Hokenson Brothers Fishery: Cultural Landscape Inventory, Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, National Park Service

The Hokenson Fishery cultural landscape is located on the southeast shore of Little Sand Bay on Lake Superior, at the northern tip of Wisconsin’s Bayfield Peninsula. The landscape occupies approximately three acres and lies within the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. It is a rare surviving example of a family-run fishery that still includes most of the features of the original cultural landscape. In addition to the structures built by the Hokenson brothers, the landscape has a small discontiguous section featuring a one-room log cabin built circa 1938 and occupied by a fishery employee, John Nelson. Structures at the site include the Hokenson Fishery Dock, herring storage shed, a boat known as “Twilite,” privy, pile driving raft, twine shed, garage, net reel, and the primary residence. The Hokenson Fishery is of exceptional importance as it represents one of the few intact independent mid-twentieth century small fishing and packing operations on the Great Lakes, providing opportunity for visitors to gain a better understanding of relationships between the natural environment and the societal dependence upon natural resources. The Hokenson Fishing Dock was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 18, 1976. However, this original nomination did not fully interpret the site, focusing on a few structures and overlooking the significance of the landscape in its entirety. The period of significance begins in 1925 and ends in 1949, encompassing the time when most building and commercial fishing occurred at the site. The site is representative of almost every facet of commercial fishing, from the equipment used to set the nets to the workshop where the Hokenson family repaired equipment and spent the off-season preparing for next year’s fishing. Vistors can see evidence of the entire fishing process though tours of the processing buildings, boats used for harvesting, and displays of hand-crafted tools. Additionally, the complex preserves two permanent residences that help illustrate how the fishermen and their families lived year-round. Reportedly, they began fishing in some desperation after having difficulty with the family farm, yet within a few years had established a successful business and comfortable lifestyle. Overall, the Hokenson Fishery cultural landscape retains integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association. The extant buildings, structures, and features retain integrity and are integral components of the cultural landscape. It remains easy for a visitor to visualize the fishery as it existed during its period as an active commercial fishing operation. Today, the land use is as Apostle Islands National Lakeshore operated by the National Park Service.

Hokenson Brothers Fishery: Cultural Landscape Inventory, Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, National Park Service

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