Western Wisconsin Articles
Lakefront Specialist: Tom Schaffer, Turtle Lake WI
Tom Schaffer is a broker and the owner of the Johnson and Johnson Land Co. Before going into real estate, Tom started in sales, negotiating sales contracts for Honeywell. After leaving Honeywell, he decided on a little change of scenery, moving back to Turtle Lake, Wisconsin to enjoy a little of the country life. But Tom didn't slow down; instead he went into real estate, first joining Carlson Evergreen in 1979, and then joining Johnson and Johnson in 1990.
For over 26 years, Johnson and Johnson has helped their clients find their dream homes and getaway places amidst the wood and water paradise of the Wisconsin Northwoods.
Lakeshoredreams.com had the opportunity to speak with Tom about himself and the job he loves.
LD: What do you feel is the most rewarding part of your job?
Schaffer: The most rewarding thing about my job is when you're able to find the perfect property for your client. When your client is completely satisfied, that's when you know all your hard work's paid off.
LD: And the most challenging part of your job?
Schaffer: Without a doubt, dealing with the attorneys. No real particular reason, but they are the most difficult part of the job.
LD: What do you think is the biggest draw to your area?
Schaffer: Without a doubt, it's all the lakeshore that is around here. Coming out here is a great opportunity to just get away, be surrounded by nature, and have a little fun. The people here are also just some of the friendliest in the world. They can make anyone feel welcome which just makes visiting that much more enjoyable.
LD: What kinds of properties are you currently working with?
Schaffer: Johnson and Johnson has four offices around the Northwest of Wisconsin--Cumberland, Turtle Lake, Birchwood, and Spooner. We can show you properties from all over the area. Whatever you want to do on a lake, there is a lake for it and I can help find it for you.
LD: Are there any new developments happening in your area?
Schaffer: Right now the market is soft, so there isn't a whole lot of new things going in at the moment. But readjustments in the market like this aren't that unusual.
For more information on properties in the Turtle River and greater Western Wisconsin region please visit Tom Schaffer's listing page on LakeshoreDreams.com.
St. Croix Falls City Guide
Located on the banks of the St. Croix River, the city of St. Croix Falls stands as the "gateway" between the upper and lower halves of this historic river valley.
Founded in 1837, St. Croix Falls stood as a hub for all the traders and the trappers as they transported their goods up and down the river valley. The famous French Canadian Voyagers would often pass through St. Croix as they traveled through the river valley trading furs and dry goods with both the Native Americans and U.S. settlements along the way.
When the fur trade began to bottom out in the late 1800's, westward expansion and the increased demand for building lumber propelled St. Croix to the forefront of a burgeoning lumber industry. Its position on the river and the surrounding white pine forests made it an ideal lumber town, able to produce large quantities of raw lumber and send them down river for processing. Oftentimes this would result in major log jams requiring mill workers to scramble across the jam searching for the one "key log" that would release the whole mess down river. St. Croix Falls is the site of the world's largest log jam. Needless to say, this was a very dangerous undertaking.
Today, St Croix Falls stands as a modern jewel on this already storied river. With its rich heritage of logging, commerce, and ethnic history; plus its modern retail, service, and commercial businesses, this city is a town worth exploring.
Here are some places that you might want to visit while you're in town.
The "St. Croix National Scenic Riverway" National Park Headquarters is located on the north end of town, with a new Headquarters to be completed by 2006. During construction, the existing Visitors Center will be closed, but Park Rangers will be available to stamp your National Parks Passport and provide additional information.
Interstate Park is Wisconsin's oldest State Park, consisting of 1,340 acres of natural landscape that surrounds the river offering fabulous vistas of the St. Croix River. The park offers opportunities for picnicking, swimming, camping, canoeing, hiking and bird watching.
The Ice Age Interpretive Center is a great place to learn more about the park. Year round recreational trails abound in St. Croix Falls, offering: biking, hiking and snowmobiling on the
State Gandy Dancer Trail; hiking on Wisconsin's Ice Age Trail; and hiking, cross country skiing and snowshoeing on trails in Interstate Park.
And, if Golf is your game...St. Croix Falls also boasts a challenging 9-hole Golf Course!
To compliment the surrounding natural beauty, this area is home to many creative and cultural treasures. The St. Croix Festival Theatre, a professional theatre company, performs in an historic Vaudeville theatre and has provided quality productions for over 15 years. Watch local artists at work in their studios, visit historic buildings, partake in a free music concert at the overlook deck, attend Wannigan Days, professional Bull Riding Events, the Polk County Fair and more.
The Polk County Information Center is located at the intersection of Highways 8 & 35 South in St. Croix Falls. Open 7 days per week from 9-5, you will find information about this area including snowmobile, ATV, biking/hiking maps, county & state information, visitors guides and more. The Center also sells State Bicycle Trail passes. No matter if you are visiting for a day or a week, or looking to relocate your home or business, you will find St. Croix Falls a welcoming, progressive community.
Turtle Lake City Guide
A few miles east of St. Croix Falls one can find the Village of Turtle Lake. With over 250 named lakes nestle amid the rolling hills and woodlands, one finds themselves right in the middle of what the Wisconsin Northwoods has to offer. These forests of pine, maple, oak, and birch are homes to a wide variety of wildlife including bear, fox, deer, loons, herons, wild turkey, and the always majestic bald eagle.
Originally the area was settled by the Ojibwa Indians thousands of years ago. They traded with French and English fur traders for 200 years before the Europeans began settling the area in the 1800s. The original settlement was named Skowhagen, after one of the settler's home town in Maine. In 1862, the Turtle Lakes got their name from government surveyors who noticed many turtles laying eggs on the bank. Later, the Knapp Stout Lumber Company built and operated a number of logging camps on the lakes. When the Chicago and North Western railroad was built past the lakes, the lumber company requested supplies be delivered to Turtle Lake and not to the town of Skowhagen. Eventually, when the post office was built, it was also designated Turtle Lake and so the name Skowhagen was dropped.
Today, 1,089 people call Turtle lake homes with thousands of visitors passing through to enjoy the many things Turtle Lake has to offer.
Sport fishing is very popular here. The village is surrounded by a chain of lakes including Upper and Lower Turtle Lake, Horseshoe, Echo, Moon, Skinaway, Loon, Staples, and other smaller lakes. The abundance of lakes in the area support healthy populations of bass, walleye, pike, perch, crappies and trout.
In fall, Turtle Lake becomes an explosion of color as the leaves turn fantastic shades of red and gold in preparation for the coming winter. With fall comes the harvest and area farms produce staples like corn, alfalfa, dairy products, high-quality vegetables while some concentrate on specialty products like maple syrup and ginseng.
In the winter, the numerous trails surrounding Turtle Lake come to life with the soft swishing of cross country skiers and the throb of snowmobiles. And just because it's 15 below doesn't mean you have to stop fishing. Grab your auger and head out onto one of the many lakes for a little ice fishing.
Western WI Region Profile
Clear waters, lush woodlands, and storied histories await those visit here.
Just 20 minutes east of the St. Paul/Minneapolis metro area is Hudson, WI. This rapidly growing community is a great introduction to the region combining the natural beauty of the St. Croix River Valley with a friendly and progressive small town community. You can play golf, explore the shops, or just relax at one of their historic bed and breakfasts before heading toward the lakes.
The falls of St. Croix Falls may be hidden under their famous hydroelectric dam, but that still doesn't stop weekenders from visiting and enjoying the charm of this small town and the beauty of the nearby Cedar Lake.
St. Croix Falls once envisioned itself as a strong industrial center, and with good reason. Surrounded by rich forests and the strong waters of the St. Croix River rushing nearby, St. Croix had the makings of a strong lumber town. However, the high spring flood water would routinely wipe out the dams and mills, and carry their cargo downstream to the benefit of other logging camps. Fortunately, their loss in the lumber industry preserved the magnificent beauty of the hills and surrounding forests, attracting many hikers, skiers, and snowmobilers to the area.
Cedar Lake is located approximately 12 miles south of St. Croix Falls. This picturesque 142 acre lake is perfect for a peaceful canoe trip or a relaxing afternoon of fishing. Anglers reported that this is a great spot to land panfish and largemouth bass.
Turtle Lake, a town where its trees outnumber its people, can be found amidst a wonderland of lakes, rivers, rolling hills, fields, and (of course) lots and lots of trees. These natural features provide the surrounding area with scenic beauty, habitats for a wide variety of wild life, and countless opportunities for hiking, camping, snowmobiling, and many other outdoor activities.
Balsam Lake is a small town on the southwest shore of the lake of the same name. Balsam Lake (the lake) is the largest lake in Polk County. Besides its great largemouth bass fishing, this 2,054 acre lake is large enough to enjoy pleasure boating, sail boating, canoeing, waterskiing in the summer, and cross-country skiing and snowmobiling in the winter.
Bone Lake in located approximately 50 miles northeast of the St. Paul/Minneapolis area. It is one of the more popular lakes in Polk County measuring in at 1,781 acres with 12.5 miles of shoreline. This lake has a little bit of everything: great fishing, secluded views, and ample opportunities to hike and hunt.
For Lakeshoredreams.com, the counties grouped in Western WI include;
Polk County WI, St. Croix County WI, Pierce County WI
