Belgian Heritage Center Hosted Events

The Belgian Heritage Center is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 to 4 through October.  Visits can also be arranged by appointment by emailing tourinfo@belgianheritagecenter.org or by calling 920-493-5969 at least three days in advance.  We look forward to your visit!

IMMIGRANT TRUNKS Presented by Dennis Jacobs. Dennis is employed by Brown County Library’s Local History and Genealogy Department. Much of his roots are Belgian. This presentation will enlighten the audience as to the difficult choices our ancestors had to make as to what they could take along to their new home.  Open to the PBAC members and the public.

Sue Havel and Paul Neuville will be at BHC on Sunday, June 27 from noon until 4:00 to answer your questions about genealogy research.

Celebrate the 4th of July with booyah!  Just drive in and place your order.  You can also pre-order until noon on Friday, July 2.

 

To preorder, go to the home page of this website and scroll down to the green Donation box. Click on "Donate Using Paypal" and write "booyah" in the message. Limit 2 gallons per customer.
• bowl - $4
• quart - $8
• 2 quarts - $15
• gallon - $30

 

BHC will also be open for visitors and merchandise sales. Safety protocols will be in effect.

Belgian-American and other Belgian themed apparel is now on sale.  See the document at the link below for details or check it out at the Booyah drive-thru on May 16.  Also available by visiting BHC or by emailing contact@BelgianHeritageCenter.org.  Sizes and quantities vary.

BRUSSELS CEMETERY GROTTO Presented by Fr. Edward Looney, pastor of St. Frances & St. Mary Parish in Brussels, Wisconsin. Last year the Brussels Grotto (located adjacent to the church) celebrated its 85th anniversary. It features a statue of Our Lady of Lourdes. The Wisconsin Historical Society designated the grotto a historic site. For those interested, Father Looney will lead a short tour of the grotto at 6:15 p.m. at the Brussels church cemetery (9716 Cemetery Rd, Brussels, WI). From there we proceed to the Belgian Heritage Center. Open to PBAC members and the public.

ORPHAN TRAIN Don Youniss has presented this program of a social experiment that transported children from crowded eastern cities to the country’s Midwest for adoption. Wisconsin, being in the Midwest, was favored by the many of the child placing institutions due to the large number of families that had room to take a needy child into their home, with plenty of food from the farm for all. “The C. & N.W. train from the south early morning brought to Fort Howard about 30 orphaned children from the New York Orphan Asylum.” Per September 21, 1893 - Green Bay Press Gazette.  Open to PBAC members and the public.

BELGIANS IN THE CIVIL WAR Presented by John Mertens, member of the Kewaunee County Historical Society Board of Directors. Not long after our ancestors arrived in Wisconsin they were faced with the American Civil War. A draft proceeded. Belgians felt unfairly targeted when in Door County 40 of the 63 drafted were Belgian.  Open to PBAC members and the public.

SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS OF THE HOLY CROSS A video of the Community’s history of 90 years of service at the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help as well as many other places and ministries. Sister Nancy Langlois, will be the presenter. Open to PBAC members and the public.