212:
motorboats, the latter when the boat was small enough and the gumption of the traveler high enough to carry the boat and motor over land at the portages. Later it was reached by snowmobiles as they came into use. Her location evolved into the BWCA. Ensuing changes between 1948 and 1984 had significant effects on her life. The BWCAW became the largest US wilderness east of the
Mississippi (almost 1 million acres (4,000 km), 2 million acres if one includes the adjacent Quetico Provincial Park in Canada) and the most popular canoe area in the United States, with over 250,000 visits by canoeists per year. This change eliminated nearly all motorized transportation in this area, and removed other residences, buildings, business and (the few) roads from the wilderness, eventually leaving her as the only full-time resident in a canoe wilderness area three times the size of Rhode Island. At the same time that these transportation changes "moved" her even farther from civilization, they brought tens of thousands of canoeist visitors to her home. These factors contributed to the interest in and endearment of her, including print media and television coverage during the last 34 years of her life.
191:, a fishing resort on three islands further east on Knife Lake, and booked his first trip there (with his wife, brother and two friends) for the summer of 1930. Dorothy had just finished a semester of school, and when one of her father's friends had a change of plans, she was able to go in his place. During this visit she also helped out at the resort. She visited in each subsequent year and helped out more and more as time progressed. It became her home starting in 1934. The Isle of Pines resort consisted of rustic cabins located on the Isle of Pines island and an adjacent island on Knife Lake in Northern Minnesota, yards from the Canada–US border. It was owned and operated by Bill Berglund. Molter became the owner of the lodge in 1948 when Berglund died. She was a trained nurse and would often treat people for minor injuries. Molter would only leave occasionally to visit family in Chicago or to take additional education in Chicago to maintain her nursing license. After Berglund's death she lived there alone until her death in 1986.
256:
31:
264:
340:
157:) on Knife Lake in 1930. It became her home starting in 1934. Molter's life, and her place in the public eye was significantly influenced by the evolution of the area where she lived into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Changes related to this transition affecting her life occurred from 1948 through 1984. She died in 1986 at age 79. She was the last full time resident of the BWCAW.
200:
292:
TV people came up here, I sure as heck wouldn't have been" Through a combination of her remote location and BWCAW wilderness restrictions against motors and motorized travel, Molter's home was amongst the most isolated in the country. The nearest road required 15 miles of travel by water and five portages over land to reach. It typically took approximately
288:
Molter and
Ambrose were appointed as Forest Service "volunteers in service" and she was allowed to stay. This marked a period during which the Forest Service began assisting Molter. Benny Ambrose died in 1982, leaving Molter as the last full-time resident of the Boundary Waters wilderness. She lived there until she died in 1986.
309:
She died
December 18, 1986, at age 79. She was survived by her brother, John A. Molter and sister Hazel Hoffman, both of Chicago, her niece, Sally Margis of Midlothian, IL and many other relatives. It was said that the people of Ely, the closest town, were very saddened by her death, but happy that
275:
During the 1970s and 1980s, although her home no longer operated as a resort, visitation to Molter's islands reached upwards of 5,000-6,000 canoeists each year. Molter spent winters in cabins on the Isle of Pines and summers in a cabin-like multi-layered (canvas) tent on a smaller, satellite island a
291:
One early article on her was the
October 1952 Saturday Evening Post Article, "The Loneliest Woman in America" by Andrew Hamilton. While the title was not literally true, the term caught on. As Molter once observed, "If I had been the loneliest woman in America, by the time all of those writers and
283:
She had no electricity, telephone or utilities. She used portable tanks of bottled propane for cooking and a battery-powered 2-way radio. Her cabin was heated by wood, and the home-made root beer that she sold was cooled by thousands of pounds of ice which were hand cut from the lake in the winter
211:
Molter's life, and her place in the public eye, was significantly influenced by the evolution of the area into the
Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Up until the mid/late 1940s, the story of the Isle of Pines resort was typical of many north woods resorts. It was reachable by seaplanes and by
279:
She grew flowers in an area which is practically all rock and without soil. This required finding and hauling dirt and placing it into decommissioned fishing boats repurposed into planters and gathering wild seeds. Visitors were a "feast or famine" situation for Molter. During the warm months she
326:
by Sarah Guy-Levar (executive director of the
Dorothy Molter Museum 2007-2017) and Terry Schocke (former staff at the Dorothy Molter Museum) was published. She was also the subject of National Geographic publications, a broadcast of the "Real People" television series, and of a documentary video
287:
With the passage of legislation extending the wilderness protections of the BWCAW, she was told she would have to leave. Due to an outpouring of support (including efforts by
Senator and future Vice President Walter Mondale), a special exception was made allowing her to stay until 1975. In 1975
236:
In 1964 the U.S. Agriculture
Secretary Orville Freeman appoints Selke Committee to recommend changes in BWCA management; the Wilderness Act is introduced in the Senate by Hubert H Humphrey; Congress passes the Wilderness Act and the BWCA becomes part of the National Wilderness Preservation System
219:
In 1948, the Thye-Blatnik Act provides $ 500,000 to buy out resorts and private lands in border lakes area; Also provides for in-lieu-of-tax payments to Cook, Lake, St. Louis counties for federal wilderness land; Forest
Service changes boundaries of roadless area and deletes much land near Lake
347:
After Molter's death, her cabins were dismantled and moved to Ely. The effort involved transporting the disassembled cabins by dog sled to a point at the Boy Scout canoe base on Moose lake. Time was of the essence as the Forest
Service was directed to burn her cabins down by a certain date. An
280:
would receive thousands of visits. Many signed her guest book which, would accumulate over 4,000 signatures in a summer. She began averaging between 6,000 and 7,000 guests per year, often over 100 in a day during the peak summer months of July and August. Winters saw far fewer visitors.
356:
The Dorothy Molter Museum was formed to preserve her legacy. The cabin was moved from the chamber of commerce site to the museum, and a second cabin of hers was also erected and restored at the museum. The museum is located on the south side of Route 169 (Sheridan St) at the east end of
348:
unseasonably warm March stymied those efforts to move her cabins by dogsled and special permission was obtained to use motorized transportation such as snowmobiles. Her residence was re-erected on the east side of Ely, Minnesota on a site near the Chamber of Commerce building.
237:
with a clause that allows some logging and use of motors to continue; In that same year condemnation proceedings taking away her ownership of the lodge were completed. Following public outcry, it was decided that she (and Benny Ambrose of Ottertrack Lake) could stay until 1975.
170:
Molter lived with her parents Mattie and John "Cap" Molter in Pennsylvania until her mother died when she was in second grade. She lived with her five brothers and sisters in a Cincinnati orphanage until 1919 when her father remarried and was able to provide a home for them in
284:
and stored in her old-fashioned (non refrigerated) ice house. Each year the ice lasted at least through August. Although she was technically prohibited from selling root beer after the 1964 Wilderness Act, visitors continued to enjoy her root beer and made "donations".
150:. Various factors combined to give her national prominence, extensive coverage in media, books and documentaries, and tens of thousands of visits by Boundary Waters Canoe Area canoeists, often with 6,000–7,000 visitors per year.
232:
In 1958, the USFS changes name of Superior Roadless Area to Boundary Waters Canoe Area (this prevented the planning of a road that would connect Winton to Gunflint Lake near Grand Marais); People begin discussing the Wilderness
276:
few dozen yards east of Isle of Pines. She had small, rustic footbridges between the islands, and a fence made of broken canoe paddles donated by visitors. She lived within yards of the US–Canada border.
614:
240:
In 1975 Molter and Ambrose were appointed as Forest Service "volunteers in service". This marked the beginning of a period during which the Forest Service began assisting Molter.
229:
In 1952, two pilots still landing their float planes are caught and their planes confiscated effectively ending any flights in or out from Dorothy Molter's Isle of Pines.
246:
In 1982 Benny Ambrose dies, leaving Molter as the last full-time, non-indigenous resident of the almost 2-million-acre (8,100 km) BWCA / Quetico wilderness.
327:"Dorothy Molter - Living in the Boundary Waters." Charles Kuralt visited her and featured her on his television program, and also wrote about her in his book
497:
528:
226:
In 1949, President Truman issued an executive order banning flights below 4,000' over what is now the BWCAW thus, landing of float planes was prohibited.
72:
222:
Bill Berglund dies and Dorothy Molter inherits the Isle of Pines Fishing Resort and property; Efforts to purchase Molter's Knife Lake property begin.
220:
Isabella (and Kawishiwi Lake) to accommodate logging needs and roads. This is the beginning of the USFS attempting to purchase the Isle of Pines;
318:
From 1952 until her death in 1986, Molter was the subject of ongoing media and documentary coverage. Her life was the subject of a book entitled
453:
143:
111:
322:
by Bob Cary of Ely, which is a collection of short stories based on the author's friendship with Dorothy, and in 2011, a biography entitled
306:
days of travel from her home to reach the nearest road, and her home was approximately 36 miles (58 km) from the nearest (small) town.
619:
255:
559:
424:
176:
624:
468:
504:
574:"Dorothy Molter - Living in the Boundary Waters" 42 Minute Documentary Video by Judith Hadel and Wade Black
243:
In 1978 the BWCAW Act was passed, including a ban on snowmobiles and motorboats in her area effective 1984.
609:
604:
123:
54:
448:
by Sarah Guy-Levar and Terry Schocke Published 2011 by Adventure Publications Inc., Cambridge MN.
555:
522:
449:
420:
187:
In 1929 Molter's father Cap began fishing on Basswood lake. While fishing there he learned of
172:
86:
127:
263:
358:
147:
598:
339:
30:
134:. She was known as "Knife Lake Dorothy" or as the "Root Beer Lady", as she made
199:
126: – December 18, 1986), lived for 56 years on Knife Lake in the
135:
131:
537:
written by Peter Landry, graphics by Jon Barthmus Retrieved October 6, 2012
472:
179:. In 1927, she enrolled for nurse's training at Auburn Park Hospital.
554:
book by Charles Kuralt Published by G.P. Putnam's Sons New York 1995
338:
262:
254:
198:
139:
259:
Campers visiting Dorothy Molter's home, photograph by James Keim
586:
385:
by John Jeter Chicago Sun-Times December 20, 1986, p.55
535:
Dorothy Molter Museum A little museum with great reach
215:
A few of the noteworthy changes to the BWCAW include:
378:
376:
374:
175:. Later, they moved to Chicago. She graduated from
106:
98:
79:
61:
40:
21:
383:Dorothy Molter; Chicagoan became a legend of woods
484:History section of Dorothy Molter museum web Site
324:Dorothy Molter: The Root Beer Lady of Knife Lake
582:
580:
615:People from Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
8:
547:
545:
543:
463:
461:
415:
413:
411:
409:
407:
405:
403:
401:
399:
397:
395:
393:
391:
73:Fall Lake Township, Lake County, Minnesota
29:
18:
570:
568:
533:Dorothy Molter Museum educational guide.
492:
490:
419:"The Root Beer Lady" by Bob Cary of Ely.
310:she died in the way that she wanted to.
441:
439:
437:
435:
433:
370:
527:: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (
520:
427:Published in 1992 by Pfeifer-Hamilton.
144:Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
112:Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
7:
314:Media, book and documentary coverage
267:Molter's summer tent/cabin and pier
138:and sold it to thousands of passing
153:She first visited her future home (
14:
446:Dorothy Molter The Root Beer Lady
343:The Dorothy Molter cabin in Ely
35:Dorothy Molter welcoming guests
587:Dorothy Molter Museum Web Site
1:
268:
204:
641:
620:People from Ely, Minnesota
469:"Who was Dorothy Molter?"
110:The last resident of the
28:
552:Charles Kuralt's America
329:Charles Kuralt's America
189:The Isle of Pines Resort
155:The Isle of Pines Resort
344:
272:
260:
208:
352:Dorothy Molter Museum
342:
266:
258:
202:
195:Evolution of the BWCA
120:Dorothy Louise Molter
203:Molter's west cabin
124:Arnold, Pennsylvania
55:Arnold, Pennsylvania
177:Calumet High School
345:
320:The Root Beer Lady
273:
261:
209:
454:978-1-59193-255-0
335:Cabins and museum
130:area of northern
122:(May 6, 1907, in
117:
116:
99:Years active
65:December 18, 1986
632:
625:American hermits
589:
584:
575:
572:
563:
549:
538:
532:
526:
518:
516:
515:
509:
503:. Archived from
502:
494:
485:
483:
481:
480:
471:. Archived from
465:
456:
443:
428:
417:
386:
380:
305:
304:
300:
297:
270:
206:
173:Garrett, Indiana
87:Registered nurse
68:
50:
48:
33:
19:
640:
639:
635:
634:
633:
631:
630:
629:
595:
594:
593:
592:
585:
578:
573:
566:
550:
541:
519:
513:
511:
507:
500:
498:"Archived copy"
496:
495:
488:
478:
476:
467:
466:
459:
444:
431:
418:
389:
381:
372:
367:
354:
337:
316:
302:
298:
295:
293:
253:
197:
185:
168:
163:
128:Boundary Waters
94:
75:
70:
66:
57:
52:
46:
44:
36:
24:
17:
16:American hermit
12:
11:
5:
638:
636:
628:
627:
622:
617:
612:
607:
597:
596:
591:
590:
576:
564:
539:
486:
457:
429:
387:
369:
368:
366:
363:
359:Ely, Minnesota
353:
350:
336:
333:
315:
312:
252:
249:
248:
247:
244:
241:
238:
234:
230:
227:
224:
196:
193:
184:
181:
167:
164:
162:
159:
148:Ely, Minnesota
146:(BWCAW), near
115:
114:
108:
107:Known for
104:
103:
100:
96:
95:
93:
92:
89:
83:
81:
77:
76:
71:
69:(aged 79)
63:
59:
58:
53:
42:
38:
37:
34:
26:
25:
23:Dorothy Molter
22:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
637:
626:
623:
621:
618:
616:
613:
611:
608:
606:
603:
602:
600:
588:
583:
581:
577:
571:
569:
565:
561:
560:0-399-14083-2
557:
553:
548:
546:
544:
540:
536:
530:
524:
510:on 2012-09-16
506:
499:
493:
491:
487:
475:on 2010-04-19
474:
470:
464:
462:
458:
455:
451:
447:
442:
440:
438:
436:
434:
430:
426:
425:0-938586-68-8
422:
416:
414:
412:
410:
408:
406:
404:
402:
400:
398:
396:
394:
392:
388:
384:
379:
377:
375:
371:
364:
362:
360:
351:
349:
341:
334:
332:
330:
325:
321:
313:
311:
307:
289:
285:
281:
277:
265:
257:
250:
245:
242:
239:
235:
231:
228:
225:
223:
218:
217:
216:
213:
201:
194:
192:
190:
182:
180:
178:
174:
165:
160:
158:
156:
151:
149:
145:
141:
137:
133:
129:
125:
121:
113:
109:
105:
101:
97:
90:
88:
85:
84:
82:
78:
74:
64:
60:
56:
43:
39:
32:
27:
20:
551:
534:
512:. Retrieved
505:the original
477:. Retrieved
473:the original
445:
382:
355:
346:
328:
323:
319:
317:
308:
290:
286:
282:
278:
274:
221:
214:
210:
188:
186:
169:
154:
152:
119:
118:
91:Resort owner
67:(1986-12-18)
610:1986 deaths
605:1907 births
251:Later years
80:Occupations
51:May 6, 1907
599:Categories
514:2012-10-07
479:2010-04-04
365:References
47:1907-05-06
183:1930–1986
166:1907–1930
140:canoeists
136:root beer
132:Minnesota
102:1934–1986
562:Page 146
523:cite web
301:⁄
142:in the
558:
452:
423:
508:(PDF)
501:(PDF)
556:ISBN
529:link
450:ISBN
421:ISBN
271:1978
207:1978
161:Life
62:Died
41:Born
233:Act
601::
579:^
567:^
542:^
525:}}
521:{{
489:^
460:^
432:^
390:^
373:^
361:.
331:.
269:c.
205:c.
531:)
517:.
482:.
303:2
299:1
296:+
294:1
49:)
45:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
