New Year’s Eve celebrations have been going on for a very long time. But as the time of the celebration has shifted over the centuries, one thing that has not changed is the fact that some people must work over the holiday.

In the 1930s the price of a tree averaged two dollars, which is about thirty-four dollars when adjusted for inflation. This was a lot of money during the Great Depression, which meant that tree theft became a problem.

Public decorations are part of the holiday tradition in towns and communities across the Northwoods. Streets are gaily decorated, and a community Christmas Tree is put up for all to enjoy. But where did this tradition come from?

In June 1929, hikers found the charred body of a man near the town of Three Lakes. It was a mystery that led to a flood of speculation and a surprising conclusion.

Vilas County is named after William Freeman Vilas, who represented Wisconsin in the United States Senate. But there was another man from the Vilas family who had an impact on the Northwoods. Logan Vilas was an adventurer who set several Northwoods firsts.

Rhinelander was founded as a sawmill town, and in its earliest years little thought was given to the need for a National Guard unit. When one was established, an armory was needed as a storage and training facility. For most of its history, Rhinelander’s armory served as an important community center.

The settlers from Kentucky who came to Forest County at the turn of the century transformed the region. But a few got involved in illegal activities, and one small group created a large enough ruckus that the National Guard got involved.

In the days before recorded music, if anyone wanted to listen to music they had to sing or learn to play an instrument. The fiddle was an especially popular choice for long winter nights in Northwoods lumber camps.

A recent question on the television game show Jeopardy! Wanted to know what the most boring year in the twentieth century was. The answer was 1954, and more specifically, the most boring day was April 11, 1954. Was it really that boring, including here in the Northwoods?

In the past Halloween was a time of pranks and petty vandalism, and in 1931 Rhinelander tried a new idea to put a stop to it all.