Speaking Schedule

More to be announced. Contact bobmackreth@gmail.com to arrange an appearance.

2016

January 19: Klondike Fever As the nineteenth century drew to a close, the discovery of gold drew some 100,000 hopeful prospectors to the Klondike region along the border of Alaska and British Columbia, facing hardship and danger in hopes of returning home wealthy. A few got rich; many more left disappointed, and some never returned at all. This program will tell the tale of a party of a half-dozen men from Washburn who joined the stampede in early 1898. Presented at Stage North, Washburn, 7:30 pm as part of the annual Tony Woiak History Festival.

January 26: The Legacy of Stonewall Special presentation for Washburn PFLAG- email for time and location if interested. How did a routine raid on a divey bar turn into one of history’s defining moments? The 1960s are well-known as a time of ferment and rebellion. The decade began with sit-ins and "freedom rides" for racial justice, followed quickly by the emergence of the anti-war crusade and the rise of the modern feminist and environmental movements. Then, at decade's end, an incident in New York's Greenwich Village sparked a new consciousness among GLBT men and women and changed the landscape of gay activism overnight. This talk will examine the Stonewall Riots of 1969 and the social context which helped make them a turning point.

2015

June 11, 12, 22, and 25: Bayfield and the Apostle Islands University of Wisconsin-Superior "Road Scholar" program-- see UWS page for registration details

July 7, 2015 Washburn's Memorial Park "There is perhaps no finer campsite in the state than Memorial Park at Washburn," wrote an observer almost one hundred years ago. A gift to the people of Washburn from the men and women of the DuPont company, Memorial Park still holds a special place in the community's heart. Explore a near-century's worth of memories of good times along the shore and beneath the pines in this presentation. Presented at Stage North, Washburn, 7:30 pm as part of the fourth annual Tony Woiak History Festival.

July 28, 2015 A.C. Probert: Banker, Builder, Dreamer, and... Con Man A look at one of Washburn's most colorful and controversial characters. Arthur C. Probert, founder of the Bank of Washburn, left the city its most notable building, along with a history of shady deals, legal woes, phony names, and hasty trips on the lam. Presented at Stage North, Washburn, 7:30 pm as part of the fourth annual Tony Woiak History Festival.

August 5, 2015 Photo Treasure: The Emmanuel Luick Collection, Madeline Island Museum, 7:00 pm. Emmanuel Luick, Keeper at the Sand Island lighthouse 1892 to 1920, was known as an enthusiastic amateur photographer, and for several years ran a portrait studio in his winter home at Iron River. Until recently, only a handful of his photographs were known to have survived, but in 2014, a Duluth antique dealer came across a large collection of Luick's negatives: a treasure trove of 246 photographs showing scenes around Bayfield, the Apostle Islands, and Iron River taken from 1900 through 1906. Acquired for preservation by the Apostle Islands Historic Preservation Conservancy, this program will offer a glimpse of what has been called one of the most significant discoveries in local history for many years.

August 13, 2015 Gaylord Nelson and the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center, Ashland, Wisconsin 7:00 pm. The lasting legacy of a Wisconsin hero.

August 28, 2015: Washburn's Memorial Park: Tribute to the Doughboys. How the Great War left a beloved legacy to a small Wisconsin town. Memorial Park, Washburn, 6:00 pm. Free admission.

September 7, 10, 21, and 24 Bayfield and the Apostle Islands University of Wisconsin-Superior "Road Scholar" program-- see UWS page for registration details

September 13, 2015 Gaylord Nelson and the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center, Ashland, Wisconsin 7:00 pm. The lasting legacy of a Wisconsin hero.

Selected Programs:

Dangerous Business

Things can get pretty hairy when you're living and working on a remote island in Lake Superior, or sailing on the lake' s turbulent waters. Sometimes survival takes all your wit and courage. Historian Bob Mackreth will tell tales of daring rescues, heart-stopping ordeals, and a couple of incredible mixups. Most of us know of the Apostle Islands' famous shipwrecks -- come and hear some of the archipelago's untold stories.

Somebody Lived Here

Dramatic stories of the men and women of Lake Superior's Apostle Islands: lighthouse keepers, pioneer farmers and fishermen, and the Ojibwe people who were there first.

"Yes, We Have It Good In America"

The story of Norwegian immigration to the Apostle Islands.

Sand Island- Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

The recent discovery of two albums filled with historic photos provides a unique glimpse into the life and accompishments of a pioneering young woman.

Voices of Sand Island

First-person recollections from the fishermen, farmers, lighthouse keepers, and their families who lived side by side to form a self-sufficient community on a remote Lake Superior island.

Leading a nature walk,
Fire Island National Seashore, 1987