Near King in Waupaca County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Lake with a Secret

Photographed by K. Linzmeier, June 8, 2014

1. Lake with a Secret Marker

Inscription. George Allen's crude birch bark cribs provided habitat to grow 1-inch trout fingerlings large enough to be transplanted into area streams. These cribs still exist, preserved and concealed beneath the lake.

In 1939, the State of Wisconsin took over the hatchery and built a dam, located to your left, that flooded the cribs and created Allen Lake. The lake was named in honor of Mr. Allen.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1939.

Location. Marker has been reported missing. It was located near 44° 19.545′ N, 89° 13.001′ W. Marker was near King, Wisconsin, in Waupaca County. It could be reached from Hartman Creek Road 2.2 miles south of Wisconsin Highway 54, on the right when traveling south. The marker is 2.2 miles south of State Highway 54, then 0.1 mile west of Hartman Creek Road. Marker is left of the fishing pier at Allen Lake in Hartman Creek State Park. Fee area; a vehicle admission sticker is required. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: N2480 Hartman Creek Road, Waupaca WI 54981, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was in Northern Wisconsin. It was also in the American Midwest,

on the Great Lakes,

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it was in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 10 miles of this location, measured as the crow flies: Hellestad House (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Old Coach Road

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(approx. ¼ mile away); Windfeldt Estate (approx. 0.4 miles away); Grand Army Home (approx. 3.6 miles away); General Charles King (approx. 3.7 miles away); Waupaca County War Memorial (approx. 6.9 miles away); Tomorrow River Military Memorial (approx. 9.1 miles away); Original Fire Bell (approx. 9.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in King.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Fish Raceway (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been confirmed missing).

More about this marker. Caption George Allen's birch bark cribs, c. 1930.

Also see . . . Engbretson Underwater Photography. Why Fish Cribs Work and Why They Fail. "...the crib towered 12 feet from the bottom. Underwater it looked like a skyscraper. Fish flocked to the crib and occupied various stories from top to bottom." (Submitted on November 21, 2014.)

Allen Lake and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by K. Linzmeier, June 8, 2014

2. Allen Lake and Marker

Allen Lake Fishing Pier

Biking / Hiking Trail at Allen Lake image. Click for full size.

Photographed by K. Linzmeier, June 8, 2014

3. Biking / Hiking Trail at Allen Lake

The marker is to the right of the biking / hiking trail. The dam, mentioned in the marker text, is in the distance by the chain link fence.

Lake with a Secret Marker Missing image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jim Schaettle, February 7, 2024

4. Lake with a Secret Marker Missing

Credits. This page was last revised on February 22, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 21, 2014, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 829 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 21, 2014, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. 4. submitted on February 8, 2024, by Jim Schaettle of Madison, Wisconsin.