Upcoming Dinner Programs

Join us for an evening of enlightenment, camaraderie, and a celebration of our shared heritage. We look forward to welcoming you. Please feel free to invite friends come together as a community to embrace our local history.

July 24—History of the Hickey Brothers, Baileys Harbor Fishing Company, The Log Den, Egg Harbor

From fishing with hooks, to gill and pond nets, to processing fish and developing a retail business, the company is also involved in Hickey Brothers Research, LLC. Carin and Todd Stuth expanded the business in the 2000’s. Today, their brand is The Baileys Harbor Fish Company. The company is active in fishing, processing, selling and research.

Enjoy a dinner of pork loin with cherry sauce over rice, veggies, rolls, ice cream, coffee, milk and iced tea. Then, listen as the Hickey family presents the local history of their fishing careers including four generations, beginning in the mid-1800’s.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with dinner at 6:00 p.m., and the program to follow. Cost for the meal and program is $40 for members and $45 for guests. Reservations

August 28 The History of the Door County Fair, Birmingham’s, Sturgeon Bay

The Door County Fair was established in 1871, with traditions that any family can enjoy. Grandstand attractions include stock car races, a demolition derby, and motorcycle racing. Carnival rides, concession stands and exceptional bands fill the fair midway. Hundreds of

Monday, Jul 24 6 p.m.

Hickey Brothers Baileys Harbor Fish Company

The Log Den, Egg Harbor

Monday Aug 28 6 p.m.

Door County Fair

Birmingham's, Sturgeon Bay

Monday, Sep 25 6 p.m.

Door County Trivia!

Leatham Lodge, Sturgeon Bay entries showcase the talents of Door County exhibitors each year. Learn the rich history of the fair for the past 150+ years.

The dinner will be family style baked chicken and ham, mashed potatoes, stuffing, coleslaw, cranberries, gravy, rolls and butter and cherry torte. The cost for the meal and program is $25 for members and $30 for guests. Please reserve your spot by August 21. Capacity is 60 for the dining room, therefore respond early. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with dinner at 6 p.m., and the program to follow.

September 25 Door County Trivia!, Lodge at Leathem Smith, Sturgeon Bay

Test your knowledge of Door County Trivia in a fun atmosphere, hosted by our own Michaela Kraft. Participate or listen and learn some facts along the way!

A dinner buffet of chicken and pork with the fixings will be served. The cost for the evening will be $30 for members and $35 for guests. Reservations are due by September 18. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with dinner at 6 p.m. and the trivia game with prizes to follow. Look forward to an interesting and entertaining evening! Meetings in the future include the History of Glass Blowing with Jeremy Popelka at The Mill in Sturgeon Bay, on October 23. Our annual DCHS meeting will be on November 27, at Prince of Peace Church in Sturgeon Bay. Jason Palmer with The Peninsula Symphonic Band will present the history of the group with musical selections.

Hope to see you soon!

Monday, Oct 23 6 p.m.

The History of Glass Blowing

The Mill, Sturgeon Bay

Monday, Nov 27 6 p.m.

Annual Meeting

Peninsula Symphonic Band

Prince of Peace Church, Sturgeon Bay

* Please note: program topics and locations are subject to change.

What Did You Miss?

The May dinner program was held on Monday, May 22, 2023, at the Door County Firehouse on Third Avenue in Sturgeon Bay. The dessert was scrumptious lighthouse cookies hand-crafted by Jan Livingston.

The title of the evening was the Family Matters: The Davenports, the Duclons, and Sister Lighthouses. Three speakers regaled the audience with their own look at Eagle Bluff Lighthouse. Each presentation was fascinating and very different from the others!

First we heard from Laurie Baum who spent many hours researching the lives of William and Julia (Davenport) Duclon, as well as the lives of their relatives. Julia’s father, Ambrose Davenport Jr, was a lighthouse keeper for the Skillagalee Light in the Straits of Mackinac. William Duclon married Julia Davenport in the 1860s and eventually moved to Fish Creek where William was the second of three Eagle Bluff Lighthouse keepers. Along with their seven sons, William and Julia lived in the lighthouse from 1883 to 1918. Information never known to most of us before was divulged by Laurie about the Duclons and their ancestry!

Then, Ed Miller discussed the eight lighthouses located around the Great Lakes that have the same design as our Eagle Bluff Lighthouse Norman Gothic style. All of them have a “ghost” window, too.

In her melodical voice, Ann Sheridan read the story of Mabel Kalmback Spencer (1884-1970) as she sailed from northern Door County down to Sturgeon Bay with her dad and her brother sleeping below. This occurred when Mabel was young possibly in her teens. She recalled how Eagle Bluff Light guided her safely through the night.

Submitted by Mary Stephenson

A recording of this program, and many other dinner programs, is available to watch on our website: doorcountyhistoricalsociety.org.