The Marathon County Historical Society presents Moonshine in the Northwoods

MARSHFIELD--Join Marathon County Historical Society for a program by Jim Bokern from the Manitowish Waters Historical Society to hear stories of moonshine in the northwoods of Wisconsin. Learn more about clever moonshine production, extortion plots, kidnapping, hideouts, and Al Capone’s activities in northern Wisconsin. Jim has worked with numerous collections from Hurley to Glandon and beyond, and will share what this correspondence, photographs, and memorabilia tells us about the influence of moonshine in Wisconsin before, during, and after prohibition.
Jim Bokern taught high school American history during his 34-year career as an educator and completed his Master’s Degree in History at the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point in 1987. Bokern also has led two archeological surveys on the Manitowish Waters Chain of Lakes, digitally archiving numerous historic documents, worked as project historian on two fur trade survey grants with the Lac Du Flambeau Tribal Historic Preservation Office, while continuing active cultural and historic research in the Northwoods. In 2022, he received a Historic Preservation Award from the Board of Curators at the Wisconsin Historical Society. In 2023, Bokern received the Fixmer Award from the Forest History Association of Wisconsin for historic preservation and education.
This History Speaks program will be presented live at 2pm, Saturday Feb. 22 at the Woodson History Center (410 McIndoe Street, Wausau). History Speaks is presented in conjunction with the Marathon County Public Library and is sponsored by Janke Book Store. This is a free program, no RSVP required.