International Falls Journal: History on tap / Howard Greene

Howard Greene was a not only a Milwaukee businessman and father to four children, but starting in 1906, he added adventurer to his achievements as well; making extensive canoe expeditions into the wilderness with his young sons, a few of his outdoorsmen friends, and a few of his sons’ school friends.

Phillips_Border coverHoward Greene was a not only a Milwaukee businessman and father to four children, but starting in 1906, he added adventurer to his achievements as well; making extensive canoe expeditions into the wilderness with his young sons, a few of his outdoorsmen friends, and a few of his sons’ school friends.

Each summer they went on a different wilderness journey, going out into what is now the Quetico and Boundary Waters, or on rivers, such as the St Croix, Wisconsin, Presque Isle, or Chippewa. During each of these excursions he wrote detailed daily notes and took dozens of photographs with a large format camera, often using glass-plate negatives. To help occupy his winter months he typed his notes, mounted the photographs, and made large, elaborate, leather-bound journals for each member of the camping party; a token gift to remember the summer adventures.

“Border Country, the Northwoods Canoe Journals of Howard Greene, 1906-1916,” is an annotated compilation of eight of these journals. It is richly illustrated with 376 original black and white photographs, and bound in the traditional look of the original leather-bound journals. This volume adds unique insight into a period of time in Borderland when it was caught between the wilderness of yesterday and becoming the Northwoods we know and love today.

Read the full article.

Published in: International Falls Journal
By: Ashley Lavigne