Hidden History of Sturgeon Bay

Beyond the stunning beauty of Wisconsin’s Sturgeon Bay lies a hidden past of colorful characters, tragic shipwrecks and compelling community achievements. It’s a story of dogged perseverance. Arriving as an immigrant to the town, Joseph Harris Sr. became a founding father, creating the Door County Advocate newspaper and leading a campaign to construct the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal. More than one hundred local volunteers formed the ranks of Company F, nicknamed Les Terribles by the French for their bravery and sacrifice in World War I. After surviving the Civil War, former slave Peter Custis endured unimaginable tragedy while forging a life in the city. Authors Heidi Hodges and Kathy Steebs expose the forgotten history of Sturgeon Bay.