Built in 1883 by John S. Munroe, the log cabin was one of three original buildings that made up the community of loggers that started what would later become the Village of Wausaukee. Monroe shipped timber, cedar posts, pilings and railroad ties from this tiny community. The Log cabin served as a boarding house, hotel, post office and the only eatery north of Green Bay for many years .

In 1885 John Monroe was appointed postmaster and the log cabin became the first post office which gave the community some validation. As the lumber boom brought more men to the north woods, the cabin became an Inn and eating place to  lodge the many travelers to the area. The Monroe cabin was originally built on the site where Smith's Hwy 141 grocery is currently located.

• Bird & Wells Saw Mill

  • In 1887 J.W. Wells and H.P. Bird visited Wausaukee and leased a small saw mill that would start a new era for this area. Full scale production started in 1888 when the mill was expanded, 2000 acres of pine lands were purchased and rail lines were completed to haul the lumber to market.

• Logging camps were established throughout the area to supply the timber needed for the mills.

• John S. Monroe died on March 25, 1900 at the age of 77 years. Bird & Wells sawmill was shut down for the funeral so that all could attend. The funeral was held at their residence and was the largest attended funeral ever held. Jane Belton Monroe followed her husband in death May 14, 1901.

• The Monroe's had five children, Sarah, who died in infancy; John Wallace; Helen Elizabeth, often known as "Libby"; Eliza  Mae; and Harry. Libby and Eliza ran the Monroe establishment until about 1935, but declined selling it to interested parties for fear liquor would be served on the premises. Ray Gustaveson purchased the property in 1942 to make way for his hardware and implement business.

Growth at the Turn of the Century

Carts and buggies filled the streets and churned up the mud or dust, depending on the season, while pedestrians clung to the safety of the wooden sidewalks. Eight passenger trains arrived daily and freight trains swept through the village every 20 minutes. The town boasted numerous stores, barbershops, an undertaking parlor, distillery, three livery stables and a meat market, not to mention twelve saloons. Adams & Ruggles Distillery was built on May 19,1900 . The main building was 22x28 feet and was used as a fermenting and mashing room. The daily capacity was 14 gallons of corn and rye whiskey. Two vats totaling 130 gallons capacity took approximately 72 hours to make corn whiskey and 96 hours for rye. The building was destroyed by fire 2 years later.

Booming Hotels

• Munroe Log Cabin

  1887 Hotel Wausaukee

  Exchange Hotel

  Shepard Hotel

  At one time there were five hotels in the Wausaukee community. The original Monroe log cabin, the Hotel Wausaukee, Exchange Hotel, and the Shepard Hotel are depicted above.  No images are available for the Atlas Hotel . The log cabin was torn down to build another building which currently holds Smith Grocery, the Hotel Wausaukee houses Graphic Impressions Photography Studio, the Exchange Hotel Burned and was demolished, and the Shepard Hotel has been modified as an apartment house and is located west of the highway.

  The 1887 the Hotel Wausaukee was a boarding house with 12 sleeping rooms, saloon, apartment for the owners and served dinner for its guests continuously from 1887 until 1978 by the owners and various managers. An addition was added to the north side soon after it was  built completing the floor space of over 4500 square feet.  It was then sold to the  current  owners and reopened as a Bed & Breakfast for five years.  It has been renovated and is continually upgraded to accommodate current needs. It  functions as a residence for the owners and is the current location of Graphic Impressions Photography Studio.

Views of the Streetscape

• 1908 Main St looking south

  1907 View looking to West

  Wausaukee Booster

  Dirt roads were the main thoroughfare with horses and wagons hauling logs, equipment and people. Logs were piled next to the tracks for pick up by train. Wausaukee's population in its logging heyday was measured at 1,700 inhabitants.

  The Bust of 1910 Continued on History Page 2