Near Brussels in Door County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Well Site

Tornado Memorial Park

Photographed by Robert L Weber, December 15, 2010

1. Well Site Marker

Inscription. During the fire of October 8, 1871, this well site was used by seven persons as a place of refuge. The last man to the well found the wood curb on fire. After tearing off the curb he entered the well and pulled a wet blanket over the opening. Five of the seven survived.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Notable Events. A significant historical month for this entry is October 1898.

Location. 44° 45.945′ N, 87° 32.435′ W. Marker is near Brussels, Wisconsin, in Door County. It is on County Route DK west of Stevenson Pier Road, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Brussels WI 54204, 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

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markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Tornado Memorial Park (within shouting distance of this marker); The Brussels Cemetery Grotto (approx. 4.1 miles away); Belgian Settlement in Wisconsin (approx. 6½ miles away); Historic Euroamerican Settlement of the Door Peninsula (approx. 6.6 miles away); Transportation Archaeology on the WIS 57 Project (approx. 6.6 miles away); The WIS 57 Reconstruction Project in Brown, Kewaunee, and Door Counties (approx. 6.6 miles away); Namur and the Norbertine Fathers: Community, Education, and Religion among Belgian-Americans (approx. 6.6 miles away); Architecture and History in the WIS 57 Project Area (approx. 6.6 miles away).

More about this marker. Located within Tornado Memorial Park. This wayside park serves as a memorial for the former village of Williamsonville, which was destroyed on October 8, 1871 when a “tornado of fire” claimed 128 lives. This occured on the same exact day as the Great Chicago Fire and the lesser known Peshtigo fire. This site is officially recognized by the Door County Historical Society. It’s located just south of the County

Well Site Marker from a distance image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Robert L Weber, December 14, 2010

2. Well Site Marker from a distance

K intersection.

Tornado Memorial Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Robert L Weber, December 14, 2010

3. Tornado Memorial Park

Shelter at site image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Robert L Weber, December 14, 2010

4. Shelter at site

Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, July 28, 2024

5. Well Site Marker

The well site in spring.

Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, July 28, 2024

6. Tornado Memorial Park

The well site historical marker is located in Tornado Memorial Park.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 3, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 15, 2010, by Bob (peach) Weber of Dewey, Arizona. This page has been viewed 1,342 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 15, 2010, by Bob (peach) Weber of Dewey, Arizona. 4. submitted on June 7, 2011, by Bob (peach) Weber of Dewey, Arizona. 5, 6. submitted on March 25, 2025, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.