Although I've passed through Saganagons Lake several times, I've never ventured to the far eastern end of the lake. There really wasn't any reason too, or so I thought.

A few years ago, I picked up a copy of Kevin Callan's "Quetico and Beyond" Guide book and read about the Powell family homestead that existed on the eastern shore of Saganagons Lake.

I'm intrigued by the history and politics of the Quetico-Superior country and I'm always interested in finding the ruins or artifacts of the past.

I found a brief mention of the site by "Bushwhacker" in the Quetico forum from March of 2011, but his reply was related more to depth maps of Saganagons Lake.

I also seem to remember a picture in someone's Photo Journal, (or maybe it was somewhere else on the Web), of a scow used to shuttle a cow across the lake to the family's home, which Kevin also mentions.

Aside from Kevin Callan's writings, I located some additional information about the family's history via Google. But, I'm curious to know if any bwca.com members have ever visited the former home-site recently. If so, what remains of the site?

Return to Powell Homestead on Saganagons..........

I've been intrigued by the Powell history as well along with anyone else that lived in the area years ago. Have read all the books regarding the family and relatives.

We never have gotten that far east but every year talked about making the trip to check things out.

Recently I've learned there is an active fishing cabin on that end of the lake on an island. The person that told me thought it was new but when I asked Janice at Cache Bay she informed me it's probably been there for 80 some years and owned by US residents from Wisconsin. She also mentioned they like to keep it hush-hush.

The Powell sister cabin is still there, at least as of a few years ago. There's a clearing nearby where the main cabin was which is long gone. Laura Marxsen who owns the Chippewa Inn, located on an island on Saganaga, is a relative of the original Powell clan. She and husband Larry bought the resort from her parents. They were offering an ATV shuttle over the Powell portage to 'gons but heard beaver activiity has flooded it out.
Years ago I heard there was a cabin around there that remained private after they extended the Q boundry all the way to the east end of 'gons. It was supposed to revert to Q ownership at some point. I just thought it was a rumor because I've seen it from the water.
This is supposed to be the powell sister cabin under construction.

quote Wallidave: "I've been intrigued by the Powell history as well along with anyone else that lived in the area years ago. Have read all the books regarding the family and relatives.


We never have gotten that far east but every year talked about making the trip to check things out.


Recently I've learned there is an active fishing cabin on that end of the lake on an island. The person that told me thought it was new but when I asked Janice at Cache Bay she informed me it's probably been there for 80 some years and owned by US residents from Wisconsin. She also mentioned they like to keep it hush-hush. "

Our outfitter was unaware of the cabin when we mentioned it. Here are a couple pics from last June when we "discovered" it.

cool pics thanks...yuck, lots of garbage in the firepit ;(

Thanks Bushwacker, Wallidave, and Bobbernumber3 for the great feedback and pictures. Good stuff!

Interesting about the "active" fishing cabin, because I'm wondering how that's possible now that all of Saganagons Lake is part of Quetico. I'm assuming that the cabin might have been "Grandfathered In" when they expanded the Park boundaries.

As Bushwacker mentioned though, the cabin is probably slated for reclamation to Quetico P.P. at some point in time. Then again, who knows given the strange politics of the Quetico-Superior Wilderness Area.

The middle picture that "bobbernumber3" included is interesting. I'm not sure if that's a glorified Outhouse or a Sauna, but it looks relatively new.


Hans

The following article has info on the cabin and the people that built it. http://www.jon-nelson.com/return-to-the-powell-homestead

The following article has info on the cabin and the people that built it. http://www.jon-nelson.com/return-to-the-powell-homestead

Also a "missle" is nearby... or maybe just a plane pontoon.