August 3rd, I found myself heading into Sturgeon Bay to do some genealogy research on my Bacon family who lived in Door County. I wanted to be sure I had all Door County documentation on births, marriages and deaths of family members. I spend the first part of the day at the Vital Records department of the Door County Government Center combing records. When you go to Vital Records, you can't take photos of original records and your personal possessions are placed in a locker and you can have paper and pencil to take notes. But, that was OK, because I found all sorts of birth, marriage and death records and certificates where I was able to write down the records. It's a shame I couldn't take any photos, but at least I have dates now.
After combing the vital records, I went across the street to the Door County Public Library to the Genealogy Section and did more research. I was able to find some interesting death and cemetery information on infant children of Samuel Newton Bacon and his son Franklin Charles Bacon that I didn't have in my research before from Bayfield Cemetery. The BEST part about this library is that they have EVERY newspaper online as well as other helpful online hints that I can use even when I'm not in Door county. What a great resource! You can see these resources at http://doorcountylibrary.org/genealogy.
Even after combing library records, I went back to Vital Record twice to find more information on new information I found in the library records. It was a great research day!
After going to the county and library buildings, I decided to go just a few blocks away and across the bridge to the Door County Maritime Museum to see if I could find more information on Grandpa Newton Bacon. I found out that the museum was lacking a curator so no one was available to help me find out more information, but the gal at the info desk did have me go up to the second floor to the lighthouse room and see what I could find.
The outside of the Maritime Museum had all sorts of different boats and a little boardwalk.
The main visitor center and shop.
I went upstairs and started to look for the lighthouse room, but found some other interesting things. There are some beautiful stained glass windows.
My favorite spot in the whole museum was the room where you simulate steering a boat and actually turn the wheel and coast into a harbor. That was the coolest thing I've ever done. I had no idea boats were so easily steerable.
There was another section in the Horton Gallery on Shipwrecks.
And, then I found myself in another room full of naval and coast guard information and boats before walking through the doors to the fresnel lens and the lighthouse section.
Finally, in the back corner, I found the lighthouse area. And, there was information on Bailey's Harbor and the three lighthouses there plus all the other lighthouses in Door County. I found Newton's name on a large plaque of Door County lighthouse keepers. That made me happy. There were also other interesting lighthouse things to see as well.
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| Newton Bacon's name - right in the middle |
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| Range Lights |
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| Cana Island Lighthouse |
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| The Lighthouses of Door County |
I also found it very interesting what the qualification and responsibilities of a lighthouse keeper were and the perks involved in being a keeper.
Before leaving, I found a little book that had a small section on the Bailey's Harbor Birdcage Lighthouse.
After I was done at the Maritime Museum, I headed back to Bailey's Harbor. Meanwhile, John (from a few weeks ago who came to work on our axles at Gene Miller's place) had brought his son from Indiana and they were installing our new axles and Moryde suspension.
By the time I came back, John and his son had left and I suggested to Scott we go to Sister Bay for a little dinner at Al Johnson's Swedish Restaurant and Butik on Bay Shore Drive. A few minutes later, we headed out and enjoyed a fun Swedish dinner with servers in full costumes. The restaurant was packed! We only had to wait about 1 minute before they called our name to be seated so we were quite fortunate. Some people had been waiting awhile.
So, you're probably wondering what's up with the grass on the rooftop...well, many Scandinavian countries have sod roofs and Al Johnson's is no exception. Usually, there are goats on the rooftops grazing, but we didn't see any the evening we were there. But, here's a picture of what it generally does look like.
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| Web Photo |
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| Web Photo |
The food is excellent there! Scott had this really yummy dessert (he loves to eat dessert first and then takes his dinner home). I had their Swedish Pancakes with Meatballs (the specialty).
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Web Photo
I forgot to take a photo of my dinner. |
They also had a GREAT shop to browse all thing Swedish or Norwegian after (or before) dinner. The shop is filled with books, trinkets, clothing, sweaters, socks, etc. Click the shop link to online shop. The sweaters are all wool and just amazing...and expensive! Here's web photo of the shop I found.
It was a great day of research and walking the streets of Sister Bay. The town has a charming harbor and some fun shops and eating establishments. There is also a nice park and condos overlooking the bay. I took photos of the park and bay, but can't seem to find them. Oh well. You could do a little Googling and you can see how cute it is.
Here's where I went today - Bailey's Harbor to Sturgeons Bay to Bailey's Harbor to Sister Bay to Bailey's Harbor. Whew!
When we first got there, we just happened to go over where all the kids were cliff jumping into a little inlet when the water was just right and climbed on a ledge to get back on land. While these photos don't show a lot of raging water, believe me it was there! Lake Michigan waters were so strong, I'm glad they knew what they were doing! This first photo was caught when the water was resting for a second. The ones afterwards were when the water was quite strong and forceful.
We watched the kids for awhile and then hiked the narrow trail to other cliffs nearby.
Some of the other overlooks were still forming caves and when the water hit the side of land, the spray was hard! You could hear the thunderous sounds of the water and waves hitting the rock. Other times, the water was quiet, but when the water hit the rocks, it was loud and the spray was huge.
The trees roots were large and deep along the trail showing years of wind and water changing them and the cliffs from the voracity of the wind and surf.
Some parts of the trail had holes in the ground...who knows where they went...probably down to the caves below made by the wind and water of Lake Michigan.
The Cave Point County Park also had a nice, large picnic area, cooking grills, fire rings, trails and views of the surf pounding against the rocks making large indentations and caves. There is also a meditation trail across the parking lot from the park.
We sure enjoyed our time here. Cave Point is adjacent to Whitefish Dunes State Natural Area and the hiking trails intersect.
After we left, Cave Point, we took a drive to see how many barn quilts we could see on the north end of Sturgeon Bay. We had noticed them when we first drove in. Here are a few of the ones we saw.
While looking for Barn Quilts, we also ran into a fun place called Schopf's Hilltop Dairy Farm where we stopped for lunch. They have a great little shop with sandwiches, ice cream, and souvenirs. Right behind the order area is where they milk cows! They have a fun playground for kids and a corn maze as well in the fall. Their corn maze is now open for the fall. I took a photo of the 2018 maze from their website. Go there to check the dates and hours. They are open daily from 10-3 at 5169 County Road I, Sturgeon Bay. Such a fun place to go.
It was a fun day just touring around the back roads of Door County. I can't wait to return again to explore even more...
Even after combing library records, I went back to Vital Record twice to find more information on new information I found in the library records. It was a great research day!
I went upstairs and started to look for the lighthouse room, but found some other interesting things. There are some beautiful stained glass windows.
My favorite spot in the whole museum was the room where you simulate steering a boat and actually turn the wheel and coast into a harbor. That was the coolest thing I've ever done. I had no idea boats were so easily steerable.
There was another section in the Horton Gallery on Shipwrecks.
And, then I found myself in another room full of naval and coast guard information and boats before walking through the doors to the fresnel lens and the lighthouse section.
Finally, in the back corner, I found the lighthouse area. And, there was information on Bailey's Harbor and the three lighthouses there plus all the other lighthouses in Door County. I found Newton's name on a large plaque of Door County lighthouse keepers. That made me happy. There were also other interesting lighthouse things to see as well.
Before leaving, I found a little book that had a small section on the Bailey's Harbor Birdcage Lighthouse.
After I was done at the Maritime Museum, I headed back to Bailey's Harbor. Meanwhile, John (from a few weeks ago who came to work on our axles at Gene Miller's place) had brought his son from Indiana and they were installing our new axles and Moryde suspension.
By the time I came back, John and his son had left and I suggested to Scott we go to Sister Bay for a little dinner at Al Johnson's Swedish Restaurant and Butik on Bay Shore Drive. A few minutes later, we headed out and enjoyed a fun Swedish dinner with servers in full costumes. The restaurant was packed! We only had to wait about 1 minute before they called our name to be seated so we were quite fortunate. Some people had been waiting awhile.
They also had a GREAT shop to browse all thing Swedish or Norwegian after (or before) dinner. The shop is filled with books, trinkets, clothing, sweaters, socks, etc. Click the shop link to online shop. The sweaters are all wool and just amazing...and expensive! Here's web photo of the shop I found.
It was a great day of research and walking the streets of Sister Bay. The town has a charming harbor and some fun shops and eating establishments. There is also a nice park and condos overlooking the bay. I took photos of the park and bay, but can't seem to find them. Oh well. You could do a little Googling and you can see how cute it is.
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