Steven Dutch, Professor Emeritus, Natural and Applied Sciences, University of Wisconsin - Green Bay
The burned out shell of a former hotel is a conspicuous landmark just south of Devils River on County R. The shell is historic and attractive, and nobody wants to see it demolished, but it is also a magnet for vandalism and drinking parties. There's periodic talk of both restoration and demolition. | |
From the bridge over Devils River, outcrops can be seen in the stream bed on both sides. These views are east of the bridge. | |
Below: views of a small fall west of the bridge. | |
Left and below: upstream from the bridge are some small waterfalls with obvious control by jointing. | |
A restored mill, now the focal point of a campground, is one of the most appealing features of this locality. | |
The mill | |
The office is an old log cabin. | |
This silo, dated 1915, and other old farm buildings, are also on the site. | |
Left and below are pictures of the old dam that once
impounded water for the mill. Below right: upstream side of the dam showing the outlet to the millrace. |
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Near the dam is a large dolomite erratic | |
Left and below: the old millrace can be followed along the hillside to the concrete trough that finally fed water to the mill. | |
Why "Devil's" River? Often the term arises from underground flow. Upstream from the dam the stream forms a wide, apparently isolated pool. | |
However, the flow is not entirely subterranean. A small inlet stream enters from the far side of the pool. The large grassy mound is visible in both pictures. | |
Thick glacial deposits cover the dolomite. A glacial lake occupied this valley during the Pleistocene and left these glaciolacustrine deposits. | |
View north on County R across the valley of Devils River, looking toward Cooperstown. | |
View south on County R across the valley of Devils River. |
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Created 3 May 2002, Last Update 11 Jan 2020