A wagon train, similar to the ones that brought many early German, Czech, Belgian and other settlers to the area in the 1880s, is coming to Kewaunee June 10 and 11.

The event is being organized by History on the Move, which first came together in the mid 1990s to organize a wagon train to celebrate Wisconsin’s sesquicentennial in 1998.

On June 9-11, History on the Move is completing a shorter wagon train from Two Rivers to the Agriculture Heritage Farm south of Kewaunee

“I love history,” said Sue Sevcik, a board member from the Agriculture Heritage Farm who is helping to organize the event.   She said that the wagon train will provide a fun history lesson for all ages as the approximately 100 participants will be dressed in period clothing of the 1880s, have authentic horse and wagon gear and even pistols and rifles from the 19th Century.

On Thursday, June 9, as many as 12 wagons plan to leave the Two Rivers area at approximately 10 a.m. from the farm of Dan and Sue Pawlitzke. The train will travel along the lakeshore, stopping at noon for lunch and a rest stop at Point Beach State Park. The group plans to arrive at Thursday night’s camp – Al and Cathy Zellner – near the Manitowoc/Kewaunee line at approximately 4:30. p.m. (About 1 mile south of Gibs – 18311 Lakeshore Road, Two Rivers). There, the group will camp along the shore of Lake Michigan.

On Friday, June 10, the wagons will leave the Zellner’s residence near Manitowoc/Kewaunee Line at 10 a.m. and will travel north on Lakeshore Road, taking advantage of the scenic route along Lake Michigan.

After a lunch stop on Lakeshore Road, near the farms of Francis and Sue Wojta and JoAnn Koehler, the group will move on to the city of Kewaunee, arriving sometime in the early afternoon.  The route through the city is designed to gain as much exposure as possible, and includes a route past Emerald Shores Assisted Living and Atrium Post Acute Care to allow the residents to watch the train go by.

After a circular tour through the city, the train will then proceed up Milwaukee Street, and back to the Lakeshore Road, and then to the Heritage Farm, five miles south of Kewaunee on Wisconsin 42. The group plans to arrive at Heritage Farm at approximately 4 p.m.

“This is history in Kewaunee County that many people have ties to,” said  Sevcik.

Sevcik, who was formerly a teacher at Holy Rosary School, said one of her students researched his family history and found that his ancestors had first come to Kewaunee from Milwaukee by covered wagon and the trip had taken about two weeks.

She said some of the participants in the wagon train will visit the historic log house and barn on the farmstead, which was first settled by the Cherovsky family in 1876.  The Agricultural Heritage Farm board is also arranging dinner for the participants at the farm, as well as places for them to shower at the Kewaunee Middle School.

The Agricultural Heritage Farm is inviting the public to attend a barn dance that Friday evening to celebrate thes event and mingle with the members of the History on the Move group. The family dance will feature Bobby Rivers, from 7-11 with food and refreshments being served.

“We hope people will come and spend a lazy summer afternoon watching the wagon train re-create the ­­­­­pioneer travel of our early area settlers,” said Sevcik.

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press Gazette: Wagon Train comes to Kewaunee on June 10