On this Day in Ken’s Journal

Ken and Molly Hoffman, Grand Marais Harbor, 1986

Ken and Molly Hoffman were local surveyors and naturalists known for their knowledge of wild birds and plants. Ken recorded their daily observations in his journals from 1981 to 2011, quietly documenting thirty-years of naturalist history on the North Shore.

In the early journals dated 1981 to 1985, Ken and Molly lived in the Poplar Lake area on the Gunflint Trail, where they often visited with neighbors Lydia Miller, Carl and Luana Brandt of Nor’Wester Lodge and other friends.

Each journal entry reveals what life in the northwoods was like over the span of 45 years, including keen observations about birds and bird behavior, the appearance of rare birds, seasonal weather and water conditions and the life cycle of native plants. These journals serve as historical documents and as evidence of a changing environment.

Ken’s notes often include updates about their work as registered surveyors, which took them to every corner of Cook County. Ken and Molly were also avid gardeners, and during the summer he (and sometimes Molly) wrote updates about their vegetable gardens, whether on the Gunflint Trail, or later at their homestead on Good Harbor Hill.

Molly and Ken paddling on a Gunflint Trail lake, 1982.

This original WTIP feature is a companion to Molly Hoffman’s Field Notes. The pages of Ken’s journals are read by community members, friends and neighbors. Journal entries are read and recorded chronologically in two-year blocks, beginning with 1981 and 1982.

Segments are produced by Staci Drouillard. With special thanks to Yafa Napadensky and Bob Shannon for sharing archival photos of the Hoffmans for this project. Segments feature the original song “Patricia,” which is composed and performed by Barb LaVigne.

The first round of journal readers; Barb LaVigne (top left), Ellen Hawkins (top right), Leah Thomas (lower right), Yafa Napadensky and Bob Shannon (lower left), and Chel Anderson (center left).

On this Day in Ken’s Journal is supported in part by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

July 28, 2026

On this Day in Ken Hoffman’s Journal – Leo Lake, July 22 to July 31, 1982

Staci Drouillard

July 22, 1982 Leo Lake on the Gunflint Trail
Canoeing to Gaskin via Horseshoe Lake and back via Swallow and Meeds Lake. A female Mallard with seven-half-grown young on Caribou outlet. A Goldeneye with one-half-grown young on Horseshoe. Two Turkey vultures and one Bald Eagle sighted over Gaskin Lake. Also, over Horseshoe was a pair of Ospreys–one carrying a fish. A beautiful, sunny day with only light breezes. Goldeneye female on Caribou with five-two-thirds grown young. Wild Lettuce blooming in the backyard–eight-and-a-half inches tall.

July 24, 1982 Leo Lake on the Gunflint Trail
A rainy and threatening day, preventing us from any planned outings. Mostly sitting and chatting. Walked to Trail Center in the afternoon. Still a few strawberries on the roadside and also some raspberries. Waxwings and Robins feeding on an abundant Red Elderberry crop. Heard a Black-Throated-Blue Warbler on Ollar’s pond edge. Visited Lydia in the evening. Also visited with Roy Carlson on Mayhew Lake concerning a survey.

July 26, 1982 Leo Lake on the Gunflint Trail
51 degrees and clear. There’s a small bird flock in willows and alders. Went canoeing with dad and Bette around Poplar Lake. We saw several Loons. Went for lunch at Trail Center. Saw a short-tailed Kingbird out of its nest with adults nearby. Dad and Bette heading for Trails End campground for the night. Northern lights.

July 28, 1982 Leo Lake on the Gunflint Trail
Birds very active in the yard. Adult Nashville warbler feeding a short-tailed young. Magnolia warblers Chestnut-sided and Red-eyed Vireo. Went to town with dad and Bette where I went golfing with them. Saw a Least Flycatcher. Molly went to the courthouse and out birding. She saw four Lesser Yellowlegs, Least Sandpiper and what were probably brownish looking Semipalmated Sandpipers. Also, Killdeer, a Mallard with ten very small chicks. Said goodbyes to dad and Bette after lunch at the Common Ground. Home by 2:30pm. Molly napping. We went swimming in Poplar Lake.

July 30, 1982 Leo Lake on the Gunflint Trail
Damp, muggy morning. Bear here again last night. Compost looks very wet again. To Loon Lake looking for corners all day. Black-throated Blue on the north shore of Loon Lake. Also Northern waterthrush, Ovenbird. Looking over a job at West Pope Lake on the way back. Visited Cyril in the evening. He has an Eastern Chipmunk which he can pet and pick up. Young squirrels are looking like adults, and are moving around by his place and here also.

July 31, 1982 Leo Lake on the Gunflint Trail
The last day of “summer.” Actually, we are in the fullness of summer with berries ripening and young birds growing up to be on their own. Rode bikes to Poplar Creek on Finn Road and then walked the loop via Hooker Lake and Bow Lake. It’s a mostly logged area with some large Aspen. Saw a medium-tailed Ovenbird being fed by an adult. Also saw a long-tailed Swamp Sparrow–looks very much like a Lincoln–begging, and being fed. By Bow Lake we saw a Bank Swallow flocking on wires with Barn Swallows. Canoeing in the afternoon to Swamp Lake. The loon nest has eggshells, but parents seem to be childless. Lydia saw an adult Junco feeding a large, young. At home, medium tailed Cedar Waxwings are being fed by adults. They are hanging around much of the afternoon. Picked first of the peas.

Reader’s note: Lydia is Lydia Miller Hoffman’s neighbor.

WTIP Community Radio · On this Day in Ken Hoffman's Journal - Leo Lake, July 22 to July 31, 1982

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On this Day in Ken’s Journal