Hi, Ranger Jeff here. You know, in the previous video you learned from Ranger Sam about the
new group of people that were moving into the area up here and bringing with them a new type of
economy. With this ever changing lifestyle it also brought jobs, homes, and eventually
communities that they could call home. But, as these communities started growing there was a push
made to restore this to the natural beauty and to make it a Wild and Scenic Riverway.
First we get to talk about a little history. History that goes back to when the Native
Americans were here, the explorers, the loggers, and soon after the Civil War ended, many Civil
War veterans came here as a place to start life over again. Eventually that changed to
where people came back year after year for the recreational activities, fishing,
canoeing, camping. They came back here because there was something that they felt here that
drew them back year after year. You know, the river for some people is just a river.
But the river for some people is that connection that can bring you back to rekindle a memory,
or maybe even a reminder of someone or some place that occurred on the river. It's that
renewed connection, or reconnecting, that makes this river such a special place.
So because of that, sometimes the river becomes more like a home and for some people it becomes
more than just a river. You know, many people I've met along the Riverway have shared with
me the same thought - "I don't know what it is about this river, but it keeps drawing
me back year after year". You know, from the elderly couple I met at County K once, they
introduced me to their son, their daughter, and their grandchildren, and they were setting
out on a third generation canoe trip. That's the stories that we hear on the river, that's
people coming back year after year. Or the couple I met at Howell Landing. They were
there for their 40th wedding anniversary. They were married there and every year since
they bring their wedding party back for their anniversary celebration. Or the group of adults
I met at Groat Landing once. They said they came there as high school students, met up
again when they were in college and now they're coming back as adults, sharing the same stretches
of the river year after year. It's those stories that we hear on the river that remind us and
keep telling us that this river draws people back. As I said in the beginning of the video,
for some it's just a river, but for many it's more than a river, and for many it's a place
that they come back to for something maybe they can't even express. I hope you enjoyed
this video, and I hope to see you on the river someday. For those of us on the Namekagon,
thank you for listening and letting us share these videos with you.