Family History

The Thirsty Whale

428 Park St.

Minocqua, WI 54548

Phone: (715) 356-7108

In February of 1902, Dick Hoover and his partner Hugh McMillin decided to erect a new boathouse on the west end of Milwaukee Street. In 1905, Hoover changed the name to "Hoover and Winger Boat Livery." The business grew rapidly and they were soon operating a bar/restaurant along with the boathouse. There were additions made to the boathouse almost every year for the next 10 years. In 1909 two lumber barges were purchased and were converted into houseboats that were rented out as complete restaurants for fishing trips.

Ralph Garrison became the owner in 1927 and he continued to run the engine and boat repair shop as "Pleasant View Livery."

In 1930 Garrison sold the boat livery to Anton Bosacki and he renamed it "Town Dock Boathouse."

In 1955. Joe and Ruth Ritchie brought the bar and renamed the place "Joe's Marine Bar." Joe bartended and repaired boats and his wife Ruth cooked in the restaurant. Their six children all pitched in with the daily chores from cleaning the place to bartending and waiting on customers.

Each year the bar/restaurant was opened up in May and closed down for the season in September. In 1957 Joe decided that the bar needed a gimmick and invented the "Moscow Mule Bucket Club." When you drank a bucket you got to hang it on the ceiling and become a bucket club member. The bucket club was a huge success and upon selling the bar in 1970 they had members from all 50 states and 7 foreign countries. In 1965 Joe had again completely remodeled the bar and restaurant.

Joe and Ruth sold the bar to Norman and Donna Schooth and cousins Roger and Joan Springston. It was then that the name was changed to "The Thirsty Whale."

Imagine sitting on the deck over looking beautiful Lake Minocqua watching water ski show or snowmobiling in the winter right outside the door.

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