Alger County boasts an array of natural landscapes renowned for their pristine beauty and ecological significance. One of the most striking examples of this natural splendor is the Rock River Kilns, a series of limestone kilns that played a pivotal role in the production of charcoal for the region’s mining industries during the 19th century. Presently, the Rock River Kilns is a favored destination for hiking enthusiasts, history aficionados, and nature enthusiasts alike who seek to explore the region’s rich heritage and breathtaking scenery. Anna, from MSU Extension, partnered with, Sara, Alger Conservation’s District forester to host a fun, educational, and relaxed-paced hike through the Hiawatha National Forest to learn some of the history behind the Rock River Kilns.
We began the hike with a short walk to an open field where some of the first French and Swedish migrants came to store their harvested hardwood used in the kilns to make incredible amounts of charcoal from 1879 to 1896 before the resources in the area were depleted. This wide-open field was once stacked sky-high with freshly harvested raw hardwood that awaited its turn in the kilns. Due to the use of this field and the high piles of wood, the field’s soil remains extremely compacted to this day which is why it remains wide open and bare of trees. Opportunistic spotted knapweed and a lush grove of blackberry patches now line the field and provide locals, native wildlife, and pollinators food sources and refuge.
As we continued our hike around the corner, Anna and Sara pointed out some other tell-tale signs of the forest’s history. One of the noticeable signs of the previous harvest was how the trees were growing at the base. As I mentioned, the main thought as to why the kilns were abandoned was the working crew depleted the available hardwood resources in the area. Due to this resource-heavy practice, much of the forested area was cut clear leaving room for saplings to grow once operations ended. Because the area was cut clear, many of the now older birch, maple, and broad root trees sprawled and had vast wild trunk structures due to the excessive leftover space.
Once at the kilns, our hosts spoke on the day of operations required to make charcoal in 1879. This job was not only resource- intensive but also dangerous. Most migrants who worked at the Rock River Kilns lived on-site just across the tracks, now a snowmobile and ATV trail. If the dangers of logging in 1879 didn’t take its toll, chances are an array of microscopic enemies would barrage your health. Before we headed over to the lake, we made a pit stop by the headstones which attest to three individuals who succumbed to these harsh conditions. Three headstones mark the final resting area of three small children, all under ten years old, which diphtheria claimed within the year 1885. Recently restored, these historical headstones are a reminder of how we once lived.
