Ashland’s Beginnings

By Sharon Manthei

Ashland, Wisconsin is located at the head of Chequamegon Bay of Lake Superior. When the Chippewa people came to this area, about the time when Columbus discovered America, they named it Szah-guh-wah-mih-koong, which was later translated as Chequamegon. By breaking down the syllables, translators of the Chippewa tongue say that the word means the “region of shallow water” or “shoal water”. Anyone who has been on Chequamegon Bay knows that description aptly applies to Chequamegon Bay. The Chippewa people lived in the Chequamegon Area only about 120 years, and then moved to the “Soo”. While at the Soo, the Chippewa people often returned for the great hunting and fishing at what they regarded as their Chequamegon Resort. It wasn’t until about 1690 the Chippewa returned to Chequamegon permanently.

            The first white men to arrive on Chequamegon Bay were voyagers and missionaries. The French fur traders Radisson and Groseilliers were the first recorded white men to visit the area. They set up a camp at the head of the bay between the mouths of Fish Creek and Whittlesey Creek. They spent the winter of 1659-1660 exploring the area and trapping beaver for their prime pelts. At this time in history; the bay was encircled by several nations of Indians, which included Hurons, three branches of Ottawas, Ousakis or Sauks, Outagamies or Fox and Illinois.  Radisson and Groseilliers camp was between the Hurons and an Ottawas camps. A Brownstone marker was erected at the site in 1929. Because of Highway reconstruction, this marker has been moved to Maslowski Bathing Beach closer to Ashland.