The first picture above is Half Moon Lake in about 1885. The second is the lake in the present day. Half Moon Lake has changed quite a bit. The sawmills that used to be there in the early 1900's are now gone. In place of them you see nature. Half Moon Lake had some of the finest sawmills around. After the last great log drive down the Chippewa, there was no need for the sawmills. That is why they aren't here today.

The lake was used for industrial purposes, but now it is mainly used for recreational activities such and water skiing or fishing. Instead of seeing the continuous heaps of logs on the lake you will now see an occasional boat and open water.

Sources:
The Rivers Flow On   By: Lois Barland, Worzalla Publishing, Stevens Point, Wisconsin, 1965
Chippewa Valley Museum