Near Mercer in Iron County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Roddis Line – Nelson Camp 1 (1925-1930)

Iron County Heritage Area

Photographed By Paul Fehrenbach, August 14, 2012

1. Roddis Line – Nelson Camp 1 (1925-1930) Marker

Inscription. This camp was Carl Nelson’s headquarters camp. From this camp, he directed the woods operations and sent rail cars of timber south to the main line at Camp 8.

While all of the buildings are gone, artifacts found at the site tell a story of what happened here.

Food cans of various sizes show that canned fruit, vegetables, tomato sauce and condensed milk fortified the men in the winter months when fresh produce and dairy products were scarce. Animal bones and barbed wire suggest that livestock were penned in the camp for use as fresh meat. Lantern parts from kerosene lamps tell archaeologists that electric lights may not have been strung to this camp.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars.

Location. 46° 4.914′ N, 90° 16.26′ W. Marker is near Mercer, Wisconsin, in Iron County. Marker is on County Route FF, half a mile north of Turtle Flambeau Dam Road, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Butternut WI 54514, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Roddis Line - Roddis Lumber and Veneer Company (here, next to this marker); Roddis Line – Early Logging (here, next to this marker); Roddis Line – Life in Camp

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(here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Roddis Line – Nelson Camp 1 (1925-1930) (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Roddis Line - Roddis Lumber and Veneer Company (here, next to this marker); Flambeau Trail – Turtle Flambeau Flowage Dam (approx. 1.6 miles away); Roddis Line – Turtle-Flambeau Dam (approx. 1.8 miles away); Flambeau Trail – Two Ways to Go (approx. 7.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mercer.

Top photo: Crew at Nelson Camp 1 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Paul Fehrenbach, August 14, 2012

2. Top photo: Crew at Nelson Camp 1

Lower photo: Camp store and office image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Paul Fehrenbach, August 14, 2012

3. Lower photo: Camp store and office

Photographed By Paul Fehrenbach, August 14, 2012

4. Roddis Line – Nelson Camp 1 (1925-1930) Marker

Marker is on a six-sided kiosk with five other adjoining markers.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on September 14, 2012, by Paul Fehrenbach of Germantown, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 460 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 14, 2012, by Paul Fehrenbach of Germantown, Wisconsin. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.