Historical marker unveiled in Manitowish Waters

Members of the Manitowish Waters Historical Society, the Wisconsin Historical Society, the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI, town officials and state lawmakers met on Aug. 24 for the unveiling of a new historical marker near the intersection of U.S. Highway 51 and Airport Road to remember those impacted by a shooting involving the Dillinger Gang in April of 1934.

FBI Milwaukee Special Agent in Charge Michael E. Hensle speaks about the new Wisconsin State Historical Marker unveiled near the intersection of U.S. Highway 51 and Airport Road Saturday, Aug. 24, in Manitowish Waters.
(Photo by Trevor Greene/Lakeland Times)

Among those highlighted in the dedication ceremony were FBI special agent W. Carter Baum, the only FBI agent to have lost his life in the line of duty in Wisconsin, and Spider Lake (now Manitowish Waters) constable Carl Christensen, who was wounded along with FBI special agent Jay Newman that spring night after Lester Gillis, aka Baby Face Nelson, opened fire as the law officers approached him sitting in a car. 

Kay Krans, board member of the Manitowish Waters Historical Society, said she didn’t realize how important the dedication was to so many people. She indicated how important it was, as well, that the ceremony didn’t “glamorize” the tragic events that happened that April. 

“You know when the gang was escaping and they were terrorizing people … John Hanson’s older sister was going to school on that Monday morning, April 23, walking through the woods to go to her one-room schoolhouse and being so terrified that there would be somebody jumping out of the woods to hurt her because no one knew where the gang was,” Krans explained.

Krans indicated she thought those who tried to stop Nelson and the rest of the Dillinger Gang were very brave for what they did. 

“Just imagine coming up here in April of 1934 in the darkness and trying to apprehend members of a notorious gang,” she said.

Besides being glad the historical marker was able to come to fruition, Krans said she enjoyed getting to know new people from the Wisconsin Historical Society and the FBI. She said she was able to make new friends along the way, too.

Manitowish Waters town chairman John Hanson indicated this project has been a long time in the making and “overall, the process went very well.”

He credited Krans and said the town was fortunate to have her take the lead on the effort.

One of the most difficult parts of the project, Hanson said, involved the verbiage on the historical marker and wanting to make sure it was perfect. 

Hanson said he thought the ceremony and reception went very well. 

“I was pleased with it,” he said, acknowledging how nice it was to have students from the Lakeland Union High School band participate and Miss Madison Teen 2014 Natalie Popp sing the national anthem. 

Speaking to the courageous efforts of Baum and the others, Hanson indicated disbelief in how it all played out all those years ago.

“Just think about the modes of transportation,” he said. “(Special agents) flying up here from (St. Paul and Chicago), that alone, you know, the odds of them surviving that flight were probably about 50/50. To basically, several of those guys rode from Rhinelander to Manitowish Waters on a running board of a car … because a car broke down and they all had to pile onto one car. And … in April, that’s not the warmest time of the year. So the whole story of their dedication to get up here is pretty amazing. And the fact that unfortunately (Baum) was killed in Manitowish Waters, that was sad, but the fact that he’s the only active FBI agent that’s been killed in the state of Wisconsin is pretty amazing when you (consider it’s) 90 years later.”

Fritzi Heimdahl, of the Wisconsin Historical Society, said every application the historical society receives is different. He said it’s always interesting to learn about the many different stories and the individuals from the past that were involved. 

The marker commemorating what happened in the town in April of 1934 was the first time the historical society worked in partnership with the FBI and Manitowish Waters. 

“These projects are primarily driven at the local level and so … whatever community, whether it’s a local historical society, county historical society … they’re really the driving force behind these projects,” Heimdahl said. “And what we do with the historical society is work with them to make sure the text is factually accurate and then we work with them in terms of content editing as well. It’s certainly a partnership where both sides come to an agreement before the text is approved and the marker is placed. But again, I just love to emphasize the local driven part of this program.”

He said he was impressed by the turnout for the Aug. 24 event and expressed how satisfying it was to see everything come together. 

Executive director of the Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI Nancy Savage said the ceremony was very important. 

Savage said she’s been involved in similar events all over the country, but this was the first time she attended one in Wisconsin. 

Working with the state and the town was great, she added.

“They were very easy to work with … great partners,” she said.

FBI Milwaukee Special Agent in Charge Michael E. Hensle said, too, “unfortunately” this isn’t the first time he has attended an event honoring a fallen agent.

“In my career, I’ve been part of three of these to commemorate fallen agents, but it is probably the most important and poignant thing we do to remember those that paid the ultimate sacrifice,” he said. “Again, our agents wake up every day to help protect the people of Wisconsin and anytime we lose an agent, it’s a loss for the entire organization.”

As far as the ceremony went, Hensle said he thought it went “fantastic.” He was pleased with the high turnout of almost 200 people, which included families of those who were impacted by the April, 1934 events. 

Hensle was also thankful for the community that “welcomed” them with “open arms.”

He said he hopes people understand that the FBI is here in Wisconsin and it works to protect everyone. 

“And if they ever need us, (they) see something and are worried about, (they) can contact their local law enforcement or the FBI and we’ll be here to help,” Hensle said. 

Trevor Greene may be reached via email at [email protected].