Navigation

Category: History

Door County is rich in history, from its most prominent founding citizens to the business leaders who embraced tourism to make it the destination it is today. It’s a history of orchards, farming, and fishermen, but also of potters, artists, and writers. But more than anything, it’s a history told in the lives of the remarkable people who’ve called it home for a spell or a lifetime. Door County Pulse tells them all.

  • News From This Week’s Past: Ship Launch, President Coolidge, Return of Beer

    By ,

    All items are from the Door County Library’s newspaper archives, and they appear in the same form as they were first published, including misspellings and grammatical errors.   The Expositor April 9, 1875 One short quick step has carried us from the severity of rough old winter to the mildness of gentle Spring. And now […]

  • News From This Week’s Past: Elections, Asa Thorpe, Prohibition

    By ,

    All items are from the Door County Library’s newspaper archives, and they appear in the same form as they were first published, including misspellings and grammatical errors.   The Expositor April 2, 1875 Mr. J. Crass, of Sevastopol, has been setting an example worthy of imitation this winter. He has made a snow-plow and after […]

  • Last Driver Remembers Bookmobile Days

    By ,

    When the Egg Harbor Historical Society hosts a celebration of the bookmobile April 11, someone who knew it better than anyone will be in attendance. Gary Bellin drove the Door County Bookmobile in its final two years before it broke down for good in 1989. His route took him to schools and to corners in […]

  • Booyah and Bread Lunch at Belgian Heritage Center

    By ,

    The annual booyah and bread lunch will be held at the Belgian Heritage Center April 29, 11 am to 2 pm. Booyah, a hearty soup typically cooked in outdoor kettles, is a traditional dish and a mainstay at gatherings in the Belgian settlement area. Guests will have the opportunity to view the exhibits that tell […]

  • News From This Week’s Past: March 30 – April 6

    By ,

    All items are from the Door County Library’s newspaper archives, and they appear in the same form as they were first published, including misspellings and grammatical errors.   The Expositor Independent March 29, 1878 A tramp passing through this town asked one of our citizens if he knew where he, the tramp, could obtain work? […]

  • Egg Harbor Library Celebrates Bookmobile Day

    By ,

    Celebrate National Bookmobile Day, April 11, and National Library Month with a sneak peek at Door County’s own historic bookmobile. The Egg Harbor Historical Society and bookmobile friends will present the story of the bookmobile through pictures and artifacts during the celebration from 10 am to 1 pm at the Egg Harbor Library at the […]

  • Peninsula Native Named Director of Wisconsin Historical Society Press

    By ,

    After 18 years acquiring manuscripts and managing the moving parts of the Wisconsin Historical Society Press’ projects, Door County native Kate (Mallien) Thompson has been named the organization’s director. A Sturgeon Bay native, Thompson credits simple Door County pastimes for encouraging her journey into professional publishing. “Books were given as gifts to us as kids, […]

  • Sturgeon Bay Granary Will be Moved Thursday Morning

    By ,

    The Teweles and Brandeis Grain Elevator will be moved over the Oregon Street Bridge in Sturgeon Bay Thursday, March 29. The crew from DeVooght will begin work at 3 am to move the structure onto the street, with the move across the bridge beginning at approximately 7 am. The move is expected to take about […]

  • National Shrine Featured on Megyn Kelly TODAY March 28

    By ,

    The National Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help will get some national attention this week with a Wednesday morning feature on Megyn Kelly TODAY. The focus will be on healings and miracles that have been reported at the shrine in Champion, Wisconsin. “We have such a great story to share with the world from […]

  • Farming the Peninsula: The Origins of Farming in Door County

    By ,

    Once upon a time, wheat was king in Wisconsin. It was more than a cash crop. It served as a medium of exchange and was known to be “good as money.” Planting great fields of wheat did not require large investment in either labor or capital, and there was always a ready market for the […]

  • News From This Week’s Past: March 23 – 29

    By ,

    All items are from the Door County Library’s newspaper archives, and they appear in the same form as they were first published, including misspellings and grammatical errors.   The Expositor March 20, 1874 Families here grease their necks now with hog’s lard and black-strap – No butter in town.   Weekly Expositor Independent March 23 […]

  • News From This Week’s Past: March 16 – 23

    By ,

    All items are from the Door County Library’s newspaper archives, and they appear in the same form as they were first published, including misspellings and grammatical errors. The Expositor Independent March 12, 1880 The changeable weather of late has caused large numbers of our people to wrestle with the “epizootic.” The disease is not a […]

  • The Missing Context for Sister Bay Hotel Debate

    By ,

    In the spring of 2007, the Village of Sister Bay stunned residents when it announced it was buying Helm’s Four Seasons motel for $4.9 million to expand its public waterfront. At the time, many residents and business owners complained vehemently to the board of trustees that removing Helm’s and its 42 rooms would devastate downtown […]

  • Filmmaker Hopes to Highlight, Preserve County Lighthouses

    By ,

    Kewaunee filmmaker Jake Heffernan hopes his upcoming documentary film about each of Door County’s 11 lighthouses will not only bring awareness to the regional treasures, but help in preserving them as well. Slated for a spring 2019 release, the profits of Lighting the Door will go toward the organizations that work to preserve and restore […]

  • News From This Week’s Past: March 9 – 16

    By ,

    All items are from the Door County Library’s newspaper archives, and they appear in the same form as they were first published, including misspellings and grammatical errors.   The Expositor March 6, 1874 Capt. Kirtland of Egg Harbor, he who used to sail steamboats for our benefit and his own, while he daily sang “Hit […]

  • News From This Week’s Past: March 2 – 9

    By ,

    All items are from the Door County Library’s newspaper archives, and they appear in the same form as they were first published, including misspellings and grammatical errors. The Expositor February 27, 1874 A New Post office is just established in Door county to be called “Sevastopol” George Bassford, Post master. Office to be located at […]

  • Granary Deconstruction Begins

    By ,

    The deconstruction of the Teweles and Brandeis Grain Elevator on Sturgeon Bay’s west waterfront began Friday, Feb. 23. Kiesow Enterprises is dismantling the structure at the city’s direction, which came as a result of a raze order issued by Fire Chief Tim Dietman on Oct. 17. The deconstruction is expected to take seven to 10 […]

  • News From This Week’s Past: Feb. 23 – March 1

    By ,

    All items are from the Door County Library’s newspaper archives, and they appear in the same form as they were first published, including misspellings and grammatical errors. The Expositor Independent February 22, 1878 Mr. A. Wagener came nigh dying last Sunday afternoon, his critical condition being caused by eating some “home-made cheese,” given him by […]

  • Tour Door Artisan Cheese Co. during Egg Harbor Historical Society Program

    By ,

    The Egg Harbor Historical Society is hosting its winter program March 4, 1 pm at Door Artisan Cheese Company. After the program, guided tours and sampling will be available as well as hors d’oeuvres and beverages. Reservations are required; call 920.823.2062 or email [email protected]. Along with your name(s) leave a return phone number. Reservations are […]

  • Small Steps and Big Goals on Plum and Pilot Islands

    By ,

    The remaining historic structures on Plum and Pilot Islands are facing the fate of Pilot Island’s fog signal building:  little more than four crumbling stone walls and a collapsed roof covered in bird droppings. They are decades past needed maintenance and, without some support, the islands of Death’s Door would reclaim them to their natural […]