The property was originally homesteaded near the turn of the last century. The first buildings were that of a fishing lodge and four cabins with a serene view overlooking West Bay Lake in northern Wisconsin. After conducting the resort for about 15 years, the property and lodge were purchased in 1916 by wealthy Chicago businessman Robert P. Lamont, who became Secretary of Commerce in 1929 for President Herbert Hoover.

The renovations converting the lodge into the "Mansion" were extensive, almost to the point of reconstruction! Even some of the workmen on the project did not realize that this was a remodeling project!

The well-known Chicago architectural firm of Tallmadge and Watson was retained and the original blueprints show vast additions, including the immense stone terrace, along with complete re-siding and roof modifications for outside appearance. Inside, there were four new fireplaces and the latest modern conveniences of the time, like indoor plumbing, steam heat and Delco electrification.

This renovation took almost two years to complete. Most of the materials had to be brought in by boat or across frozen lakes in the winter, since the road from Land O Lakes was no more than a barely passable logging trail at the time. "Highway B" became a gravel road in the 1920's!

By the time the Lamonts' abandoned the property suddenly in the mid-1930's, stories of ghosts had already begun circulating! (The legend being that it was Robert Lamont who took two shots at a ghost in the kitchen and fled Summerwind Mansion in terror, leaving the beautiful northwoods retreat and all its contents behind!)

The forsaken estate was purchased about 1941 by the Keefers'. Necessary repairs were made, but no one took permanent residence. Upon Mr. Keefer's death, Mrs. Keefer began selling off portions of the large estate, but the parcel that the Mansion stood upon would prove futile to future prospective owners. To my knowledge, there were at least five separate ownership transfers between 1941 and today's current owner. Each time, the new owner would face hardship, financial collapse and various forms of disasters. This caused ownership to continually revert back to Mrs. Keefer! Even the current owner felt the devastation when Summerwind burned to the ground in 1988!

It was at the time of my father's ownership, (1972-1980) that the haunting became fully evident and the manifestations of the entities residing there were overwhelming.

Immediately, unusual events surrounded every aspect of our family life! Whether it was at Summerwind itself or elsewhere, the paranormal events seemed to escalate as time went on! With the discovery of Jonathan Carver and the subsequent research on the history of the mansion, additional stories of the supernatural began to surface. It was during this time that the book "The Carver Effect" was written.

Just as it is today, those that knew its history and had first-hand experience were not talking! Obviously, Summerwind had been haunted for a long time! I could go on indefinitely about each and every occurence, but the book is much more interesting!

On Father's Day in 1988, Summerwind Mansion was allegedly struck by lightning during a thunderstorm and caught fire, burning the once beautiful mansion to the ground. It amazes me that, with the dozens of taller trees encircling it, lightning could strike Summerwind. This in itself seems paranormal!

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