History

 Birch Point Lodge – An Interpretive Exhibit

Architectural Origins

Birch Point Lodge was conceived in the tradition of historic Adirondack and early Western

“Parkitecture.” Its proportions, room volumes, and material selections mirror lodge construction

practices of the 1920s–1930s. The building incorporates regionally sourced elements wherever

possible: Wisconsin-quarried granite, locally milled cedar, birch and basswood interior paneling,

reclaimed hardwood flooring from the tri-state region, and Wisconsin-made brass lighting

fixtures.

Situated on a natural slope within a hemlock grove, the Lodge occupies one of the highest

elevations on the point. During the early 2000s, the site was characterized by dense birch

growth—an attribute that inspired the Lodge’s name. Over time, the forest has gradually

transitioned toward pine and hemlock.

The Dining Hall

The Dining Hall contains a curated assemblage of international and regional craftsmanship. A

Chinese elm table anchors the room, accompanied by an Austrian sideboard and dessert server

from the 1880s featuring mixed-wood construction and a blend of hand and machine carving.

Above the mantle hangs Sunrise at Birch Point (2010), a tonalist landscape by Montana painter

Brent Cotton, created over several October mornings from a vantage point on the nearby Little

Island.

The chandelier—crafted by metalsmith Dan Nauman—draws inspiration from early 20th-century

Milwaukee design, notably referencing the Pabst Mansion’s hall fixture. Its incorporation of

stylized birch leaves pays tribute to the property’s namesake.

Elk antlers form the hall’s sculptural lighting accents, with blackened copper collars used to

avoid damaging the antler material. A whimsical birch-baluster balcony was designed as a

musician’s loft, recalling historic lodge traditions. Antique musician’s chairs remain preserved

there.

The flush-hearth fireplace includes vintage andirons, with a screen and tools created by a local

Irish blacksmith known for his work in regional lumberjack competitions. Birch pickwick-profile

paneling and reclaimed wood flooring complete the space.

The Kitchen

The kitchen showcases reclaimed heart-pine flooring, birch u-groove wall paneling, exposed

pine rafters, marble countertops, and a walnut end-cut butcherblock island. Custom brass

lighting—produced by Brass Light Gallery of Milwaukee—appears throughout the Lodge, with

each room featuring distinctive design variations. Natural maple bark, cherry bark, and hide lamp

shades are notable details preserved across the lighting collection.

The Great Hall

Constructed from lodgepole pine sourced from the Eastern Rockies, the Great Hall exhibits long,

straight timbers selected for structural reliability. The hand-peeled logs, fitted onsite, support

fully structural rafters and balconies. Flooring consists of reclaimed wide-plank pine.

An antler chandelier by local craftsman Ken Wilson incorporates elk, mule deer, and whitetail

antler sheds. Additional elements include a Danish Hornung & Møller piano (c. 1920) with an

inverted soundboard and a Quebec birch-bark canoe from the 1940s, made from a single piece of

bark and fully restored.

A historic elk mount from 1957 and a preserved Black Forest cuckoo clock contribute to the

room’s period atmosphere. Library cabinetry on the balcony level is made from an oak tree that

once stood on the site. The interior windows overlooking the Hall reference historical lodge-

addition architecture.

A displayed TigerCat mount—draped in a 48-star U.S. flag—evokes the era when the lake

served as one of five impoundments on the Chippewa River system, influencing regional logging practices and shaping Birch Point’s modern geography.

The Lounge

The Lounge incorporates reclaimed floors, wood paneling, and hand-hewn pine rafters. A

recessed stone fireplace with its pine lintel forms the room’s central architectural feature.

An Old Town Canoe restored by a neighboring craftsman occupies a prominent place; the

canoe’s original bill of sale is preserved with it. Elephant-hide campaign chairs from

Milwaukee’s Blatz Mansion, a 1920s repurposed fireplace mantle as a bar back, a vintage alpine

table set, and a German carving of the Seven Swabians enrich the space.

The Lake Changing Room includes a large mirror framed with historic wood from

Yellowstone’s Old Faithful Lodge; a smaller companion mirror is framed with material taken

from Birch Point Lodge itself.

Bedrooms & Artisan 

Furnishings

Bedrooms feature basswood u-groove paneling and reclaimed flooring. Decorated armoires,

beds, and nightstands were created by regional craftsman Ken Wilson. Rugs in select rooms—

such as Torridon and North Camp—are Nepalese textiles acquired during Himalayan travel to

Mount Everest.

Exterior Structures & Site Features

A carved totem pole created by Reinie Moore stands near a cedar-log screen house built by the

Dums family, assembled offsite and reconstructed within the surrounding pines. In 2015, severe

straight-line winds felled more than 60 mature trees and displaced the screen house’s lookout

roof, which remained intact when lifted free by the storm.

Flooring above the garage originates from the former Timbers of the Spooner, Wisconsin

railroad roundhouse. The long woodshed between the Lodge and the garage was the first

building erected on the property. Its sign, “Factor’s Way,” alludes both to a neighboring family

name and the Scottish term for a property steward.

Seasonal Traditions

Seasonal observances have played a significant role in the Lodge’s cultural history.

Christmas: Artificial trees were placed throughout the interior, and a 17.5-foot balsam was

traditionally positioned beside the Great Hall piano, visible from both the main level and the

balcony library.

New Year’s: Winter recreation included lake skating, cold-water plunges at the point dock,

snowshoeing and hiking to the Big Island, and indoor gatherings.

Birkie Week: The American Birkebeiner has long been associated with the Lodge, which has

hosted ski teams and elite athletes during race week.

OktoberFisht: A community event held annually on the last Saturday in September, recognized

by local residents as a signature gathering tied to the property’s history