conservationists work together over the generations to save the trees

Walt Goldsworthy was a Three Lakes conservationist.  Goldsworthy died seven years ago, but during his life helped preserve the Thunder Lake marsh and the Sam Campbell Memorial trail.  Goldsworthy  helped save  with the 1930’s CCC log shelter houses at Franklin Lake campground  and set up Franklin Lake interpretive nature  trail.  Goldworthy was also instrumental in saving some  big  trees on the Military Road.  Nick Vander Puy from the Superior Broadcast Network talks with Walt’s widow, Doris Goldsworthy, about her husband’s accomplishments. click here for live stream broadcast

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saving the trees and wetlands on the historic roadway in northern Wisconsin

    

Gazing  out at the bird feeder,  Doris Goldsworthy sits in her husband Walt’s chair in her comfortable apartment in Three Lakes.  There are signed nature books on the shelf by photographer Les Blacklock and writer Sig Olson.  Also Walt’s book, “Wilderness Reflections.”   There are bird images throughout her home.

 

Doris Goldsworthy reminisces  about the summer, back in the nineteen fifties, when Walt was working near  Franklin Lake  as a US Forest Service naturalist.  The Goldsworthy’s  and their two children lived  in a large  canvas tent,  giving nature talks and leading walks in the woods.

 

“Oh, it was just a beautiful summer.  And we had really nice camping neighbors.  It was such fun on the trail. And Walt gave the campground programs at night, showed movies.  And then I don’t know how long had every Sunday had this guided auto tour to all these spots in the Nicolet National Forest.”

 

Walt Goldsworthy helped establish the Franklin Lake interpretive nature trail. The trail winds between Franklin and Butternut Lakes.  The trail has different stops and signs  highlighting  a bog, wild flowers, and a beautiful stand of mature trees, overlooking Butternut Lake, known as the Hemlock Cathedral.

 

“And it’s still very, very popular today.  People go there every…well some people several times a year.  For instance, some people I know from Rhinelander, come up there, drive that Military Road, at least a couple times of year go up there, beautiful, beautiful, clear lake both Franklin and Butternut, wonderful swimming, and hopefully it’ll be there for many, many years.”

 

After a day working at the Franklin campground Doris Goldsworthy would walk the Franklin trail.

 

“Just great to go walking around.  It was about a mile long., especially to stop at the Hemlock Cathedral, those beautiful hemlocks.  It was just the peace and quiet, just to commune with nature, we still have friends we made back then that we keep in touch.”

 

One time on the trail Doris Goldsworthy saw some kids shooting their bb guns at an eagle on her nest.

 

“And I got kind of mad and I chased’em right out and I said don’t do that, explained the whole thing to them, killing that eagle still had babies in the nest, they looked very, very sheepish, and I hope I made a point, it really wasn’t really a good thing to do, not smart at all.”

 

Besides creating the Franklin Lake interpretive trail, Walt Goldsworthy worked almost thirty years to preserve the Military Road. This was recognized by the US Forest Service in 1991 when the road was protected as a Heritage Scenic Byway.

 

“And the road itself was such a beautiful, relaxing drive, you took your time, and could see the trees right up close to the road, you didn’t have to look off in the distance to see the trees, they spread right across the top of the road and made a canopy, always been such a beautiful thing and hate to see it lost.”

 

Back in 1991, when the Military Road was designated as Heritage Scenic Byway former editor Dan Satran Sr. wrote  in the Vilas County News Review, “I assume that assures no straightening of curves, and no cutting back trees. I hope they have the good sense to post an especially low speed limit so no one is foolish enough to drive beyond the safe capacity of those scenic fifteen miles. There is no need to hurry.  A slower speed would protect those who hike on the roadside, or those who stop their cars to get out and enjoy the scenery.”

 

But today in 2007  the Three Lakes town board plans to knock down hundreds of mature trees to widen and straighten the Military Road.

 

Doris Goldsworthy thinks her husband Walt Goldsworthy would be doing everything possible to save the beauty on the Military Road.

 

“Well I know he would have a whole lot more ideas than I could ever think of because he had such a really great imagination for doing anything.  He really knew how to get things across and who to contact to fight something like this.  If he were here I think he would have it all settled by now.  That Military Road would be saved.”

 

I’m Nick Vander Puy for the Superior Broadcast Network. 

 

 

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