Beyond Survival: The True Cost of the Fires of 1871
November 7 @ 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm
The Belgian Heritage Center will host a moderated panel discussion on Saturday, November 7, at 1:30 p.m., exploring the human experiences before, during, and after the Great Fire of 1871.
- Three expert panelists will share their perspectives:
- Retired Captain David Siegel on surviving fire and the trauma of community-wide disasters.
- Secrets in the Woods author Susan Levitte on stories uncovered through her research and efforts to identify victims in Brown, Door, and Kewaunee counties.
- Barb Englebert Chisholm on the fire’s impact on her Belgian ancestors and their neighbors.
- Each attendee will receive a card featuring someone who experienced the fire, with that person’s fate revealed at the end of the discussion—a personal connection to the tragedy and its losses.
- BHC will be open from 1:00–4:00 p.m., with a cash bar and refreshments. Guests can meet the panelists and share reflections following the discussion.
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