firebooks.htm

Oconto County WIGenWeb Project
Collected and posted by RITA
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FAMILY STORIES
OF
THE PESHTIGO FIRE

This page is dedicated to the people who lived to tell of their survival and stories of the Peshtigo Fire. All submission’s are from the family members and are welcome for posting.
RITA

Mystery Memorial

Contributed by:
Dick Bayerl

I was born in Menominee and grew up in Birch Creek. I am always interested in historical information about Birch Creek and about the Peshtigo Fire.

When I was in Menominee recently I stopped by the spot on Old 41 where it is said 14 fire victims were buried and 14 lilacs were planted as a memorial. It is interesting that we grew up on a farm just a couple miles away from the site and none of my brothers or sisters knows anything about it. I would imagine that our Grandparents and parents would have known about it back around 1900 but I don’t recall ever hearing about it from them. My Grandfather, Joseph Bayerl, and his parents and two brothers came to the area around 1882. The following photos show a large lilac planting which I believe is the site of the graves.

Do you have more information about this? Please contact: Dick Bayerl

Menominee County Death Record for October 8, 1871
Could this list include the 14 buried at the Lilac Memorial?
Researched and contributed by Dick Bayerl added 2004

Transcription of above record by Dick Bayerl:

Names of Deceased - October 8, 1871

Place of Death

   1. Peter Brockling – 43 years old
   2. Mrs. Peter Brockling
   3. 5 children of Peter Brockling (4 male, 1 female)
   4. Carl (spelling?) Koeniger – 43 year old
   5. James Hill – 42years old -- single
   6. 3 children of James Hill (2 male, 1 female)
   7. Mrs Eames
   8. Child (spelling?) of Mrs Eames – female
   9. A Stranger – about 26
10. A Stranger – about 30

Birch Creek
Birch Creek
Birch Creek
Birch Creek
Birch Creek
Birch Creek
Birch Creek
Birch Creek
Station below Birch Creek
Station below Birch Creek

Inside the Lilac Memorial Planting photo by Dick Bayerl July 2003	Stones inside the Lilac Memorial Planting photo by Dick Bayerl July 2003
Looking South at the Lilac Memorial Planting photo by Dick Bayerl July 2003	Lilac Memorial Planting looking toward Birch Creek photo by Dick Bayerl July 2003
Looking north from County Road 5.25. Photo June, 2004 by Jan Callow	Looking east from the field behind the lilacs. Photo June, 2004 by Jan Callow
Another looking east showing the blooming better. Photo June, 2004 by Jan Callow	Looking south from the field. Photo June, 2004 by Jan Callow
A close up looking east from the field. Photo June, 2004 by Jan Callow	Another view looking south from the road side. Photo June, 2004 by Jan Callow

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