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.
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Pumpkin Patch, Iron Pour & More Weekend Plans
Take in the sights, sounds and tastes of autumn during one of the busiest weekends on the Door Peninsula! From Apple Fest to Pumpkin Patch, we’ve got you covered for a memorable, fun-filled weekend in the county. Friday, October 7 Reiki & Readings Explore the world of energy work with JenMarie Stevens, a medical intuitive, […]
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Kay Glessner Donates Tools to Door County Historical Society
Kay Glessner, Patrick Madden and Steve Madden display tools that Glessner donated to the Door County Historical Society for the Tool Museum at Heritage Village in Sturgeon Bay. The tools are a 26-inch wood divider, a wooden shovel and a wooden fork. Kay donated the tools in the memory of her late husband Roy Glessner. […]
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Belgian Heritage Center Holds Grand Opening of Exhibits Oct. 8
The Belgian Heritage Center announces the grand opening of its historical exhibits is Oct. 8, 10 am – 4 pm. These exhibits tell the settlement story of the thousands of Belgians who came to Northeastern Wisconsin in the mid-1800s. They represent the culmination of two years of planning, research and fundraising on the part of […]
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Night Photography Tips, Little Eddie Big Cup & More Weekend Plans
Just like that, September makes way for October. Take in the sights and sounds of autumn’s glory with a twilight tour of Eagle Bluff Lighthouse, stock up on handcrafted wearable art, or head to Potawatomi State Park to learn more about the plants lining the peninsula’s forest floors. Friday, September 30 Night Photography Know-How Join […]
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Holocaust Survivor to Present Stories in Door County
Fred Amram enjoys violent sports, he reports, a twinkle in his eyes, and lists them: politics, hockey and opera. This Holocaust survivor may have left a way of life behind him in Hanover when he escaped Nazi Germany as a six-year-old and made a new life in the United States. But he kept his good […]
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Questions & Authors: ‘Selected Artists of Door County’
“How true the old adage: ‘it’s all in the eye of the beholder.’ But if we are to appreciate art, we must try to understand what the artist wanted to achieve. The greater our understanding, the more we enjoy art.” Throughout her new book Selected Artists of Door County, local art historian Virginia Jones Maher […]
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Next Jacksonport Historical Society Meeting Features the Story of Charles Koulias, WWII Veteran
Join the Jacksonport Historical Society on Sept. 28 at 7 pm at the Jacksonport Town Hall as they showcase Charles Koulias. CDR Gary Rezeau, U.S. Navy (retired), and Shaun Koulias, Charles’ son, will present an interesting evening learning about one of Door County’s WWII heroes and a veteran of the Maritime Unit of the Office […]
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Door County Maritime Museum’s Tower Campaign Still Raising Funds for Construction
The Door County Maritime Museum & Lighthouse Preservation Society has been actively engaged for nearly a year in a fundraising campaign to both construct a 10-story museum tower addition and expand the current facilities in Sturgeon Bay. The campaign has reached out to more than 2,000 individuals, corporations, foundations and small businesses. Nearly half of […]
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Narrated Bus Tour of Door County’s Historical Taverns is Sept. 24
Back by popular demand, the Door County Historical Society invites people to “There’s a Tavern in the Town,” a narrated bus tour of Door County’s Historical Taverns on Sept. 24. Each rural crossroads had three things in common: a church, a school and a tavern. Within a stone’s throw, you could get education, salvation and…damnation! […]
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Book Review: ‘Alexander Hamilton’
When the musical Hamilton opens in Chicago on Sept. 27, Midwestern audiences will be able to experience one of the most unlikely projects in the history of musical theater. The guiding genius of this project is Lin-Manuel Miranda, an actor, composer, writer, and hip-hop musician (an impressive, if unusual list of accomplishments). Miranda also has […]
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Smoke ’em If You Got ’em! Following the Cinematic Lineage of Morley Cigarettes
Recently discovering the Guillermo del Toro-touched FX series The Strain, the film fan in me was amused watching episode 11 in the first season when a character flashed a pack of Morley cigarettes. Good old Morley! They’ve been the cinematic smoke of those in the know for more than half a century, but mention Morley […]
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Hedwig Peil: The ‘Mail-Order Bride’ Who Took Door County by Storm
On Aug. 9, 1895, as Otto Peil was preparing to marry Hedwig Heinrich, his “mail-order bride” from Germany, his father told him that his right foot had to cross the threshold of the church ahead of Hedwig’s or she would forever have the upper hand and rule him for the rest of his life. The […]
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Memorial Bricks Are Set at Alexander Noble House
The Memorial Bricks have been set, and the Gibraltar Historical Association (GHA) has a beautiful brick walkway leading visitors to its front and side porches. Honoree bricks have been placed on the walkway to raise money to refurbish their History Center, and residents and visitors alike order bricks to share a lasting memory on the […]
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Bayside Tavern History Is Topic of Next Gibraltar Talks Program
Gibraltar Historical Association’s next Gibraltar Talks program is Sept. 22 about the “History of the Bayside Tavern” with guest speaker Bobby MacDonald. Bobby will share the history of the building, owners and stories only a watering hole can tell. Gathering stories and asking the questions is what Bobby has in store for those who want […]
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Door County Historical Society Details 95-Year History of Alpine at Monthly Meeting
The Door County Historical Society (DCHS) will host its monthly dinner meeting and program “History of the Alpine Resort” presented by Bill Bertschinger on Sept. 26. The dinner and program will be held at the Alpine Resort in Egg Harbor. The Alpine was built in 1921 by brothers Paul and John Bertschinger. A few years […]
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Sign My Car!: Belgian Storytelling Tour Makes Stop in Door County
On the list of reasons to immigrate to the United States, Séverine Dehon’s isn’t all that uncommon. “Once upon a time, there was a man,” the Belgian explained. “Then I stayed anyway.” What is uncommon is the way she decided to confront the series of unexpected and unfortunate events that quickly followed her 2011 arrival […]
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Dr. Fred and Vonia Huff of Sturgeon Bay had this studio photo taken in their winter finery sometime near the start of the 20th century. We are going to feature the Huffs and others in their winter clothing through the decades in the winter issue of Door County Living, however, we need your help. We […]
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“The 39 Steps,” Door County Century & More Weekend Plans
This weekend, take some time to celebrate the upcoming fall season. Get lost in a corn maze, squish some grapes, or bike across the county. Friday, Sept. 9 Art/Speaks Come to write and to share work. This writing lab is for those interested in writing in response to art. 11:30 am – 1 pm. […]
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When we decided to focus on Carlsville for this issue, I thought, great! I sort of knew the history. It was named for a bunch of guys named Carl who lived in the area. Hilarious! I thought the subject was just absolutely ripe with humor. Six guys named Carl walk into a bar… But it […]
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The Origins of Labor Day: They Labored So We Don’t Have To
Labor Day is known as the three-day weekend that marks the end of summer. People often mix it up with Memorial Day, simply knowing both are long weekends that serve as bookends to the summer. But a day off work is rarely linked with a holiday to celebrate working in the first place. Labor Day […]