For this month's episode of "Archive Dive," we look at a special place for residents and visitors in Douglas County: Pattison State Park.

Telegram reporter Teri Cadeau is joined by local historian and retired librarian Teddie Meronek as they dive into the history of the state park, which was named for Martin Pattison, a wealthy lumber baron and miner who had also been the Douglas County sheriff and mayor of Superior. Pattison and his family lived in what is now known as Fairlawn Mansion and Museum.

Pattison knew an area about 12 miles south of Superior with spectacular scenery and waterfalls. He'd eventually buy it, but not for personal use.

"He had lumbered out there and near the falls," said Meronek. "I thought he had just bought up the property because he was rich and he could do that."

In an effort to prevent a power dam from being built on the Black River, which would have likely destroyed Big Manitou Falls, Pattison bought 660 acres from several landowners along the river.

"He knew about the falls, and he said the older he got, the more that area meant to him. The beauty of it, and he didn't want it destroyed. He thought that he needed to save it, and he did."

In 1918, he donated the land to the state of Wisconsin. Two years later, in 1920, the state dedicated it as the sixth state park and named it for Pattison.

Pattison State Park now contains over 1,400 acres, including both the Big Manitou and the Little Manitou waterfalls. "Manitou" is an Indigenous word, and Big Manitou Falls is also known as "Gitchee Manitou," meaning "great spirit." It has the distinction of being Wisconsin's highest waterfall at 165 feet.

In many ways, what we see and appreciate today can be credited to Pattison himself, who died at the age of 77 the same year he donated the land.

"He did it because he really loved this place. He wasn't born in this area, but it was his adopted home, and he just thought that everyone should enjoy the beauty that was out there in those falls," said Meronek.

In 1935, the Civilian Conservation Corps began overseeing the park and would help preserve it and make improvements.

Other topics in this episode include:

• How Pattison ended up in Superior.
• What conditions did Pattison have attached to the land when he gave it to the state?
• Did Pattison donate additional land?
• How President Franklin D. Roosevelt helped shape the park's future.
• Events held at the park.
• How the state park bounced back after storms in 2018.
• Animals in the park.

Episodes of "Archive Dive" are published monthly. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth Media Group digital producer Dan Williamson. If you have an idea that you'd like us to explore, email Teri Cadeau at tcadeau@superiortelegram.com.