Liberty Grove in Ellison Bay in Door County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Rowleys Bay Bell

Photographed by Sean Flynn, August 10, 2024

1. Rowleys Bay Bell Marker

Inscription. This bell called students to class at the Rowleys Bay School for about 40 years until the school was consolidated with Wildwood School in the fall of 1923. For 37 years the Rowleys Bay Resort tolled the bell at their fish boils (1986-2023). In 2024 it began pealing for the Liberty Grove Historical Society's season opening fish boil launching its new career outside of Rowleys Bay.

Donor: Bob & Jewel Peterson Ouradnik

Erected 2024 by Liberty Grove Historical Society.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Parks & Recreational Areas. In addition, it is included in the Historic Bells series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1923.

Location. 45° 14.839′ N, 87° 5.103′ W. Marker is in Ellison Bay, Wisconsin, in Door County. It is in Liberty Grove. It can be reached from State Highway 42 0.1 miles south of Humbug Road, on the left when traveling north. The marker is at Liberty Grove Historical Society, to the north of the barn at the center of the property. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 11831 Wisconsin 42, Ellison Bay WI 54210, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Wisconsin’s Door Peninsula.

It is also in the American Midwest,

on the Great Lakes,

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Corn Crib (a few steps from this marker); Veterans Memorial / Circle of Honor / Heritage Walkway

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(a few steps from this marker); Sleigh (within shouting distance of this marker); Platform Swing (within shouting distance of this marker); Hamburger Stand (within shouting distance of this marker); Liberty Grove Circle of Honor (within shouting distance of this marker); Outhouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Bead Breaker and Tire Changer (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ellison Bay.

Regarding Rowleys Bay Bell. Rowleys Bay Resort — owned on the Lake Michigan side of northern Door County since 1970 by Bob and Jewel Ouradnik, who are listed as the donors on this marker — was destroyed in a massive fire on September 5, 2023. About a month later, the Ouradniks announced that they would not rebuild and instead would sell the property. A July 2024 report from the Peninsula Pulse reported that the Ouradniks had begun removing the debris about 10 months after the fire, and that they were in negotiations with a possible buyer.

Rowleys Bay Resort had been called Wagon Trail Resort between 1970 and 2010.

Also see . . .

Photographed by Sean Flynn, August 9, 2024

2. Rowleys Bay Bell Marker

1. History of Door County, Wisconsin, The County Beautiful. A 1917 history of Door County, which includes a history of Rowleys Bay in Chapters 38 and 40. (Submitted on August 13, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

2. 2022 Facebook video: Peter Rowley rings the Rowleys Bay Bell for a fish boil. (Submitted on August 13, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
3. Rowleys Bay Resort (Wagon Trail Inc.). (Submitted on August 13, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Liberty Grove Historical Society image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean Flynn, August 9, 2024

3. Liberty Grove Historical Society

The Rowleys Bay Bell is obscured by the barn at the center of the Liberty Grove Historical Society property.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 13, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 13, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 197 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 13, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.