In search of Marguerite

The new Call gang has been roaming the north woods for the past week, gathering information, taking photographs and generally enjoying upper Michigan's beautiful fall weather.

In addition to exploring several natural locations throughout the northern lower peninsula, we learned more about Marguerite Mary Gahagan, founder and first editor of The North Woods Call (1953-1969).  Early in the week, we met with Tom Dale, education director at the Marguerite Gahagan Nature Preserve in Roscommon.

The Call's home from 1959 to 1969

Mr. Dale showed us around Marguerite's former cabin home, discussed research for a book he is helping to write about Ms. Gahagan and directed us to the rural Montmorency County cemetery where she was laid to rest in 1997.  He also told us how to find the Douglas Lake property between Lovells and Johannesburg where the newspaper was written and published until Marguerite moved the operation to Roscommon in 1959.

We will share more information about Marguerite and the Gahagan Nature Preserve in an upcoming issue of The North Woods Call.

Watch for our official re-launch date, which will be determined in the coming weeks -- as soon as we tend to a few more organizational chores and unveil our new website -- mynorthwoodscall.com.