Changing Times

The August LuMaye family was the largest family in Door County in 1949 with 21 children.

As the Door County Historical Museum continues preparations to celebrate 75 years since its beginning, another of curator Harry Dankoler’s contests show how times have changed. In 1949, families tended to be much larger than they are now. “Uncle Harry” asked for large families to register for a contest, held just before Christmas that awarded six families with the most children at home with prizes ranging from $10 to $1 plus an extra $1 for each child in a family with more than 10 children.

Some of the winners for the most children were: August LuMaye family, Ferdinand W. Howard family, and Clarence Weckler family. Other winning families were headed by: Louis LaViolette, Bjorn Gunnlaugsson, Howard Walker, Robert W. Allen, Nelson DeMeuse, Adrian Busch, Emery Charles and Ernest Rex.

A photo of the LuMaye family survives, but there are none of the others. If you have a photo of any of these families, contact the museum so it can be scanned for the 75th anniversary display.

For more information, call 920.743.5809, email [email protected] or stop by 18 N. 4th Avenue, Sturgeon Bay, any day between 10 am and 4:30 pm.