Sturgeon Bay in Door County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Tornado Memorial Park
Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, July 28, 2024
1. Tornado Memorial Park Marker
Established by Door County in November 1927.
Through trial and tribulation, in poverty and loneliness, in cold and fire, the pioneers struggled that their children might gain a competence.
Here was the Village of Williamsonville with a population of 77 persons on October 8, 1871. This village was blotted out by a tornado of fire. 60 persons sought refuge in an open field surrounding this spot and were burned to death.
The following is a list of the dead:
At Williamson's Mill
Joseph Married, wife and three children.
Nelson Dimrow, wife and two children.
Michael Adams, wife and three children.
John Williamson, wife and one child.
Jos. Marcoix, wife and two children.
James Williamson and wife.
Mrs. Buckland and two children.
Unknown French woman and two children.
Thomas Crane, Thomas Whelan, John O'Conners, Dan Nicholson, Chas. Duncan, Frank Borway, Emery Jervis, Jason Williamson, John Conlan, George Buckland, Unknown woman, J. Williamson, Sr., Henry Jervis, James Whelan, Maggle Williamson, James Donlan, Freddy Williamson, Mike Rogan, Maggie O'Neil, John Ahearn, Patrick Ahearn, Frank Donlan, Charles Weinbeck,
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Unknown woman.
Four unknown bodies found in the woods/river.
Erected 1927.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Disasters. A significant historical date for this entry is October 8, 1871.
Location. 44° 45.924′ N, 87° 32.486′ W. Marker is in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, in Door County. It is on County Road DK. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1961 County Rd DK, Sturgeon Bay WI 54235, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on Wisconsin’s Door Peninsula. It is also in the American Midwest and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, on the Great Lakes, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in 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 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Well Site (within shouting distance of this marker); The Brussels Cemetery Grotto (approx. 4.1 miles away); Belgian Settlement in Wisconsin
Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, July 28, 2024
2. Tornado Memorial Park Marker
The markers are located at the entrance to Tornado Memorial Park.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 21, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 25, 2025, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 287 times since then and 77 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 25, 2025, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
