By Shereen Siewert
WAUSAU — A unique tour slated for Sunday will offer a glimpse into Wausau’s rich logging and lumbering history, one that sits at the heart and core of our community today.
A Cut in Time on Barker-Stewart Island, presented by the Marathon County Historical Society, will be held from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 21. A $5 donation will be collected at the entrance to Barker-Stewart Island Park, located at 600 Stewart Island.
The 15-acre island, now a city of Wausau park, contains the remnants of a 19th century sawmill that once turned out 40 million feet of lumber each year, according to the Historical Society. During the event, costumed storytellers will bring the history of the island to life during a walking tour.
“It is a fun and engaging way of sharing history,” said Jane Janke Johnson, a member of the historical society who is participating in the event.
During the tour, a river pig will share the dangers of the Wisconsin River and share tales of Wausau’s logging history. Mr. Hiram Stewart, owner of the sawmill that once sat on the island, and Mr. William Landon, manager of the sawmill, will share stories about the business, while a grieving widow will tell the 1913 story of a drowning in the Janke family.
The event is being held in cooperation with Open Streets Wausau. Free parking is available at the Eye Clinic of Wisconsin, lower level, 800 First Street.
