Kewaunee County Irish: Erin Go Bragh"

Irish immigration to Kewaunee County never matched the Germans, Bohemians or Belgians, and most Irish who made the county their home went to Casco and Franklin Towns. Early papers point to St. Patrick’s Day observances, however in the 1880s, celebrations didn’t include green beer, shamrock shakes, or Irish Cream custard.

History tells us that the first U.S. St. Pat’s Day parade was held in 1762 in New York, originating with lonesome Irish soldiers in the British army. To put that in perspective, it was fourteen years before the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Savannah, Georgia, and Suffolk County, Massachusetts, have made St. Patrick’s Day a legal holiday. Irish ancestry is most populous in Boston where, according to Irish-Italian friends, St. Patrick’s celebration coincides with Evacuation Day, the day commemorating the end of British occupation in the city.

All the present hoopla seems to have started about 1960 or so. It was then when Chicago began celebrating by turning the Chicago River green. The White House followed suit in 2009 by dying the north fountain green. March is a month for green.

On December 21, 1900, the Enterprise told readership that during the 1800s, 4 ½ million people of Irish birth immigrated to the U.S. As the century closed out, over 5 million Americans boasted Irish descent. At the time, the U.S. had more people with Irish parentage than did Ireland itself. Three-fifths of Irish immigrants and their descendants then lived in New England. One-fourth lived in the north central states, and that included Wisconsin and its neighbors.

So, what were the Irish of Kewaunee County doing? A 1934 Enterprise said the Irish came into the county during the rapid settlement of the 1850s. If the Irish celebrated during the county’s “pioneer era,” it does not appear to be recorded. But within a few years, that changed.

The Temperance movement had caught on before the Casco Catholic T.A.S. – Temperance Abstinence Society – entertained in their hall in honor of St. Patrick’s Day in 1888. What did they do without green beer? An April 1892 Enterprise reported that one of the Franklin “sluggers” celebrated a little too much three weeks earlier on St. Patrick’s Day when he got his nose too close to somebody’s fist. It was several weeks later when he was back to normal, but, as he said, it was all for St. Patrick’s sake. It didn’t appear the fight started at a Temperance party! The following year, while Casco’s St. Patrick’s Society was arranging a program expected to eclipse anything that happened before, folks in Algoma were rehearsing “Ten Nights in a Barroom” to be performed in the Temperance Hall on St. Pat’s Day. Seems as if something was wrong with that picture. The Enterprise began reporting about the shamrocks and green ribbons being extensively worn in honor of Ireland’s patron saint. St. Patrick’s Day was gaining more than Irish popularity in the county.

In 1909, Sandy Bay residents Miss Lillian Alberts and Mr. Oscar Alberts entertained their friends on St. Patrick’s evening in honor of one who participated in two plays a few evenings before. The group enjoyed refreshments as they listened to selections on the violin, organ, and piano before relishing an 11 o’clock supper. As guests left, they were presented with a shamrock leaf as a token of the special evening. As the Enterprise reported, guests had a good time that would be long remembered.

By 1925, St. Patrick’s Day was observed in county schools as a day to reflect on Irish history. Door-Kewaunee County Normal School, the teacher training school for both counties, gave its most successful program ever, according to the Record Herald. Musical entertainment included such Irish favorites as “My Wild Irish Rose,” “Where the River Shannon Flows,” and “When Irish Eyes are Smiling.” Then came the play “Pat and His Countrymen” and, finally, Principal Donovan’s presentation, “A Humorous Irish Selection,” which put the observance over the top.

Kewaunee residents marked the 1926 St. Patrick’s Day  when the Ladies Auxiliary of Kewaunee’s Congregation Church served a delicious St. Patrick’s Day supper. For a charge of 50 cents there was baked ham, creamed parsley potatoes, escalloped corn, Boston baked beans, rye bread, hot rolls, pickles, olives, and relishes, plus cakes and coffee. The Christian Endeavor Society was planning entertainment to follow the supper, however it was postponed a week because of the special attractions at the Opera House. As stuffed as attendees were, the postponement was probably a good thing. There might have been snoring when some of the sated drifted off.

Casco marked its 35^th year of St. Patrick’s Day observances in 1929 with a comedy-drama presented in the evening and at a matinee at Decker’s Hall. The following year, Casco offered a two-day entertainment when the St. Patrick’s Day events included a play presented by Casco’s Home Talent. Called a delightful comedy-drama, “The Gilded Age of Youth,” was presented by well-known local actors and produced at Casco Park Hall. The well-known cast had such names as Drury, Donovan, O’Donnell, Doyle in addition to a few Irish folks whose names did not begin with a “D.”

A March Enterprise wrote about Mrs. Dworak - married to a Czech - who was one of the Irish ladies giving a party “reliving the old spirit of St. Patrick.” Green and white decorations provided an Irish atmosphere for the cards and Irish anecdotes enjoyed during the evening. There was even a traveling prize called “The Spirit of St. Patrick” won by one of Irish descent, Elizabeth Donovan. After a late evening repast, guests left the party shouting “Erin Go Bragh” – “Ireland to the end of time” in Gaelic.

During the 1940s, Casco Irish celebrated St. Patrick’s Day with a “roaring minstrel show” at the high school auditorium. Casco Holy Name Society sponsored the show that was staged by the St. Phillip Parish players of Green Bay. It was said the show was 2 ½ hours of such hilarious entertainment that at the end, sides hurt from laughing and eyes hurt from crying. A Green Bay orchestra offered appropriate music between the acts.

Bank of Kewaunee was not to be left out. The “Old Reliable” seemed to think more than a little of their “bread and butter” came from those with Irish heritage. For years during the 1940s. the bank ran ads highlighting the “brave Irish immigrants, seeking opportunity and freedom on new soil. The people met hardships with their fine Irish humor, and took part in county affairs with their eager Irish spirit. To honor the lads and lassies, and their descendants who have contributed so much to Kewaunee County, let us all be ‘a wearin’ the green’ next Wednesday, St. Patrick’s Day.”

There was some head-scratching when folks read the 1947 Record Herald headline, “Casco Irish Are Hosts to Czechs.” As it was, the Czechs in question also lived in Casco. Bohemian-in-charge, Lee Metzner, invited people to a “Spring Pohle,” a Bohemian fun and frolic. Casco residents were entertained with such characters of Peva Barrel King, a Spanish - yet Czech - bull fighter, a Bavarian Czech Panna and more. Irish joined in the fun and Mr. Finnerty, an Irishman, dressed like the Bavarian Beer Panna.

As St. Patrick’s Day 1948 rolled around, State Health Office Dr. Carl Neupert pointed out the state map illustrating the nationalities represented in the 72 counties. He used that representation to determine how the Irish were doing and was not surprised that Irish names popped up throughout the state public health picture. Irish doctors, nurses, local health officers and groups of citizens gave a healthy boost to their communities. Neupert felt the variety of ancestries represented in Wisconsin might hold the secret to Wisconsin’s health as one of the five healthiest states in the U.S.

St. Patrick celebrations continued, and not all in bars. Ron’s Cheese in Luxemburg offered green cheese curds in 2015. The company made national news with its pink curds for Valentine Day a month earlier. In 2018 Thumb Knuckle Brewery celebrated its first anniversary with Irish foods – that somehow included booyah - and Cold Country Wines and Vines offered tastings that included a souvenir glass, while pancake and porky breakfasts were church fundraisers.

After being so restricted for two years with the Pandemic, St. Patrick’s Day 2022 was truly a time for socialization and camaraderie from the parade on City Deck in Green Bay and the post-parade activities at St. Brendan’s Inn, to the Shamrock Shuffle (a race) in Madison, and the New Dublin Fest in New London. Sturgeon Bay’s Kitty O’Reilly’s was part of the sponsorship for a parade there. Many other Wisconsin communities enjoyed parades on March 19, a beautiful day for being outside when green was the name of the game all over.

St. Patrick’s Day has changed since Kewaunee County saw the first of the Culligans, Burkes, Hocks, Finnertys, Donovans, Smithwicks, Murphys and so many more. What would they be sayin’ ‘bout “the wearin’ o’ the green” 150 years later? Maybe they’d be enjoying the green brew at one of the local watering holes wondering how to dye the snow and ice in Casco Creek green.

 

 

Algoma Record Herald 1929

Sources: Ahnapee Record, Algoma Record, Algoma Record Herald, Kewaunee Enterprise.

Kewaunee County & Remy's: See the U.S. A. in Your Chevrolet

One hundred years ago, Algoma folks weren’t thinking of skyrocketing gas prices. They were thinking of buying autos which then cost an average of six hundred dollars or so. It was a lot of money then, about $9639.36 in 2022 dollars. By today’s standards, it was not an expensive for a car. 1925 Kewaunee County still saw horses on the road, and even if one had an auto, it often took a horse to get anywhere on rural roads in the winter.

Today’s Algoma has one car dealership, and, in our world of shortages, its inventory offers few choices. Imagine Algoma having four auto dealers in the 1920s. Gaspard-White, Algoma Motor Car Co. and Lakeshore Garage were the companies remembered years later, however there was another: Remy Motor Company.

On March 26, 1926, Algoma Record Herald announced that J.E. Remy of Green Bay leased the former Algoma Motor Car Co. building at 4^th and Fremont, the site of the Temple of Honor ten years earlier. When Ted Richmond purchased the Temple building, he had a section moved, and then repaired the rest of it and cleaned the site for Algoma Motor Car Co. In May 1916, the Record felt the completed 60’ x 100’ concrete building with the white stucco pebble look on the south and west sides would be “most pretentious.” F.V. Leischow and Berl Rider owned the property and partnered in Algoma Motor Car Co. Ownership changed several times over the next few years until Remy reopened the old Motor Car business about April 1, 1926. Two weeks earlier, it was announced that two carloads of Chevrolet cars and a full line of parts were in transit while Remy was looking for a residence for his family.

Remy’s first newspaper ad ran on April 2, 1926. He called attention to low priced, quality autos costing from $395 for a ½ ton truck to $765 for a Landau car, all F.O.B. Flint, Michigan. Remy advertised beautiful colors, - the early Fords were all painted black - an attractive Fisher body, 3-speed transmission, balloon tires (a broad tire filled with low air to cushion the shock of uneven surfaces), Alemite lubrication (a method of using pressure to inject grease into bearings), water and oil pumps, and rustless airplane metal radiator shells while being vacuum fuel fed. Remy advertised electric starting, lighting and ignition, safe and easy steering, and light action dry-plate disc-clutch.  This modern streamlined beauty was a completely closed car that had an instrument panel with speedometer. Who could imagine what Chevrolet brought? It was easy enough to find out because Remy encouraged asking for a demonstration.

J.E. Remy came from Green Bay to open his garage. Maybe he had big city ideas because in May 1926, he wanted an electric sign. Remy got the sign after Alderman Koch directed the street committee to supervise its installation. Remy wasn’t exactly on the cutting edge as there were a couple of other lighted signs in Algoma, but he was the first auto dealer to use one in his business.*

Https://www.triaccollection.ro/en/collection/cars/1927 says that the 1927 Chevrolet Series AA Capitol was the car that helped Chevy knock Ford from the top of the U.S. car sales’ chart. Ford had sold 15 million Model-Ts, known as Tin Lizzies, between 1918 and 1927. Billed as “The most beautiful Chevrolet ever,” Remy was touting all the new features in his newspaper ads.  “Remarkably smart” cars came in lustrous colors and sold for $745. Lustrous colors beat out 10 years of all black Tin Lizzies.

In October, “marvelous smoothness” at any speed was the way to go when the coups selling for about $645 were getting tops speeds of 30 mph. To sweeten the deal, Remy advertised Chev’s small downpayment, convenient terms, and told folks to ask about the 6% Purchase Certificate Plan, a kind of rebate program.

By late January 1927, Remy was advertising a host of improvements at reduced prices. Fish-tail styling and balloon tires were standard equipment on all models. To buy from Remy meant such features as ignition and steering locks and remote-control door locks. Although there was no color in the newspapers of the time, peacocks appeared in Remy’s ads. The black and white peacocks called attention to the choices in auto colors. 

A few weeks later, Chevrolet was advertising the most beautiful sedan in Chevrolet history. The peacock drew attention to the $695 purchase price of such beauty. Wikipedia says Chev started manufacturing in 1912 and sold for about $2100 in the early days. Mass production made a difference.

Adoring women were featured in 1927 ads, suggesting there was “a car for her too.” Most men nixed that idea feeling that driving was far beyond the brain of a woman. Fifty years later there were woman who still did not have an operator’s license and older men still crabbin’ about the “damned women drivers.” In 1927, Chev pointed to two-car families and even offered financing. Chevy felt a woman needed her own car to get groceries, take the children to school and do afternoon calling. Such big city foolishness did not go over then. It was after World War ll and women in the workforce when that began happening in Kewaunee County. One wonders how Remy’s was perceived in his 1927ads ad?

In anticipation of spring, shipments of new autos were coming to Algoma in February 1927. Lakeshore Garage got new Fords. Gasper-White touted the new Whippet Six Landau, something new in the Willys-Knight-Overland Line, while Remy Motors got Chevrolets, including the new cabriolet model. Algoma was the place for dreaming in February. Remy was selling trucks too. His March 1927 ads claimed Chev sold more gear-shift trucks than anyone in the world. Unchallenged in its 3-speed transmissions, the company offered oil filters and air filters. Chevrolet was advertising its economical truck transportation with the lowest cost for ton-mile. Chev said a ton-mile was the cost of transporting one ton of material for one mile. That ½ ton truck sold for $395 and the “world’s most popular gear-shift truck” was said to give unrivaled performance. If the buyer needed a larger truck, a one-ton truck was available for $695.

When Remy was advertising the “The Coach” in June 1927, the company called attention to the “scientifically balanced” auto that offered comfort on the road hour after hour. The astonishing Coach sold for $595.

Chevy said one needed to comprehend its cars to further understand how the company could sell at such low prices. The company claimed its “vast resources, tremendous purchasing power, and mammoth engineering organization, 12 factories equipped with the most modern machinery known to science and its tremendous production volume” made Chev such an affordable car. The company said their vehicles “provided the greatest dollar-for-dollar value in the history of the automotive industry.” The auto industry was not that old. Wikipedia says the first car bought in the U.S. was a Winton purchased by 71-year-old Robert Allison on April 1, 1898. Allison paid $1,000, far more than the cost of a Chevrolet less than 30 years later. Mass production made the difference.

Buick was rarely mentioned in a Remy ad, but he sold some. Remy’s ad of January 14, 1927 offered evidence, in that ad, that in 1926 more Buicks toured Yellowstone Park than any other car except one of the lowest price. Believe it or not, Buick said it held the honor since the park opened to auto traffic. Wikipedia says the first car legally into Yellowstone was a Ford Model T in 1915. The Model T was indeed a much less expensive auto.

For the few years Remy was in business, his ads indicated T.A. Dillenburg of Casco would also be of service. In January 1924, the Record Herald reported that Anton (Tony) Dillenburg, a local garage man, was constructing a Chevrolet snowmobile to be used for his winter business. Chevrolet was advertising when Remy selling and Remy was a big advertiser in Algoma Record Herald for the few years he was in business. Tony Dillenburg’s name was found at the bottom of each of Remy’s Chev ads.

It all happened 25 years or so before the Dinah Shore’s Chevy Show kicked off with Dinah singing, “See the U.S.A. in your Chevrolet, America’s asking you to call…….” Copyrighted as a jingle in 1949, it was a year later when Peter Lind Hayes and Mary Healy recorded the song. Later, singer Pat Boone sang the song on his Chevy Showroom. Even a couple of the Los Angeles Dodgers were singing the song, but announcer Vince Scully thought their singing careers were going nowhere.

One hundred years after J.E. Remy brought the dealership to Algoma, folks are still driving their Chevrolet through the U.S.A., but maybe not so much with gas prices over $4 per gallon. A few years ago, one could go to Algoma Motors, or any other dealership, find a beauty on the lot and drive away with a big smile after a sweet deal. Today’s lack of inventory puts a new slant on everything.

Notes:**When F.W. Lidral purchased his up-to-date gasoline storage tank, it was one of the best on the market. It had an electric sign marking its spot on the curb. Lidral’s sign was Algoma’s first lit sign, in May 1914, it was at a time when many citizens had not upgraded to electric lighting. Joseph Knaapen installed an electric sign at his Home Bakery in May 1923. Deep Rock Oil Co. was given permission to erect an electric sign on their property in October 1924, and in May 1925 Alderman Busch moved to refer the request of V.L. Wheeler to the Street and Bridge Committee. Wheeler want to call attention to his new restaurant, bar and bowling alley. Lit signs became more and more popular.

Remy's was on the east side of 4th, between Clark and Fremont, on the approximate site of today's BP One Stop.

Sources: Algoma Record/Algoma Recor Herald, Commercial History of Algoma, Wisconsin, Vol 1, https://www.triaccollection.ro/en/collection/cars/1927, Wikipedia. colored ad was found on Google; other ads are fromAlgoma Record Herald.

Kewaunee County's Early Norwegians

 

During Wisconsin’s territorial days, the few non-native people in what became Kewaunee County were transient, being employed at the lumber mill on the Kewaunee River or the mill at Red River. In the week from June 28 to July 4, 1851, Wolf River (now Algoma) saw its first three settling families. However, the Warner, Hughes and Tweedale families lived in Door County at the time. That county had just been sent off from Brown a few months earlier. The three families were also Kewaunee County’s earliest settling families when the county was set off from Door in May 1852.

They were Yankees who were followed by a few more Yankees, but not far behind were the German immigrants. Close on their heels were Bohemians, and, in 1858, Belgian immigrants who were making their way to build homes in what would become the Towns of Red River and Lincoln.

Although Kewaunee County is not generally known as a Norwegian enclave, Norwegians were settling in the towns of Carlton and Franklin, also in the 1850s. Names such as Gulickson, Hoverson, Christianson, Knutson, Nelson and Olson are only a few of those represented, and they made an impact on the new county.

Carlton’s earliest land sales, however, were to non-Norwegians, James Doty on September 1, 1838, and Lode Baker in 1839. Doty – 2nd Territorial Governor of what would become Wisconsin -  was a speculator who felt what became the settlement of Carlton was an ideal place for a city. Though Lode Baker has eluded an historical lens, he patented more Carlton land than anyone other than Isaac and Joel Taylor who made their purchases in the early 1850s. Baker's purchases would seem to make him a speculator or one intent on purchasing pine lands. The Taylors were indeed looking for timberland.

Commenting on immigrants to Wisconsin, the November 9, 1859 Enterprize* reprinted an article from the Milwaukee Sentinel saying that nearly every day the Detroit & Milwaukee Railway brought immigrants - mostly Norwegians and Germans - who wanted to settle in Wisconsin. The paper saw a return to more prosperous times (after the Panic of 1857) and felt a great inrush of immigrants would follow in the coming spring. Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota were considered broad enough and rich enough to furnish comfortable homes and honest employment for all “whose good destiny may send them hither.”

In June 1866,  the Enterprise* was touting Kewaunee County for its unrivaled beauty, soil fertility, and healthy climate that was entirely exempt from fever, ague, and other local diseases. It was a good place to locate homes and business, and to trade and farm. The new county looked to induce uncertain emigrants to see the county before going to other states. A December article continued saying a company was established at Copenhagen to encourage Norwegians, Danes, and Swedes to come to the U.S.

When the State Board of Immigration met just after the turn of 1870, reports showed Wisconsin had 22,932 immigrants coming through Milwaukee and Chicago. The Board further said 11,263 came through Wisconsin as they traveled to other states. It went on to say more arrived at Green Bay, Manitowoc, and other lake ports, however records were not kept in those places. Over thirty-three hundred dollars was expended by the Board for brochures touting the advantages and resources enticing immigrants while arrangements were made with a company in Holland to produce 5,000 brochures in Norwegian, 5,000 in German, 2,000 in Dutch and some in French. According to an article in the State Journal and reprinted in the Enterprise, Milwaukee and Chicago immigration offices would keep busy.

Much was written about Tulif Olson who came from the area of Stavanger, Norway. George Wing’s history  indicates Olson  bought 160 acres in the Town of Carlton, sight unseen, from the federal government in October 1855 when he paid 50 cents per acre for land on the north side of today’s Highway AB near to what became the village of Tisch Mills. Bureau of Land Management records, however, indicate Olson bought his land in February 1858. Ole Pedersen Berger purchased land next to Olson. There were no roads in the primitive area and the Olsens and Bergers carried their belongings and supplies inland. Getting through the thickly wooded, hilly, and, sometimes, swampy terrain was a long, difficult job. According to Wing, Diedrich Christianson paid 50 cents for Olson’s acreage, and that eventually some of Olson’s land on the East Twin River was sold to Charles Tisch who built a sawmill and gristmill. It was said that after Olsons’ home burned down in 1862, they exchanged their land for Charles Tisch’s farm. Tisch paid the Olsons an additional $20. From then on, the area was known as Tisch or Tisch’s Mills.

Another Olson - Anton -  also came from Norway, however from Valders. In his earlier years, he was a lake sailor. His wife sailed with him and did the cooking for the crew, while caring for their daughter whose early years were spent on the ship. It was said that Olson’s ship hit a buoy somewhere near Kewaunee and sank, thus Olson settled near Tisch Mills and began farming, although he maintained his sea-going skills. If men needed rope spliced, Olson was the man to do it. He was instrumental in the organization of the telephone company, having the switchboard operated by his daughter in his home. Anton Olson donated land for the second school, built in 1889.

Eventually, there were so many Olsons that they were marrying each other. September 1918 saw a Norwegian wedding when Meta Olson married Orrin Olsen. When the “write up” appeared in the paper, guests were listed. Included were many more Olsens and Olsons. Witnessing the ceremony performed by Rev. O.K. Aspeseth at Sandy Bay Norwegian Church were those named Birkedal, Peterson, Jensen, Thompson, Knutson, Jacobsen, and Johnson.

Norwegian Lutheran Church of Sandy Bay was incorporated in 1886. It was built on the county line road about a mile west of the lake. Located on the southwest corner of Section 35 on County Highway BB in Carlton in 1893, the church held services until 1953, thus serving the community for about 60 years. It was torn down in the 1960s when the road was widened. Services were bi-weekly and conducted by pastors from Manitowoc. During September 1915, Sandy Bay Norwegian Church offered Norwegian and English services with Rev. O.K. Aspeseth in charge. Sandy Bay Norwegian Church was affiliated with the Franklin Lutheran Church in Section 25 of Franklin. Sandy Bay Church had a choir in April 1896 when a “singing society” was organized at the church. Meeting twice each month, the Enterprise pointed out  the group’s progress.

Sandy Bay Cemetery was located at the corner of the NE ¼ of Section 26, on Highway 42, a mile and a quarter north of the Manitowoc-Kewaunee County line. It was also known as St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery, that congregation being formed in 1869 and disbanding in 1947. One hundred years after its founding, the cemetery was turned over to Carlton Township in 1969.

Church and cemetery locations are a bit confusing on the plat maps. The 1876 plat map shows a church at the SW corner of the SW 1/4 of Section 25. A cemetery is next to the church, but it is in the SE 1/4 of the NE 1/4 of Section 26. The 1895 plat map shows a church where the cemetery was show in 1876.

The 1895 map shows a church at the NE corner of the SE 1/4 of Section 25 in the Town of Franklin. When the religious Norwegians built Franklin Lutheran Church, with a cemetery next to it, it was a mile west and a mile and a half north of Tisch Mills. Destroyed by fire from a bolt of lightning in 1954, the church was never rebuilt. In the horse and buggy days, a minister came from Manitowoc about once a month - a 20-mile trip that necessitated an overnight stay. Norwegians joined the Bohemians who were settling the Town of Franklin, and Paul Hoverson was one of the Norwegians who served in Franklin offices in addition to serving in the State Assembly for two years.

Thomas Gullikson/Gullickson was a pioneer who settled in Carlton in 1857. When he died in 1920, he was living on the farm he settled on immigration, a farm then owned by his son-in-law Anton Olson. Gullickson  was said to have remarkable stories of pioneer life in Kewaunee County, although it appears that his stories do not live on in print. When he was buried in the Norwegian Lutheran Cemetery in Franklin, Gullikson’s pall bearers included other Norwegians, Tollef Jorgensen, Knute Olson, Ole Holderson, and Charles Olson. Knutsons also lived in Franklin, and their names are found in the Franklin Norwegian Lutheran Cemetery.

In December 1860, one John Olsen Otien of Carlton wrote to the editor of the Emigranten, one of the earliest and most prominent of the Norwegian newspapers in Wisconsin. Emigranten (The Emigrant) was located at the corner of King and Webster Streets in Madison. It was one of the many publications that helped immigrants keep abreast of news in their own language.

The newspapers provided fellowship and connections in a day without radios, telephones, televisions, computers, and the social media of 2021, but in 1860, it was Otien’s letter that spoke about Kewaunee County Norwegians. Otien told the editor that Norwegian settlement began in the Town of Carlton about 5 ½ years earlier, so possibly in summer of 1854. By 1860, there were 50 families trying to farm. However, farming came slowly as Carlton was densely forested. First, the trees had to come down. Otien said it was the hope of a free home and a better future that helped the pioneers endure. When Otien wrote, he said their pastor, Jacob Aall Ottesen, had moved to Dane County. Even so, the community laid the cornerstone during the summer with hopes to be in the new church during the winter. Otien said the Norwegians looked forward to a Manitowoc pastor serving them four times a year.

Organizing went on for a long time. The Enterprise of July 27, 1907, reported that Wisconsin Norwegians were asked to join an international organization for fraternal purposes. Promoting closer connections between those in the new county and the fatherland, part of the mission was to protect the rights of Norwegian-American citizens and help then navigate their way in the commercial world. It was expected that hundreds of Kewaunee County Norwegians would join. It was a surprise to some that Kewaunee County was home to hundreds of Norwegians. As late as November 1930, the comment was made that, a “babel of tongues” from North Europe was voiced by emigrants from the countries around the waters of the North Sea and the Baltic.

Norwegians in Kewaunee County affected the foodstuff economy. Was it Norwegians who prompted sales of Hutchinson’s Cough Cure? Druggists C. & J. Roberts were advertising it in the fall of 1884 and made it available at their drug store.

Ahnapee Record didn't seem to carry herring advertising, but the paper did carry articles about Plumb and Nelson's stock, which could be found at their stores in Manitowoc, Two Rivers, Appleton, and Sturgeon Bay. Plumb and Nelson said their prices were so fair that nobody could "attend to your business" as promptly as they could. In early 1883, Plumb and Nelson said thet sold the finest Holland Herrings at $1.20 a keg. If one only wanted fine herring, it was $1.00 a keg. Settling for "good" herring was even less at 75 cents a keg. Norwegian anchovies were going for 35 cents a quart. One hundred years later, Norwegians were eating anchovies on their Italian pizza. Lefse, a bread made from potatoes and baked flat, fed the Norwegians on their ocean voyage and was always a part of their diet. In more recent years, lefse has become a delicacy that is most always served at Christmas. If one doesn't have a Norwegian baker in the family, one that can purchase lefse at many specialty shops, such as Weinke's Farm Market north of Algoma on Highway S, and supermarkets such as Festival Foods.

Norwegians coming into Manitowoc County usually stayed there or went into southern Kewaunee County. However, there were those who went north to Door County, settling in the Town of Clay Banks. Some went farther north in Door County to settle among other Scandinavians.

To learn more about Norwegian immigration to Wisconsin, check Door County Historical Society's site to find out about Norwegian Day, scheduled for mid-May at the Hans and Bertha Hanson House on Utah Street, just east of its intersection with Highway 42-57, in Sturgeon Bay. The restored house offers examples of Norwegian construction during 1857. Today - over 160 years later - it is said many of the joints "are still so tight you cannot slip a knife between the logs." The day will showcase all things Norwegian and have something for all.

*Note: Known as Kewaunee Enterprise, the paper had its beginnings in 1859 as Kewaunee Enterprize. The spelling changed to Enterprise in 1865.

Jacob Aall Ottesen and John Olsen Otien are two whos surnames reflect Norwegian naming patterns where a farm name is used after a patronymic name to distinguish themselves. WSHS says the name servered much like a postal address everytime they moved.

 Sources: Ahnapee Record; Algoma Record Herald; Door County Advocate; Here Comes the Mail: Post Offices of Kewaunee County; Kewaunee Enterprize/Enterprise; Wing Histories; BLM online.