Brussels, Wis. (December 15, 2025) — The Belgian Heritage Center is partnering with The Clearing Folk School to present “Belgian Life on the Door Peninsula and the Great Fire of 1871,” a program that explores Belgian immigration, early settlement challenges, and the impact of the devastating 1871 fire that swept through the region.
The program will take place Thursday, January 29, 2026 from 9:00 AM–12:00 PM at The Clearing schoolhouse in Ellison Bay. Located at 12103 Garrett Bay Road, Ellison Bay WI 54210
Attendees will learn about early Belgian settlement beginning in 1853, experience a moving first-person reenactment by Barb (Englebert) Chisholm—descendant of fire survivors—and hear retired fire captain David Siegel explain how the 1871 event became one of the deadliest wildfires in U.S. history. Presenter Sandy Orsted will share how Belgian communities rebuilt and preserved cultural traditions that remain visible today.
Tuition is $25 per person. Registration is required prior to the class by calling The Clearing at 920-854-4088 or via The Clearing’s online portal at: https://theclearing.org/wp/events-classes-calendar/belgian-life-on-the-door-peninsula-and-the-great-fire-of-1871/
This program celebrates the resilience of Door County’s Belgian-American families and brings greater awareness to a pivotal yet lesser-known part of Wisconsin history.
For more event details, information or updates, follow the Belgian Heritage Center on Facebook or visit www.belgianheritagecenter.org.
The Belgian Heritage Center, operated by the Namur Belgian Heritage Foundation, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the Belgian heritage of northeast Wisconsin. Established in 2010 with the purchase of the former St. Mary of the Snows Catholic Church, the Center has since expanded to include the historic school/convent building. It serves as a cultural and educational hub, celebrating the rich legacy of the area’s early Belgian settlers.
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