- Bookwood Historical Collection, Star Lake
- UW Madison/Wis Hist Soc
(The following is a reprint of a story that was originally published Thursday, Aug. 19, 1948, in the News-Review.) A genial burler, Charles Balliner, got his wish last week when he met Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, the man he had wanted to see all during the war. The meeting didn't take place in Europe, but right up in the North Woods.
Willard R. Cos, summer home owner of Wildcat Lake in the Boulder Junction region, planned a steak barbeque for 36 guests, among them Gen. and Mrs. Eisenhower.
"Get everything ready and cleaned up," Mr. Cox instructed Charles Ballinger, "You know, Gen. Eisenhower is going to be one of our guests."
"Yes, sir," Charles replied, then added, "You know, Mr. Cox, I was in Europe to two years during the last war, and every day the sergeant told us to make ready and clean up for Gen. Eisenhower, and I haven't seen the general yet."
When Gen. Eisenhower arrived, Mr. Cox had Charles tell he the story and the general got a good laugh out of it. Charles said he was glad, at last, to meet the man for whom he had policed up everything every day during the war.
During their 10-day stay in the North Woods, Gen and Mrs. Eisenhower were house guests at Cedar Gates, home of Howard Young, Minocqua.