Category: First Memory in Boulder Junction

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Mary Jones first impression of Boulder Junction

My first memory of Boulder Junction begins before I ever actually set foot in town. I was working as a Main Street Manager for a Tourism Department in small-town Central Illinois but looking for an opportunity to grow professionally. I saw the job posting for the Chamber Director in Boulder Junction, looked up the town and thought it looked like a great place, and decided to apply and see what happened.

I hadn’t shared with many people that I was considering leaving my current job, but after a promising first interview via Zoom, I shared my excitement with my friend Jake. I didn’t use the name of the town, thinking no one would be familiar with a tiny town in northern Wisconsin, but he kept asking. When I said Boulder Junction he immediately said “if they offer you a job, take it. It doesn’t matter what the job is, take it, move, don’t look back.” He went on to explain that he had grown up coming up here for vacations, his grandparents had a cabin on Big Lake on Highway B and that the people in Boulder Junction were some of the friendliest, hardworking, and community-minded people he and his family had ever met.

Luckily I was able to take his advice and I can honestly say that I’ve never seen another community where so many people spend so much of their free time working to better the community. I’m so glad I am able to be part of this community’s history.

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Jayne Blaisdell Growing Up in Boulder Junction

I have lived in Boulder Junction all my life. It was a great place to live and grow up in, but now things are changing some with all the new people and their city ways of life.

I started school at what they called Play Day run by the mothers who had kids there. It was located across from St. Anne Church. Then onto grade school at the site of the old community center for 3 1/2 years. Those were the best years of school. We got to do so many fun things and the teachers had the time to help all of us learn, but all good things come to an end. Then it was on to North Lakeland. I was not fond of going to school there.

Another memory was visiting with Santa every year. We would gather outside by the town Christmas tree; the kids all had some time to play with each other and the parents visited or sang Christmas songs. It was like an old fashioned gathering. No one seemed to care what the weather was like, just time for the town to get together and have some family and town fun.

I have more I could share with you but I will make it short for now and just say that I’m glad my parents picked this area as the place they wanted to call home and grow their family. I can’t think of any other place that I would be glad to call home.

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Janet’s first visit to Boulder Junction

Making the turn onto Hwy M, I always was eagerly anticipating the first sight of Boulder Junction. It always seemed to represent familiarity; it never seemed to change.

My first visit to the Northwoods was in the summer of 1964. The week was filled with boat rides on the lake, fishing, hiking, and of course several night time visits to the bears at the dump! There was also the fun of feeding animals at Aqualand – animals I had never seen in the “wild.”

Of course there have been changes over the years, but somehow the area has maintained its Northwoods character. After many years of one or two week visits, we were lucky enough to move here in 2001. And to get involved more in the community and the Historical Society.

Congratulations on 100 years!

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Josie Blaisdell-Allen Early Memories

I lived in BJ all of my life. My sisters and I are the 5th generation of Blaisdells in BJ/Trout Lake. My two great-grandchildren Jack and Marli are 8th generation.

My great-great-grandparents, Augusta (Smoke) and Jack (John) Blaisdell moved to BJ/Trout Lake in 1888 from Pardeeville. As a teenager I thought it quite amusing: “Party-ville.”

As a little girl my first boat ride was on Trout Lake. Most likely, Uncle Enoch, who with Aunt Myrtle owned and operated the Trout Lake Pavilion, drove the boat. Uncle Enoch rented boats, as well as having a grocery store, ice cream parlor, post office, and dance hall.

The boat ride was amazing and fun for a little five year old. The breeze blew my hair against my face. I watched as the waves came up even with the back of the boat. Mom held tightly to my little three year old brother, Jack, and had an arm around me. Perhaps mom would have enjoyed the boat ride better if she wasn’t concerned with the safety of her kids.

Aunt Myrtle would give us kids a “snowball cupcake.” A chocolate cupcake with cream filling, marshmallow frosting, pink or white, covered with coconut. They were huge. Over the years they seem to have gotten smaller but maybe because I am bigger!

I loved visits to Uncle Enoch and Aunt Myrtle’s, they were great people! Uncle Enoch Blaisdell was the youngest of four sons born to Augusta and Jack Blaisdell.