"Rich lode of local history mined by ex-mayor Greene" from the June 16, 1970 Door County Advocate
By KETA STEEBS
STANLEY GREENE reflects on the early days of Sturgeon Bay when it was known as Tehama — the Indian name for “Bay of the Sturgeon” — and the homes of its first settlers were strategically located on Bay Shore drive, close to neighboring lumber mills.
—Keta Steebs
Rich lode of local history mined by ex-mayor Greene
By KETA STEEBS
“You might say I have a huge lump of curiosity,” says Stanley Greene, when asked how he became the unofficial historian of Sturgeon Bay.
Stanley, who served as mayor from 1950 to 1962, states that he first became interested in the city’s background when constituents confronted him with a potpourri of problems – – some of which were long standing situations dating back to the turn of the century.
“I began digging in old courthouse records, newspaper files and city council reports,” the erudite Greene says reflectively, “and became so fascinated with the community’s origin l couldn’t quit.
The trail has led me researching library material in such cities as Green Bay, Milwaukee and Madison. I’ve tracked down family letters, property transactions, transcripts of ancient court cases, records of civil suits, murder trials and have been able to interview several elderly residents whose memories go back many years.”
Stanley leans back in his comfortable easy chair and half closes his eyes, a faint smile tugging at the comers of his mouth.
“This was one unique community back in the 1800’s,” he muses. “It took a special breed of man to conquer this land. I’d estimate that of every four arrivals, three left on the next boat. The one die-hard who remained didn’t stay here to get rich but because he fell in love with the place.”
“As a matter of fact, this almost universal indifference to money was downright frustrating to outside entrepreneurs who tried for years to develop a metropolitan area here. The old timers wanted no part of them.”
“They curtly informed these would-be captains of industry and potential land developers that they wanted to fish in their waters, hunt in their forests and enjoy the God-given privacy they found here.”
Stanley smiles at the recollection.
“They were the true ecologists. We’re only beginning to realize now, how right they were.”
Stanley says this love of independence is one reason it took so long for the city to become incorporated. lt wasn’t until 1883 – – almost 50 years from the time it was settled – – that the city of Sturgeon Bay came into being. In fact, from 1851 until 1857 this entire area was regarded as a political “no-man’s land.”
“You have to remember,” he continues animatedly, “this was a rough, tough lumbering town“ with the early lumber barons controlling the community’s purse strings. Cold cash or “hard money” as it was called was as scarce as horse feathers.”
“Men worked for staples which they bought at the company store, clothing which was stocked by the company store and supplies which also came from the company store. At the end of the year when ledgers were totaled, men found that after working a minimum 72 hour week on a year ‘round basis, they still owed their employers money.”
“That’s when many of those stubborn Swedes and Norwegians decided they had enough of working for somebody else and went back to fishing and farming.”
Greene opens a large filing cabinet stuffed with manila folders. He refers to one well-thumbed, yellowing sheet of paper before continuing.
“The first three mills here were called the lower, middle and upper mill. Bradley-Crandall Company owned the lower mill, Burtis the middle mill and Robert Graham the upper mill. Between them they owned every rooming house, general store, and business place in town.
“Not only that but they had their own banking system. It wasn’t until the mid 1880’s that Sturgeon Bay had its first bona-fide bank; until then borrowers were forced to pay whatever rate of interest the lumber companies felt like charging.”
Stanley looks mildly indignant at the thought of these past injustices but brightens as he remembers the story of one man who made it strictly on his own.
“George Pinney was just about the most far-sighted man in these parts. He founded Pinney Nursery back in 1864 and it’s still going strong. It all started when Pinney, noting the abundance of cedar around here, decided to barter it in exchange for nursery stock.
“He hired kids to cut and wrap cedar plants which be shipped in large bundles to a Cleveland nursery by sailboat. Return ships brought him a complete assortment of nursery stock including apple, plum and peach trees and a variety of berries. A few cherry trees were included in those first shipments but Door county’s famous cherry orchards weren’t planted until much later.
“There was only one drawback to Pinney’s flourishing business venture and it really amounted to what might be called a conflict of interests. Pinney was also an inspired layman who doubled as a circuit-riding Methodist minister. When the Rev. B.M. Fuller, pastor of the local Methodist church, went off to the Civil War, Pinney took his place in the pulpit.
“Now, as I said, Pinney shipped his precious cedar via sailboat and it never failed that a good strong favoring wind would come up on Sunday mornings – – just about the time church services were about to begin. Pinney would have to cancel or postpone Sunday morning worship, rush to the dock and load his cargo.
His irate congregation, tired of being deserted Sunday after Sunday, finally asked for their errant pastor’s resignation. This despite the fact the dedicated Pinney had serviced the needs of not only his congregation but those of lonely Methodist families scattered throughout the northern end of the peninsula. By the simple expedience of donning a pair of ice skates, he made regular trips to Egg Harbor, Fish Creek and Chambers Island.”
“He had a lame back badly crippled by rheumatism but that didn’t stop him from literally flying over the ice ministering to those in need.”
Stanley grins. “Pinney submitted his resignation but remained a devout churchgoer all his life. He was instrumental in building the First Methodist church and his flourishing nursery, one of the first privately owned businesses, in the community, stands as a testament to his business acuity.”
“There were colorful men in those days,” Greene concludes. “None were what you would call ordinary people. Each was a rugged, determined individualist who one way or another carved the kind of life he wanted out of the wilderness.”
Courtesy of the Door County Library Newspaper Archive
Articles by Keta Steebs
https://doorcounty.substack.com/t/keta-steebs
Articles by Stanley Greene
https://doorcounty.substack.com/t/stanley-greene
Articles about history
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Articles related to George Pinney, 1834-1894
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