Michigan’s most historic fishing village is waiting for you on Isle Royale

Pete and Laura Edisen’s 35-Year Isle Royale Fishery

The Edisen Fishery on Isle Royale began as a small log cabin in 1895. Pete and Laura Edisen took over in 1938, just two years before the area became a national park.

The Park Service let them keep fishing. For 35 years, they pulled fish from Lake Superior while teaching folks about old Scandinavian fishing ways.

Their seven buildings still stand today, from the main house to the tiny “honeymoon” cabin Pete built in 1925.

The fishery tells a rare story of how one family kept their traditions alive as the world changed around them.

Two Fishermen Built the First Structures in 1895

Louis Mattson and John Anderson picked a perfect spot on Isle Royale to start fishing in 1895. They built a simple log cabin and net house using trees they cut down on the island.

Their buildings matched designs their Scandinavian ancestors used for generations. They added a main house and fish house five years later where they cleaned their daily catch.

The spot gave them quick access to Lake Superior’s deep waters, full of lake trout, whitefish, and herring.

Mike Johnson Bought the Growing Business in 1905

Mike Johnson bought the fishing operation from Mattson and Anderson in 1905. He brought his family to the island and grew the business over the next ten years.

His daughter Laura learned all about commercial fishing on Lake Superior while growing up. Laura married Pete Edisen in 1916, who joined the family business and fished alongside his father-in-law.

The couple quickly mastered handling boats, setting nets, and processing fish the old way.

Pete and Laura Became Full Owners in 1938

Mike’s family moved to nearby Star Island in 1938, leaving Pete and Laura Edisen to take over completely.

The couple had already spent more than 20 years working Isle Royale’s waters and knew every good fishing spot.

They built several new storage buildings for their growing operation.

People throughout the region knew them for catching and selling the freshest fish, making the Edisen Fishery famous among locals and visitors.

The Government Created a National Park in 1940

Everything changed for the Edisens when Isle Royale became a National Park in 1940.

The National Park Service started buying all private properties on the island. Most owners got life leases, letting them stay until death before the government took their land.

This new rule threatened all private businesses on Isle Royale, including the fishery Pete and Laura worked so hard to build.

Many fishermen simply sold their properties and left the island.

A Special Deal Kept the Fishery Going After 1944

After Mike Johnson died in 1944, the Park Service made a unique deal with Pete Edisen. Instead of a standard life lease, they gave him a Special Use Permit to keep commercial fishing.

The agreement came with new duties: Pete and Laura would show visitors how traditional fishing worked on Lake Superior.

They became living displays, showing fishing methods that were vanishing elsewhere.

The couple also sold fresh fish to Rock Harbor Lodge, feeding tourists who came to explore the new park.

Mornings Started Before Sunrise at the Fishery

Life at the Edisen Fishery followed nature’s rhythm. Pete and Laura woke before dawn each summer morning to check their nets.

They spent hours pulling in heavy nets full of fish, then worked all afternoon cleaning and processing their catch.

They grew vegetables in a small garden next to their home and kept chickens in a coop built in 1934.

During winter when ice stopped fishing, they moved to the mainland to fix nets and prepare for next season.

Old-School Fishing Methods Kept Tradition Alive

The Edisens stuck with old fishing techniques their whole career. They set long gill nets from wooden boats, checking them daily for lake trout, whitefish, and herring.

Pete cleaned each fish by hand in their fish house, using methods passed down through generations of Scandinavian fishermen.

They kept some fish fresh on ice while salting and smoking others. These old methods became rare as bigger companies switched to modern equipment and techniques.

Seven Buildings Made Up Their Island Home

The complete Edisen property grew to include seven well-kept structures.

Besides the main house and fish building, they had the original net house where they stored and fixed fishing nets.

Pete built a small “honeymoon” cabin in 1925 as a gift for Laura. The property also had a sleeping cabin from 1895, the chicken coop added in 1934, and a simple outhouse.

Each building served a specific purpose in their fishing and living routine.

Fish Sales and Tourism Kept the Business Afloat

From 1938 to 1975, the Edisens balanced fishing with their new role as cultural guides. They sold fresh fish to the Rock Harbor Lodge restaurant, giving visitors real local food.

Tourists often stopped by to watch Pete and Laura work and ask questions about their methods and lifestyle. The couple adapted to changing fishing rules and competition from mainland companies.

Their special deal with the Park Service helped them stay in business when many other small fisheries closed.

The Couple Fished Well Into Their Senior Years

Pete and Laura kept working their fishery into old age, sticking with traditional practices until 1975. They became beloved figures among park rangers and regular visitors who came back year after year.

The couple shared countless stories about the island’s history and changes they saw over nearly six decades of fishing. As they grew older, their value as living historians became even greater than their fishing output.

The Historic Site Lives On for Future Generations

The Edisen Fishery received official recognition as a Michigan State Historic Site in 1976, just after Pete and Laura ended their commercial operation.

The following year, it earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places.

Today, the fishery stands as the best-preserved example of the family fishing operations that once dotted Isle Royale’s shoreline.

The buildings remain intact, allowing modern visitors to step back in time and see exactly how Scandinavian fishing families lived and worked on Lake Superior throughout the early 20th century.

Visiting Isle Royale National Park. Michigan

You can visit the Edisen Fishery at Rock Harbor’s south end by taking the MV Sandy boat tour from Rock Harbor Lodge.

Tours run Tuesdays and Thursdays at 2:00 PM for four hours total. Buy your tickets at the lodge office when you arrive.

The fishery has live-in demonstrators during July and August who show you how Pete and Laura Edisen fished here from 1938 to 1975.

A quarter-mile trail connects the fishery to Rock Harbor Lighthouse.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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