A Guest at Cole Watch Tower

   

      Want to be a guest at Cole Watch Tower? Many do. It's an extraordinary structure with quite a history.

      It was a popular place to the first known natives. Close to the river and heavily wooded, it was prime hunting land, and fed lots of people. It's also situated between burial mounds to the north and south, so it can be deduced that they truly loved this land and held it sacred. There are stories that suggest this area was still in contention long after the Menominee people ceded the last of their lands by treaty in 1848.

      When the white settlers first occupied this land, it's easy to imagine some of the trials and hardships they had to endure. From surviving the harshest Wisconsin winters, to fending off Indians who either didn't know or didn't care about the treaty with the whites, the experiences had here are a legacy that still reverberate through this unique property.

      These days, we get loads of curiosity-seekers. At least once a day, someone will pull over and take pictures of our home. Sometimes they stay on the side of the road. More often, they pull into the driveway, or even walk into the yard like they have all rights to do so. Imagine yourself in our position:

      You're working in the basement, or relaxing on the couch, or having some private time with your spouse. You hear your dogs outside, barking like mad, alerting you to a visitor. You walk outside to see who it is, only to see a car quickly leaving at your approach. Nobody said hello or goodbye, or took the time to greet you and ask questions; they only fled from your driveway like they were doing something wrong.

      How would this make you feel? Would you be nice and polite when it happened the first time? What about the 100th time? How about when there's a knock on the door that wakes you up, only to have a stranger ask what the place was used for; or cars honking in the wee hours of the morning as they pass?

      We understand the fascination with this place. That should be obvious. We bought it; made it our home, in spite of all the challenges it brings. We worked hard to make a sign to post at the top of the driveway, with a couple places online folks could visit and get more information. Still, strangers come stand in our yard taking pictures.

      If you want to act like and be treated as an intruder, and be met with hostility and suspicion, then by all means do those things we just discussed. If you want to be a guest at Cole Watch Tower, act like one. Call ahead, unless you're family; in that case you know our door is open to you. If you have business here, then walk up boldly and conduct it. Under no circumstances should you run when approached. We'll only suspect the worst of you.