Volunteering is family affair
Scientists have debated for years whether we each have seven doppelgangers in the world, or only one. If you visited our Museum and Pinecrest Village over the past few years, the idea of look-alikes might have crossed your mind — several times — with good reason.
While we don’t have any identical twins in our crew we do have 11 families working together. That is a lot of family resemblance spread across our 60 acres!
Volunteers Lisa Alfsen, aggie Schmitz, and Charlie Bauer assisted in painting during the restoration of the Meeme House in 2025.
Charlie Bauer of Newton is the family member who started it all. His sister, Aggie Schmitz of rural Manitowoc, followed. Then their cousin, Lisa Alfsen of Newton, joined them. The three are volunteers for the Manitowoc County Historical Society, among some 70 area individuals who make up the “life blood” of the organization, said Devinne Lutz, its Engagement Manager.
“Our volunteers are our greatest asset. They are as passionate about history as we are,” she said.
Bauer, a retired rural mail carrier, began volunteering at Pinecrest Historical Village about 20 years ago. The 60-acre living history museum features more than 30 restored buildings from the late 1800s and early 1900s.
“I like learning about buildings,” Bauer said. “One of my favorite buildings is the Nennig Dance Pavilion. It’s octagon shaped. The band would set up in the middle and people danced around the band.”
In the Newton State Bank building, he likes to share the story of the 1937 safecrackers who were never caught.
From refereeing a bucket brigade competition at the Rockwood Fire House to judging a pie baking contest, teaching people how to dance the waltz and celebrating Christmas at Pinecrest, Bauer has seemingly done it all.
Did we mention he was voted mayor of Pinecrest about 10 years ago? That’s right. After a season of debates and a campaign parade throughout the village, he gave his victory speech on the steps of the Two Creeks Town Hall.
Schmitz, also a rural mail carrier, retired in 2023 and, a year later, joined her older brother in volunteering.
“I like the outdoorsy stuff, so I started out cutting the lawn, gardening and weeding,” said Schmitz, who took on more responsibilities from there. She helped paint the Meeme House, a stagecoach inn that has undergone extensive restoration. Her brother and cousin joined her.
A family affair of volunteering: Charlie Bauer, Lisa Alfsen, Aggie Schmitz (2026)
“I also stripped and sanded the countertops in the store and in the bar,” added Schmitz, who ended up scraping and painting the Medical Office building as well.
Alfsen soon joined her cousins.
“I retired in 2022,” said Alfsen, who worked as a health insurance processor. “I always wanted to volunteer, and it was one of those things – someone had to push me and Aggie pushed me.”
Starting in fall of 2024, she began giving children’s programs: demonstrating how to cook on a woodstove, what a one-room schoolhouse was like, how weights and measures were used, and what life was like without plumbing or electricity.
Alfsen also enjoys sewing projects and is currently helping to make Civil War hospital quilts for an upcoming reenactment.