Gibraltar Historical Association
Gibraltar Talks
History of the Zion Methodist Church and Cemetery
October 6th, 6:00pm
Dedicated parish members have spent significant time researching the founding
families, yielding notable genealogical findings. These details may assist those conducting family research. The adage, "Everyone born and raised in Door County is related to someone," is especially relevant at this rural church. Surnames such as Reinhard, Franke, Gauger, and Sohn show how these families' histories are integral to the broader story of the area's early settlers.
The first segment of the program will cover the 145-year-old cemetery, its origins, and the development of neighboring families over time. Like many cemeteries, it began as the Reinhard family cemetery, belonged to the town of Gibraltar for over 35 years, and then returned to church ownership. Understanding this history may help research into the individuals interred at this site.
The second portion of the program will be held in the Parish Hall and focus on the church’s origins and the many families involved in its history. This simple, historically significant church has served as a gathering place for generations of neighbors.
Attendees are encouraged to engage with the area rich history, learn about the local community, and explore potential personal connections.
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Past Gibraltar Talks
September 8th
7:00 p.m.
Matthew Christoff will explore the origins of the phrase "I'm a Lumberjack and I'm OK," a saying that many people recognize, but have you ever wondered about its origins? Join us for "A Patchwork of Needles and Leaves: An Introduction to the Music of the Upper Midwest Shanty Boy." This one-hour lecture will delve into the daily life of a shanty boy, provide a brief history of the profession, examine the role of music in lumber camps, and feature a selection of songs that shanty boys sang in the Upper Midwest.
Our speaker/vocalist, Matthew Christoff, is traveling to Fish Creek from St. Paul and was recently featured on the Wisconsin Today show on Wisconsin Public Radio. He is a classically trained baritone vocalist from Dyckesville, WI, with a Bachelor of Music from Saint Norbert College and a Master of Music from the University of Florida. His performance history is extensive, and we are grateful for this rare opportunity to have him perform in Door County.
We invite you to attend this free event, hosted by the Gibraltar Historical Association, which aims to provide educational and entertaining connections to our past. It is fitting to bring this special event to Fish Creek, as Alexander Noble was known to spend his winters in lumber camps up north.
August 26, 2024
7:00 pm.
Guest Speaker: Mark Woerfel
Life and Times of the Amelia-D: My story about the life of a boy who grew up with a father that was a commercial fisherman.
Seasonal stories related to the Amelia-D fish tug and my father, Stuart Woerfel. From fishing through the ice with gill nets, to fishing on the open water with pond nets. Learn names from the past men who were fishing out of Fish Creek in the 30’s-70’s. There is always the “sport” of fishing that my dad was involved with as well, taking customers out on the Bay to “catch” tonight’s dinner 😊Time at the end to answer all the questions that “plague your mind” about commercial fishing!
120th Anniversary of the Sinking of the Hackley
October 3, 2023
7:00pm
Tragedy hits Fish Creek: The Sinking of the Erie L. Hackley is considered the largest single sea disaster in the history of Green Bay waters.
We will tell the story and numerous accounts of the survivors and victims. Many residents are joining in to bring this tragedy to life. The unending story continues to unfold with new information and discoveries. This loss affected all of Fish Creek, Gibraltar, and neighboring communities as people mourned the loss of eleven aboard.