Nestled between towering birch and red pines lies the cabin of Ingvald Walter (I.W.) Stevens. Perhaps one of the best-known historic sites in Voyageurs National Park, visitors travel to the preserved cabins on Stevens Island in Namakan Lake to take-in the rugged northwoods beauty, untouched by logging that impacted much of the surrounding area.
I.W. Stevens’ Cabin on Namakan Island / NPS
Many park-goers are captivated by Stevens’ independence and self-sufficiency as he lived on the remote island on Namakan Lake for over four decades. Stevens opened the Pine Cove Resort on the island in 1937 and operated the business until 1959, at the age of 74. Over the years, Steve entertained many family and friends until he left the island in 1979. One of these friends, Marveen Minish, grew up visiting Stevens at his cabin on the point.
“A fussy, old Norwegian bachelor,” Marveen laughs as she describes Stevens.
Marveen has been visiting the area that is now Voyageurs National Park since her childhood in 1945, and her connection to I.W. Stevens is woven into her family history. Her grandmother was an avid fisherman and longtime friend of Stevens. Marveen’s father provided dental care for the lone resort owner. Some of her fondest memories include staying at I.W. Stevens’ cabin on the point. She recalls Stevens singing during his morning chores and hauling ice blocks in his wheelbarrow to provide his guests with fresh water.
IW Stevens Snowshoeing / NPS
“I remember Steve showing us his ‘Winter Throne’,” recalls Marveen, “He had a chair mounted on stilts to hold it above the floor. Beside him was a tall stack of National Geographic magazines that he would read in the wintertime - his resting season”
Marveen’s husband, Bob Minish, first visited the park with her family in the summer of 1960 and was quickly captivated by the area. The Minishes continued visiting their family cabin on Sand Point Lake and Bob would later become the president of the Canadian Sandpoint Power Association, a group critical to bringing electricity to the cabins in the area.
Marveen shares the serene nature of Voyageurs that sticks with her: “My favorite memories from childhood are visiting Steve’s log cabin on the point, sitting there with all of the northwoods around and looking for blueberries. That’s where I gained all of my blueberry hunting skills.”
Bob Minish holding a Northern near Grassy Bay
Bob has felt the magic of Voyageurs National Park over the course of decades, but one experience stands out to him. Sitting around the campfire in late September, Bob looked up to the night sky and watched the space station zoom over his head. Then, a wolf let out a long howl and the chilling call of a loon echoed from the lake. “What an incredible experience to have in the span of just a half hour,” Bob reminisces.
To someone who has never visited Voyageurs National Park before, Bob explains you don’t want to miss the park after dark: “One experience is to be there at night with a clear sky. Being able to see the Milky Way, seeing the stars like you’ll never see them anywhere else and listening to the wolves howl,” says Bob.
Bob and Marveen are longtime supporters of Voyageurs Conservancy and recognize the importance of giving back to the woods and waterways that have brought them so many fond memories over the decades. “When you love something, you have to keep it alive. You can’t just keep taking, you need to give back,” says Marveen.
Postcard featuring the Allens, Marveen’s family, at Pine Cove Lodge on Namakan Lake.
For Bob, he finds joy seeing others recreating in Voyageurs and enjoying all the unique experiences Minnesota’s national park has to offer. He recalls conversing with a group of young college students enjoying a summer day at the Mukooda campground - swimming, fishing, and enjoying the fresh water: “It was a delight to see the park being utilized and appreciated by others.” The support of Conservancy members like Bob and Marveen ensure these experiences live on.
The extensive connections between the Minishes and Voyageurs National Park could stretch across pages. Bob and Marveen have generously donated many of their historical belongings to the park’s archives, including a Christmas card and letter written from I.W. Stevens to Marveen’s grandmother. Marveen is grateful there is a place to preserve the pieces of history that shaped her upbringing and the early days of Voyageurs National Park: “I hope through this, future generations feel connected and have knowledge about what shaped the park.”
Bob Minish, Marveen Minish, and John Bauercamper
