3 minute read
2024 Q2 Newsletter
Margaret Gilbert was chosen to be the highlighted member for this newsletter. About 19 years ago I met Margaret when she bought some Girl Scout cookies from my daughter.
She was born in 1931 in Cedarburg, Wisconsin, as Margaret Weidman. The Weidman family moved to a farm in Sevastopol when Margaret was just five years old. Margaret has worn many hats over her 90+ years; teacher, farmer/bookkeeper, mother/wife, mink rancher, and artist.
“I taught at Sugar Creek School near Brussels, Wilson School on County S, and a half year at West Jacksonport,” she said. Then in 1954, she married a local farmer, Bruce Gilbert. The two started farming on Brauer Road and had children, ten in all! After Bruce passed in 1996, Margaret took painting lessons to revive a skill she had developed earlier in life. She sells paintings and cards at The Pearl and through the DCHS at the Heritage Village and Eagle Bluff Lighthouse. (Author’s note: I purchased a lovely, farmed watercolor to add to my bovine art collection.)
“Seven of my children live within 2 ½ miles of me,” Margaret told me with pride. Sons Tim and Ron, along with Tim’s sons, Wade and Ryan, now run the Gilbert Farm. During our conversation on a rainy Monday, she also told me of the hardships she faced. Barn fires, a house fire, loss of their mink offspring, and the drowning death of a young daughter were all tragic episodes that Margaret endured.
Margaret has traveled the world: Italy (where her son Bill retired), Russia, China, England, Germany and Switzerland are a few countries overseas that Margaret has explored.
So, what does she have to say about the Door County Historical Society? Back in August of 1996, Margaret joined the DCHS as a life member at the extravagant price of $50 (See membership card below.) Initially, she helped Lillian Lidral and Alice Sautebin make name tags for dinners. Back then, George Evenson was the president of the group. She volunteered at Heritage Village, wearing the hats and aprons made for the volunteers to wear. Different buildings were added to the collection at Heritage Village since Margaret joined: Vignes Schoolhouse, the Chapel, the Peterson Granary, and the Madden Tool Museum.
“We are all living history,” Margaret added. There were seven farms on the road she now lives on, but there are no working farms on the road now. The DCHS will always be there to keep track of local history. Margaret did tell me that the Gilbert Farm will become a sesquicentennial farm in four years. That will be a time to celebrate!
— Submitted by Mary Stephenson
