‘Traveling Down the Tracks’ Yesteryear Program

James Valcq. Submitted.

The Door County Historical Society hosts its yesteryear program “Traveling down the Tracks,” a double feature presentation on June 30, 1 pm in the Collins Learning Center at Crossroads at Big Creek in Sturgeon Bay. The double feature combines the culture of local train history and original folk theater.

Northern Sky Theater favorites Jeff Herbst and James Valcq provide stories and music from Boxcar. Boxcar was written by Laurie Flanigan Hegge and James Valcq. “Launching into this project, it was fun to research trains, train travel and the quirky, romanticized version of the hobo culture that followed train lines…But a closer look revealed the danger the hobos faced on the road, the risks they took every time they flipped a freight, and the code of conduct they maintained that helped to foster the safety and security they so dearly needed,” said Flanigan Hegge.

Andy Laurent will tell the story of the Ahnapee & Western Railway, the rail line in Door County that ran from 1894 to 1968, sharing many images and stories from his collection accumulated during the past 20 years. Door County was the last Wisconsin county to begin rail service in 1894 and was the first county to suspend service in 1968.

While the program is free, an offering will be taken to support use of the facility and the Heritage Village at Big Creek. Heritage Village is open for tours prior to the presentation beginning at 10 am and after the presentation until 3 pm; the adult admission fee is $6.50. A donation is requested in lieu of a children’s admission fee. For more information call 920.421.2332 or email [email protected].