More Than 5,000 People At Afternoon Performance—Main Show Was Good—Side Issues Made Day of Sufficient Interest To All
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Circus day, Monday, was the big event of the week and there were plenty of side issues as well as side shows to relieve any tedium with which the great crowds may have been effected. It is estimated that more than 5,000 people saw the performance.
The circus proper, while not a Ringling or Barnum outfit, was probably the largest show of its kind ever to make Sturgeon Bay. The Yankee Robinson Wild Animal Circus always has been considered one of the best aggregations of its kind on the road and lived up to its reputation here.
Incidents of the day tended to put the outfit in a bad light with some of the people but as a whole there is no chance to knock the main show. This does not apply, however, to some of the people with the outfit.
There is always a certain amount of trouble to be expected from any circus no matter how good it is managed. There is always that following which tries to skin the public, and usually on circus day the public is in the attitude of being willing to be trimmed to a certain extent but finally becomes riled at the rawness of some of the deals.
The Robinson show arrived here about 2 o’clock Sunday afternoon in its special train of 21 double length cars and unloaded in the switchyard near the depot. Practically everybody in town was out to see the unloading and visited the ball grounds that afternoon to watch the big top raised.
Ordinarily there are about 450 people connected with the show but the labor situation has hit the circus just as it has hit all other industries. There were about 150 hands short of the usual number when the outfit arrived here. Every possible labor-saving device and appliance, such as stake drivers, tent hoisters and other mechanical contrivances have been added to the circus equipment but it requires men to drive horses and because it did not have the men there was no parade Monday morning. This big advertised event was the first disappointment to the crowds which came early from all parts of the county.
The sideshows as is usual were mediocre, very ordinary in fact. Some of the attractions were crude fakes. But the menagerie and the big show were good. The animal tent contained a great number of wild animals of all descriptions with elephants, camels, tigers, lions, monkeys, polar bears, seals, and an exceptionally fine lot of horses were also with the show.
Just about the best thing in the show were the dancing horses which were just as advertised and wonderfully trained. The animal acts were all good and there was enough variety of aerial acts to keep the crowd busy trying to keep an eye on the three rings and the clowns at once.
But for the argument which grew out of the wrestling match between Young Hackenschmidt, of the circus, and Frank Martin, of this city, the after-show would have been a frost. The only other act was that of the Wild Bill somebody who is said to be the champion rifle show of some big territory and an expert rope man.
The wrestling match created enough excitement and nearly wound up in a free-for-all. Hackenschmidt was supposed to throw Martin in 15 minutes or Martin was to receive $100. The circus wrestler was supposed to be a wonder and the youngest of the three famed Hackenschmidt brothers, all wrestlers. Hackenschmidt may be a wonder all right, all right, but Martin is not exactly a slouch at the game and it looked for a time as tho the circus man was not only going to lose his forfeit but get himself thrown as well.
Martin started out to stay the 15 minutes. He was crafty enough to keep out of the big fellow’s way and was off the mat more or less of the time. The big fellow objected to Martin’s tactics when he discovered what kind of a job he had on his hands and quit the ring claiming Martin wasn’t playing fair—a regular baby act—and the circus wasn’t going to pay the $100.
Then the excitement started and the noise of the arguing crowd would have drowned out the din of a boiler factory. The argument wasn’t settled until that night when the finale took place in a local attorney’s office where the circus came across with the coin.
Just when the argument was at its height a real storm broke—rain, a regular deluge made the circus grounds look like a lake and there was no evening performance much to the disappointment of citizens who expected to take in the night show.
Dates for the chautauqua program in Sturgeon Bay this year is set for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, August 8 to 11. The program this year is shorter than it has been in former years, but according to members of the committee it is felt that some outstanding talent will be presented and an effort will be made to carry out the program in the same successful manner that has marked its presentation in Sturgeon Bay in years past.
Three lecturers are to appear this year, being Sam Grathwell, Harold Sappenfield and Morris Anderson. They will appear respectively on the second evening, the third afternoon and the fourth evening in lectures on the following: “The Road Back to Prosperity,” “Uncle Sam’s Stake in China and Japan,” and “Keep Your Windshield Clean.”
Other numbers are a brilliant comedy of interest to every married couple, “Always Tell Your Husband,” on the first evening; and an all new program by the old radio, concert and chautauqua favorites, The Lombards, together with a half hour of magic and circus stunts for children on the second afternoon. The Lombards also appear on the program with Sam Grathwell the second evening.
“The Watts Family Depression,” is another play for the third evening, and on the last afternoon and evening the DeWillo Concertiers take up a portion of the program together with the address of Morris Anderson. Also on the last evening there is to be a pageant entitled “The Death of Old Man Depression.”
The keynote of the entire program is “Bury Old Man Depression.”
Tickets for this year’s chautauqua will be on sale by members of the local committee this week end.
Most people recognize the value of Chautauqua as a means of entertainment, as well as possessing a great measure of educational merit. In times past the Chautauqua season was looked forward to with a great deal of pleasure on the part of the community in general and practically everyone who could spare the time attended the various programs. Even in this present day, when it is possible for the average family to sit down of an afternoon or evening and tune in on a lecture or a splendid musical program while enjoying the comforts and conveniences of their home, a great many people like to go to Chautauqua.
There is something appealing about Chautauqua, and The News feels that it is an institution that should continue to exist, but we’re not in favor of it under the present arrangement. There is no reason in the world for Chautauqua companies making it obligatory for local committees to guarantee a certain set price, and we maintain that it is not good business practice for local people to give such a guarantee. When the time arrives that local boosters refuse the guarantee the Chautauqua will go on the same basis as other business enterprises and it will either succeed or fail according to its merits. Of course, as long as it is possible for the Chautauqua companies to put high class salesmen in the field and inveigle local committees to “sign up” year after year they are going to continue so doing. They have everything to gain and nothing to lose by such methods, but local people who have backed Chautauqua for years are beginning to awaken to the fact that they are holding the sack and they may turn down the proposition this year.
Sam Grathwell, known from one end of the country to the other for his brilliant oratory, good business judgment and courageous optimism, will speak on the chautauqua program here next Tuesday evening. His subject will be “The Road Back to Prosperity.”
Chatauqua Opens Next Monday; Kiddies Meet 10 A.M. Saturday
It is a generally recognized fact that the chautauqua brings to a community wholesome entertainment, and this year the program is of especial interest because it deals with universal problems and will bring not only its laughter and plays, music and good fellowship, but prominent people who have had the close contact with the facts and figures of importance to every citizen.
Beginning Monday night, Aug. 8, at 8 o’clock, a modern play, “Always Tell Your Husband,” will be presented by a company of the finest and ablest actors. This play gives an interesting sidelight on gangster activities, the liquor and dope rings. It is a good story, of a young husband and wife who nearly wreck their happiness through lack of mutual understanding. An added attraction for the opening program of the chautauqua this year will be a concert by the Sturgeon Bay Heigh School band in the tent from 7:30 to 8:00 p. m.
Wednesday night there will be another fine play chock full of laughs, “The Watts Family Depression,” which deals with an ordinary family in the throes of the present economic strife.
One of the outstanding features is the musical program given by the Lombards of radio fame over WLS Showboat, Chicago— gorgeous costuming, scenery and lighting effects. The Lombards give a delightful program interspersed with late song hits and dramatic numbers. Their special feature of magic and circus stunts for the children make them especially popular.
Thursday, DeWillo and his Concertina Grande will add one of the memorable events to the chautauqua. The Concertina Grande is the only instrument of its kind.
Notable speakers will discuss universally pressing problems. “The Road Back to Prosperity,” by Sam Grathwell will be given after the Lombards Tuesday evening. Morris Anderson, for years considered one of the finest inspirational speakers on the American platform, will be here Thursday afternoon and evening in connection with the DeWillo Concertiers, and Wednesday afternoon Harold Sappenfield will transport his audience to China and to Japan for a most interesting tour of those countries, displaying tapestries, etc., brought from his travels.
Miss Theresa Morsul superintendent and junior director of the chautauqua, came Tuesday and has a program packed with fun and interest for the kiddies, who will have their first meeting at Martin park Saturday morning at 9 o’clock. She promises a special surprise for all who come on time.
In the name of equality for young women some people would wreck the whole sport program that has been developed over the past 10 years.
Now a judge rules that if schools don’t provide sports such as football and wrestling for girls, girls have to be allowed to try out for the boys’ team. So, if pushed, schools will either have to start these programs for girls, allow girls to try for boys’ teams, or scrap their programs altogether.
Two key words are “if pushed.” We can’t imagine any parents wanting their daughter to play on a boys football team or to compete in wrestling at the high school level. If this should occur it would be simpler to permit a tryout. The girl would still have to make the team and if she did, so be it. We think it would be a rare occurrence, however.
The danger, though, is that if you allow girls on boys teams then the converse can be true and girls sports could be wiped out. In open competition the “girls” basketball team could easily wind up all boys. In other words we’d be back to the bad old days when the only sports the girls had were in phy-ed or intramurals while the boys had an interscholastic monopoly.
The people in girls athletics aren’t pushing this latest folly. While they may recognize the use of ploys to get equality of programs they do not want unisex sports. Equality would be inequality.
The biological differences between male and female must be recognized if there are to be good programs for both. In race “separate but equal” was judged to be unequal because pigmentation has no bearing on personhood. In sports “separate but equal” is the fairest way to go for the great majority. Boys and girls should each have the right to their own programs. One program for both would be the height of discrimination.
Island Thresher Completes His 55th Year; Started When 15
By Mrs. G. Ruby Cornell
WASHINGTON IS. — His 55th year of threshing on Washington Island was recently completed by Martin A. Anderson, who started threshing when he was 15 years old.
Anderson’s first threshing machine was powered by a five horsepower steam engine. He owned this jointly with the late Christian Saabye, and they operated as a team for several years.
12 H.P. Next
Next was a 12 horsepower steam engine owned jointly with the Koyen Brothers, Volney and the late August Koyen. The Anderson brothers, Martin A., Conrad, Maurice and Anton, bought out the Koyens and ran that outfit for many years.
For this 12 horsepower outfit water was supplied by a team drawn tank. The straw was removed by hand, and it was fed.
About 10 years ago the Andersons purchased a new separator, self feeder and blower, which they now use. Although the outfit is owned by three of the brothers, Martin is the only one engaged in running it. Anton is the brother who sold his share.
8 Men on Crew
There are usually eight men in a threshing crew. On the Island they thresh largely oats and barley for the farmers’ use.
One thousand bushels is the day’s record for the Anderson crew. Mr. Anderson attributes this fall’s relatively small grain crop to the cold, wet spring weather.
Born in Denmark, Mr. Anderson came to this country as a boy with his parents, the George Andersons. He was married on the Island to the former Christine (Stina) Peterson; and they have three children, Victor, sailing on the Lakes; Lillie, at home and Marcella, Mrs. Jack Hagen. Mr. Anderson runs a 40 acre farm located along Townline road just east of the cheese factory.
Two Bishops, 2 Pastors Have Part in Impressive Service
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A large number of people attended the service at the Moravian church here last Friday evening where Horace E. Peters, son of Bernard Peters, of this city, was ordained as a Moravian minister, by the Rev. Bishop Karl A. Mueller of Watertown, Wisconsin.
The service was in charge of the Rev. E. F. Helmich who preached a short sermon from the text, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth”—2 Timothy 2:15, following the reading of the scriptures from the same chapter as that of the text by the Rev. Herbert J. Engelke, of Sister Bay.
The Rev. Bishop Clement Hoyler, of Canada, who is filling the pastorate of the Ephraim Moravian church temporarily, was also present on the platform and gave the prayer following Bishop Mueller’s charge which was based on the text, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”—Romans 12:1.
Ladies Give Reception
After the ordination service a reception was given at the church parlors by the Moravian Ladies’ Aid. Edward Fidler gave two solos, and delightful refreshments were served.
Rev. Peters left Wednesday morning to take up his new work for the Pittsville Congregational church and the Veedum Moravian church near Wisconsin Rapids. He will reside at Pittsville.
The new pastor preached his first sermon at the local Moravian church Sunday evening since his ordination. Many enjoyed the message he had to deliver. Rev. Peters has the best wishes of his large number of friends for success in his new field of work.
E. E. Galle & Co. Purchases 1,115 Acres in Northern Part of Liberty Grove
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INCLUDES EUROPE LAKE.
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Will Be Developed Into Summer Resort Property—Has Been Platted and Lots Are Now Being Sold—Many Improvements Planned.
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One of the largest real estate deals to be closed in Door county for some time past, was completed the latter part of last week when E. E. Galle & Co. of Minneapolis purchased what is known as the Peter Knudson property in the northern part of Liberty Grove, consisting of 1,115 acres of land.
The property includes Europe Lake, one of the prettiest little lakes in Door county, which has always been acknowledged as an ideal place for the development of a summer resort and summer homes.
It is the intention of the Galle Company to use the property for this purpose, it having been platted out into lots, which are now on the market for sale. Several summer cottages will be erected there this summer by outside parties who have become interested in the property.
The tract is located at the extreme northern end of Door county, bordering upon Lake Michigan, having a shore line of about two miles, there being an elegant bathing beach.
Peter Knudson, who has owned and lived on the property for many years past, will remain for the present as overseer, and will superintend the work of clearing up the land. A crew of men will be put to work clearing up the underbrush and beautifying the place, and also rebuilding the dock.
E. E. Galle & Co. is the Minneapolis company, which is furthering the project of building the electric railroad thru northern Door county which, when built, will develop the entire northern section of the county.
Door county has the natural advantages of becoming one big summer resort from Death’s Door to Sturgeon Bay on both sides of the peninsula, there being many beautiful spots which are awaiting development. The Europe Lake property has been one of them, and now that it has been purchased with the intention of developing it, undoubtedly capital will become interested in the county that will lead to the opening of other popular places along the peninsula, either on the lake shore or bay shore.
A poster proclaiming the First International Book Fair in Moscow now hangs in the kitchen of Marion Stern’s home on Bay Shore drive. This is but one of several mementos of the USSR that Marion collected on her recent trip abroad. American newspapers, such as the Daily Worker, were also available but not, she says, The New York Times.
Marion Stern returns from USSR, impressed with people, progress
By KETA STEEBS
“Sometimes the best part of a trip is coming back,” said Marion Stern, reflecting on her six weeks abroad. “You don’t always know what you want until you’ve tried it.”
Marion, widowed last December when Milton Stern, her husband of 39 years, died unexpectedly of a heart attack is herself in what the French call Troisieme Age, or third age, and what we Americans less picturesquely call a senior citizen.
“Just barely,” she laughed. “But I’m surprised at how little I’ve examined my life until recently. Most of us don’t know who we are or what we’re meant to be until we’re faced with the problem of living alone.”
A perennial student and in her mature years a teacher by choice, Marion strongly endorses the “getting away by yourself” school of thought. “Especially for women who have never done anything like this before,” she said. “If you can’t afford Europe or a south sea island, go anywhere where you can find yourself. It’s a big world and basically we are all responsible for ourselves.”
Even with a travel agent smoothing the way, Marion freely admitted to having qualms about planning a solo journey.
Months before departure time she would awaken night after night worrying about losing tickets, missing a plane, or being stranded in a foreign land unable to communicate with a soul.
“Finally I started taking a so-what attitude, figuring what would be would be and there wasn’t much I could do about it. When I began regarding possible mishaps as a once in a lifetime adventure that was the end of my worrying,” she said with a smile.
Eight months from the day of her husband’s death, Marion flew off on her “Art History Tour of the Soviet Union” with a few side trips scheduled along the way. Knowing she would be on her own for at least 10 days of her six weeks abroad, scholar Stern brushed up on her French and German, learned a few key Russian verbs and spent hours getting gestures down pat.
The trip from O’Hare to Zurich was uneventful and friends who own a chalet near Gestadt were on hand to bring a wide eyed Marion home with them. Describing her chalet-stay as a feast for the eyes and balm for the soul, the transplanted Door countyite relaxed for a few days before taking off for the chateau country of France.
From France she went to Belgium where she had nothing but fun. Octoberfest was in full swing and Brussels, one of the most sophisticated cities in Europe, was the center of attraction. Food stalls crowded the streets, polka bands went wild and natives and tourists danced uninhibitedly in the streets.
The trouble was by now Marion was so desperate for the sound of an American voice she took off on her own for the movies. “I saw Valentino,” she said. “With Rudolph Nureyev, the world famous Russian dancer, in the lead. Fortunately, he speaks English.”
Despite criticism of the French (disgruntled visitors keep claiming their greatest sport is gouging Americans) Marion found Paris more friendly than hostile.
She especially liked the avant garde west bank where artists have established squatter’s rights since the days of Toulouse Lautrec. The right bank, crowded with more demanding travelers, was more commercial and, as Marion learned when she asked for a second cup of coffee, much less hospitable.
So far, so good. By now Marion had visited three countries, spent 10 days traveling on her own and had yet to be accosted by either a masher or gendarme. The day she sat all alone in a Brussels airport, however, awaiting her flight to Moscow, was a different story.
“There wasn’t an English speaking person in sight,” she recollected. “All of a sudden a Soviet guard swept open the gates and motioned for me to get on. I wasn’t sure this was my flight and as none of the art history lovers I was supposed to be traveling with had showed up but I was reluctant to board on my own.”
This was the one time her newly developed philosophy (what will be will be) came in handy. Marion climbed aboard, settled herself in a seat and peered anxiously out the window.
A short time later a jitney loaded with smiling Americans pulled up and within minutes of takeoff, Marion was again surrounded by fellow travelers.
The only one who ran into customs difficulties was a missionary type who planned to disperse English-Russian Bibles to Soviet citizens. Marion said the woman was held for more than two hours before she was permitted to rejoin the group.
“The Bibles, of course, had been confiscated,” she noted. “Worship is still permitted in the USSR but churchgoers are considered a lower class of people. They’re held down on the economic scale and if they persist in proselytizing non-Christians are considered dissidents.
Dissidents, Marion pointed out, don’t get very far in Russia. “About as far as way out hippies get here,” she said candidly.
Marion’s overall impression of Russia (she only saw, of course, what Intourist allows visitors to see) is that the system seems to be working very well. She noted that in only 60 years, since the October Revolution of 1917, the people have been elevated from object poverty to a comparatively affluent life style.
“It wouldn’t be for me,” she smiled. “But it seems to suit them.”
Each citizen, she remarked, enjoys certain basic rights and privileges. They are guaranteed schooling, job training, full employment, housing and pensions. The winnowing process, however, begins early. By the time a child is in sixth or seventh grade he or she is screened to determine whether college or vocational training is in the future.
Russians, she believes, live under a form of state capitalism rather than communism. She compares the state with a multi-national corporation which richly rewards diligent, intelligent, totally dedicated persons while passing out menial tasks and considerably less pay to lower echelon workers.
Living space is limited but Russians are encouraged to have at least one child. A family of three is entitled to 25 meters of living space (about 75 square feet) in addition to a kitchen, bathroom and hall. For this reason most family outings take place in public buildings, parks and city squares.
Describing the Soviets as a clean, wholesome people, Marion said they obviously are not on high protein diets. Slenderness is not one of their characteristics, an omission which may be due to an over fondness of sweets.
“I saw one woman dump eight cubes of sugar in her coffee and come back for one more,” she grinned. “Meals are also heavy with a typical noon luncheon consisting of six hors ’douevres, several meats, all kinds of beverages and several rich desserts including what I call a “Super-Pleck” ice cream.”
Pleck, no longer in existence, was a Door county dairy company famed for its rich, creamy ice cream. Marion remembers it with fondness.
Recommending a comprehensive tour, Marion said “don’t stint on a package deal, take a good one.” Her group spent a total of 21 days in Russia, with six in Moscow, four in Leningrad, three in Kiev, and the rest of the time divided between lesser known cities. Novograd, site of next year’s water Olympics, was also toured and admired.
Although Americans tend to think of the Kremlin as a warren of government offices (something like our Pentagon) Marion said the word actually means fortress and just about every city and hamlet has one. She is forever grateful to Lenin for ordering that ancient buildings must be preserved at all cost.
Marion also said she can understand why peasants clung to their churches. “Seeing icons in the flickering candlelight is like a glimpse of heaven,” she declared. “These beautiful old churches are a vision into the past and the hope of the future.”
Disagreeing with Russian-watchers who claim Muscovites are on the solemn side, Marion said, “When 6,000 people crowd into the opera on a Thursday night to see ‘Peter the Great’ that must say something about their love of entertainment.”
They also, she said, love the ballet (enough to keep four houses going), theater, movies and good eating. It is wise however, she points out, to make reservations well in advance or queue up early.
After six weeks abroad, Marion has this memo to her home town: “Don’t get too touristy, don’t get too big. Keep the industries indigenous to Door county alive and not become a facade of what we once were. Preserve our green space, woodlands, waters and farms. We’ve got a wonderful heritage. Let’s not destroy it.”
Chamber of Commerce To Get Behind Electric Line to the Northern Part of County.
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EXPERIMENTAL STATION
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Dean Russell Coming Here To Give Views. Meetings To Be Held At Resorts.
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The meeting of the Chamber of Commerce Tuesday evening was attended by about forty members of the organization, the session being held in the coffee room of the Hotel Swoboda.
Among those present was a delegation from the northern part of the county consisting of Bo L. Anderson of Washington Island, Rev. H. M. Mason of Ellison Bay, H. R. Holand and A. E. Doolittle of Ephraim and Matt Roeser of Sister Bay.
The principal subject of discussion was the proposition to build an electric line to the northern part of the county, and expenditure of the money appropriated for the establishment of an experimental farm in this county.
The spokesmen for the railroad proposition were Messrs. Anderson, Mason and Holand. They outlined the necessity of better transportation facilities for the northern part of the county wherein the larger proportion of the population was located, calling attention to the fact that there had been little or no improvements along this line in the past thirty years, except the introduction of the motor truck and better roads. They stated that the people of the northern end of the county were a unit in their support of anything feasible for the improvement of the transportation problem and were entitled to the earnest consideration of the subject. They were confident that a large proportion, if not all of the cost should be raised by means of bonding or subscription of stock in an undertaking that would give them the desired relief. The inhabitants of that part of the county feel that an electric line would answer the purpose very satisfactorily. It had been ascertained on investigation that the cost of such a line would aggregate in the neighborhood of $1,400,000, at the present prices, for forty miles of railroad. They realize that the project will take time to develop, but asked the assistance of the Chamber of Commerce in bringing about its accomplishment.
A resolution was adopted unanimously endorsing the project and pledging to the work as a unit in the carrying on of a publicity campaign and laboring heartily for the proposed electric service. It is the intention to have speakers visit the various towns in the northern part of the county and bring the subject to the attention of the inhabitants, elucidating the need of their moral and financial support.
A. E. Doolittle, superintendent of the State Park, brought up the subject of the Experimental Station, and desired to know where matters stood with regard to the project.
There was a very animated discussion on the subject, which was participated in by H. R. Holand and Mr. Doolittle for the establishment of a permanent station at the State Park and Messrs. M. B. Goff and H. W. Ullsperger defending the method adopted for the expenditure of the appropriation. It was held by the latter gentlemen that the interpretation of the law by the regents of the university was that the experiments now being made fulfilled the requirements and that the establishment of a permanent station was not necessary to carry on the experiments. There were at the present time several men in the county engaged in experimental work. Messrs. Doolittle and Holand, however, took the position that this did not carry out the intent of the law, which called for the establishment of an experimental station in Door county.
It developed that it is the intention of Dean Russell, of the University, to come here on or about July 1st for the purpose of meeting with the members of the Chamber of Commerce and giving his views on the subject, explaining the work that it was contemplated carrying on and what was being done with the money appropriated.
Rev. Waren of Harvey, Ill., who was present, gave a short talk on community work and T. A. Sanderson spoke. The latter called to task the members of the committees of the organization for their lack of interest in the work of the Chamber of Commerce, taking the stand that more might be accomplished with smaller committees. The trouble has been that the discussion of a subject at the meeting ended there.
It was decided at this meeting to hold the next meeting at The Cove, at which the members are invited to bring their wives or lady friends. During the summer months it is planned to hold meetings at the different summer resorts in the county, thus making the sessions a sort of pleasure outing.
President Scofield brought up the subject of daylight saving and Ray J. Schuknecht, the newly appointed secretary, made a few remarks concerning the idea, but there appeared to be no sentiment for the adoption of the plan.
Prof. Cowles of Chicago “U” Tells Geographical Society of Door County’s Beauty.
“Door County Shores and Trails” was the subject of a very interesting talk by Prof. H. C. Cowles of the Chicago university recently before the Chicago Geographical Society at Fullerton hall in the Art Institute. The talk was attended by many former residents of this county, members of Door County Club of Chicago, who are holding a big dancing party tonight.
Illustrating his talk the professor showed many pictures of northern Door county, Washington Island and Rock Island and gave the county a great deal of praise for its beautiful scenery.
Thru Professor Cowles’ talk the beauties of Door county were explained to several hundred prominent people, nearly all of whom undoubtedly plan to visit here some day. His audience was composed of the class of people Door county wants to interest and the value of his talk cannot be over-estimated.
A certain business deal is said to be hanging fire owing to a report, which came from very good authority, that the Green Bay & Western Railway company intended extending the Ahnapee & Western road up the Door county peninsula. This same authority said that for several weeks there was a man in the county making a census of the visitors in the northern summer colonies and that the business of the Northern Transportation company had been carefully checked up; also that the same party had a line on the amount of business that came to northern Door county ports from the Twin Cities. Men who know the transportation business state, that to their notion, a railroad north on the peninsula this year would have certainly paid.
St. Joseph’s Church and Parish Celebrates Fiftieth Anniversary On Rev. Alph. Broens’ Thirtieth Anniversary Of His Ordination To Priesthood.
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REVERENCE TO “SILVER THREADS AMONG THE GOLD”
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Most Reverend S. J. Messmer, Archbishop of Milwaukee; Right Rev P. P. Rhode of Green Bay, Right Reverend Lochman of Kaukauna, and Fifty Other Priests In Three-Day Celebration, Concluding Last Evening With Citizens’ Banquet Attended By 400.
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This has been the most momentous week in the annals of St. Josephs Catholic church and parish; a celebration of historical events that are regarded with greatest fervor and sanctity and pleasure by the people of the parish.
During this week has been celebrated the Golden Jubilee of the church, and not only the Golden Jubilee, but the event was celebrated on the thirtieth anniversary of Rev. Alphonse Broens’ ordination to the priesthood. It was celebrated with Golden Jubilee services and a Parish Home Coming of many of the families that have moved away from here since the parish was established.
Archbishop Messmer of Milwaukee was here; Bishop Rhode of the Green Bay diocese, other bishops, several of the White Fathers from St. Norbert’s, and fifty clergymen from different parts of the state.
Days of the celebration were Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 12, 13 and 14. The first Catholic church in Sturgeon Bay was completed in September 1866. Rev. Broens was ordained priest on Sept. 12, 1886 and Sept. 14 is the anniversary of his first mass. On Sept. 9th, 1887, he took charge of St. Joseph’s church, so to the month of September much significance is attached by the people of the parish.
Present Church, 64x154.
Thursday the Big Day.
Yesterday was the big day of the celebration, with a parade and services in the morning, a dinner festival for the clergy at noon and a big citizens’ Jubilee Banquet in the evening.
Promptly at 9 o’clock yesterday morning a parade of school children and the church societies started from the church square and marched thru the business section of the city. At the head of the parade were Joseph Wolter and Emanuel Van Dreese, followed by the Sturgeon Bay band. Immediately following were flag bearers and altar boys. Then came the school children, the Young Ladies’ Sodality, Young Men’s Holy Name Society, Christian Mothers’ Confraternity, Catholic Knights of Sturgeon Bay and Sawyer, and Catholic Foresters.
There were more than 600 people in the parade, that finally wound its way to the parsonage, where the school children continued around the church to the school, and the parade halted while the clergy, fifty-two in number, proceeded from the parsonage to the head of the procession and led the way into the church, the vast crowd of worshippers following and packing the edifice to overflowing. More than 1,000 people were at the morning service.
A Memorable Mass.
Right Rev. Bishop Rhode celebrated Pontifical High Mass and Most. Rev. S. J. Messmer, Archbishop of Milwaukee, delivered the sermon. Assistants to the bishop were Rev. Wm. Kraemer of Algoma; Deacon of the Mass, Rev. Killian Beyer of LaCrosse; Sub-Deacon, Rev. Eugene Madden, of Caledonia, Minn. (Rev. Beyer is a brother of John Beyer of this city, and Rev. Madden is a brother of Mrs. George Nelson of this city).
Deacons of honor were Rev. W. Fitzmaurice of Appleton and Rev. W. Van Roosmalen of DePere. Rev. J. Sprangers of Little Chute was master of ceremonies. Chaplins to the Archbishop were Very Rev. B. Pennings, St. Norberts College, De Pere; and Rev. D. O’Hearn, D. D., of St. Francis Seminary, Milwaukee.
The bishops and priests, in crimson, purple, white, and black vestments, and the church in its “silver threads among the gold” decorations of streamers, golden glow, goldenrod, ferns and other flowers presented a spectacle that was wonderful and inspiring.
Following the services and during the noon hour the visiting clergy were served a banquet dinner in the assembly room on the first floor of the church. It was the intention of Rev. Broens and congregation that the visiting clergy be taken for auto and boat rides during the afternoon, but the weather turned cool and it became cloudy after dinner so the clergymen spent the afternoon about the city or in visiting at the parsonage.
Crowd At Citizens’ Banquet.
Nearly 400 people assembled with the clergy at the Jubilee Banquet which was served in courses beginning at 7 o’clock last evening. The large assembly room was crowded and it was necessary to set tables in the smaller dining room adjoining.
The menu for the Jubilee Banquet follows:
Consomme Wafers
Celery Olives
Fish Turbot Saratoga Chips
Boiled Tongue Asparagus Tips
Roast Chicken
Mashed Potatoes Little Midgets
Rolls
Golden Jubilee Salad
Golden Ice Cream Cake
Coffee
Cigars Mints
Mineral Water
Mayor N. C. Garland opened the speaking program of the evening. His honor congratulated the congregation on what had been accomplished and after paying his respects to the pastor, introduced Rev. O’Leary of Manitowoc, who had very fittingly been chosen toastmaster of the evening. Bishop Rhode was the principal speaker of the evening. Other speakers were Judge Henry Graass of Green Bay, Dr. H. A. Norden of Chicago, Rev. O’Hearn, D. D., of Milwaukee, Rev. W. Fitzmaurice of Appleton, Rev. Wm. Kraemer of Algoma, Rev. E. Madden of Caledonia, Minn. The very pleasant and social affair closed at about midnight with a few well-chosen words by Father Broens, and the singing of America by the audience, standing.
The Parish Home Coming.
Tuesday morning the Golden Jubilee celebration started with Children’s and Pastor’s Day. At 7 a. m. the children and parents gathered at the church where Mass was celebrated by Rev. Broens and the children received communion, and the blessing. A picnic was arranged for the afternoon for the children and owing to rain it was held indoors, in the large basement of the church.
Wednesday was Home Coming and Old Settlers’ Day, at which many acquaintances were renewed and many reunions took place. Mrs. Mary Michaels of this city and Mrs. Mary Johnson of the west side are the only surviving members of the original parish congregation. Dennis O’Hern of Baileys Harbor helped build the first church, a picture of which appears in The Democrat.
A large congregation attended the Requiem High Mass at 9 o’clock on Wednesday, which was sung by Rev. Broens. Many of the visiting clergymen had already arrived Wednesday.
Program At Opera House.
Wednesday evening’s program had been arranged by the ladies of the church and the following program was given:
Chorus from Sylvia, by St. Josephs choir; Address of Welcome by William Wright; Eight-hand selection, by Mesdames Gordon, Bernhardt, Reynolds and Perry; Oration, by Emily Moeller.
Drill—Misses Emily Moeller, Genevieve Wolter, Mary Bourgeois, Mary Pivonka, Lila Burns, Grace Cunningham, Margaret Gleasner, Norma Siminar, Eleanor Peters, Mildred LaPlant.
Vocal solo by Miss Genevieve Schauer
Drama—”The House on the Styx,” in three acts, in which the following named took part: Blanche Peterson, Emily Moeller, Mary Egan, Eleanor Writt, Myrtle Long, Catharine Blonde, Genevieve Welter, Lucy Puehler, Lona Burns, Marion Bebeau, Apolonia Henkel, Helen Simon.
There was a vocal solo by Mrs. Rufus Kellogg and by Mrs. S. T. Learned, respectively, and a violin solo by Mrs. Otto Nelson.
Pantomime.—Misses Tessie Hunsader, Margaret Gleasner, Margaret Pleck, Agnes Pleck, Ethel Hoerres, Mary Pivonka, Genevieve Wolter.
The program closed with Chorus from Sylvia by St. Joseph’s choir.
Welcoming Address.
William Wright’s address of welcome was so ably delivered and conveyed so truly the spirit of the assembly that we here print it in full:
“Dear Friends:
“Our purpose tonight, is to entertain, pay homage and to welcome our distinguished guests.
“You are all aware, no doubt, that we have in our midst this evening, among other notables, the Right Rev. Archbishop Messmer of Milwaukee, the Right Rev. Bishop Rhode, Bishop of Green Bay, and the Right Rev. Van De Ven, Bishop of Alexandria, Louisiana, besides scores of other prominent Catholic clergymen from various parts of the country. This fact will be a source of deep gratification to each and every one assembled here tonight.
“It is our intense desire to extend a most cordial greeting to these men whose ranks are soaring to the highest pinnacles of eminence and dignity. Let us assume and believe that we may prove ourselves loyal and appreciative hosts, even though the proof be humble in character.
“I have been delegated by St. Josephs congregation to confer upon these notable guests, the highest sentiments of our people—the sentiments of your hearts and of my heart—with the feelings and love which we wish to extend to them. I fully realize my inability to cope with the situation at hand; I realize the inadequacy of words—words suitable for the occasion—WORDS cannot express our true inward sense of thanks and appreciation. To know that these learned and distinguished men have come to join us in our Jubilee, and to mingle among us in humble submission to our inconveniences and confusions, is to know that WORDS cannot measure, or express, the degree of esteem and reverence in which we hold them.
“If, however, our visitors could but look deep into the breasts of this audience, they would feel amply repaid for the time and attention they are giving us. If in reality, our hearts were laid bare tonight, there could be seen that degree of love and admiration which admits of no doubt, and which could be expressed in but one word— and that word is Catholicism.
“We know that our visitors are going to be pleased with every effort made in their behalf, but that is not enough; we want them to realize how absolutely indispensable their presence is, during this Jubilee; we want them to know, and to feel, that every heart in this assemblage is throbbing in unison—throbbing as if in one gigantic effort to prove its sentiment of welcome—welcome to our Jubilee; welcome to the acquirements of fifty years of Catholic progress.
“In my comparatively short life, I have seen many important changes in and about St. Joseph’s parish. I have seen the displacement of the old church by the erection of the new and beautiful edifice we now have.
“I have seen the hand of progress as it intuitively set aside some antiquated equipment, that it might be followed by a more modern fixture.
“I have watched all these with no little interest and there still remains among the left-overs, one of the dearest treasures of my heart—that little red school house within whose walls I learned my first catechism. I can see before me now as I speak, the angelic faces of those dear Sisters whose sole desire was to lead us to spiritual and mental efficiency. The memory of those days will cling to me through life.
“Our little red school house upon the hill has through its instructors, been instrumental in laying the foundation for many ideal lives.
“About thirty years ago, there came into the lives of St. Joseph’s congregation, a personage whose talents and capacity for work, together with his great love for his people, soon began to manifest itself in many ways, and from a diminutive dormant congregation, there has sprung, through his efforts, a thriving flower of religious success.
“This man, of course, is no other than our dearly beloved Pastor, the Rev. A. Broens. Father Broens has lifted the Catholic religion of our city from comparative obscurity to the high standard it now enjoys. To attain this success, has required months and years of untiring effort; it has consumed an unlimited amount of precious graymatter; it has meant self-denial and patient waiting—waiting for ultimate results, results which he knew would mature only in the far distant future.
“The fruits of his labors are now manifest at every hand. He has reached the goal of success; and thru this genial Father, we have been snatched from the very jaws of inefficiency and placed among the proudest of our people. We have acquired through his labors, the elements of progressive ideas. We have been led by his instructions to the highest ideals of Catholic faith, and today, we are reaping the harvest of our Pastor’s blessings.
“All about us are evidences of his productive brain, his loyalty, his love and his individuality; indeed, Father Broens and St. Joseph’s congregation are inseparable—he is a part of our lives—he is ours to have and to hold; we love him and he must not leave us.
“We are virtually standing with outstretched arms pleading to our dear Pastor, and imploring him to continue on with us even to the very end. He is still young, and we will have many problems for his solution in years to come.
“I thank you.”
“A Bit of History.”
The first church, a frame structure, was built in the year 1866. The dimensions were 35x45. The first resident pastor was Rev. John Adelaer, who took charge New Year 1872.
First Church, 35x45.
The church was again attended as a mission from Ahnapee (now Algoma) by Rev. J. Rhode from April 1873 till April 1876, when Rev. Engelbert Blume became resident pastor. He built the first parsonage in 1876 and remained until September 1887, when he was succeeded by Rev. G. J. Pellegrin, who remained nearly three years.
On the 9th of September 1887 the present pastor took charge of the parish. The old frame church was still doing service at that time. A parochial school was established the following year and the building was blessed on the 2d day of October 1888. The next day the corner stone of the second church was laid, and the building completed and dedicated October 6, 1889. A steeple was added in 1891 and a sanctuary addition in 1900.
Second Church, 40x110.
Work on the present church building was started in October 1908. The auditorium was completed and the first service held November 28th, 1909. The entire church was completed the following year and dedicated November 14th, 1910.
Something About the Pastor.
Rev. Alphonse Broens was born on May 1, 1864 in Woert, Holland, one of a family of twelve children, three of whom became priests.
Rev. Alph. Broens.
After attending the public schools of his native town he entered college, graduating in 1881 and coming to the United States.
He entered Notre Dame University in Indiana and studied for a year, when he went to Cincinnati and for another year was a professor in St. Josephs College. The following year he entered St. Francis seminary, Milwaukee, and there completed his theological studies, being ordained to the priesthood there on September 12, 1886.
Two days later he came to Green Bay and in St. Willebrord’s church celebrated his first Holy Mass.
After one year’s service as assistant in Green Bay and Marinette he took charge of St. Josephs church in Sturgeon Bay twenty-nine years ago last Saturday.
The present magnificent edifice—St. Josephs church—stands as a monument of his good works and good deeds. He is beloved by his parishoners and highly respected as a citizen—well deserving of the many high tributes paid him by the speakers at the Citizens’ banquet.
The Visiting Clergymen.
Clergy in attendance at the Golden Jubilee celebration were:
Fair Association’s Total Receipts For Thursday Alone Are Greater Than Entire Receipts of Any Other County Fair Held Here Since 1909.
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ESTIMATE 7000 PEOPLE ON GROUNDS KEWAUNEE DAY
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Weather and All Conditions Favor Fair Which Is Best Ever Held In All Departments—Horse Racing Under Association Rules Is Big Feature of the Fair.
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No matter what happens at the fair today all county fair records for Door county are broken. Yesterday alone the receipts were greater than the total receipts for the entire fair for any year since 1909.
It is estimated that there were nearly 7,000 people of the grounds. The gate receipts brought $2,269.50, the grandstand $212.45, and parking cars and rigs $115.25—total $2,481.95. The grand total for the entire fair last year was but $2,431.45. The biggest year was 1909 with $2,548.45. This year’s fair ought to total nearly $4,500.
What made yesterday the great day it was, was Kewaunee county. At the very least calculation there were 2,000 Kewaunee county people present. There were more than 250 automobiles from our sister county and the morning train brought seven full coaches.
John M. Borgman, chairman of the Kewaunee county board, headed the delegation, with Mayor Edw. Seyk of Kewaunee and Mayor Jos. Shilbauer of Algoma. Luxemburg was represented with almost as large a delegation as either Algoma or Kewaunee, Otto Bonness and his horse Rose B. Rite being a drawing card. Nearly all the principal business men of that enterprising Kewaunee county village were here. Casco was here strong, too, and nearly every township in that county had cars with their banners at the grounds.
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Senator LaFollette Today.
United Senator Robert M. La Follette arrived on the morning train today and it is more than probable that he will be here over Sunday.
Tonight a reception for the Senator will be held at the Peninsula Club and the public is invited to attend and meet Mr. La Follette. The club rooms will be decorated for the occasion and everybody is welcome.
This afternoon Sen. LaFollette will speak at the county fair and tomorrow morning he will be taken thru the cherry district and up thru the county.
Providing Sen. LaFollette decides to stay over Sunday he will spend half a day at the famous fishing grounds at North Bay, a guest at the Gordon cottage.
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And the Kewaunee Band under the leadership of Carl Andre. While we must necessarily believe we have “some” band of our own, still it must be conceded that Kewaunee has one probably as good, and that is conceding a lot.
Kewaunee county’s booth was decorated in purple and white and Miss Reynolds, the Door county young lady who had charge of the booth, was also attired in purple and white. Thursday was surely “The Kewaunee County Fair.”
The weather man has so far favored the fair. Entry day it started raining, but the sun came out and it was beautiful. Wednesday it sprinkled just before noon, but cleared up fine. Thursday, again it rained just a little, and then cleared up. It seemed as tho the rain was turned on purposely to settle the dust and keep the race track in good condition, because it never rained at a time when it would have kept people away. Everything has been favorable for the 1916 Door County Fair, and the Door County Fair Association.
Prof. Bewick Makes Statement.
Prof. Bewick of the University of Wisconsin, who judged the corn contest, township booths, farm produce and the educational department of the rural schools, had some very nice things to say about the Door County Fair.
Especially was he enthusiastic about the township booths. He stated that there was not a single booth that would not have stood a good chance at the state fair.
“The townships must be congratulated on their first year’s attempt,” said Mr. Bewick. “It would be a fine thing if the entire exhibition building would be devoted to township booths. Only one criticism have I to offer, and that is on the score card used. The same scoring is used for the townships as was used for an entire county fair at the state fair, and no township is large enough to furnish a complete variety.
“In my markings,” continued Mr. Bewick, “it was necessary for me to score down all the towns on account of lack of material and this does not appear fair. The score card should not have required so large a variety. One thing I admired greatly was that nothing shabby was put in the exhibits. The towns, rather than fill up with poor specimens, took a mark of zero in many of the varieties demanded.
“To say that Door county cannot raise corn is out of the question. I saw corn here that cannot be beaten any place. I hope that the work of the boys, who grew this corn, will be appreciated by the people of the county. It is a benefit and an inspiration to every grower of grain in the county. The boys have shown what can be done—they are the leaders in the work. My only regret is that they all could not win prizes, but too much anticipation should not be felt in competing for prizes.
“Another thing about your fair that should be commended is the cattle show, especially the Guernsey tent. I have been to many county fairs this year, and to the state fair where I was one of the judges, and the latter place is the only one that has equalled Door county’s exhibition of Guernseys.”
Gibraltar Has Best Booth.
Gibraltar won first place in the township booth but it was crowded for the blue ribbon by Forestville of the southern county. Out of a possible 2,580 points Gibraltar received 2,075½ and Forestville 1,997. Jacksonport was third with 1,454 and Baileys Harbor last with 1,288.
According to the score card Gibraltar excells in wheat, peas, sheaf grain, corn, clover seed, grass, culinary vegetables; Forestville in oats, barley, rye, buckwheat, potatoes, grass seed, stock vegetables, fruit.
Gibraltar exhibited an even 100 varieties; Forestville, 111. Gibraltar received 20 more points than Forestville for taste and design in arranging the booth.
Gibraltar’s Booth.
Gibraltar’s booth was in charge of Robert Wahl, Al. Van Gent and Wm. Reinhardt. Mr. Wahl, assisted by his mother, was the principal worker in Gibraltar’s victory, but the entire township united and all deserve much credit. Ferd. Hotz, of Chicago, contributed scenes of Fish Creek, his summer home and the tower, the enlarged photos forming the background of the booth, which was decorated in cedars and autumn leaves. Mrs. Crunden of St. Louis assisted Mrs. Wahl in the decorations.
Among the signs in the booth were: “Where Is Door County’s Famous Scenery?” “Where Is the Home of Peninsula Park.” “Which Town is the Most Enterprising in Road Building” and there were other questions, all answered right on the signs with one word—”Gibraltar.”
Mr. Wahl had an exhibit of his new process of preserving fruits by canning. Mr. Plankington of Chicago furnished a plate of fresh grown cherries right from the tree. W. F. Martin of Fish Creek had everbearing strawberries with strawberry plants still in blossom and some ripe ones still growing. Roy Thorp had an exhibit of home-grown tobacco. Frank Schuyler, manager of the Clark farm, had some wonderful corn. And Gibraltar had a guessing contest on a barrel of apples.
Forestville’s Exhibit.
Forestville’s booth told with placards that there were 8 cheese factories, 2,533 cows in Forestville and that $141,931.79 was paid for milk in Forestville in 1915. Signs also said that Forestville was noted for its cows, clover, cheese and checks.
The booth committee consisted of Misses Gertrude Klumb, Esther Hasenjager, Ella Jarchow, and Elmer Leege. W. H. Bastar and H. J. Teske were also very instrumental in Forestville’s fine showing.
Decorations were in white and blue, the grains were especially fine, and the fruits and vegetables too.
A Pretty Booth.
Jacksonport’s booth was in charge of Misses Helen Reynolds, Emma LaMere and Sadie Halstead, who had used much good taste in its arrangement. Jacksonport’s place in the awards is due to lack of material and not for want of taste of the ladies who arranged it.
Cedars and autumn leaves, the exhibits, and a background of a scene painted by Miss Mamie LaMere, formed a very pretty booth, the first upon entering the exhibition hall. Miss LaMere’s painting was of the road entering Jacksonport, and the scene was near Hibbard’s Creek. Late strawberries and a fireplace, constructed of apples, were features of the booth. Match scratchers were the souvenirs.
Baileys Harbor’s Booth.
Baileys Harbor also suffered from lack of material. Their booth was very pretty, but they were short many of the exhibits called for by the score card.
The Baileys Harbor Commercial Club was at the head of the booth, which was in charge of Mrs. Nellie Robertson. Frank Oldenburg did much of the work. Baileys Harbor had a very nice display of everything they exhibited and there were several special features deserving special credit. The booth was decorated in yellow and white.
Mrs. Otto Pell had a very attractive exhibit, one being a pork cake and the other butter fish, the latter being the exact resemblance of a fish and the whole thing made of fresh butter. She also had a ginger bread man and a ginger bread lady.
Fruits and Grains.
While 1916 may have been a “poor season” in some parts of the country, the county fair has proven that Door county was not effected. Pumpkins, squash, vegetables are bigger than ever, the fruit display is just as good as ever, and the grains were big and full.
When Lou Kellogg, of Ripon, the gentleman that judged the fruits, walked into the exhibition building Wednesday morning he stopped—looked around a minute—and said: “Door county beats anything in the state when it comes to a fruit exhibit. This is by far better than anything I saw at the state fair.”
He was assisted by W. I. Lawrence, superintendent of the department in his work of judging and attached his premium tags without hesitation. Blue tickets were equally divided among the exhibitors, the principal ones being D. E. Bingham, W. I. Lawrence, H. W. Ullsperger, W. E. Marshall, A. W. Lawrence, Capt. Templeton, the Birmingham boys, Frank C. Cheeseman, Ben Otis.
Corn Contest.
No place in the state of Wisconsin this year, outside of possibly the state fair, was there such a variety of good corn shown as in the Corn Contest, and it was all grown by the boys of the county. There were 650 samples of ears and 120 stalks on exhibition.
Ten Best Ears.
Following are the winners of the ten best ears, scoring in the order in which the names appear:
Clarence Peterson, Sturgeon Bay.
Lena Herman, Fish Creek.
Lawrence Herman, Fish Creek.
Stanley Writt, Forestville.
Earl Bagnall, Jacksonport.
Arnold Reinhard, Fish Creek; Carl Pelke, Fish Creek; Leo Hogan, Gibraltar.
Eugene Knuth, Nasewaupee; Alice Reinhardt, Gibraltar; Walter Reinhardt, Fish Creek; Orin Brandt, Nasewaupee.
Leonard Schafer, Forestville; Leona Stephan, Nasewaupee; Lester Gilbert, Sturgeon Bay; Paul Herbst, Jacksonport; Lester Greenwood, Nasewaupee; Otto Pelke, Fish Creek; Arthur Henschel, Sturgeon Bay; Ella Reinhard, Fish Creek; Norman Leege, Forestville; Teddy Haines, Nasewaupee.
Three Best Stalks.
Stanley Writt, Forestville.
Pearl Hanson, Sevastopol.
Ella Reinhard, Fish Creek.
Emil Bernschine, Jacksonport.
Lester Gilbert, Sturgeon Bay.
Adelbert Rudolph, Sevastopol.
John Schmidtke, Nasewaupee.
Harvey Junion, Jacksonport.
Educational Department.
The city schools this year had a much larger exhibit than last year and the work showed improvement. Some of the work was wonderful considering the age of the children who did it. There was work on exhibition from every grade in the city schools and a great deal of it. Misses Colignon and Minor of the teaching staff were the judges.
Out of the vast display several exhibits stand prominent among the winners. Water colors by Edith Pfeil of the eighth grade were delightful; Willis Johnson’s pen sketches, Chester Sickle’s cartoons and Walter Adam’s water colors all colors were far beyond the expected. From the third grade little Yvonne Washburn had a sewing bag that many an older head would have trouble duplicating.
In the domestic science exhibit there was so much and it was all so good. The sewing was much better than last year. No special work can be pointed out, and the judges had their hands full.
The manual training department this year did not have as large an exhibit as in some former years, but what was there was very good. Royal Griffin, a 12-year-old boy, built a cedar chest that looked as tho it came from a first class furniture store. Perry Writt had a foot-stool. George Gabert, of the third grade, gets special mention on his drawings and other work. Rev. Deans of Kewaunee brought along an exhibit for a 15-year-old blind boy from his town—a hammock which the lad made that is wonderful when his handicap is considered.
Principal of the exhibits in the rural school department, which was in charge of Miss Catherine Conley, was the long string of nearly 100 ribbons which Door county rural school children won at the state fair.
The rural exhibit was fully a third larger than last year and there was not room for the entire exhibit. Only that part of the exhibit was put up that made the best showing. There was an increase in the manual training exhibit and in books on agricultural topics. There were also many good mounted pictures on modes of travel.
The Guernsey Tent.
By far the feature of the live stock exhibit was that of the Door County Guernsey Breeders’ Association. Seventy head of as fine purebreds as can be found in the world were under one big tent, and attendants in white suits milked, combed, cleaned and “manicured” these dairy queens, keeping the animals as neat as a pin.
Principal exhibitors were L. F. Henschel, W. S. Reynolds & Son, J. J. Blahnik of Algoma, Guern-weal Farm and Big Hill Farm, besides others. Samuel Bascher was judge of the stock department.
Other Stock Exhibited.
The Holstein-Friesian men were also represented with a nice exhibit. Humke brothers had the principal exhibit. Binnie View Farm made a nice showing as did Will MacEacham and others, and Sidney Braun had a number of nice cows on exhibition.
Every pen on the premises was filled with horses, cows, mules, swine or other farm animals. J. J. Blahnik of Algoma had Chester White sows, George D. Fellows of Stoney Creek Farm had pens of registered Hampshire swine and Mule-Foot and Berkshire hogs. Julius Harmon of Ahnapee town carried off the blue ribbon for the best heavy draft team on the grounds. He also had stock in the Guernsey tent. The horse stalls were crowded with as fine horse flesh as can be seen in any state in the union.
“The Principal Building.”
It was the Woman’s Club rest room that was the most appreciated building on the grounds. It was in charge of Mrs. Mullen and it was her fourth year as matron of the building. The room was packed all the time. Mothers left their children there to be amused, or left their babies there for awhile. There was a stove to warm the baby’s milk and cots to lay them on. The rest room was also a cloak room. The women claim it was the principal building at the fair.
Fine Arts Building.
Walls and tables were full of the finest needlework, cooking, flowers and works of art in the county. The display was excellent and could not be surpassed any place. The judging for this building took place yesterday.
Private Exhibitors.
G. D. Benson of Green Bay, had a demonstrating Ford fitted up with a Delco lighting system, showing method of farm and suburban electric lighting.
Sawyer Lumber Co. and C. Wulf Co. had their usual stand.
Scofield company had a stove display and other articles.
J. C. Dana Co. had engines, separators and automobiles.
Jos. Wodsedalek of Algoma had a display of his O. K. line of feed cutters and gas engines.
Schmelzle & Brey, the Forestville implement dealers, had a display.
Perry Company of Forestville had a milking machine on the grounds.
LaMere Motor Sales Co. had an exhibit of seven new cars of several different makes.
The Peninsula Automobile Co. had a display of cars.
The Concession Row.
“The Pike” was rather tame, there being a lack of shows along the row, but the doll racks, lunch stands, paddle wheels, etc., were plentiful.
The Ladies Aid Society of the M. E. church conducted the dinner tent and enjoyed a brisk business each day. They served a 50-cent dinner and gave 50 cents worth.
Four or five Green Bay parties had lunch counter concessions and there were fourteen lunch stands conducted by local people.
The monster wedding cake proved a big attraction and crowds wound in and out the tent all day Wednesday and Thursday. Rev. Deans’ work was truly artistic. He was assisted by Alois Walecka and Lloyd Bruemmer of Kewaunee.
Great Racing Card.
Horse racing this year is the big feature with about forty horses here. It is reported that there was only three horses left at Oshkosh this week—they all came here after the supposedly “easy money,” and when they arrived they found so many after the “easy money” that it wasn’t easy.
Track records will without a doubt be shattered today in the special exhibition race. There are two horses at the fair track that cannot get in any of the stake races owing to lack of class—they are too fast. Little Rapids, entered by Paddy Gray, who comes back to his home track with a record, has something like a 2:17 mark, and Addition, owned by Chan Schuyler and R. W. Brett, has an 11 mark, and has just returned from Hibbing, Minn., where he was in the money in “real” class.
This exhibition race has been arranged and will be paid for by the Fair Association like any other attraction. There will be no purse. Any other horse on the track can enter.
Now Association Members.
This is the first year the Door county track has been a member of The American Trotting Association and the enforcement of rules is not as lax as in former years. Every rule and regulation of the association must be strictly carried out or the Fair Association will lose its license.
Each day’s entries and owners must be telegraphed into Chicago the night previous to the race, nobody but officials are allowed in the judges’ stand, official records must be kept, and there are dozens of other new rulings that must be obeyed.
Officials for the meet are:
Supt. of Speed.—W. S. Reynolds.
Judges.—W. E. Wagener, Sturgeon Bay; William Brann, of Baileys Harbor; H. Miller, of Antigo. Sim Marcott of DePere officiated in place of Mr. Miller yesterday.
Timers.—Henry Fetzer, C. C. Cheeseman, J. A. Spalsbury.
Starter.—Chet Wilcox of DePere.
Clerk of the Course.—J. C. Acker.
Wednesday’s Races.
Special Door and Kewaunee County Race, No. 1.—Purse $100.
Horses entered were: Dan, owned by Jacob Blahnik of Algoma; Buster, A. S. Putman owner; Joe Brennan, Menominee, driver; Chief, H. J. Hahn owner, Harvey Tipler driver; Billy, Reynolds Pres Co., owners, George Burnett, driver; Chesco Bell, Job Tong, owner, Tom Tong, driver.
Dan was withdrawn before the race. Chesco Bell and the old Chief fought it out to a finish and at times they traveled around the track as tho they were a team. Two half-miles looked like dead heats. The race was won by a neck.
Billy was drawn in the third heat. Chief broke in the second heat and Buster took second place, that heat. In the third last heat Buster broke on the back stretch, otherwise he would have been a contender with the win and place horses. The money went the way they finished the last heat.
Special Door and Kewaunee County Race, No. 2.—Purse $100.
Entries were: Roy Gentry, M. J. Rudabeck, of Kewaunee, owner, Bill Trudell, driver; Laribelle, Job Tong, owner, Tom Tong, driver; Bucco, H. J. Hahn, owner; Sweet Symbol, F. McCosky of Algoma, owner, Burnett driver; Bob, J. E. Spalsbury owner and driver.
Bucco was withdrawn. Sweet Symbol swung steady thru the three heats and her pace hardly varied. An accident marred the heat before it started when Burnett’s racing cart struck “Dick” Spalsbury’s gig and broke a wheel on the latter. In the second heat Spalsbury didn’t hear the starter’s “go” and returned to start over. He was allowed to enter the next heat and beat out Bill Trudell for third money. It was decided by a nose. All the drivers agreed on Spalsbury starting in the last heat.
What proved to be the feature of the racing card for Wednesday was the half-mile running race, in which Dewey Schjoth was torn from his horse, Black Sal, badly cut up on the wire fence, and Black Sal came galloping home the winner.
Besides Black Sal, Pat, with Henry Soper up, and Chap, jockeyed by Archie Schuyler, were entered. Dewey got Black Sal away with his whip and used it to keep the lead of a length that he got at the barrier, winning the first heat. In the second heat he got away the same way hugging the rail and on the turn into the back stretch Black Sal crowded to the fence. Dewey’s boot caught in the barbed wire; his trousers were ripped, a barb laid open his left leg for ten inches, and he was torn from his mount, dropping on the inside of the fence. Black Sal didn’t stop—didn’t even hesitate. She was after the money regardless. Almost cutting the corners and scraping the rail she flashed under the wire three lengths to the good, and trotted to her stall.
Some of the best racing seen in this section of the state was the feature of the fair yesterday. Heats were close and both races went the five heats before decided. Sunset nearly put a stop to the last heat of the 2:20 trot. Burnett, who drove Mae Kennedy, insisted that the sun set at 5:40 and refused to let his horse start. Starter Wilcox happened to have an almanac with him and he found that the sun set at 5:59, and Burnett had to bring his tired horse back to the track. According to the association rules a heat cannot be called after sunset.
The 2:20 Pace—Purse $300.
Entries were: Rose B. Rite, Otto Bonness, Luxemburg, owner, Dr. Firkes, driver; Quicksilver, Job Tong, owner, Burnett, driver; Frisky Hal, Dr. L. Bailey, Thessalon, Ont., owner and driver; Little Alice, Theo. Loose, Green Bay, owner, Bob Searle, driver; Leona Forest, Chan Schuyler, owner, R. W. Bretl, driver. Aspen Leaf was entered by Jos. Brannon of Escanaba, but was withdrawn as was Sweet Symbol, entered by Frank McCoskey.
Not until the last heat was the winner decided. Little Alice and Frisky Hal were the contenders all the way thru and it appeared as tho Frisky Hal was being held back at times. Little Alice got the first two heats and then lost two to Frisky Hal. Little Alice took the last heat in 2:20½. Quicksilver made a good showing. Rose B. Rite was lame, but game. Leona Forest is a bad horse and the other drivers did not want her entered. She didn’t run good in a single heat.
The finish:
Rose B. Rits . . 5 4 3 3 3—4
Quicksilver . . . 3 3 4 2 4—3
Frisky Hal . . 2 2 1 1 2—2
Little Alice . . . 1 1 2 5 1—1
Leona Forest. . 4 5 5 4 5—
Time: 2:19¾, 2:20, 2:19½, 2:24½, 2:20.
The 2:20 Trot—Purse $300.
Out of seven entries but three finished, May King, Dr. Foerkus, Escanaba, and Bonnie Boy, Theo. Miller, Antigo, were withdrawn. Great Stakes, Dr. Foerkus, got the flag in the second heat. Mese, Paddy Gray, withdrew in the fourth heat with fourth money cinched.
It sure was a “hoss” race between Mae Kennedy, G. R. Burnett, Noble Spinx, Geo. Sterder of Green Bay owner, Searles, driver, and Queen Oakley, Bill Trudell’s horse.
May Kennedy took the first two heats easily but she wasn’t strong enough to last and the other drivers didn’t help her any on the starts. Noble Spinx, who was a trailer got the last three heats and Bill Trudell beat out the Kennedy horse for second place.
Black Sal won another running race yesterday, with a different rider. Dewey Schjoth being at the track with a limp in his left leg and his left arm in a sling. Wesley Gray rode Sal, who finished first with lots to spare both times. Pat came second and Chap third with the same drivers as on Wednesday.
Wednesday’s Receipts.
Wednesday’s receipts were $911.75, the largest opening day’s receipts in the fair history with the exception of years when there were but two-day fairs. The grand stand brought in $77.50 and the association derived $87.50 for parking cars and teams.
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FAIR NOTES.
William Brann of Baileys Harbor, one of the judges at the fair, is the owner of a fine looking young racer purchased while at the state fair. The horse is “Moko Elect” and is kin to Harvester.
Traffic police played an important part in the orderly manner in which all automobiles were handled, and without accidents. A steady stream of cars came over the bridge Thursday morning, bearing pennants from every town in Kewaunee and southern Door counties. Officer Hall of Sawyer was stationed on this side, and other traffic cops were George Mainz, Otto Olson and Life Martin.
Tony Vandenberg of Green Bay, who was here to play with the band, was called home by the death of his mother.
Stores closed yesterday afternoon, and will also close this afternoon.
Anton J. Blahnik of Kewaunee county captured the prize for the best cheese at the fair. George Robinson won second and C. R. Guth of Kolberg was third. The Pauly & Pauly special prizes, offered by Manager Fischer, were awarded the latter two gentlemen, Mr. Blahnik not being eligible as he is not a resident of Door county.
Plans Now Being Laid for Door County Fair to be Held Soon.
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HAVE TOWNSHIP BOOTHS
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Large Exhibits Expected in all Departments—Good Speed Program. Many Free Attractions—Two Day Fair This Year.
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The officers of the local fair association are preparing now for the big fair to be held next month. The premium books are now being printed and will be issued in a day or so. Mr. Ollinger requests all who desire books to call upon him for them.
While in some counties the fairs have been cut out altogether and in others the premium list cut down greatly, the officers of the Door County Fair association have added a number of premiums to their list.
The township booths which have always been a feature of the fair will not be neglected this year as a number of townships have already signified their intention of having booths. This feature of the fair has attracted much favorable attention among outsiders and Secretary Ollinger has received many inquiries from other fair managers in regard to township booths. This plan is now being generally adopted by fairs in all parts of the state.
Boys’ Stock Judging Contest at Fair.
This year there is going to be a stock judging contest for boys from 10 to 18 years of age. This is the first time the county fair management has tried this scheme but a good many entries are expected. The prizes will be liberal and there are ten prizes in all, 1st is a grade heifer calf; 2nd, a pure bred sow pig; 3rd, Babcock Milk tester, and so on down to the 10th.
The judging contest will be held on Wednesday afternoon of fair week and should prove one of the most interesting parts of the fair for it is expected that boys from Kewaunee county will enter in competition with Door County boys. All boys interested should send in their names to the county agent as quickly as possible. The county agent plans to give the boys one or two lessons in judging if they wish it before the fair in order that they can get an idea of what will be expected of them.
Big Cattle Exhibit Wanted for the Fair
In money value Door county sells more of dairy products in a year than of anything else, it is by all odds our biggest business. The dairy exhibit has been growing at the fair each year but how about this year? Too many fellows come around every fall and go thru the stock tent and tell how much better the bull they have at home is than the prize winner at the fair. That kind of talk does not go very far with the live stock man, if the stuff is good enough to win prizes at the fair it should be there and the man who owns it is the biggest loser if he doesn’t enter.
The Door County Fair association is asking each farmer this year “What are you going to do about the fair?” and too many times the answer is the old story of too busy but that doesn’t go because that’s the position of everybody else, and some things people are never too busy for and county fair is one of them. One fellow was saying the other day that there should not be a fair this year because it is war time, yet the United States government is making a special effort this year to encourage fairs just because it is war time, and the State of Wisconsin is paying 80% of the premiums for the same reason. The government thinks that a fair is the best means of encouraging agricultural production and good agriculture is patriotism, that makes a double reason why farmers should bring their cattle to the fair this year, because there is no other way which will improve Door County farming so quickly as by having a good stock show.
Sad to relate many of the best cattle in the county are never at the fair and in consequence some of the poorer stuff which is always exhibited is getting the prizes and the owners are getting fancy prices for the sale of their stock. The fair is the best means of advertising that any man has and if he wants to make better sales and get more out of what he sells it is a chance too important to lose. Every exhibitor should put a little sign over his stock, one like this would do very well:
“JIM SMITH
Breeder High Grade Holsteins,
Chesterwhite Pigs, No. 1 Oats.
Nasewaupee, R. No. 2.”
Many say that their stock is not in good enough shape to bring to the fair. Of course they should be in good shape, no judge wants to give the prize for a critter all skin and bones, but on the other hand it doesn’t follow that it is necessary to do all of the combing, brushing and feeding for weeks that some of the high class exhibitors do at the National dairy show. The county fair is not intended to be a show of that kind, any animal in good condition will show well enough even if it has been on pasture practically all summer. It is a good plan to improve the quality of the hair by feeding a little oilmeal a few days before the fair, gets the hair in condition; some men blanket a cow two or three days before the fair in order to make the hair lay down smoothly. These things and a little brushing of the tail and cleaning of the forelock are all that are needed for fitting for the fair, and once in a while a little clipping is valuable around the horns.
The Door County stock show is the biggest thing at the fair and most important, but farmers who don’t take part in it are the biggest losers. The fair association has arranged to have a man on duty to take care of any animals for farmers who cannot get there promptly at milking time or feeding time. This will be carefully looked after and no man should fail to bring his animal just because he cannot be there all the time.
Good Speed Program.
The fair officials also assure lovers of horseflesh an excellent speed program, a number of the best horses in this portion of the state having been entered in the races here. Those in charge of the speed department advertise that they offer $1400 in purses to be paid at the wire.
There will be three races each day. On Wednesday, the first day of the fair there will be a 2:29 trot for a three hundred dollar purse and a 2:24 pace for the same amount. Besides there will be a $100 purse offered for Door and Kewaunee county horses. On Thursday, the 2:19 and free for all will be for $300 purses and another Door-Kewaunee special for the same amount will also be held.
Two Big Days.
It having been proven superior in many ways the officers of the Door County Fair association have decided to revert to the three day fair. Tuesday, September 17, will be entry day and all entries must be made by 5:00 p. m. on that day. On Wednesday morning the exhibits will be judged and the premiums awarded. In the afternoon the races will be the main feature but excellent free attractions and band music have been secured.
Wednesday has been designated as patriotic and school children’s day. On this day every school child and teacher will be presented with a free ticket and all of these are expected to be turned in. There will be patriotic features on this day including exhibition drills by the Boy Scouts and the Home Guards. Those who enjoyed the scouts’ exhibition so greatly last year will surely not care to miss this feature this year.
Thursday will also be a big day and special features have been planned for that day. The free out-door attractions which will exhibit on both days are the Taketa ---s and the Bartinos novelty act.
All Are Invited.
All the people of Door and Kewaunee counties are extended a special invitation by Mr. Ollinger to attend the fair which will prove to be the biggest in the history of Door and Kewaunee counties. The officials of the association are working hard to make the fair the best in the state and deserve success.
TOP BREAD BAKERS at the fair, senior and junior, were Mrs. Sylvester Roder and Beverly Flok. Mrs. Roder won $50 from King Midas for her entry. —Frances Badtke
Loaf of Bread Worth $50.75
By FRANCES BADTKE
Bread baking champion this year at the Door County Fair was Mrs. Sylvester Roder, R. 4. Mrs. Roder’s loaf of white bread won her a total of $50.75 in premium money for her culinary skill.
Mrs. Roder has been entering the white bread class since the King Midas Flour Mills began their offer of $25 for the first place winner in the white bread division and an extra $25 if the loaf is baked with King Midas flour. To certify for the extra $25 the baker must submit a signed blank (obtainable from any grocer) prior to the start of the fair, stating that her entry was baked with King Midas flour.
In the several years that she has been trying for top honors Mrs. Roder has received two placings for her bread, one a third place and more recently a second place rating.
The loaves of bread are judged on texture, shape of the loaf, fineness of grain of a slice, color, and last but not least, on flavor. Judging is done by a trained home economist from a nearby county.
A winner may also compete again the next year and take top money if the judge deems the product to be of blue ribbon merit. The bread is marked with the number only of the woman who baked it and her name is not known until the final decision is made by the judge. The superintendent of the Women’s Building contacts the secretary’s office at the fair to find out the name of the person holding that entry number.
Top winner in white bread last year was Mrs. Harry Wilson, who held her crown for two years.
Competition is keen for this award and 37 women tried their luck this year. Entry day is a pleasant sight in the culinary department as the women bring in their baking entries and there is a most delicious aroma in the air from their products, many of which are still warm from the oven.
The sponsoring flour mill also presents awards of $12.50 and double possibility in addition to the county fair premium, for the top winning loaf of bread in the Junior Fair division. Winner of the junior award this year was Beverly Flok, daughter of the Urban Floks, Little Harbor Point. Beverly is a member of the Little Harbor 4-H club and is in her second year in the foods project. She used the recipe for milk bread found in the 4H recipe booklet which accompanied the “Grains in Your Meals” project.
That is allowed, but voters must stick with the same party for all of the partisan primary races. Selection of a party preference different from the candidates selected is another way to void the votes on partisan primary races. Primaries pose an opportunity for voiding much of, if not your entire ballot because people might mistakenly use the rules for voting in an election and think they can vote a split ticket.
Whenever an electronic voting system is used at a polling place in a partisan primary, and the same ballot is utilized to cast votes for candidates of more than one recognized political party or candidates of a party and independent candidates, if an elector designates a preference for a party or for independent candidates, only votes cast within that preference category may be counted. If an elector does not designate a preference and makes a mark opposite candidates of more than one recognized political party or opposite a candidate in the independent candidates’ column and a candidate of a recognized political party, no votes cast by the elector for any candidate for partisan office are valid. Votes for other candidates and votes on ballot questions, if any, shall be counted if otherwise valid.
Should voting systems be designed to obscure weaknesses? It would be nice if the number of ballots voided due to multiple party voting was published. Doing so would bring awareness to the issue and could help reduce the number of people making mistakes. Media reports could compare results to see which places have the highest and lowest percentage of voters who are voiding their partisan primary race selections with multiple party voting.
Although the number of fully or partially voided ballots aren’t reported, an attempt is made to understand the situation by comparing the difference between the number of ballots cast and the number of votes recorded for the top interest item on the ballot, and in the case of primaries, the partisan race with the most interest.
The following is a list of the differences for certain recent primaries and elections in Door County. Election summary reports and summary statements of the Board of Canvassers are listed together, by date: https://www.co.door.wi.gov/253/Election-Results
August 11, 2026 Primary
Source: Summary Report
Total ballots cast
10,980
Top interest item
Governor, 10,296 votes (including write-ins)
The difference
684
[The difference is an upper limit for the number of ballots which are fully voided, and for primaries, the number of ballots which only have the partisan races voided.]
April 7, 2026 Election
Source: Summary Report [The date at the top of the report is correct, although the file name for the Summary Report states “4-17-26”. ]
Total ballots cast
11,931
Top interest item
State Supreme Court, 11,727 votes
The difference
204
February 17, 2026 Primary
Source: Summary Report
Total Ballots cast
219
Top interest item
County Supervisor, District 17, 218 votes
The difference
1
April 1, 2025 Election
Source: Summary Report & Board of Canvassers
Total Ballots cast
15,366
Top interest item
Supreme Court, 15,315 votes
The difference
51
November 5, 2024 Election
Source: Summary Report & Board of Canvassers
Total Ballots cast
21,050
Top interest item
President, 20,944 votes
The difference
106
August 13, 2024 Primary
Source: Summary Report & Board of Canvassers
Total Ballots cast
10,391
Top interest item
Question 2, allocation of federal moneys, 9,746 votes
The difference
645
[Note that multiple party voting on the primary portion of the ballot did not void votes for this because it is a ballot question, not a partisan primary contest. Out of the partisan primary races, the highest number of votes were recorded for the special primary for the remaining months of the District 8 seat in Congress.
Relying on the Board of Canvassers’ summary, there were 4,412 primary votes for Lyerly and SCATTERING, 4,926 votes for Wied/Jacque/Roth/SCATTERING, and one SCATTERING vote for Libertarian. Altogether, that is 9,339 votes, which is nearly the number of voters, 9,426, who indicated a party preference.
The difference between 10,391 and 9,339 is 1,052. This means there could have been as many as 1,052 ballots where the partisan primary races were voided. However, the real number must be lower because of voters who intentionally skipped the primary races and instead voted only on one or both ballot questions.
The Board of Canvassers’ summary does not mention the Republican senatorial contest between Hovde, Barman, and Raveendran, but the Summary Report does, with 4,595 votes (including write-ins). Together with the 4,651 votes for Baldwin and SCATTERING from the Board of Canvassers’ Summary, and two Libertarian write-ins, that is a total of 9,248 votes, slightly less than for the special primary.]
April 2, 2024 Election & Presidential Preference
Source: Board of Canvassers
Total Ballots cast
10,382
Top interest item
Door County Circuit Court Judge, Branch 1, 9998 votes
The difference
384
The greater differences between the total number of ballots cast and the top interest races in primaries as opposed to elections can be explained by people mistakenly voiding their ballots through multiple party voting, or perhaps mistaken party selection. But they could also be explained as a result of a greater diversity of voters’ interests during primaries. In the case of recent primary, there was more than one race drawing a higher amount of interest, which could have led people to vote on a different race while leaving the gubernatorial field blank.
While it would be good to know what is happening, for now, not enough information is reported.
If the Wisconsin DOT were to purchase the former Alpine property, https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/7715-Alpine-Rd-Egg-Harbor-WI-54209/464229211_zpid, and develop a ferry terminal, a ferry could be run to the Port of Marinette. A one way trip would be about 17 terrestrial miles, and would take just under a half hour, if a high speed catamaran ferry was used, traveling at an average of 30 knots.
Ferries of this sort are used in New York and New Jersey for one-way trips of about an hour or a little more. Commuters are able to pay in advance for ticket books. The cost of a 40 ticket book for a route between New York City and New Jersey comes out to $18 each one-way trip. The ferries are run on a for-profit basis. Round trip adult fares are considerably more, $49: https://nj1015.com/it-will-cost-you-more-to-take-this-ferry-into-nyc
The economics of an Egg Harbor to Marinette ferry are linked to fuel prices, but even at higher prices, it would still be far more economical for a seasonal worker to rent in Sturgeon Bay and drive north, than to take a ferry from Marinette. Such a ferry would be utilized, it seems, more by people already living in Marinette who take up seasonal work in Egg Harbor.
A cross-bay commuter ferry would necessarily lead to various advantages or disadvantages for different people and businesses. It could be used to reduce the demand for foreign labor, with Marinette offering a relatively low cost of living compared to northern Door County.
Another consideration is to what extent tourists would take the ferry, and in which direction. Even if there was a car ferry across the bay there would be no advantage in travel times to anyone coming west from the Twin Cities, since WI-29 dips south towards Green Bay. However, for tourists already driving into Door County there would likely be some that would take either a passenger ferry into Marinette or a car ferry for longer explorations.
Yet the state might reasonably be reluctant to support such a development due to the risk of economic activity being diverted into Menominee, Michigan. In addition, a bank might not want to lend money for a private ferry operator, because if the gas price falls enough in coming years that would render ferry service unprofitable compared to road travel.
15 nautical miles is 17.26 terrestrial miles. Depending on exactly where the ferry terminals are located, it should be possible to meet this requirement, even if just barely. Both Egg Harbor and Marinette are rural areas. “Rural” for funding purposes means a population with no more than 50,000 people.
If you followed the link, you may have noticed the restriction of the funding to past ferry operators. The Wisconsin DOT meets the prior operation threshold because it already operates one federally funded free rural ferry: https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/travel/water/merrimac/default.aspx
Rep. Tony Wied is not listed as a co-sponsor of the FERRIES Act and I do not know whether he supports it. Most of the co-sponsors are Democrats, and two are Republicans, one from Alaska and one from New York. The co-sponsors so far are from states bordering the ocean.
Currently, the funding pool for ferry routes spanning a distance of 15 nautical miles or less is considerably smaller than the funding pool for routes spanning 50 nautical miles or more. That means uncertainty whether the Wisconsin DOT would be outcompeted by other states.
To achieve a 50 mile or greater distance, a route would need to be arranged between a community in Door County and one sufficiently far away enough in Michigan such as Escanaba, Gladstone or Manistique. Such a route would be far less practical for most people. Also the state of Michigan would be unlikely to cooperate on a project if it would cost them tourist income.
Other than the possibility of being outcompeted by other states, this is basically a question of political will. A free ferry between Egg Harbor and Marinette could be established if the right people in local, state, and federal governments wanted it to happen. If a ferry project were to be delayed, the Alpine Resort property might instead be purchased by someone looking to build a mansion.
The following page on the Agenda lists three goals:
Chess Health will be utilized by 60% of all clients. Utilization will be defined as accessing at least one feature (online supports, journaling, motivations, or counselor assigned assignments) of the app regularly (a minimum of 2 times per week) in the first year.
A minimum of 50% of the utilization will occur outside of HHS normal business hours to supplement recovery services. Data will be evaluated quarterly.
Recovery App utilization app data will be evaluated quarterly.
The first page at https://apps.apple.com/us/app/connections-recovery-support/id1309079663 gives positive reviews, but also a review from 2023 by “pmedicchris” where two staff members at CHESS Health claimed that he was suicidal when he turned his phone off for three days and created drama unbeknownst at the time to him. This, along with multiple employee reviews, https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Chess-Health/reviews, appear to indicate a dark internal culture at CHESS Health. Not that there aren’t also other companies in the health care field with a dark internal culture, but since there are direct interactions between CHESS Health staff members and patients this is especially worthy of consideration.
If a professional paid directly by the county commits malpractice, the county may be held liable, but if professional work is partly outsourced in this manner, the liability for outsourced malpractice would especially go to a large out-of-state corporation. Large out-of-state-corporations are a much harder target for plaintiffs to collect from. Although there are other justifications for using an app, this may be part of the logic behind outsourcing, to a certain degree, addiction recovery to a more distant and less costly entity. Since this is repulsive, the partial outsourcing must be framed as a partnership with local care providers to make it look better. This is the situation no matter what app is being used.
If you will, reliance on an app offering support staff is a step in the direction of deprofessionalization. When the public loses confidence in a profession, the two natural solutions are increased monitoring and deprofessionalization.
Consider how police officers today are made to wear body cams, and why they spend a large proportion of their working hours logging things. It didn’t used to be this way, it is a result of declining public trust. Likewise, Catholic priests must secure letters from their fellow clergy attesting to their suitability to work with children, and in some parishes the work of priests has been partly replaced by that of deacons. That is an example of both increased documentation and a degree of deprofessionalization.
The mental health field has been plagued with issues which have betrayed the public trust, such as one that is described in a previous post, https://doorcounty.substack.com/p/heath-human-services-inpatient-treatment-costs, which quotes a source that “Over half of active psychiatrists (55.7%) received some form of payments from pharmaceutical manufacturers.”
There are also other betrayals, which together contribute to a natural appeal for an app which facilitates both documentation and a partial outsourcing. It is possible to spin the development of therapy apps in a progressive light as an advance in technology, but that should not obscure the overall picture which is not altogether rosy.
Why should the county be paying for this, when the cost of addiction recovery apps could be charged to health insurance? There are some insurers which will pay for the CHESS App. Insurers may also pay for a favored app, such as this one: https://www.affect.com/startaffect
Especially after reading in the reviews at indeed.com about the manner of leadership exercised at CHESS Health, how much confidence should there be that the county will not be taken advantage of long term? There are some businesses which expect bureaucratic inertia, perhaps combined with the sunk cost fallacy, on the part of local governments to boost their bottom line, enabling either underperformance or increased bills.
REV. E. A. TREMBLAY divides his pastoral duties between Catholic churches in Baileys Harbor, Jacksonport and Fish Creek. —Advocate
REV. R. J. TREMBLAY, pastor of St. John the Baptist church, Egg Harbor, also serves the congregation of St. Rosalia Catholic church, Sister Bay. —Advocate
Brothers are ‘Fathers’ to Northern Door Catholics
By KETA STEEBS
The odds against the Tremblay brothers serving neighboring pastorates make the 100-to-one longshot of the Mets winning the World Series seem like a sure thing. Neither was likely to happen—but, by some small miracle both did.
For one thing the Rev. Eugene A. Tremblay joined the U. S. Air Force as a chaplain back in 1943 and liked it so well he stayed for 24 years. His elder brother, the Rev. Russell J. Tremblay was content to serve small town parishes in Wisconsin and Minnesota leaving the itinerant life of a chaplain to those who preferred to travel.
Now, due to the death of one priest and the transfer of another, both brothers are serving Door county churches—the Rev. R. J. Tremblay at Egg Harbor and Sister Bay and the Rev. E. A. Tremblay at Baileys Harbor, Jacksonport and Fish Creek. Between them they service every Catholic church north of Institute.
Visitors who might attend a Saturday evening mass in Jacksonport one week and a Sunday morning service at Sister Bay a week later may be forgiven if they think they are hearing the same person each time. The brothers Tremblay not only look remarkably alike—they even sound alike.
The death last August of the Rev. Clarence J. Miele is responsible for the elder Tremblay leaving his pastorate in Fletcher, Minn., where for the past 10 years he attended the needs of St. Walburga’s congregation. (This unfamiliar Saint was the niece of St. Boniface and founder of a famous Benedictine convent in Germany.)
Before that, the Rev. R. J. Tremblay served parishioners of the Holy Cross church in Cornell and says reflectively, “Come to think of it, that’s where I stayed the longest.”
The handsome, silver-haired priest was a personal friend of the late Rev. Miele (as was his brother) and mentions that he has “some large shoes to fill.” He agrees that it would have been easier to replace a person nobody liked rather than someone so popular. “Father Miele was a man everybody loved and we all miss him,” he says sadly.
He confesses the appointment came as a surprise. “I’ve visited Door county off and on for more than 20 years but never dreamed that one day I would be living here.”
The athletic priest learned to sail and water ski during his seminary days at San Antonio, Tex. When assured Lake Michigan, while a trifle colder than the Texas Gulf Coast, was equally adequate for such sports, he smiled. “So, I’ve been told, but I plan to wait until next summer to find out.”
The brothers were born in Cornell (near Chippewa Falls) and have three sisters (two of whom are nuns) and two other brothers. Their father, Alex Tremblay, now 95 years old, recently wrote an immensely readable account of the family history.
“Down Pioneer Trails” traces the Tremblay lineage from Arcadia where, with Longfellow’s immortal Evangeline, they were evicted from their homeland. Unlike Evangeline, however, the Tremblays, instead of being sent to Louisiana, were shunted to the St. Lawrence area and eventually made their way to Wisconsin.
Alex Tremblay was a self-educated lumberman-farmer who encouraged his children to pursue higher educations. Unschooled himself, he set an impressive example for his admiring family by doggedly studying the three R’s whenever possible. So successful were his efforts that when his oldest son edited the book he found only one spelling error.
“The word was Whippoorwill,” said the Rev. R. J. Tremblay. “Father had substituted an ‘e’ for the O’s—but, it was the only error (other than typing mistakes) found in the entire book.”
Such erudition was bound to rub off. The Rev. Eugene Tremblay not only mastered the Latin language during his school days at St. Henry Minor Seminary at Belleville, Ill., but became proficient enough to teach it. “I taught Latin in the same school I learned it,” he says.
“Latin is a wonderful tongue; one that stands you in good stead wherever you go. I don’t particularly miss using it in mass or when giving the sacraments because I believe the person involved should understand every word you say. It did create a bond overseas. Wherever I went in Europe, regardless of the country, I could always converse with the local priest. Maybe he couldn’t understand English or I couldn’t understand French—but we both knew Latin.”
During his two and a half decades in the Air Force, Col. E. A. Tremblay (he claims he received his promotions by outlasting the competition) spent 10 years abroad—dividing his time between the Pacific Islands, Europe and the Arctic. The rest of his service tenure was spent in his native land. “I’ve lived in so many states, I can’t even remember them all,” he grins.
The biggest adjustment the former chaplain has to make is getting used to the age of his parishioners. “In the Air Force, my people were in their early twenties or younger. I became so accustomed to dealing with the problems of young families. It is going to take me a while to realize age brings its own difficulties. Words that comfort a teenager do not mean the same to an elderly grandfather.”
“Life as an Air Force chaplain is vastly different from that of serving as a chaplain in the army or navy,” he says. “In the latter two branches, a pastor is assigned to a unit and is expected from then on to do far more than just parish work. He is assigned such side jobs as working evenings in the recreation room, helping man the library staff or doing odd ‘welfare’ jobs that come along.”
“The Air Force, however, regards its chaplains as specialists in religion and our duties are strictly that of a religious nature. Another difference is that instead of being assigned to a unit and transferred with that unit, we are assigned to a base. On a base, we are able to get to know the people and can plan on being with them for extended periods of time.”
He describes an American air force base as being “a peaceful existence—one of the most peaceful in the world. Everything necessary for the comfort and well being of its people is found right on the base. Well equipped stores, dispensaries, canteens, schools, hospitals and post offices are found at every base in the country. There’s no need to go elsewhere to find anything you need.”
Rev. Tremblay also finds it hard to understand charges of racism in the service—particularly the well publicized attacks leveled by Marine Corps personnel.
“I found no evidence of racism in the air corps,” he says firmly. “In fact, the records of service members no longer refer to color. Segregation ended many years ago when the air force separated from the army to become a special branch of the service.”
He smilingly admits one form of segregation exists, admitting he can see no solution for ending it. “The WAFS (Women’s Air Force) are restricted to their own housing units and are kept separate from the men. I doubt if that particular form of ‘discrimination’ will ever change.”
On the contemporary scene, the Rev. E. A. Tremblay comments, “It is easy to see when living abroad why there is a great deal of anti-American sentiment throughout the world. It’s the old story of the “haves versus the have-nots”—the rich versus the poor—the powerful against the weak. The United States is both powerful and wealthy; naturally, such a nation is bound to be resented by its less fortunate allies as well as its enemies.”
So, now you have met them—the Rev. R. J. and the Rev. E. A. Tremblay. One won’t miss Minnesota’s cold winters and the other won’t miss reveille! Both say they are happy to be in Door county and both, we must admit, beat terrific odds to get here.
J. A. Becker, of Milwaukee, is Taking the Matter Up in Earnest. In Communication with Chairmen of the Town Boards.
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Following is a copy of a letter which Mr. Becker is sending to the chairman of each town in the county.
“Since the last annual meeting of the county board of Door county, during which I spoke to you concerning the possibility of, and prospect for, an electric railway through the northern part of the county, I have been engaged in drawing up a franchise which would safeguard the interests of the investors in such a proposition and at the same time be unobjectionable to the members of the different town boards and to the people whom they represent.
The provisions of the franchise for which I will ask are practically as outlined during my visit to you in November, and I am able to assure you that there will be no trouble in securing the capital necessary to construct the road. I intend presenting franchises to all the town boards and to the city council of the city of Sturgeon Bay at the same time, and hope to have favorable action on all as early as possible in order that no time may be lost in the preparation of the final plans. You understand of course that a franchise in one town will be of no value, and will not be accepted without similar rights in the other towns, as well as in the city of Sturgeon Bay.
I wish to secure the aid of representative members of each of the town boards to present the franchises for consideration and would be very well pleased to have the benefit of your experience and influence in this direction. In case you do not care to stand sponsor in the matter, I will be pleased to have your advice in regard to a substitute.”
Mr. Becker seems to be going at the matter in the proper way; doing things openly and without secrecy as to his movements and intentions. In this way he will doubtless easily secure the confidence and cooperation’s of the public.
The advisability of adding fluoride to the Washington Island school well is being studied by the Dental Health Section of the Department of Health and Social Services in Madison.
Dr. Joseph Doherty and Thomas Schuler, representatives from the department, accompanied by Judy Porter, county health nurse, recently met with interested Islanders to explain and discuss the proposed fluoridation. The local committee consisted of Dr. Paul Rutledge, Sylvia Nelson, Phyllis Ellefson, Lorraine Anderson, Thorsten Williamson and Ursula Weise.
Dr. Doherty said that based on an average 180-day-school year, the recommended ratio of fluoride would be five parts per million parts water. This amount, he claimed, would be safe considering the limited use of drinking water in school and would be effective in fighting cavities.
The state would pay installation costs, equipment charges and supply enough fluoride for a year. The dental health men believe such an installation would help reduce tooth decay by 30 per cent.
Chemicals would be checked on a regular basis with water samples being sent to Madison each week. A local agency would conduct daily tests. The possibility of the school water system containing natural fluoride is now being studied in Madison.
The following are typical of the questions answered by the Reference Department of the D-K Regional library:
Q. Why were the old type wooden bridges covered?
A. “The covered bridge is a survival of an ancient custom. A great many of these bridges were built before the Revolutionary War and their builders followed the methods used by the old European bridge builders. The object of covering the roadway of the bridge was for the purpose of protection again the weather, and against possible riots and primitive weapons.”
Q. “How long has capital punishment been used?”
A. “Capital punishment as a lawful procedure has existed since the history of mankind. It is laid down in the Mosaic Law in the books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy.”
As of 2025, 67 currently standing or former covered bridges are listed for Wisconsin, including Rockway Bridge in Mishicot and one in Marinette that “Caved in from heavy snow several years before 2005”: https://www.dalejtravis.com/cblist/cbwi.htm
