Baumgarten’s Resort and Baumgarten’s Bar got their names from Ernst Guenther William “Bill” Baumgarten and the resort he built. The road was built and the area for the resort was cleared using a horse named Nellie and then later with an old blue ford tractor.
Bill Was born on 6 Aug 1903 at Benrath, Stadtkreis Düsseldorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. Bill worked at the AO Smith Corp as a machinist before coming to Hayward in (date unknown at the time of writing this article)
Baumgarten’s “Resort” was located on the hill to the east of Baumgarten’s Sand Bar.
Bill orginally started building on the water to the east of the beach but ended up moving to the top of the hill after having water/well issues. He was just too close to the water to NOT get lakewater in his well.
In the 1970’s there was still wooden boards that cased the well. They were surrounded by a stone/cement frame. in the ’75 you could throw stones down the hole and hear water.
If you are ever walking around the area be careful!! There could be a hole! (* Walked around this area in the spring of 2024 and couldn’t find the well)
The breakwaters on either side of the beach can still be seen as well as the old boat canal.
The resort operated from the 1940’s until 1992.
The Resort was started by William & Emily Mable Rohrig Baumgarten. “Mae” was the school teacher at the Riverview school (see photo below) that WAS located at the intersection of River Road and McGilligan Road. Mae died of cancer in 1957.
Bill and new Partner/Wife Helen (not sure if they were married) sold the resort in 1969/70 to John & Ruth McGilligan. The last owners of Baumgarten’s was Walt & Diana Robb 1976-1990.
Baumgarten''s Resort Recordings from the 1970's
Warning the recordings below could contain graphic and/or inappropriate language.
Lots of alcohol involved. It was the 70's!
John McGilligan Talking with Carl Wirth about Sale of the Resort to Walt Robb – 1976
John McGilligan, Dianna Robb, Andy Robb – 1977
Early Days of the Hayward youth Hockey Team, Duluth TV, More audio from Baumgarten’s. Little Debbie Snack Cakes LOL!
Sale of Resort talk
John talking about Walt Robb and the Sale of Resort -1976
Gangster, Indians, and Tourists – Recorded from the radio on tape from a Hayward Radio station -1977
Summer of 1976 (a grandfather missing his grandchildren) Beer can collecting, CB radios, outboards, fishing and more
1976 – 60 years old… 1967 Buick goes to the garage and grandpa gets a new calculator! Jimmy Carter, Ford, Nixon! KNL6964 CB and Ham radio chatter
A visit by the McDermots, The Ericksons talking about the old river view school and it being reloacted to Johnsons Tavern
The Red Canoe in the picture won many races at the Wannigan canoe races in Ojibwa. It was purchased from Bud Housel. The canoe burned in a fire in the 1990’s.
The boat currently rests in the woods. It was used until 2003. The motor still runs and is currently resting, waiting to teach the next grandson or granddaughter how to navigate the Lake Chippewa Flowage.
1940's to 1970
1970 - 1976
1977 - 1991
