AUGUST 2020

Vol . 32 No. 8

COMPLIMENTARY COPY • Since 19 89

OUTDOOR DINING FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT’S PENWERN A NEW DATE FOR RIBFEST

RIDING

the Rails of

HISTORY

AUGUST 2020

CALL FOR AUGUST HOURS 2

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Advertiser’s index Abbey Springs...................................................16 Allied Senior Services...............................28 Always Remember That.........................26

August events calendar................................................4

Apple Barn Orchard and Winery....... 2

Riding the rails in East Troy.....................................5

B&J Tree & Landscaping.........................17

Black Point Estate reopens...................................... 11

Bruno’s Liquors................................................ 22

Art in the Park returns to Lake Geneva......................... 14

Caravelle Lighting............................................6

Farm Stand embraces everything Wisconsin............................15

Delavan Lake Boat Shed........................28

Reset Ribfest returns August 13................................. 19

Ginger Blossom............................................... 22

The joys of dining al fresco...............................................21

Jonathan’s on Brick Street........................8

The story of Wright’s Penwern.................................27

Keefe Real Estate...........................................10

Aronson Fence Co.........................................16

Best Bargains.....................................................20

Burtness Chevrolet Buick GMC.......20

Carpets Plus Outlet, Inc...........................26

Foley’s Irish Woods......................................20

Hawk’s View Golf Club.............................24

Just Live, Inc........................................................18

Koch Kuts...............................................................12 Luisa’s Restaurant......................................... 22

All aboard!

East Troy Railroad Museum Operations Manager Jim Feyerherm welcomes a young visitor earlier this season. The historic railroad – the only remaining section of a former interurban rail line – is up and running in 2020 with extra precautions amid COVID-19. The railroad makes weekend excursions along the 14mile section to the Elegant Farmer in Mukwonago where riders have the opportunity to step off and browse the selection of specialty pies, cheeses and other treats.

COURTESY OF EAST TROY RAILROAD MUSEUM Spirit of Geneva Lakes

SPIRIT of GENEVA LAKES

Lyle’s TV & Appliances.............................24 Mars Resort............................................................8 Oh My Gauze......................................................31 Pats Services.....................................................24 Reesman’s Exc. & Grading....................32 Riga-Tony’s..............................................................8 Sandy’s Upscale Consignment........26 Sprecher’s Restaurant & Pub.................8 Wilson Farm Meats......................................28 Ye Olde Hotel.......................................................8

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IT’S COMIN’ UP AUGUST EVENTS

4 Dark Skies Movement at Lake

Geneva Public Library: The dark skies movement is a growing push to not only improve the night sky for astronomical viewing, but to also improve health. GLAS has spent over a year with students developing a night sky sensor and doing public outreach about the effects of light pollution. Learn about the environmental and human effects of light pollution from local students working to promote this movement and collect data.

Time: 6 to 7 p.m. at Lake Geneva Public Library, 918 W. Main Street. email: rstrehlow@lakegeneva.lib.wi.us to register.

6, 13, 20, 27 Lake Geneva

Farmers Market: Local farmers and vendors from throughout the Lake Geneva area come together each Thursday from 8:00am to 1:00pm to offer a market of local produce, flowers and arts and crafts and other goods. Located at Horticultural Hall, 330 Broad Street, in downtown Lake Geneva and open rain or shine. The 2020 Market runs through October 29.

8 Live music at Maxwell Mansion: The Big Al Wetzel band performs between 7 and 10 p.m. Alongside the amazing music, Gypsy Soul Food Truck will be serving up a variety of specialties. Don’t forget craft cocktails, warm fire pits, and a beautiful mansion to roam and enjoy! 421 Baker St., Lake Geneva, 262-248-9711.

13-16 Elkhorn Ribfest: Four days

of unbelievably delicious, mouthwatering barbecue and high-quality entertainment at the Walworth County Fairgrounds. This event features world-renowned professional BBQ champions, backyard grillers, great entertainment, an artisan village and more.

Visitors will experience some of the best BBQ in the world, there will be live music and a cold beer or two. Walworth County Fairgrounds, 411 E. Court St., Elkhorn, 262-723-3228, wisconsinribfest.com.

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Boat Tour with Shrimp Boil: Treat yourself to a scenic boat tour and unique menu on Lake Geneva Cruise Line’s first ever Southern Low Country Shrimp Boil Lunch.

A narrated historical tour will accompany the menu served on board the Grand Belle.

Tickets: $41 to $55. Lake Geneva Cruise Line, 812 Wrigley Dr., Lake Geneva, 262-2486206 or online at cruiselakegeneva.com.

24 Remarkable Women of Lake

Geneva at Lake Geneva Public Library. We often hear about the men on the lake and how they made their fortunes. But what were the women doing? As it turns out, they were

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not just sipping ice tea on their verandas.

Meet some of the remarkable women who helped shape the history, not only of this area, but of this country. Lake Geneva Public Library, 918 W. Main Street, 262-249-5299. email: rstrehlow@lakegeneva.lib.wi.us to register.

29-30 Simply the Best Cheese Tasting and Sale at Elegant Farmer, 1545 Main St., Mukwonago. Straight from the state fair, come taste the best of the best including samplings of Blue Ribbon award-winning artisan and specialty cheeses. Unique varieties, sampling and 10% off all cheese. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. 262-363-6770.

31 Live Music at Pier 290: Glenn Davis performs from 5 to 9 p.m. at Pier 290, 1 Lietchy Dr., Williams Bay, 262-245-2100, pier290.com.

Ongoing events

Avant Sunday Morning Breakfast Bike Ride – Group Ride from Avant Cycle Cafe, 234 Broad St., Lake Geneva, at 7 a.m.

Ride a casual pace (12-15 mph). This is a nodrop, fun ride. Stopping for breakfast before heading back to the shop. All rides weather dependent. 262-203-5141.

Dancing Horses Show – Enjoy the hour and a half-long show at 1 p.m. Tuesay through Sunday and an additional show 7 p.m.

Saturday, at The Dancing Horses Museum, 5065 Highway 50, Delavan. For show dates and info visit www.thedancinghorses.com East Troy Railroad Museum – Take a 14-mile train ride on the only remaining electric interurban tracks in Wisconsin.

Historic museum and carefully maintained rail cars from 90 to 100 years ago. Stops at the Elegant Farmer. 15 miles north of Lake Geneva on Highway 120. Trains depart on Fridays and weekends from East Troy Depot at 2002 Church Street. 262-642-3263.

Tristan Crist Magic Theater – 609 W. Main St., Lake Geneva. One of a kind performer that wows audiences with, jaw-dropping illusions and gut-wrenching escapes! For show dates and times call 262248-0505 or visit www.lakegenevamagic.com The calendar of events is compiled from a variety of sources including area chambers of commerce and the Walworth County Visitors Bureau, and contains events available as of press time.

Events, dates and times may change or events may be canceled. We suggest you visit verify event times, dates and locations prior to making travel plans.

AUGUST 2020

The

Spirit IS A PUBLICATION OF

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Sue Z. Lange EDITOR IN CHIEF

Ed Nadolski ADVERTISING DIRECTOR

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Take a trip to the past East Troy Railroad operates the last remnant of the interurban rail system

by Tracy Ouellette STAFF WRITER

Although a popular attraction in the area, many still don’t know that the East Troy Railroad Museum runs the last remaining segment of the former Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light interurban rail system, offering trolley and interurban railroad car rides each weekend.

The rail line between East Troy and Mukwonago was once part of more than 200 miles of track in Southeastern Wisconsin.

Today, the 14-miles of track used by the railroad operates every weekend Memorial Day weekend through September.

For more information on the railroad’s history see the related story on page 10.

The East Troy Railroad Museum is a non-

SPIRIT of GENEVA LAKES

Children wave to welcome one of the East Troy Railroad Museum’s trains to the Elegant Farmer station in Mukwonago.

This particular train is led by Chicago Elevated Car 4420.

TOM FLEMING Spirit of Geneva Lakes

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profit organization, which is run by more than 100 volunteers and features historical railway cars that have been lovingly restored.

“We are restoring North Shore Car 761 right now and there is a lot of energy and excitement about getting it operational,” museum President Ryan Jonas said. “It’s totally stripped now and ready to paint and it’s looks like we’ll have it done by the end of the year.”

Jonas said the former owner of the railroad, Paul Averdung, has been volunteering at the museum to be part of the project.

“He ran the railroad for more than 30 years and he came back just for this, he has a real passion for it. He told me ‘I love coming out here and working and not having to deal with the administration of the railroad.’ I guess that’s what I’m for,” Jonas said with a laugh.

See more information about Car 761 in the related story on page 7.

Changes this year

The railroad is celebrating its 113th year in 2020, but with the Train operators at the East Troy Railroad are having trouble this year with drivers not paying attention at crossings.

Operations Manager Jim Feyerherm says the engineers are having one to two near misses each weekend.

TOM FLEMING Spirit of Geneva Lakes

Caravelle Lighting has all your summer fan needs, including 9307 S Rt. 12, Richmond, Ill. 815-678-4558

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Hours: Tues. 9-6; Wed.-Fri. 9-5; Sat. 10-2; Closed Sun. & Mon.

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AUGUST 2020

coronavirus pandemic, operations have seen some change.

“Like everyone, we’ve had to do things differently to protect our volunteers and our guests,” railroad Operations Manager Jim Feyerherm said. “The No. 1 change is we’re requiring masks. Masks for the train crews and masks for everyone who comes in.”

In addition to the required masks, the railroad now requires reservations and contactless payment from its passengers.

“We’re trying to have all reserved seating and we’re encouraging people to go to our website or go on Facebook to get to our websites and make their reservations and payments. We also have a QR code at the depot people can use with their phone, but we’re not selling tickets inside the depot.”

This year, the trains are only departing and arriving at the East Troy Depot, 2002 Church St. “We’re not taking on passengers at the Elegant Farmer or Indian Head Park in Mukwonago this year,” Feyerherm said.

“The trains still stop at the Elegant Farmer for people to shop, but we don’t take on new passengers there.”

While passengers may leave the train to shop at the Elegant Farmer, they must take the same train back to the depot, which is another change. Eating is also not allowed on the trains, Jonas said.

As with many of the social distancing guidelines, Jonas said there has been some pushback, but for the most part, people have been good about considering the safety of the railroad volunteers and other passengers.

“But we do get some who just don’t care,” he said.

Crossing concerns

Another big concern at the railroad this year is problems being caused by distracted drivers not stopping at the railroad crossings.

“I have never seen it so bad as it is this year,” Feyerherm said. “All of our operators, myself included, have seen a tremendous amount of near misses with cars this year. I don’t know if people are just so preoccupied they’re not paying attention or if everyone is just in such a rush, but it’s happening every

Many members of the restoration team working on Cars 761 and 6 pose in front of Car 761 at the East Troy Railroad’s maintenance facility.

DUSTIN ROBINSON Spirit of Geneva Lakes

Restoring history Railroad Museum works on two historical interurban cars Volunteers at the East Troy Railroad are working to bring two historic interurban railroad cars back into operating condition.

Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee Car 761 ran on the North Shore Line between the Loop in Chicago and downtown Milwaukee from 1930 to 1963.

Chicago South Shore and South Bend Car 6 ran on the South Shore Line between Chicago and South Bend, Indiana from 1926 to 1983.

“Restoring both of these cars is a priority for us, each for a different reason,” East Troy Railroad Museum President Ryan Jonas said. “We depend on our South Shore fleet to run our popular special event trains, like the Bunny Trains and Christmas Trains. South Shore Car 6 will give us a backup in case one of the other South Shore cars needs repairs. We want Car 761 back in service so we can showcase another interurban car with Wisconsin history. Our historic railroad runs on the only remaining electric interurban track in the state.”

The East Troy Railroad Museum acquired Car 761 from a Michigan museum in 2001 and started initial work to restore the car soon afterward. Volunteers replaced the roof, had new doors made, and purchased fabric to reupholster the seats.

Efforts ground to a halt when volunteers discovered structural deterioration on the north end of the car. When a qualified welder joined the volunteer team in East Troy, the museum’s board of directors agreed that it was time to restart the restoration work.

Car 6 came to the museum in 2010 via the National Park Service at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (now Indiana Dunes National Park). When the South Shore Line’s original 1920s-era cars were replaced by new equipment in 1982 and 1983, a Congressman serving northern Indiana worked to pass a bill to transfer the retired cars to the Park Service.

See RESTORING, Page 9

SPIRIT of GENEVA LAKES

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day we’re running, sometimes more than once.”

Most of the crossings are in the East Troy area and the crossing on Highway 20 has lights, but people are still not stopping, Feyerherm said.

“The lights come on and people run right through them. It’s really scary. We’re taking 30 tons down the road and while a crash would kind of damage our cars, it’s going to destroy whomever it hits. We’re going slow, so I don’t think it would cause serious injury, but it will cause serous damage to a vehicle.”

Feyerherm said people need to be aware of their surroundings when driving in the East Troy/Mukwonago area near the train tracks. Some of the crossings have stop signs and others have yield signs, but Feyerherm said they are all controlled in some way and he can’t figure out what people are thinking by ignoring the warnings.

“Always expect a train when you see any railroad crossings,” he said.

“I’m serious. Always, always expect a train. I’ve reported six near misses that I was able to get a license plate number for this year alone, and that’s not all of them. We blow the horn and it’s loud. Turn your music down, put down your phone and pay attention.

Please!”

Dining

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Volunteers at the East Troy Railroad Museum spent many hours restoring Car 33, which was put back into service in 2017.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Spirit of Geneva Lakes

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Information is subject to change. Please contact individual restaurant for more information.

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JONATHAN’S ON BRICK STREET • 116 E. Walworth St., Delavan, WI. 262-725-7715. www.Jonathansonbricksreet.com. Stop in for a warm inviting atmosphere and great food.

Try one of our crafts, spirits and wines. Fish and seafood are always fresh. Delicious mouth watering steaks. Famous Fish Fry on Fridays. Prime Rib on Saturdays. Live Entertainment on select Fridays and Saturdays. Friday night reservations for parties of 6 or more. Hours: Bar opens at 4pm daily. Dining Mon.-Thurs. 4:30-9pm; Fri. & Sat. 4:30-10pm; Sun. 4-8pm. D, $$$, FF,  ( RIGA-TONY’S DELICATEZZI ITALIANO • 5576 C State Rd. 50, Delavan (in the Dairy Queen Plaza). 262-740-2540. www. rigatonysdelavan.com. Call for our hours. L, D $

B: Breakfast L: Lunch D: Dinner NC: No credit cards accepted $: Mostly under $10 $$: Mostly under $20 GF: Gluten free $$$: Mostly under $30 FF: Fish Fry (: Reservations requested  : Alcohol served : Kids menu SR: Senior menu 373478

AUGUST 2020

Dinner trains on hold

One of the East Troy Railroad’s most popular attractions is its dinner trains and this year, with COVID-19, the railroad is rethinking how to hold those.

“We were doing them with people eating at the depot and then taking a train ride, but it wasn’t attracting a lot of people, so we’re in the process of revamping how we’re going to do them,” Jonas said.

The hope is to hold some farm-to-table type dinners, with locally sourced ingredients, and have the train ride after.

“We’ll probably have them more toward the fall,” Feyerherm said. “Maybe in the car barn or put a tent up if people are interested. We’re working on it.”

For now, the railroad is operating on Friday, Saturday and Sunday with trains departing the East Troy Depot at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. on Friday and Sunday and 10 a.m., 11 a.m., noon, 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday.

“We either use open cars or cars with the windows open, depending on the weather,” Feyerherm said. “Come and ride the train and support the railroad, we’re open and it’s a fun way to spend the day.”

For more information or to make a reservation, visit easttroyrr.org.

• Restoring

(Continued from page 7)

The goal was to establish a museum at Indiana Dunes. Four of the stops on the South Shore Line are at stations in or near the dunes. When the planned museum failed to gain funding, the retired cars were transferred to several other museums. The East Troy Railroad received five of the cars, including Car 33, which was restored to service in 2016.

Car 6 needs to have its wheels and trucks refurbished, needs two traction motors rebuilt, needs its seats reupholstered, needs new flooring, some rewiring, and much cosmetic work to restore its appearance. The pantographs above the car must be removed and replaced by trolley poles, so the car can run on the East Troy Railway. A new canvas roof will also be installed.

In addition to the structural work, Car 761 needs body work, needs to be repainted inside and out, needs new flooring, needs the seats reupholstered, needs the electrical system cleaned, repaired and tested, needs the brake lines reinstalled to both control stands, needs new doors and new glass installed on the south end of the car, and needs the stairways reinstalled on both ends.

How to help The museum depends largely upon donations to fund restorations of its historic equipment.

A GoFundMe page has been set up for people who would like to support the restoration efforts. A link to the page is posted on the East Troy Railroad Museum’s website at easttroyrr.org/ projects, or at charity.gofundme.com/ss-car-6-and-ns-car-761restoration.

Checks can also be sent payable to the East Troy Railroad Museum, P.O. Box 943, East Troy, WI 53120. Write “Cars 6 and 761” on the memo line to indicate your support for these cars.

All donors will receive a tax-deductible receipt. The East Troy Railroad is a qualified 501(c)(3) non-profit cultural institution.

Volunteers work to clean the interior of Car 761 to prepare it for further repairs and painting.

Volunteer Korey Kumbier works to remove the old roof and pantograph from Car 6.

JIM FEYERHERM Spirit of Geneva Lakes

EVAN RICHARDS Spirit of Geneva Lakes

SPIRIT of GENEVA LAKES

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How the railroad came to be in East Troy electrical distribution; the Milwaukee Electric Railway and Transport Company (TMER&T) operated its transportation properties. In 1939, TMER&T petitioned the Public Service Commission to abandon the lines to Watertown, Burlington and East Troy.

The other lines were approved for abandonment, but the Village of East Troy and a group of concerned citizens opposed the abandonment of their line because the freight service was so important to area businesses.

After several hearings and almost a year of negotiations, TMER&T agreed to sell the line from Mukwonago to East Troy to the Village of East Troy for $10,000. The agreement included an interchange with the Soo Line Railroad, which would allow freight traffic to continue. The Village of East Troy passed a referendum approving the purchase by a vote of 321 to 11.

TMER&T crews continued to operate and maintain the electric railroad from Mukwonago to East Troy five days a week.

Throughout the 1940s the railroad carried between 800 and 1,000 cars of freight each year. But because of increasing maintenance expenses and its desire to get out of the railroad business, TMER&T declined to renew its operating agreement in 1949, forcing the Village of East Troy to take over operation of the railroad in 1950. At this

time the railroad officially became known as the Municipality of East Troy Wisconsin Railroad.

In the early 1970s, The Wisconsin Electric Railway Historical Society began operating weekend trolley rides on the line using its own restored trolley equipment. In 1984, the Village of East Troy cancelled the Historical Society’s operating lease and began looking for an organization to lease and operate the entire railroad. The village approached the Wisconsin Trolley Museum, which had a strong core of volunteers restoring trolleys at the old Milwaukee Road depot in North Prairie. The village asked if they would move to East Troy and take over the line.

The Wisconsin Trolley Museum agreed, entering into a 25-year operating lease. In the spring of 1985 it moved its collection of seven trolleys to East Troy and took over operation of the railroad.

In 1993, the Friends of the East Troy Railroad began to negotiate with the Village of East Troy to purchase the property outright.

The sale was completed on Jan. 13, 1995. So, since 1985 the East Troy Railroad Museum has operated the East Troy Electric Railroad and since 1995 the non-profit corporation has owned the railroad as well.

Source: The East Troy Electric Railroad, www.easttroyrr.org.

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The East Troy Railroad Museum owns, maintains and operates historic electric trolley and interurban railroad cars on track completed by The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Co. in 1907. The rail line between Mukwonago and East Troy is the last remnant of The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light interurban rail system, which once operated more than 200 miles of track in Southeastern Wisconsin.

Since the East Troy line was the only form of public transportation in the area in 1907, it was designated as a U.S. Mail route.

And since there were no competing railroads serving East Troy, TMER&L decided to offer freight service on the line. This was profitable for the railroad and led to the growth of several businesses in the area, including a Standard Oil Distribution Center, East Troy Lumber, a United Milk Products Plant, and Equity Co-op’s feed and fuel plant.

With the development of better roads and highways, interurban lines gradually lost passengers as more and more people drove their own cars. By the late 1930s, the lines to Watertown, East Troy and Burlington were all experiencing financial difficulties. In October of 1938, TMER&L Co. was broken up into two separate companies.

The Wisconsin Electric Power Company operated the power plants and handled

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AUGUST 2020

Black Point Estate and Gardens opens Reservation-based programing offered at historic site

Black Point Estate and Gardens opened in July for in-person, reservation-based special programs and tours. All tours must be reserved in advance and the amount of guests will be limited. Guests will not be allowed on-site without a reservation.

“From walking tours to private tours of the estate and gardens we’ve created a wide variety of experiences for our guests to participate in this season,” said David Desimone, site director at Black Point.

“We also developed a new program, called “Picnic at the Point” which allows small groups to enjoy the veranda and a private picnic.”

Similar to previous years, guests who

register for the private tour will enjoy a scenic boat tour of Lake Geneva before disembarking on a private tour of Black Point Estate and Gardens. During these tours, guests will have special access to the site, including behind the scenes locations not typically available on the standard tour.

In September and October, Black Point will once again offer their walking tours including, Maple Park Historic District Lantern Tour, Oak Hill Cemetery Walk and the Sordid and Scandalous tour of Lake Geneva.

Black Point Estate and Gardens is also partnering with the East Troy Electric Railroad on Sept. 5 for a special beer train.

Guests should visit blackpointestate.org and easttroyrr.org for full details, dates and information on how to register.

Safety steps Black Point has implemented enhanced health and safety measures that adhere to the Badger Bounce Back – State Government Edition at the site with the following guidelines: • Guests and staff will be asked to adhere to proper social distancing regulations, and it is highly recommended that face masks are worn while interacting; • The number of visitors will be limited to ensure proper social distancing;

Lake Geneva’s Black Point Estate and Gardens opened Wednesday for reservation-only programs and tours. Group sizes will be limited to promote social distancing and mask wearing is highly encouraged.

FILE PHOTO Spirit of Geneva Lakes

SPIRIT of GENEVA LAKES

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IT’S TIME TO SCHEDULE YOUR OUTDOOR PROJECTS WITH

KOCH KUTS LLC Landscape & Maintenance

• Increased daily cleaning and sanitation schedules; and • Guests and staff who are exhibiting symptoms or think they may have been exposed to COVID-19 are asked to stay home.

There is also a “know before you go” guide to help guests before they arrive at the site, which can be found at blackpointestate.wisconsinhistory.org/#Health.

“We greatly appreciate the flexibility and patience shown by our members, guests, supporters, and staff as we navigate this unprecedented circumstance together, and we look forward to this opportunity to reconnect with guests,” Desimone said.

About the estate Black Point Estate and Gardens is one of 12 historic sites administered by the Wisconsin Historical Society. The estate is a 20 room Queen-Anne style “cottage” built by Chicago beer baron Conrad Seipp with construction completed in 1888.

Visitors can reach the site by boat, just as family and friends did in a bygone era. For more information and a list of upcoming events, visit blackpointestate.org.

the Historical Society We handle everything About The Wisconsin Historical Society, founded in 1846, ranks as one of the largest, most active and most diversified state historical from ... societies in the nation. As both a state agency and a private Weed Control, Fertilization, Mosquito Control before us... ...after us

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membership organization, its mission is to help people connect to the past by collecting, preserving and sharing stories. The Wisconsin Historical Society serves millions of people every year through a wide range of sites, programs and services.

For more information, visit wisconsinhistory.org.

The beer that built Black Point Estate is back The Conrad Seipp Brewing Company, once the largest brewery in Chicago, is back after nearly a century hiatus.

Eighty-seven years after the brewery’s closure, Seipp’s greatgreat-great-granddaughter, Laurin Mack, is bringing back The Conrad Seipp Brewing Company. Wanting to connect to her family’s legacy and their brewing history, Mack has set out to revive Seipp’s beer and bring it to the present.

“I think a connection to history is vitally important in understanding cities, communities, and individuals. As I have learned more about the history of beer, I see what a critical role brewing played in the development of cities across the country,” Mack said.

By recrafting Seipp’s beer, Mack hopes to help fill that gap by linking the past and the present. The connection to Seipp’s legacy is also what inspired her to release the beer in Lake Geneva, Seipp’s summer home, The Black Point Estate, tells the story of Conrad Seipp and his family. It has been in the Seipp family for over a century before being donated to the Wisconsin Historical Society to become a museum.

Seipp built the summer home in 1888 for his family on the shores of Lake Geneva. As Mack spent many summers at the Queen Anne home, she studied Conrad’s life; she began to understand more about the leading role he played in the evolution of Chicago and the beer business. Reviving Seipp’s beer has helped her feel closer to a man that she has always admired.

Founded in Chicago in 1854 by a German immigrant, Conrad Seipp, The Conrad Seipp Brewing Company was one of the first breweries in Chicago and one of the largest in the country competing with other brewers like Pabst. While they competed,

AUGUST 2020

they were also friends to the point that Pabst even served as a pallbearer at Conrad Seipp’s funeral. Seipp was a dominant player in the U.S. brewing industry, producing more than 250,000 barrels at the brewery’s peak. As with so many American breweries, it was unable to survive the impact of World War I and Prohibition and closed its doors in 1933.

While the times have changed, the principles of Seipp stay the same: a well-crafted beer made from high-quality ingredients that is accessible to all. A similar philosophy is what led Metropolitan Brewing, one of Chicago’s best German lager breweries, to collaborate with Mack. Together they have recrafted Seipp’s Extra Pale, one of Seipp’s most popular brands.

Doug Hurst, head brewer and Co-founder Metropolitan, describes the Extra Pale as a pre-prohibition Pilsner brewed with traditional North American malted barley, corn, and heritage hops varieties. The beer is full-bodied, clean, and crisp with noticeable hop bitterness balancing a slightly sweet malt roundness.

“Conrad had six daughters and two sons. I have often wondered what would have happened to the brewery if it had been more acceptable for women to run businesses in the early 20th century,” Mack said. “Would it have closed if Seipp’s daughters or granddaughters had taken over?

“I find it especially empowering as a female descendant of Seipp, to be able to bring back his beer. It is meaningful for me to work with other female business owners like Tracy Hurst, cofounder and president of Metropolitan brewing, as we reintroduce Seipp’s beer to Illinois and Wisconsin,” Mack continued.

Seipp’s Extra Pale are available for purchase starting in July at Metropolitan’s taproom, as well as select locations in Chicago and Lake Geneva.

A descendant of Chicago beer baron Conrad Seipp is reviving the brewing company’s signature beer – Seipp’s Extra Pale Ale – for limited distribution in Chicago and Lake Geneva.

SUBMITTED PHOTOS Spirit of Geneva Lakes

SPIRIT of GENEVA LAKES

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Art in the Park returns Aug. 8 and 9 Lake Geneva’s popular Art in the Park will be back for its 40th year on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 8 and 9 along the Geneva Lake shoreline.

The annual juried show is sponsored by the Geneva Lake Arts Foundation Inc. Art in the Park will be in Flat Iron Park in downtown Lake Geneva, with plenty of music, food and nearby shopping.

The show draws top artists from all over the country exhibiting and selling a variety of media, including oil, acrylic and watercolor paintings, clay/pottery, fiber, glass, printmaking, jewelry, metal, pastel, photography, sculpture, wood and more.

Enjoy the Not Just for Kids family art activities at the Flat Iron Park Gazebo, and visit the Brunk Pavilion featuring works from Geneva Lake Arts Foundation members.

Show hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday,

Aug. 8, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 9.

Admission is free.

Art in the Park is sponsored by the Geneva Lake Arts Foundation, Inc., a mainstay of the arts in the southeast Wisconsin area.

Visitors to Lake Geneva can enjoy art in the foundation’s Gallery 223, 223 Broad St. in downtown Lake Geneva. The gallery’s temporary COVID-19 hours are Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Check the website for gallery information and updates.

The gallery hosts new exhibits every six to eight weeks, featuring members’ original paintings, drawings, photos, jewelry, pottery and much more.

For more information, email Gallery 223 at genevalakeartsfoundation@gmail.com or visit www. genevalakeartsfoundation.org.

The Geneva Lake Arts Foundation’s annual, juried art show, Art in the Park, returns to downtown Lake Geneva Aug. 8 and 9 in Flat Iron Park. The event also features art activities for kids, music, food and nearby shopping.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Spirit of Geneva Lakes

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AUGUST 2020

Farm Stand strives to keep it local New shop offers craft beers, confections, deli sandwiches

by Mike Ramczyk CORRESPONDENT

Dan and Bobbi Robers’ son suffers from seizures.

Thanks to top-notch care at Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee, his neurologist gave him CBD, which, Bobbi said, works really well.

That success, along with the fact both of the Burlington residents retired in 2018, helped sparked the idea of opening a business.

Not Your Grandma’s Pantry became the couple’s first business venture in the spring of 2019, and the store, which is located inside the Chestnut Street strip mall adjacent to Reineman’s Hardware, is an organic, local, “farmstand-style” venue that just had its reopening last weekend.

“We included all the best of the Wisconsin favorites we found in our travels,” said Bobbi, who is from Minneapolis and moved to Burlington at age 5. “We spent about a year traveling around doing the retirement thing and got bored.”

The business was up and running by

October 2019, complete with a new kitchen area and overall renovation.

By the end of December, Bobbi said, business was so good they considered opening a second location in Lake Geneva.

Capitalizing on busy Lake Geneva scene

Both lovers of craft beer, the Robers weren’t able to secure a retail liquor license in Burlington.

The opportunity arose to lease a store site in the Fancy Fair Mall, located in the heart of bustling downtown Lake Geneva on Highway 50.

“The opportunity for a lease store site came to our attention in Lake Geneva, and it was a fantastic deal so we thought we would expand,” Bobbi said. “It was perhaps a little sooner than we wanted but when opportunity knocks … we decided to get the seller/servers beer license allowing us to sell and serve craft beers, hard ciders and seltzers made by brewers from all over the state of Wisconsin.”

“You try a flight of four craft beers on tap, have a pint to sip in the store or in the mall while shopping, take a growler (jug) of one of our tap beers, and grab a six-pack to go. We also offer a pick-6 where you can mix-n-match a six-pack of beer, cider or seltzer.”

The Farm Stand opened Memorial Day

weekend, and Sunday saw a rush of young and old customers, just minutes before closing at 5 p.m.

People were encouraged to taste test a Cherry IPA, along with several ales from the Door County area.

The local success of breweries in East Troy, Elkhorn, Lake Geneva and Burlington seems evident, and the Farm Stand could be the next in line.

Much more than craft beer

But it goes well beyond a brewery.

With confections such as Door County honey, jellies, jams, varieties of popcorn, taffy and caramels, fudge, s’mores, along with more state favorites like cheese curds, Illinois visitors and locals are treated to something they can’t buy anywhere.

There are also Bavarian soft pretzels with four kinds of dip to choose from, brats and hot dogs.

Bobbi said they didn’t bring the restaurant idea over from the pantry, because of the amount of time devoted to operating the kitchen.

They are happy to be open, and they encourage curious customers to stop in and sample their four weekly, changing tap beers, which are all brewed in Wisconsin.

Even though they just opened this summer, the Robers said she can already see the Farm Stand expanding.

Customers browse the selection of craft beers, confections and other specialties from Wisconsin at the recently opened Farm Stand in Lake Geneva’s Fancy Fair Mall.

MIKE RAMCZYK Spirit of Geneva Lakes

SPIRIT of GENEVA LAKES

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Pizza truck gets a lift during tough times

by Tracy Ouellette STAFF WRITER

With large events being canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, one area food truck business has seen an outpouring of local support to keep it going.

Trampers Oak Fire Oven owners Nichole and Chris Scharpf say their Lake Genevabased food truck is sticking closer to home this year.

“Most of our season has been canceled,” Nicole Scharpf said. “However, the local scene has been exploding with compassion and community-based love.

“It may be a blessing in disguise with all of the local love coming our way. We do not generally stay local. This season may be the start of new chapter for Trampers. We love our community, and can’t wait to show them our appreciation.”

Faced with an open schedule as more events canceled, the Scharpfs needed to shift gears.

“We predominantly work with large events, where the draw for libations and live music are the main focus,” Nicole said. “We offer wood-fire pizzas for the whole family, from classic styles to more artisan. Our pies are personal size, so a group can order many and try all the flavors we have to offer. We cater to street festivals, beer gardens, pop-up events, and private parties.”

Without access to these types of venues, the Scharpfs began considering local options and smaller events, which has led to a partnership with The Landing 1841 in Burlington to participate in their Friday night Drinks and Wood Fired Pizza in the Vineyard events.

“Our good friend Adam Rabe, has worked with The Landing helping them with their grape vineyard. Adam was the one whom made the connection for us,” Nicole said.

Trampers Oak Fire Oven will be at The Landing 1841, 3640 Bieneman Road, Burlington, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Fridays, Aug. 6 and 20, Sept. 3 and 17, and Oct. 1 and 15.

Trampers Oak Fire Oven owners Chris and Nicole Scharpf set up their food truck to an event last year. They will be at The Landing, 3640 Bieneman Road in Burlington, for Drinks and Wood Fired Pizza in the Vineyard on select Fridays until Oct. 1.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Spirit of Geneva Lakes

A bit of history

The Scharpfs came up with the dream of Trampers while traveling in New Zealand.

“On our three-month journey we spent many nights at different campgrounds in our tiny camper-van named the “Bodhi.” It was in South Island, a small town just south of Reefton at the Slab Hut Creek site, where we came across an old steampunked brick oven and immediately fell in love,” the Scharpfs state on their webpage.

Shortly after they participated in a work exchange with a couple in Kurow who owned Serving You For Over 50 Years

a small bed and breakfast and vineyard.

Nicole said they were taught how to make breads, pies and a “handed-down pizza crust.”

The couple learned how to make pizzas in a brick oven during the work exchange and when they returned to the United State, Chris built a brick oven/grill in their back yard.

With the help of friend Robyn Smith, owner of Gypsy Soul Food Truck, and another couple who formerly owned the Minglewood Pizza trailer, the Scharpfs launched Trampers Oak Fire Oven LLC. in 2018.

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Just Live is committed to safeguarding our wonderful attendees, musical artists, volunteer core, and the township in which we hold the physical Labor of Love Music Festival every year. Considering the current pandemic surrounding COVID-19, we have made the difficult decision to cancel this year’s physical festival.

However, we are excited to announce that Just Live will be hosting the 11th annual Labor of Love Music Festival virtually this year on Sunday, September 6th from noon to 6PM so that our dedicated supporters won’t miss out on this year’s amazing music artists. Please stay tuned to our social media for updates and don’t forget to subscribe to our email list at justliveinc.org.

We would like to extend a special thank you to: our countless volunteers who keep the festival running seamlessly; to this year’s tremendous bands: Them Coulee Boys, Good Morning Bedlam, Jenna & Martin, and the Georgia Rae Family Band who have shown incredible support in light of these difficult times; to the town of New Munster, Wheatland Township who hosts us each and every year; to our wonderful festival entertainers; to the amazing network of organizations that Just Live supports annually: Rogers Behavioral Health Foundation, Center for Suicide Awareness/HOPELINE, Marquette University College of Health Sciences, Project P.R.E.D.I.C.T., Catholic Charities, Carthage College Health and Counseling Center, Veterans Outreach of Wisconsin, and Professional Services Group; to our dedicated sponsors, and to the countless individuals to whom Just Live has offered mental health care support.

We hope you all will tune in and join us for this year’s virtual Labor of Love Music Festival and help us continue to support the programs and resources so vital to our community. Please consider supporting these programs by making a donation at justliveinc.org.

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AUGUST 2020

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SMOKIN’good time

RESCHEDULED RIBFEST READY FOR AUG. 13-16 RUN In just five years, Elkhorn Ribfest has evolved into a national rib competition and a smokin’ sweet festival that attracts thousands of people.

This year Ribfest will span four days, beginning Thursday, Aug. 13, and continuing through Sunday, Aug. 16 at the Walworth County Fairgrounds in Elkhorn. The annual event was originally scheduled for mid July, but was rescheduled due to concerns created by coronavirus.

In addition to the many barbeque options offered by numerous professional pitmasters, the event will again feature live music all four days, artisan vendors and carnival rides.

By bringing in numerous pitmasters, there are plenty of options for attendees to try, including ribs, chicken, brisket and pulled pork, along with a variety of side dishes. There is also a beer tent.

Ribfest will again feature a competition among top ribcookers from all throughout the country and visitors have the chance to taste all the delicious smoked items.

In addition to the professional pitmasters, there is a community division on Sunday, Aug. 16, with the cooking starting at 9 a.m., with judging from 3 to 4:30 p.m. and the award presentation to follow.

The community division features teams of amateurs, each consisting of a chief cook and up to three assistants.

They must prepare and cook all of the food in their designated area and must cook at least one rack of ribs. A team of four judges will score in the areas of appearance, taste, and tenderness and texture.

Cash prizes are awarded to the teams judged best.

Full music lineup

One of the main attractions at Ribfest is the live music, which extends over all four days. Fifteen bands are set to perform over the span of all four days, offering as much variety as the food that will be available for purchase.

On Aug. 13, featured bands will include Hairbangers Ball and Too White Crew.

On Aug. 14, the lineup includes D’Lite Duo, Lunchmoney Bullies, Greg Koch and Mark Joseph, Hillbilly Rockstarz, and 7th Heaven. The list for Aug. 15 features Karen Shook and Shakers, Mr. Big Stuff, The Hype, The Cheap Shots, and Bella Cain.

Final day performances include Lake Geneva House of Music, Altered 5 Blues Band, and Johnathan Lyons Johnny Cash Tribute Band.

For motorcycle enthusiasts the Ribfest Rib Run will return in 2020. It’s a special invite for bikers to the Thursday, Aug. 13, festivities in which they’ll receive food discounts and special parking. It’ll feature a bike show with prizes awarded in a variety of categories.

The event will also boast a juried fine arts and crafts exhibition called Artisan Vendor Alley that will feature handmade items.

Ribfest is held at the Walworth County Fairgrounds, 411 E. Court Street, Elkhorn. The hours are: 3 to 11 p.m.

Aug. 13; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Aug. 14; and 15, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Aug. 16.

Organizers pushed the date out so the four-day, Elkhorn Ribfest event is now set to begin on Thursday, Aug. 13. In addition to rib masters competing, drinks and other food options, the event offers the Ribfest Rib Run, live music, an artisan village and carnival rides. It benefits the Walworth County Fairgrounds, the Elkhorn Area Chamber of Commerce, the Elkhorn Rotary Club and the Wisconsin Farm Bureau.

For details visit wisconsinribfest.com. FROM TOP: Cornell Simons shows off a rack of ribs at Porky-N-Beans’ stand at the 4th Annual Elkhorn Ribfest in 2019; Guests enjoy dinner at the 2019 Ribfest event, which is held at the Walworth County Fairgrounds.

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Dining al Fresco

Outdoor options abound for summer-loving diners

by Sandra Landen Machaj CORRESPONDENT

One of the most pleasurable summer activities is having a great meal while dining outdoors on a beautiful day.

In the southern Wisconsin area, there are many opportunities to dine al fresco where one can enjoy the ambience of the beautiful scenery with a lakefront view or a quiet sequestered patio.

This year being outdoors and enjoying time with friends and family has a special meaning. After several months of social isolation, while trying to control the coronavirus pandemic, everyone is looking for some safe and enjoyable social interaction.

If you are ready to journey out and enjoy a tasty meal with family or friends, while soaking up the summer sunshine, here are a few of Spirit magazine’s favorite places for outdoor dining.

MARS RESORT

W4098 S. Shore Drive Lake Geneva, WI • 262-245-5689

Located on the south shore of Lake Como, Mars Resort has been a favorite

place for great food, unique drinks and a beautiful lake view. Inside dining is in the traditional Wisconsin supper club fashion.

Known for their special Manhattans and Old Fashioneds, which were so popular in the supper club era, many diners begin with a cocktail reminiscent of the past.

Inside a panoramic view of the lake can be enjoyed, as there are windows on three sides of the building. A huge rectangular bar looks out onto the lake and local pianist Will Ulrich entertains diners on Fridays at the separate piano bar.

From Thursday to Sunday, diners are often asked if they would enjoy an afterdinner cruise on the lake. If there are 10 people interested they will be given a ride on the Mars Resort 45-foot Pontoon boat – a relaxing way to end the evening and enjoy the beauty of the lake.

The outside dining area is where the true beach feeling is enjoyed by visitors. With three decks of seating on three sides of the building, there is a marvelous view of the water and sunsets.

The front outside deck just holds four tables. Here the full Mars Resort menu is served. The other two decks are the more casual beachfront style, offering a special

beach menu. There are several choices offered on this menu.

“The favorite always seems to be the ribs,” shared owner Scott Pohl. “The grilled jumbo shrimp are another popular choice.

Each basket is served with chips and cole slaw.”

Outside seating is first-come, first-served.

According to Pohl, if you see an empty table, it is yours, no reservations needed.

Weekends feature live music with a variety of local musicians entertaining the diners on Saturday from 4 to 7 p.m. and on Sunday from 3 to 6 p.m. They play a variety of calming and relaxing types of music.

The Mars Resort Pontoon is also available as a rental for private parties. The boat, which holds up to 30 guests, can be rented for $295 for one hour or $495 for two hours. An ala carte menu serving pasta, shrimp or other items can be arranged on the boat for an additional fee. Or one can just order a beverage bar to enjoy on the cruise.

Tables have been placed to encourage social distancing and both chairs and tables are sanitized between use.

Mars resort is open from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily

To really enjoy the beach feeling at Mars Resort, consider a ride on the 45-foot pontoon boat for a complete view of Lake Como.

COURTESY OF MARS RESORT Spirit of Geneva Lakes

SPIRIT of GENEVA LAKES

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SANDRA LANDEN MACHAJ Spirit of Geneva Lakes

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: The Charcoal Grill in Burlington offers these tables outside with a beautiful view of the Riverwalk and the White River. Enjoy a relaxing time with a friend in the beautiful outdoors enjoying a tasty meal; In addition to a covered pavilion, there are open seating tables where diners can enjoy lunch at the Whistle Stop in Elkhorn; Diners at the Look Out Eatery at Lake Lawn Resort, Delavan, have a choice of enjoying eating outdoors or remaining inside. Safety precautions including thorough cleaning of tables and servers wearing masks are carried out throughout the resort.

SANDRA LANDEN MACHAJ Spirit of Geneva Lakes

LOOK OUT EATERY Lake Lawn Resort 2400 Geneva Street Delavan • 262-728-7950

cheese curds, chef style Buffalo wings and the traditional Friday fish fry are among the popular items. Traditional hamburgers along with Reuben sandwiches and Chimichangas add a variety of choices for the diner.

More traditional dinner items such as ribeye steaks and St. Louis style ribs also grace the menu. Something is available for all palates.

Like the rest of the Lake Lawn Resort, the Look Out Eatery follows recommended cleaning and safety precautions to protect against COVID-19. Tables are spaced and cleaned with disinfectants. Masks and gloves are worn by all servers.

Whether one comes for the food or the view, the combination will make for a perfect, relaxing time.

Located at Lake Lawn Resort, the Look Out Eatery provides both indoor and outdoor seating along the shore of Delavan Lake.

With two miles of shoreline owned by the resort, the outdoor seating of Look Out Eatery offers a fantastic unobstructed view of the lake.

Arrive at Look Out Eatery by automobile or by boat. Parking for autos is available in the resort’s parking lots or boat over and leave your boat at the dock.

The Look Out is open daily starting at 8 a.m. They serve breakfast until 11 a.m. At 11 they begin serving lunch and dinner fare and continue until 10 p.m. seven days of the week.

Breakfast selections include such items as THE WATERFRONT apple crisp French toast, custom omelets, and ON BROWN’S LAKE pancakes although items may change on a 31100 Weiler Road daily basis.

Burlington • 262-763-9989 The lunch and dinner menu is traditional pub food with true to Wisconsin roots. Fried On the shore of Brown’s Lake in

SPIRIT of GENEVA LAKES

Burlington, the Waterfront Restaurant is the perfect place to enjoy outdoor dining at its best during this summer season. The Waterfront has been present on the shore of Brown’s Lake for the past 20 years with both indoor and outdoor seating.

In summertime, the outside seating is the favorite of many diners. Capable of handling about 130 diners in normal times, the number now is much less due to social distancing.

“We have spread out the tables for safer distancing and are doing more sanitizing to keep germ free,” said Tanya Peterson, manager. “Our servers wear masks.”

The restaurant typically offers two different menus during the year, a winter and a summer menu although some items seem to remain on the menu all year round.

These include the pizzas, hamburgers, and a large variety of appetizers. Their fried chicken, a year round favorite, is available Tuesdays and Sundays and of course there is a Friday fish fry.

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a choice on their menu that will please your taste buds.

The Waterfront on Browns Lake is known for live music out on the patio from Memorial Day through Labor Day. They offer a variety of music including rock, jazz, blues and swing and many others. Jeff Trudell, That Sax Guy, Collins County and The Fourcast are but a few of the bands scheduled at this time. Visit the website – thewaterfrontbrownslake.com – to view the complete schedule.

Music is played on the stage overlooking the patio on Tuesdays from 6 to 9 p.m., Saturdays from 5-9 p.m. and Sundays from 3-7 p.m.

THE CHARCOAL GRILL AND ROTISSERIE 580 Milwaukee Avenue Burlington • 262-767-0000

The Charcoal Grill and Rotisserie is located in downtown Burlington along the Riverwalk with a great view of the White River. The restaurant offers seating indoors as well as outdoors.

The restaurant from the outside resembles the old Burlington train station. Inside, the restaurant is decorated with memorabilia from the days when America traveled by train. Some photos have been provided by the Burlington Historical Society.

The outdoor seating provides a view of the Riverwalk along with the view and relaxing sound of the White River as it flows by. The patio, according to manager, Steve Meyer, seats 50 to 60 patrons.

“All our foods are wood grilled,” replied Meyer when asked about the types of foods on the menu.

The menu is large and provides a wide variety of choices. Among the choices that are popular are the Wisconsin favorites, walleye fingers, jumbo cheese curds both in Spotted Cow beer batter. Other items such as the soft pretzel bites are served with a Spotted Cow cheese sauce as a dip.

The grilled steaks, ribs, and the rotisserie chicken are favorites for dinner. While the various sandwiches and wood-fire pizzas are enjoyed at all times.

To protect customers, the Charcoal Grill and Rotisserie has spaced out tables in the outdoor space and use disinfecting cleaners.

All employees wear masks.

The Charcoal Grill and Rotisserie is open daily from 12 to 8 p.m.

WILSON’S WHISTLE STOP 406 S. Wisconsin St. Elkhorn • 262-723-2919

Wilson’s is a name synonymous with highquality meats. From the pork raised on the Wilson farms to the sausages made in house and high quality steaks available for purchase here, shoppers are always pleased with what they purchase. Many of the meats are cut to order for the customer.

A few years ago, Wilson’s began providing a special treat for customers when they opened to serve outdoor lunches for shoppers during the summer. They began to grill a variety of their brats, hamburgers and ribs so that shoppers could stop for lunch. The

outdoor space across from the Meat Market was converted into this summertime outdoor casual dining area.

They had plans to this year increase their lunch fare with the addition of a small inside restaurant and increased menu offerings.

The pandemic caused a slight delay in their opening but Wilson’s Whistle Stop has now made its appearance.

“We have increased our lunch menu to include our butterfly pork chops, beef brisket and ribs cooked on our outdoor grills along with the traditional bratwursts, and hamburgers,” said Justin Corman of Wilson’s Farm Meats. “Add our potato salad or smoked macaroni and cheese for a great combination.

A variety of side salads are also available.

Don’t forget to save room for a piece of one of our delicious pies.”

They also serve beer, wine, Pepsi products, and flavored bottled iced tea.

Meals are ordered at the counter and then enjoyed at tables outdoors. They can seat up to 100 guests during normal times but due to the pandemic and the need for distancing, they now serve about 50 to 60 patrons at a time. They continuously sanitize all touchable surfaces with disinfectant, and maintain a 6-foot distancing between customers. All staff wear masks.

For those coming to lunch on Saturday between noon and 3 p.m., live music from local bands will perform while they eat.

Current plans are for the Whistle Stop to remain open year-round with limited indoor seating.

Wilson’s Whistle Stop is open on Thursday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday and Saturday

One of the best places to enjoy a meal is on the patio at The Waterfront on Browns Lake in Burlington. In addition to the outdoor lake setting, the Waterfront offers live music on Tuesdays. Saturdays and Sundays.

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Located on the square in downtown East Troy, the outdoor patio of the East Troy Brewery is the place to enjoy outdoor eating on a fine summer day.

Imagine sitting outside and enjoying one of the 13 craft beers brewed on site while you visit with friends. Add some appetizers, hot honey BBQ wings, baked Brie and smoked raspberry jam, or BBQ nachos. Or share one of their unique pizzas, such as the white truffle pear pizza.

Their pub menu with a twist includes a variety of offerings in the “Texas eclectic style” of the chef. In addition to these and other unique appetizers, they also serve a variety of lunch sandwiches and salads.

“We have had some outdoor entertainment for customers to enjoy and hope to be able to add more in the future,” said John Turner, manager.

East Troy Brewery is currently open for business on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 4 to 9 p.m. and Sundays from 2 to 6 p.m.

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The path of Frank Lloyd Wright’s

PENWERN

by Sandra Landen Machaj CORRESPONDENT

Current owners embrace role as stewards of architect’s work

In the late 1800s, wealthy Chicagoans looking for an escape from the heat and polluted air of the city in summer began to build cottages along the shores of the beautiful lakes in the southern Wisconsin area. Geneva Lake and Delavan Lake were two of the preferred sites for building their summer retreats.

These cottages were often designed by well-known architects, creating beautiful homes that could accommodate the family and their household staff from their city homes. They were often large homes so that they could entertain friends and business associates.

One such architect who designed five homes that were built along the south shore of Delavan Lake was Frank Lloyd Wright.

Wright was a Wisconsin native, born in Richland Center in 1867.

He attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison for a time but left to pursue an internship in architecture. In Chicago he found that apprenticeship with well-known architects Adler and Sullivan receiving a five-year contract, which forbade independent work.

UPPER PHOTO: The beauty of Penwern can be seen when driving into the property. The unique style of the house with the lake in the background makes an impressive sight; ABOVE: John and Sue Major purchased Penwern as a summer home where they could relax with their children in 1994. They have spent the last 26 years restoring it to Frank Lloyd Wright’s original vision.

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During his time working at the firm, Wright worked primarily with Louis Sullivan.

The ban against independent work was something Wright ignored and began to work on projects on his own to supplement his income. Wright was not known for handling his finances well and often overspent for his own home and enjoyment. When Sullivan discovered these side jobs, Wright was forced to leave the firm. It is not known for certain if he was fired or resigned voluntarily.

Developing his style

From his home studio in Oak Park, Illinois, Wright continued to design projects for clients independently and began to develop his own style. He incorporated the natural materials of the earth especially stones and wood in his buildings and situated his projects based on the lay of the land.

Wright was an acquaintance of Henry H. Wallis, a real estate developer who, seeing the popularity of lake cottages on Delavan Lake in the late 1800s, made a business decision to purchase land along the south shore of the lake. He would divide this land into lots and sell them for the purpose of building lake homes. It is said that he would also recommend Wright as an architect to design the homes.

Five Frank Lloyd Wright Homes were built along South Shore drive. Using a cover of trees, each of these homes was hidden from the street, giving the residents privacy, but with an unobstructed view of the lake. Each of the homes was based on the lifestyle and needs of the owner.

One of the homes designed by Wright was for Fred B. Jones, a Chicago businessman who enjoyed getting away from the city to take in the beauty of the lakefront. His home

was named Penwern – a name it still retains today.

According to Mark Herzberg, author of “Frank Lloyd Wright’s Penwern, published in 2019” by the Wisconsin Historical Society Press, Pen-y-wern was the name of the cottage where Frank Lloyd Wright’s maternal grandmother – also named Jones but not believed to be related to Fred Jones – lived in Wales prior to immigrating to the United States. Wright included the name Penwern on the original drawings for the home.

Elements his style

Jones was described as a single man interested in sports, travel, and known as a serious card player. In designing the home for Jones, Wright had to keep in mind that Jones enjoyed hosting large parties and weekend guests. Everything had to be grand to accommodate his style.

While the estate would consist of four buildings, the first two designed were the main house and the boathouse in 1900.

The main house was built in 1901 and the boathouse completed in 1902.

There were two additional buildings designed by Wright for the estate, the gatehouse and the barn, where the horses were kept, the carriage, and later automobiles.

It also had a space for ice that would be harvested out of Delavan Lake in the winter.

The home was built using elements of design that would eventually be known as Wright’s Prairie Style. For Penwern he used natural building materials including rocks and wood. The rocks were used in the foundation while the wood siding provided horizontal lines. The buildings were two stories. The main house was built just for summer use as it, like most lake cottages of the time, did not

have any heat. Later a coal furnace was added

by Jones to extend the seasonal use of the home.

The gatehouse, located at the entrance to the property was the home of the estate’s caretaker it was heated because the caretaker and his family lived there year round. When Jones came to visit in the winter he would stay in the gatehouse taking over one of the bedrooms.

A unique feature was the covered walkway over the porte-cochere, which led from the main house to the tower where the card room was waiting for the gentlemen to gather and enjoy their game of cards and their cigars.

The tower, which is 2-½ stories high, was also used for water storage.

New owners

Fred B. Jones continued to own Penwern until his death in 1933. After his death, Jones’ estate was challenged by some of his cousins, leaving the home empty until it was purchased in 1938.

Owners of significantly historical homes often do not think of themselves as merely owners of the property but as stewards of the property, caring for it and preserving it for future generations. Burr and Peg Robbins who purchased the home in 1938 became the second stewards of Penwern. The Robbins family was the longest stewards of Penwern to date. Burr and Peg Robbins owned the property from its purchase in 1938 until 1983.

They were followed by their children who maintained ownership until 1989.

Penwern, during the stewardship of the Robbins family, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. In 1989 it was added to the State Register of Historic Places.

Located at the entrance to Penwern, the gatehouse guides visitors onto the property. The gatehouse is currently under renovation.

SANDRA LANDEN MACHAJ Spirit of Geneva Lakes

SPIRIT of GENEVA LAKES

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During their time of stewardship the Robbins family changed the name of Penwern to Robbinswood but it quickly reverted to Penwern with the next owner. While the family sold the main house, they retained the gatehouse.

When the Robbins family was ready to divest Penwern, it was a neighbor, John O’Shea, who purchased the property. O’Shea was living in a neighboring Frank Lloyd Wright home four lots away.

O’Shea put the Penwern estate up for sale in 1992. It remained on the market until 1994 when Sue and John Major purchased the property.

“We were looking for a summer home where our kids could enjoy swimming and other activities in the summer,” said John Major. “Sue fell in love with the property.”

Needing some TLC

They lived in Barrington Hills at the time and found this home to be a convenient distance from home. The home was not in the best of shape showing signs of neglect, including broken windows. They realized that the home would require some work to make it an inviting retreat for the family.

“We weren’t afraid of the work as we had renovated our home in Barrington Hills,” said John Major.

According to Sue Major, they purchased the home because they loved it, the land, and its location. They didn’t purchase it because it was a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home.

Their initial plan was to correct the structural problems to make the home safe and livable for the family. At that point they were not enamored with Frank Lloyd Wright but it was not long before they became interested in the famous architect.

“We received 18 Xeroxed copies of Wright’s original drawings from the previous owner. We became interested in the history of the home and it was not long before a decision was made to restore it,” said John Major.

Deciding to restore the home to Wright’s original plans required removing previous owners additions and continuing to research all the unique features of the original design.

Because the house was built of wood, “There was a safe room built behind a cabinet in the billiards room to protect against fire,” said John Major. It was here that it is believed important papers, jewelry and other valuables were stored to assure they would not be destroyed in case of fire.

A 25-year process

When the Majors hired contractor Bill Orkild to complete some of the repairs needed, he did not realize that he had taken on a job that has continued for over 25 years.

His current project, according to the Majors, has been to renovate the gatehouse. While the gatehouse was not included in the Majors original purchase of Penwern in 1994, they were able to purchase it from Terry Robbins

Canty in 2001.

The boathouse, one of the original buildings, was destroyed in a fire in 1978.

The fire was the work of an arsonist. After the fire only the original stone foundation still stood, although not in perfect condition. The Robbins family placed decking across the top but chose not to rebuild the boathouse.

When the Majors attempted to reconstruct the boathouse using Wright’s plans they unfortunately ran into difficulty with the zoning board. Their request was originally denied by the zoning board. But this did not deter the Majors’ team. With a copy of the original drawings and support from a variety of Wright scholars and architectural historians they continued to press until the boathouse could be rebuilt in the original Wright style.

While Susan and John Major have relocated from the Barrington area to California for their primary home, their children, Barbara and John, have become adults. They all still love Penwern and realize the importance of being a steward of such a beautiful and historical property.

“We spend about three months a year at Penwern,” said John Major. “Penwern is Sue’s house. It was her vision for the property that brought us here.”

Many people appreciate the work that the Major family did in restoring the home to Wright’s original vision as stewards of the property. They have assured it will be here for future generations.

Penwern as viewed from the lake. A boathouse (not visible) was set on fire by an arsonist in 1978.

The owners at the time rebuilt the boathouse just as it appeared on Wright’s drawings.

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