History of Lincoln, Oneida and Vilas Counties

"History of Lincoln, Oneida, and Vilas Counties Wisconsin"

Compiled by George O.Jones, Norman S. McVean and Others. Printed in 1924 by H.C.Cooper. Jr. & Co., Minneapoli-Winona MN. ill. 787 pages. The first two hundred pages are history of the three counties, the remainder of the book is biographies.

Biography

Dowden, J. E. manager and part owner of Medicine Lake Lodge in the town of Three Lakes, Oneida County, was born at Berea, Ky., June 3, 1886. He was educated in the grade and high schools of Berea and subsequently followed farming until 1910, from which time until 1913 he was a member of the fire department at Chicago Heights, near Chicago, Ill. In 1913 he became a traveling salesman for the National Automatic Music Co., of Grand Rapids, Mich., and in 1915 he was promoted to be general manager of the Milwaukee district of this company; he is still associated with them. In 1921 he formed a partnership for two other parties in the purchase of Birchwood Farm, consisting of 120 acres of land and four log cabins located on the north shore of Medicine Lake, in the town of Three Lakes, Oneida County, the property having 3,500 feet of frontage on Medicine Lake. In the fall of 1921 the partnership was dissolved and the enterprise was incorporated; stock was issued, of which Mr. DOWDEN owns 55%, and the official name was made Birchwood Lodge; the latter, however, was changed to Medicine Lake Lodge in 1923. Mr. DOWDEN became manager, and under his guidance the property has been built up to a splendid point of development. A large main lodge was been built, containing an ice cream parlor and grocery department besides the dining and reception rooms, kitchen, etc.; there are 19 cottages, a boat house, and a garage. The cottages are equipped with Murphy beds, an unusual feature in establishments of this kind, and there are electric lights and running water in all the buildings. There are accommodations for about 70 people. A special feature is made of the cuisine; a large vegetable garden kept on the property furnishes fresh vegetables and dairy products, and the meals, prepared by a skilled cook, are wholly delightful. The bathing beach is one of the finest on the entire Three Lakes Chain, being composed of beautiful white sand and having a very gradual slope to deep water. Fish abound in the surrounding lakes and streams, and there is sport for the enthusiast in every line of outdoor recreation. Medicine Lake Lodge leaves nothing to be desired as a place for an ideal vacation, and its upbuilding and mainteance are a credit to Mr. DOWDEN. The latter is one of the wide-awake resort managers of the Northwest and has become very popular throughout the region. He is a member of the Elks and of the Masons.

Transcribed by Susan Swanson, from pages 335-336 (with picture), History of Lincoln, Oneida and Vilas Counties Wisconsin; Compiled by George O. Jones, Norman S. McVean and Others 1924, H. C. Cooper, Jr. & Co

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