Historic Tilden Resort cabin donated to Eagle River Historical Society

One-hundred-and-thirty years of Eagle River history is sitting along Highway 45 waiting for a move to the Eagle River Historical Society (ERHS) campus.

Jack Godding, the owner of a 130-year-old cabin that was formerly part of the Tilden Resort on Meta Lake, has offered the building to the ERHS as a permanent part of its collection.
Godding has sold the property where it is currently located after being moved off its original Meta Lake location, but the new owner is allowing it to remain in place until arrangements are made to move it.

According to records from ERHS, the Tilden Resort was developed on part of a 600-acre parcel homesteaded by Fred Tilden in 1893. The construction of Otter Rapids Dam and the flooding that followed, submerged more than half of Tilden’s land. The family camped in tents until the late 1890s, when the first tar-paper shack was built.

In 1903 the log cabin — that would become the first resort cottage — was built. A few years later the main lodge was built with a dining hall, recreation room and kitchen. The Tilden was one of the very first resorts in Eagle River.

Today, the cabin is in excellent condition for its age. ERHS Executive Director Vito Bortolotti is eager to see this asset added to the society’s permanent collection.

“This will be a significant item to add to our museum and, when in place and fully rehabbed it will be wonderful to share it with our visitors” Bortolotti said.

With the support of a family friend, a campaign is now under way to raise the $25,000 needed to relocate the cabin to the historical society’s main campus, as well as provide any small repairs caused by the move, restore the base of the cabin, and provide an ongoing fund for its future maintenance.

The ERHS will not be able to accept the cabin unless it is accompanied by the funding.
According to board President Alice Kramer, the society is fully committed to the funding for the Heritage Center addition to the main museum and is not able to undertake more fundraising plans at this time.

Two volunteers have stepped up to work to secure the necessary funds to bring this project to completion.

“We are deeply grateful to Wendy Gebauer and Jenna Czaplewski for handling the funding arrangements for the cabin,” Kramer said. She added that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to acquire an artifact of this importance and it would be painful to have to decline it.

The campaign is being managed through a GoFundMe page or by direct mail to the Eagle River Historical Society. Anyone who would like to support the acquisition of the cabin can make an online donation at gofund.me/1c93259f5 or by mailing a check to: Save the Cabin, PO Box 2011, Eagle River, WI 54521.

To follow the campaign and see any new updates, visit facebook.com/savethetildencabin.