Local historian honored with mayoral proclamation

Late last month, Mayor Kris Hanus issued a proclamation recognizing Kerry Bloedorn, director of the Pioneer Park Historical Complex, for his work preserving and sharing the history of the Northwoods. The recognition came days after the Forest History Association of Wisconsin gave Bloedorn its Fixmer Award.

The proclamation was presented during the Sept. 28 Rhinelander Common Council meeting. Bloedorn could not attend because of a prior commitment. The Forest History Association of Wisconsin presents the Fixmer Award for distinguished service and achievement in telling the story of Wisconsin’s forests and forestry. The award was was presented on Sept. 25, at the association’s annual conference banquet at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Treehaven campus in Tomahawk. Bloedorn was also slated as a featured speaker and to lead a tour of the historic King’s Dam on the Wisconsin River.

Hanus told the council he is “not a huge fan of doing proclamations” but this one was deserved because of Bloedorn’s work with the historical complex and community events, and his efforts to make Rhinelander a better place to live, play and work.

City Forester Tom Jerow said he wrote Bloedorn’s nomination for the Fixmer Award. He compared Bloedorn to a 21st-century Eugene Shepard, the Rhinelander timber cruiser and prankster behind the Hodag legend, but with one exception. Bloedorn’s stories “are always fully researched, historically accurate, and he doesn’t make up anything,” he said. “And if he does, he lets you know with some humor.”

“He’s really a great storyteller and a great asset for the community,” the forester said.

He said Bloedorn’s reach extends across the Northwoods and into the Upper Peninsula. As an example, he cited a story on Stormy Cromer, a railroad engineer who the forester said worked with his father. He also noted that Bloedorn lives on the historic Lassig Farm south of Rhinelander.

The proclamation cites several of Bloedorn’s roles including his leadership of the Pioneer Park Historical Complex, his work as host of WXPR’s “A Northwoods Moment in History” and his rike as host of WJFW 12’s “Connecting the Dots”.

It credits him with fostering “a deeper appreciation for Wisconsin’s forest heritage, logging traditions, and the communities that grew from them.”

Bloedorn sent a written response to the council. It was not read aloud in the interest of time; Hanus said it would be added to the meeting minutes as part of the public record.

“It’s truly an honor, and one that means a great deal to me,” Bloedorn wrote.

He thanked the city for its continued support of the historical complex. “PPHC belongs to the community,” he wrote. He said the city’s commitment lets the museum preserve Northwoods history for local residents, the thousands of visitors who come each year and future generations.

Bloedorn said the work is not his alone.

“Preserving that history is never the work of one person,” he wrote, adding that he credits city staff and administration, museum staff and volunteers, community partners and residents who share their stories, photographs, artifacts and memories.

“I feel incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to do work that I genuinely love in a community that understands the value of its history,” Bloedorn wrote.