentation at Nicolet College Library.

This Sunday, October 12, come see renowned criminologist, author, and professor Scott Bonn talk about the allure of serial killers and why we love monsters. To be followed by a Q&A.

Knowledgeable, well-spoken, and easy to talk to. 𝙄𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪'𝙧𝙚 𝙪𝙣𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪'𝙙 𝙚𝙣𝙟𝙤𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙤𝙥𝙞𝙘, 𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙡𝙚𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙥𝙪𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙩 𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚!

Tickets are available online at https://rdlfoundation.org/doc-bonn/ or in-person at the Rhinelander District Library.

See you there!

Criminologist, author, and professor Scott Bonn is bringing his experience studying the worst elements of humanity to Rhinelander! Dr. Bonn has made a name f...