Town of Liberty Grove

Town of Liberty Grove. The German Settlement. , "Here immigrants from Pomerania, East Prussia converted a stony piece of timber into a beautiful farming community." , - Hjalmar Holand, History of Door County, 1917, The Liberty Grove German Settlement was founded in 1857 by Christian Hempel and William Dorn from Pomerania. Dorn wrote to friends in the old county: "In America all men are equal, fertile land can be had for nothing, and workers can earn in a month what they make in a year in Pomerania." For twenty years, Pomeranian families settled this region of Door County. Drive the backroads to view log buildings built by these immigrants., The Miller Farm , Robert and Louise Miller built these log farm buildings in 1887 near here. Farmers, like Robert and Louise's son, Gustave, augmented their income by working in lumber camps or on steamboats. The original farmhouse has been restored by Robert's great-granddaughter, Annie Miller, as "Gustave's Getaway" rental cabin., Photos: , Gustave's Getaway , Imagine a family of ten living in this small cabin!, Gustave Miller , Gustave Miller, Robert and Louise's son, worked at this lumber camp in the early 1900's., The Albert Zahn Farm , Albert Zahn was born in German Pomerania in 1864 and immigrated to this area as a young man. He settled on a farm a short distance from here, which has remained in the Zahn family for four generations. Albert became renowned for his imaginative wooden carvings of birds. In 1924, he retired to Baileys Harbor where he built "Bird's Park," a house adorned with his carvings., Photos: , The Zahn family going cherry picking (circa 1915) , Making hay on the Zahn farm (circa 1915) , Albert Zahn became renowned for his folk carvings., Koepsel's Farm Market , Koepsel's is the oldest family-operated farm market in Door County. It started in the 1940s as a wheelbarrow on the front lawn of the family farm. As business grew, a small tool shed was moved here to serve travelers. By the 1960s, a larger building replaced the tool shed, which found new life as a children's playhouse. Five generations of Koepsels have worked the farm market since its beginnings., Photo: , A small toolshed served as the storefront for Koepsel's Farm Market in the 1950s. The building still stands near here., Return to the Wild Side , Natural and Historic Sites. , Town of Liberty Grove , For more information: , www.libertygrove.org, Three Springs Nature Preserve , Follow a winding trail 1.5 miles through fields and forests to a wildlife viewing platform to view cranes, herons, and other water birds in this northern unit of the North Bay State Natural Area., North Bay State Natural Area , This large wetland complex includes one of the longest stretches of undeveloped beach on Lake Michigan. It also includes habitat for endangered and threatened orchids, dwarf lake iris, and the rare Hine's emerald dragonfly., Mud Lake State Wildlife Area , This 2,290 acre wildlife haven harbors a 155-acre shallow lake surrounded by swamp and thickets. Boreal forests support rare plants and animals. Reibolt Creek is the best access point for canoeing in from Lake Michigan., Baileys Harbor Boreal Forests State Natural Area , The moderating climate of Lake Michigan allows northern boreal forests to thrive here. It provides refuge for rare orchids and other plants, as well as boreal birds and migratory shorebirds., Corner of the Past and Old Anderson House Museum , Tour an 1875 farm house and a village of restored log cabins, barns, chicken coop, beach cottages, and sawmill. Learn how Door County pioneers cut ice for refrigeration, traveled by steamship, and logged. Open weekends June through September., Historic Log Buildings , The German settlers were familiar with forests and log cabins. Timber was plentiful and winters were cold, so thick log walls were a natural way to keep out the chill. Watch for historic log buildings, like Gustave's Getaway, as you drive these country roads., Cana Island Lighthouse , Visit a vintage 1870 light house to tour the keeper's home and climb the 89-foot tall tower for views of Lake Michigan and the Door Peninsula shoreline. Open 7 days a week from May 1st to the last Sunday in October.