Tuesday, July 4, 2023

Kewaunee County History, Ahnapee/Algoma, and Patriotism

 


This is the 4th of July. It is fireworks, flags, parades, concerts, hamburgers, hotdogs, baseball and apple pie, although fireworks are in jeopardy this year. Much of the country is affected by drought, and fire is a danger if something goes awry. Some places have cancelled their fireworks saying if debris falls into water, it adds to pollution.

Fourth of July once meant a display of patriotism. On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress declared the American colonies’ independence from Great Britain. On its first-year anniversary in 1777, Philadelphia celebrated with bonfires, candles in windows and fireworks on a jubilant day. Until more recently, the feelings of patriotism ran high and the 4th was more than a day off the job site.

The Wall Street Journal – April 4, 2003 – carried a poll indicating a steep decline in the importance of patriotism, down from 70% in 1998 to 38% in April.

Author Stephen Nathanson’s 1993 book on patriotism, morality, and peace says patriotism consists of affection for one’s country, defining oneself through the country, being interested in its welfare, and sacrificing for the sake of the country’s welfare.

A Gallup poll surveyed patriotism in the country and found Montana was #1 as the most prideful state, however Virginia had the most American pride. That seems like a head-scratcher. Gallup Poll found Gallup, New Mexico, to be the nations’ most patriotic city. (The city of Gallup was named for David Gallup and early railroad paymaster. The city is not connected to the famous pollster George Gallup.)

What happened? New York Times columnist David Brooks penned an opinion, “The Necessity of Patriotism (Even in Times Like These)” on March 30, 2023. The entire column can be found online. Brooks concludes his column with his fears that we are so distrusting of institutions and those around us that we do not reach out and thus dysfunction continues. Brooks cites the Wall Street Journal poll by saying people told pollsters that patriotism, parenthood, and community are not very important.

Wolf River, which became Ahnepee/Ahnapee/Algoma, remembered its very first 4th, July 4, 1851. It was not your grandpa’s 4th. The settling families arrived in what is now Algoma during that week – the Tweedales and Hughes on June 28, followed by the younger Warner family on July 4. The community was Kewaunee County’s first permanent settlement, except that it was in Door County at the time. Kewaunee was set apart from Door the following spring.

The Warners never forgot what happened as Pa Orin Warner steered his boat into the river that 1851 day. The entrance depth was about 2’ and when Orin guided his sailboat in, it capsized, sending the family and their possessions and provisions into the water. Harriet was 9 and later told how her mother, Jane, wept bitterly. Everybody was ok – little George Washington was only 3 – and they collected their belongings which were dried out. Imagine Jane’s terror. Nobody saw the accident. They were in a wilderness and who was there to help? At the time, the river was a bit over a block north of where it is today. The U.S. Engineers straightened the river and dredging continued on and off for the next 170 years.

Life went on, the community and county grew, and subsequent 4th of Julys were different. When the Civil War started, immigrants and those born in the country alike volunteered or were drafted and served. Most of Kewaunee County’s population were immigrants and perhaps thought the fight did not concern them. They went forward. It is well documented that new Belgian immigrants got shafted while the prominent stayed home, but that is another story.

When, in 1873, there was a newspaper in Ahnapee, events were chronicled and encouraged. There were a few in town who felt they were above the German immigrants, for instance, and had their own balls and celebrations. Such animosity was noticeable for years before feelings of camaraderie spread and folks made trips to Sturgeon Bay, Kewaunee, Casco and even Manitowoc to take part in activities. Roads were so primitive that for years it was the Goodrich Line, or sometimes Hart, ferries that took folks and bands up and down the lakeshore. Traveling to Rio Creek and Casco were overland trips, and not easy. Fifty years later transportation had changed and Algoma’s Delores Marr won the Manitowoc derby race. She was one of two girl riders in the seven-entry race.

Each year brought something special. Kewaunee fire company held a grand picnic and ball with the Bohemian Turners as part of the celebration in 1878. Sullivan’s woods near Maplewood was the location of a 4th of July 1882 picnic with proceeds going to the area Catholic church. All were invited to what was promised to be a good time. Clay Banks completed plans for their 1882 grand celebration and took in $70 for the purchase of fireworks. That 70 bucks would be around $2500 today. In 1892 Kewaunee’s glorious celebration began with a grand parade followed by three bands at New Riverside Park.

Although each year was marked with some type of patriotic celebration, 1880 saw the biggest changes and events in Kewaunee County’s first 50 years.

1880 marked the 104th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and Ahnapee residents were planning for the grandest 4th ever. Nealy all city businessmen and prominent citizens requested Mayor Perry to call a public meeting for the planning.

The feeling was that enough money could be raised by soliciting subscriptions and petitioning the city council* to make an appropriation. The committee pointed out that it was the “duty of every citizen” to aid in raising money. No single individual would derive benefits, but the entire city would. It was pointed out that businessmen would indeed make money but they were also making larger contributions. Everybody was expected to give according to their means, and everybody would benefit.

Each person was encouraged to “speak, utter, talk, articulate, pronounce, converse, say, tell, recite and relate” views on the subject to ensure a public demonstration, “the grandeur of which can only be imagined and not described.” William Bastar wanted to see that happen and had a large gang working on his new building which he planned to have ready for a 4th of July dance in his upper hall.

 Where there had been cultural animosity, the committee encouraged German citizens to arrange for speakers in that language because the foreign-born populace was important. Plans included singing, reading the Declaration of Independence, and a brass band while the committee looked for speakers outside the city.

In 1882, the Record cautioned against the sale of toy pistols which were big on the 4th. The paper called the pistols an “instrument of death” which was addressed by Wisconsin law that said the sale, use, or possession of a toy pistol or revolver was unlawful. A conviction meant up to 6 months in jail, a $100 fine, or both. Who knows if the law had teeth? Wisconsin has fireworks laws 141 years later.

By 1885, John McDonald’s Third Street roller rink was nearing completion, and McDonald planned a good time on July 3 and 4. The paper editorialized that McDonald did so much for citizens that Council should give him a vote of thanks rather than charging him for his license. The idea didn’t fly.


1894 saw activities throughout the area. Roads were no longer the primitive paths of 20 years earlier and folks traveled to entertainments. Henry Sibilsky extended an invitation to a picnic and dance at his Mill Street hall. Admission to the dance was 25 cents. The Forestville William Duwe Camp Son’s of Veterans held a dance and picnic at Stokes* in Nasewaupee. Dance tickets were 25 cents for the affair that was expected to attract a large attendance. John Blahnik’s grove in Kodan was also holding a picnic with music by the Arion Band. It was said Mr. Blahnik would spare no pains to make the occasion pleasant. Joseph Prokash made dance  arrangements at his Prokash Hall in the Town of Ahnapee while Rudolph Bruemmer was advertising a picnic and dance at his place on the Green Bay Rd. (now Fremont St. at Bruemmerville.)

George Bottlok & Bro. had a grand celebration at his Bottkolville/Euren hall in 1896. That same year, F. Kwapil & Son was ready for the “glorious approaching 4th””  taking orders for oranges, bananas, lemons, peanuts, coconuts, peaches and other fruits not grown in the area. Kwapil guaranteed favorable prices. The Temple of Honor celebrated at their 4th and Fremont grounds, which were “handsomely fitten (sic) up for the occasion.”

The observance of Independence and the 50th anniversary of Wisconsin’s admittance to the Union took place in 1898. The Record did not mention Kewaunee County’s 46th anniversary weeks earlier when it said Algoma didn’t need an excuse to celebrate.

In early June 1899, the paper called attention to the 4th of July saying, in effect, that the citizenery should get on the ball. The paper encouraged folks to hustle to plan a big day so that people could stay in town for a good time. Algoma residents were in Sturgeon Bay for their celebration that year. For those who missed it, Algoma Press told readership that Frank Columb of Sturgeon Bay was struck in the face by a piece of plug tobacco box under which a large cannon cracker exploded. Columb was severely injured at that celebration. The following year Algoma had a similar event.

Herman Haucke and Frank Damas were known to have devil-may-care attitudes. Grandma’s Cousin Herman did much for the community but was known to tip a glass or two, which might explain things. At the 1890 celebration, the men were to set off a firing salute, which happened prematurely. It made news because one of them – it is unclear which – had gunpowder in his pocket. The man’s clothing was burned as was his face. A subsequent paper carried an article about Herman setting off a cannon with the cigar in his mouth. It further said if townsfolk saw Herman with a sling on his head, they’d know why.

Who knows how many mishaps the 4th brought, but in 1905 the Kodan correspondent to the paper said the town was surprised that there were no serious accidents that year, saying it was unusual.

Patriotism was high in 1900. Civil War vets were dying and the Sons of Veterans were taking their places. The Spanish American War era was over and technology was mind-boggling: telephone instruments, electric lighting, roads, and the talk of the cock-eyed like horseless carriages and flying machines. The railroad offered trips to Green Bay in hours, rather than at least 2 days by horse and buggy.

In 1907 Rio Creek’s Record correspondent said the 4th was a rather dead affair in the village because the majority of residents either went to festivities at Casco or Bruemmerville. Casco’s George Blaha, proprietor of Casco Park, planned for a “dawn-to-dawn” rousing 4th at his popular resort. Blaha planned games and races for prizes, evening fireworks, and good dancing music throughout the day. The railroad offered excursion rates from Algoma, Kewaunee, Sturgeon Bay, and intermediate points. Both the Ahnapee and Western and the Green Bay and Western offered excursion rates to Sturgeon Bay, Algoma, Kewaunee, and intermediate points through July 8th , prompting Blaha to say, “Casco is the only place in this vicinity that will celebrate the 4th and nothing but the 4th.”

But it was Algoma that the Record was certain folks could not afford to miss. The city’s most attractive feature would be the airship flight. Who could even imagine such a thing? There would be street bands performing all day, a circus parade in which anyone with a costume might win a prize, and a baseball game with Peshtigo in the afternoon. Folks could cool off during a hose fight with 8 members of the fire department. Honors went to the one who stayed on his feet the longest time in the greased pole contest while catching the greased pig made everybody laugh. Horse races were on tap and there was loose and tight wire walking. Everything that citizens could wish for culminated with the biggest fireworks display in the evening.

When a June 1880 Record encouraged every man, woman and child assist the cause of the 4th, it encouraged the decoration of every home with garlands, flags, and banners. The paper said everybody in the country should wake up and display their patriotism. It said American people were born in France, Germany, England and everywhere else, however it mattered not and that patriotism “demands that it should be rescued from the oblivion into which it is being allowed to fall by the indifference and the ingratitude of the American people.” It happened that Judge Boalt was one of the speakers that year. He seemed to be pointing out that those with less than he, financially and intellectually, should not infringe on those such as himself. He railed against the ignorant accepting communism and religious fanaticism that appeared to be directed at Catholics. While papers praised the industrious Germans, Boalt complained about them and other immigrants. There were those who said celebrations were “humbug” and controlled by “damn Yankees.”

One hundred forty-three years later, David Brooks ended his New York Times column saying, “Only love and a leap of faith can break through distrust. That is why a credible form of patriotism is so important right now. We’ve hit that spot in the cycle of crisis and renewal at which people have to take the kind of common actions that send the vital message: we can trust each other.”

Notes:

*Ahnepee became the Village of Ahnapee in 1873, and the City of Ahnapee in 1879. July 4th, 1880, marked the first celebration as a city.

*Stokes - today Highway 42/57 and Door County Highway O.

Notes:

*Ahnepee became the Village of Ahnapee in 1873, and the City of Ahnapee in 1879. July 4th, 1880, marked the first celebration as a city.

*Stokes - today Highway 42/57 and Door County Highway O.

 Sources: Ahnapee Record, Algoma Press, Algoma Record, An-An-api-sebe: Where is the River? c. 2002,

 Online: David Brooks, New York Times, March 30, 2023, “The Necessity of Patriotism (Even in Times Like These)”.

Stephen Nathanson, Patriotism, Morality and Peace, 1993, Rowan & Littlefield Publishers 

Wall Street Journal – April 4, 2003

https://news.gallup.com/poll/394202/record-low-extremely-proud-american.aspx

https://news.gallup.com/poll/507980/extreme-pride-american-remains-near-record-low.aspx

https://www.wsj.com/articles/americans-pull-back-from-values-that-once-defined-u-s-wsj-norc-poll-finds-df8534cd

  


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