The Night of Hell

On the evening of October 8, 1871, at the same time Chicago and Peshtigo were burning, a fire tore through southern Door County and completely devastated the small but thriving village of Williamsonville. This fire, which spawned a “fire tornado”, originated near New Franken in Brown County, and burned through Brown, Kewaunee and into Door County. Today, this fire area is included in what everyone simply calls, “The Peshtigo Fire.”

Presented by Baily Kopesel, executive director of the Door County Historical Society.