A walk through the Crivitz Museum buildings and grounds provides an easy look at all three, from as early as the mid-1800s to as recent as the fire that destroyed Crivitz Lumber in January 2019.

The museum’s main building at 204 N. Oak St. was put up in 1989 by the Crivitz/Stephenson Historical Society, which includes the village of Crivitz and the towns of Lake, Middle Inlet and Stephenson.

The land was donated by Al and Ellie Karman, who in the early 1900s had a University of Wisconsin experimental farm to test what might be the best crops to grow in the region after it had been logged out. While early results tested well for potatoes, rutabagas and cucumbers for pickles, it ultimately led to the rise of dairy farms, said John Deschane, curator at the museum since 2010.

The main building has an oval walkway lined with exhibits on both sides. Among the areas of local history they highlight: the schools of the period, including Crivitz High School, established in 1913; recreation and entertainment, with seats from the old Crivitz Theatre; the military and veterans from the area who served (Crivitz founder Bartels fought in the Civil War); music instruments and machines, including a phonograph that still can play cylinder records; tools; a bedroom with rope bedsprings; communications such as old phones and postal boxes; a typical sitting room and kitchen from more than a century ago; an area with washing and weaving machines; and a display devoted to sewing, quilts and early fashions.

THE CRIVITZ MUSEUM’S main building at 204 N. Oak St. was put up in 1989 by the Crivitz/Stephenson Historical Society. (Betsy Bloom/Daily News photo)

One donated quilt in that section has about 650 names of Coleman and Pound area residents, meticulously stitched in red by the Ladies Aid of the German and English Baptist Church of Pound in 1925.

The other buildings each aim to showcase the three main historic themes of logging, farming and tourism.

Behind the museum is the “Honeymoon Cabin,” so named because it once was the only resort cabin on an island in Lake Noquebay and therefore popular with newlyweds looking for some privacy. It dates back to 1895, when it was used by Peshtigo River Lumber Co. surveyors, but remained at John Ahle’s resort until 2015. To get it to the museum, part of the roof was removed and then it was towed off the island and across the ice by truck, Deschane said. It has a kitchen and, not surprisingly, a bedroom.

The reconstructed 1870s lumber camp building, just behind and to the left of the museum, contains machinery from the days when logging was the driving force in the region; at one point, Peshtigo River Lumber was the largest manufacturer of wood in the United States, Deschane said.

The display is dominated by a 10-by-20-foot miniature model of a working lumber camp that was carved and assembled by the late Evan Hirsch of Sheboygan Falls, who was a lumberjack in the 1920s.

Crivitz Museum Curator John Deschane, right, provides details about a 10-by-20-foot hand-carved miniature model of a working lumber camp to, from left, Sharon Feldkamp of Oneida, Wis.; her 10-year-old grandson, Cade Feldkamp of West Bend, Wis.; Jim Hatton of Crivitz, Wis.; and 9-year-old Mara Siegmann of Kaukauna, Wis., also Feldkamp’s grandchild. The four toured the reconstructed 1870s lumber camp building during a visit to the museum Saturday. (Betsy Bloom/Daily News photo)

Still in the works is a 1909 barn from a farm only a few miles away that must be reassembled after being donated in pieces. When done, it will house farm equipment, Deschane said.

The museum is staffed by about a dozen volunteers, backed by the 65 members of the Crivitz/Stephenson Historical Society. Deschane oversees arrangement of displays.

The volunteers all are well-versed in local history to answer any questions or help track down information.

“It’s a team effort,” Deschane said.

While admission is free, donations are greatly appreciated. Museum hours are noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

THIS RECONSTRUCTED 1870s Peshtigo River Lumber Company camp building now houses the Crivitz Museum’s logging equipment and displays. (Betsy Bloom/Daily News photo)

THE “HONEYMOON CABIN” used to be a resort cabin on an island in Lake Noquebay. It dates back to 1895. (Betsy Bloom/Daily News photo)