Class: BELGIAN LIFE ON THE DOOR PENINSULA AND THE GREAT FIRE OF 1871

This program will share the story of the first Belgians settling on the Door Peninsula in 1853. Participants will learn about the struggles in their homeland, their challenges in building communities in the wilderness, and the vibrant legacy that continues to this day.

Emphasis will be on the Great Fire of 1871 and the transformative effect on the landscape and lives of the Belgian settlers. Many people do not realize that the Belgian settlements were devastated by fire on the same day as the Chicago Fire and the Peshtigo Fire. The program will include a re-enactment of the story of a Great Fire survivor by Barb (Englebert) Chisholm. Capt.
David Siegel, Green Bay Metro Fire Department (retired) will explain the nature of the fire, why it was so deadly, and how the Great Fire compares to other major fires.

Sandy Orsted will explain the history, challenges, and successes of the Belgian settlements before and after the fire up to the present day. The Belgian Heritage Center anchors the Namur National Landmark Historic District. A guided campus tour will feature historical photos and oral histories, including stories told in Walloon, one of the original immigrant languages,  the restored 1894 school/convent, and the traditional Belgian roadside chapel of St. Roch.

Tuition is $25 per person.  Register here.