Edge of the Wilderness
Bigfork, MN

The first resident of Bigfork had the makings of legend, even in his own time. Damase "Uncle Tom" Neveaux arrived here in approximately 1887. Known for his hospitality, Neveaux was affectionately dubbed "uncle." The French name Damase translates to Tom. Uncle Tom wanted to make his guests comfortable for dinner, so he called all his meat dishes "chicken." In truth, most of the meals were made of whatever local game he could capture, minus the fur or feather.

Like most small towns in the region, the logging industry drew people and businesses to support the loggers, mills and the railroad. Log harvesting remains important today as do jobs supporting outdoor recreation and tourism.