The Belgian Heritage Center Highlights Belgian Settlement & The Great Fire of 1871 at The Clearing Folk School

Brussels, WI — 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-187
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