By Jalen Maki
Tomahawk Leader Editor
TOMAHAWK – A local group is working towards building a museum dedicated to Tomahawk’s boating history.
A meeting proposing the museum was held at City Hall on Thursday, Jan. 5 and was attended by Bill Sparr and Gene Winter, who are members of a newly-formed nonprofit organization called Tomahawk Boat Museum Inc., as well as Mayor Steve Taskay, City of Tomahawk Clerk/Treasurer Amanda Bartz, Common Council President Jeff Kahle, Parks Department Leadperson Steve Borem and Parks Crewperson Rob Ernst.
There was not a quorum during the City of Tomahawk Park and Recreations Committee meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 10, so no action was taken, but Sparr, Winter and present committee members discussed the group’s plans for the museum.
Sparr said the organization has “something quite unique to offer the Tomahawk area” in the museum, noting that the histories of the Tomahawk Boat Manufacturing Company and the Kwahamot Water Ski Club would be featured.
According to the group’s proposal, the city-owned property next to the Kwahamot storage building on the north side of Deer Park Rd. is being eyed as the location for the museum. The south side of Deer Park Rd. was also discussed as a potential location.
A drawing depicting the layout of the proposed museum shows it is currently planned to be 68’ by 44’.
Tomahawk Boat Museum Inc. would fund and maintain the museum and pay the associated bills, while volunteers would staff, monitor and clean the museum, according to the proposal.
To fund the construction of the museum, the group is “taking baby steps” and will work towards crowd funding, the proposal said.
The organization is hoping to start construction with a licensed builder this spring. In the meantime, the proposal will be reviewed by the city’s Finance Committee and the Common Council next month, and in the event that the Deer Park Rd. location or another city-owned property is chosen, the group plans on drafting a lease agreement with the City of Tomahawk to utilize it.