A Little Twist of Fate

It’s interesting how a little twist of fate can lead to something big. Seven years ago, Mike Madden’s neighbor, Dan Hanson, needed to get rid of a 120-year-old log structure on his property. Mike thought it would look good in his woods, and Dan said if he’d take it down and move it, he was welcome to it.

Mike’s wife, Barbara, wasn’t as enthused about the plan as he was, and his brother, Pat, had another suggestion. Those hundreds of old hand tools in Pat’s garage really needed a permanent home. If the 24’ x 30’ log building became a part of the Door County Historical Society’s Heritage Village at Big Creek, the tools would be in a place where youngsters could get a history lesson and older adults could “remember when.”

The committee for the Hand Tools Museum, with the kind of old tools that will be displayed there: (from left) George Evenson, potato planter; Mike Madden, adze; Mary Gilbert, hay knife; John Wiese, broad ax; Pat Madden, sauerkraut cutter; and Jim Maki, pee eve (a tool for managing log floats).

“They ganged up on me,” Mike says, but his enthusiasm for the project indicates he didn’t need much of a push to change his plans. In fact, the Hand Tools Museum will also be the new home for the hundreds of old tools in Mike’s own collection – many of which he used as teaching aids during the years he taught fifth and sixth graders in the Sevastopol District.

The historical society was excited about the idea – the museum will be the tenth building in the village that was begun in 1995 – and a committee composed of George Evenson, (the Door County Historical Society president, who’s raised more than half a million dollars for the society through the years), Mary Gilbert, John Wiese and Jim Maki was formed to work with the Maddens. Pat and Mike are “Irish twins,” born 11 months apart. Also heavily involved in the project are their wives, Barbara and Joanne, their brothers, Steve and Shawn (“regular” twins), and Bill, and their sister and brother-in-law, Sheila and Karl Ballstad of Oconto. Coincidentally, the home where the six Maddens grew up has now been relocated to a spot on Highway 57, south of Jacksonport, and is the new home of the Jacksonport Historical Society.

The Hand Tool Museum will be located south of the Schopf House, along the Heritage Trail that will connect the main part of the village with the historic Hanson House on Utah Street. Eight stations along the way, including the museum, will provide insight as to how early settlers worked and lived – their pioneer spirit and history.

Depending on funding, it may be two or three years before the old log building is completely finished in its new location. The cost of Phase I, getting the structure up and enclosed, is expected to cost about $52,000 for shake roofing, replacing deteriorated logs and electrical service. The historical society has about $15,000 on hand for the project and will, of course, welcome donations.

Work is under way to prepare for erecting the building, with almost all the labor – 300 hours so far – donated. Lily Bay Sand and Gravel did the site work, Malcore Concrete poured the slab and Gordon Electric buried a power line.

Even at this stage, the project is providing learning experiences. Members of the Boys and Girls Club and several adults, with an age range from 10 to 86, spent a day helping to prepare logs for the foundation. On Oct. 19, Girl Scouts held a meeting in the Greene Store, helped to peel logs and watched a buzz saw demonstration. The Girl Scouts will also help with the “stove wood” section of the building construction.

Providing a permanent indoor space for programs and demonstrations will be another benefit of the museum. Mary Gilbert, a third-generation member of the historical society board, says this has been a lack in the village. Some of the old-time desks have been removed from the Vignes School, built in the 1890s and the first building moved to the village, so that folding chairs can be arranged to provide extra seating for programs. Still, a larger space is needed. Wings on either side of the main building will provide space for machinery and, perhaps, a kettle used in slaughtering pigs.

Pat and Mike Madden have both been collecting for years, and have a longstanding tradition of bringing one another old tools as gifts when they travel. Most recently, these included a wrench from China for Pat and hammers from Peru and Africa for Mike. People who have heard about the project are eager to contribute. Pat recently picked up an item at a garage sale, and when the owner heard what he planned to do with it, brought down a large box of tools from his attic. Charles Anderson of southern Door County donated three truckloads of tools and furniture. A corner of the museum will be donated to kitchen tools. All donated items become the property of the Door County Historical Society. Nothing can be accepted “on loan.”

The Madden brothers (from left) Pat, Steve, Mike, Shawn and Bill. Submitted photo.

Mike says that while the old tools are a great learning adventure for kids, helping them to understand what life was like in their ancestors’ day, adults see in them pleasant memories of a simpler lifestyle.

Heritage Village is located at 2041 Michigan St. at the intersections of Highways 42-57 and County TT. For information about any of these activities, call Mike Madden at 920.743.5843 or Mary Gilbert at 920.495.1109. Gilbert is especially eager to hear from Vignes School alumni, as she hopes to arrange a reunion next year.