EAST-CENTRAL WATERS - Wisconsin - page 384

day-to-day life of Stockbridge and the later fur trade. Of note is the section on the mis-
sionaries—those stoic Jesuits—including a catechism written in Mohican and a 1745 Bible
presented to the Stockbridge by an emissary of the Prince of Wales. The library and mu-
seum are four miles east of Bowler.
SHAWANO
Shawano lies along the proudWolf River at one ofits widest points and serves as the recre-
ational heart of the Wolf. The lake bearing the name Shawano sits to the east, full of fish.
The name (pronounced SHAW-no) is another mellifluous result of the Menominee term
for the large lake: Sha-Wah-Nah-Pay-Sa, “Lake to the South.”
Settlers first came to work in lumber mills built in the 1840s and then to serve traffic
on an old military road (Main Street was part of it). The city now has one of the country's
largest milk-products plants and a leading artificial breeding cooperative.
But it's recreation that draws most visitors—fishing on Shawano Lake and white-water
rafting on the wild Wolf River. This is true-blue, mom-and-pop, basic family-style resort
country.
Sights
Seven miles south of town, the almost unknown Navarino Wildlife Area is a restored
1,400-acre glacial lakebed, once a swamp and wetland that was drained and farmed for a
century. Fifteen dikes have re-created the wetlands—sedge meadow to cattail marsh. Prair-
ie and oak savanna restoration work is ongoing. The marshes support a resident family of
sandhill cranes; the best wildlife viewing is along the Wolf River drainages on the western
fringes, near McDonald Road. A nature center (715/526-4226, Mon. and Fri. only) is at
the site. Get to the wildlife area via WIS 156 and McDonald Road.
The Mielke Theater (715/526-6171)standsinanisolated,bucolicsettingwithacountry
garden and offers year-round cultural events varying from an arts and crafts fair (a good
time to scout for Midwestern handicrafts) to children's theater and plenty of concerts. Go a
mile north on WIS 29 and then follow signs along Highway HHH.
Scenic Drives
Definitely pick up a great map of the Pineries to the Present state heritage tours. The four
toursarefullydetailedandworthawholedayofcheckingoutextantsightsintwocounties.
West of Shawano approximately 25 miles is tiny Wittenburg, the endpoint of one of
Wisconsin's Rustic Roads, this one Highway M, which ends in Tigerton. There are lovely