Life as the Showboat

*this story is a work in progress

The Nymphea was purchased by ambitious entrepreneur, Jeff Jones, in 1930 for use as a lunch counter at his newly proposed cabin campground. Jones, a Milwaukeean, bought property on Second Lake where he first built a “modernized” cottage for himself and family. He later intended to build a private road and other cabins for a resort type style property. The land already boasted a private power plant and spring fed well for fresh water. To reach it’s new home the retired Nympea was moved by river to Second Lake and then hauled up to the hill near a main road about 6 miles northwest from Stevens Point.

“Decorated in colors of red and yellow and equipped with gasoline pumps to match, tables, ice cream, cold drink, and light lunch dispensaries, the boat… serves as a stopping place for autoists.” Jones named his new lunch counter, The Showboat.

While going through his grandmother’s things, Thomas Becher found an amazing photo negative of the Showboat as the original refreshment stand. The photo is likely circa early to mid 1930s before the cabin building was added. Note the car on the right and the barn roof in the back ground. Deerwood Coffee served here! Deerwood Coffee was produced by the Copps Coffee Company in Stevens Point from 1917- 1948.

Over the next decade there are a number of news stories about the Showboat baseball team and games held at the diamond behind the building. The team must have brought people out to the remote spot bringing popularity with them. It looks like the team had done well with Jones as their regular manager over the years.

Tragedy struck in 1938 when a Milwaukee boy drowned in Second Lake on the Showboat property. This was the second death associated with the boat. There was much press about the incident and it is possible that Jones left town after. He is not mentioned in local papers after that time and it is noted that the next owner purchased the property from the First National Bank so it’s possible Jones may have lost the property. The sale consisted of the family cabin, the Showboat itself, and 27 acres of land. It appears Jones never did complete his cabins.

In 1939 an ad ran in the newspaper mentioning a new proprietor, Anton Kruzitski. The same year his name appears applying for a liquor license. Kruzintski seems to only be involved for the one year. He is mentioned as the new manager of the Showboat baseball team in May 1940 as well, but not after.

A post card mailed in the 1940s lists Mr. & Mrs. Eders as owners. John and Mary Ann Eders purchased the property in 1939 and moved their family from Glidden in September. By the time this photo is taken the boat seems to have been moved completely around and an addition added. The signage has completely changed as well. It is unknown if Jeff Jones built the cabin addition, but it is likely since he had intended to build other cabins on the lake. The gas pumps were also from the time of Jones. Note the sign that mentions credit cards.

Locals mention remembering Tom Eder running the bar in the 50s with his parents. Mary Ann died in 1959. After Mary Ann’s death John moved to Milwaukee and remarried. It seems the bar was passed to Tom. John later came back to Stevens Point passing at the age of 94. Tom committed suicide on his sister’s farm in December of 1964. He was 43. His obituary mentions that he had recently sold the bar.

Ed and Millie Hojnacki were the ones who had purchased the property from Tom. Many locals remember Millie today. Per her obit, “Millie owned and operated the Showboat Tavern in Junction City for many years and later worked at Del Monte in Plover. She enjoyed gambling, going to the South Point Restaurant and the chicken wings at Rusty’s Backwater Saloon.” Mille died in 2013 at age 82. Ed committed suicide at age 58 in 1985.

Don and Rosie Widman bought the property from Millie in 1979 and owned it until 1982. Later the tavern was owned by Roy and Judy Churchill. Today the property is known as Donna’s Showboat.

It isn’t documented when the boat became built into the building. Some say it slowly disappeared, eventually consumed by the building, and t is part of the walls today.