Who is fred b.?

Frederick Borcherdt is considered Manitowoc County’s first German immigrant and a tourism ambassador in the pioneer-era for our community.

Born to a wealthy family in 1811 in Saxony, Frederick Borcherdt was university educated and well-traveled as a young man.  In his twenties, he and his Wife, Wilhelmina, made the dangerous trans-Atlantic journey to America and settled in Detroit, Michigan.  Several years later, the couple braved a stormy three week trip along the Great Lakes to arrive in Two Rivers. 

He operated a mill in Neshoto and was very active in helping to encourage German settlement in the area.  In 1847, Borcherdt returned to Detroit where he met a large group of North Germans from Holstein, encouraging them to settle in Neshoto and Mishicot.  It was largely through immigration of this type that the population of Manitowoc County grew from 629 in 1846 to 23,000 in 1860. 

Where is he?

Follow the clues below to learn about local history landmarks in Manitowoc County. Download the cut out of Frederick Borcherdt - aka “Flat Fred” and take him along with you as you explore our local history. You can use information to help guide you on our museum’s website (check out our Research and Archives tab and Classroom Resources page) and other local history sources. Post your picture of the location and “Fred” to social media with #WhereIsFred

Clues:

(Need help finding the locations? Click HERE) Please note that the “Where is Fred” local history scavenger hunt has been developed by the Manitowoc County Historical Society for educational purposes only.

#1 - This spot marks the landing of the first settlers in Manitowoc on May 5, 1836. William Jones of Chicago organized the Manitowoc Land Company and platted Manitowoc in 1836. The small group of less than ten men landed at the mouth of the river, waded ashore, and built a small shelter at this spot. Ben Jones, leader of the settlement, arrived in the spring of 1837, but by that time only a few of the group remained through that first winter. They lived in a rude log cabin at the foot of this street (What is 2 + 5?). You'll find a marker on the spot. 

#2 - Follow the “pigeons” to the “X” (and maybe another X) to find this tall, skinny spot that references back to the Revolutionary War as a way to signal colonists. The first recorded one of these in Manitowoc County was raised in 1852 with 31 stars gracing the top, and another in 1922 with 17 more stars.

#3- This structure helped guide fishermen as early as 1886. Today it stands as a landmark to help honor fishermen that passed by its beacon. Over the years its purpose has changed but it still shares “cool” stories and now lights the path of our local fishermen history.

#4- The Charles Steinbecker family purchased this property in 1892. The two-story brick structure with a round tower in the southwest corner, was a recreational getaway for guests at the turn of the century. Also, known for its rich mineral springs one of its uses was a therapeutic spa.

#5- While serving in Europe during the first World War, this young man became ill with influenza. He did not survive his bout with the illness and was sent back home to be buried by his family’s lot among the evergreens where the fifteenth letter meets 3 and 4. His gravestone was made by John Koutnik. For the marker he created, the young man stands tall dressed in uniform with his gun at his side. Two tree stumps are also part of his gravestone.

#6- This Civil War soldier was once greeted by over 700 children singing “Rally Round the Flag” and although he has only traveled a few feet, he has seen many triumphs, tragedies, and his share of ice cream sundaes.

#7 - Return to the first seat of Manitowoc County and you’ll find a living reminder to be kind to your neighbors, no matter their roots. Even though it’s been over 100 years since hundreds gathered here to honor this friend to early settlers, his message is timeless.

#8 - Close your eyes and imagine what our community looked like over 200 years ago when this man was sent here to create a jack-knife trading post in this spot. In 1795 the location was described as where “Bad Creek enters the East Twin River.” The Native Americans living here could not pronounce his name, and soon the nickname stuck and is ingrained in our local history.

#9 - This site, settled after 1840, had an enormous supply of limestone of extremely high quality. At its peak, there were 65 Italian families living there, mostly in company owned homes. The product was such a fixture for the town that even a nearby establishment was known as "Lime City Tavern." While fires no longer burn here, you can still see remnants of a past gone by along the west side of the town's main crossroad. 

#10 - This space tells the story of over 10,000 years and has remained through the settlement of Nero, a fire in the East and a tannery in the West. It was initially discovered in 1907 after being exposed by the erosion of the lake. Today, you’ll see layers of clay, silt, sand and a buried forest visible on a steep bluff along the lakeshore.

#11 - In 1875 a farmer set out to build a chapel near his homestead in southern Manitowoc County as a promise he made during a serious illness. In 1869, he and his parents came to America and settled off a road that now stands as a tribute to his legacy. When they immigrated to this country, they brought a small statue of Our Lady of Loucim from Bohemia, a reminder of their visits to the shrine "The Church of the Sacred Blood". While clearing the land for his farm, the man became very ill and promised that if he would recover, he would build a shrine like what he visited in Bohemia. His illness improved and he constructed this shine in a clearing on his property. 

#12 - Go to the place originally known as “Inchem Berg”, which means Indian Hill. Here you’ll find a place that was constructed in 1882 to grind rye and buckwheat for flour and feed for livestock. It has roots by the city’s founder, Henry Belitz, and saw many chapters in its history -  from the “Big Four” to pheasants - before it closed in 1983 after over 100 years in operation.

#13 - A young left his home in Bohemia around 1852 and traveled to America. Soon after embarking on his voyage across the Atlantic Ocean, he became shipwrecked on the Azore Islands. Finally finishing his voyage after being picked up by a lumber ship, he arrived in New York City. He worked various jobs to walk his way to Green Bay, Wisconsin where he met up with some friends. After some time, he settled along the Branch River and erected a sawmill and gristmill there. The mill prospered and grew to manufacture broom handles, doors, shingles, finished lumber, caskets, and sun dials. The man’s sons eventually took over the business and soon a village was created that still holds tribute to this man and his mill.

#14 - This site holds much history for a town once settled by Norwegian immigrants. Beginning in 1885, a pioneer entrepreneur built a general store and by 1907, this place was erected as his family’s home and tavern. Located close to the railroad, it was a boost to local business. Business grew from there to a hardware implement and Ford dealership. The family and business man was also an inventor. He is credited with inventing canning industry mechanisms such as a pea grader, pea podder, and a bean filler.

#15 - In the village named after hairy legs and native roots you’ll find a proud structure that helps tell the story of the American Civil War. In 1864, two brothers mustered out service and began to work on this former hotel where today 12 “X”s in a row gives you 300.

#16 - Education has always been a priority for Manitowoc County. This man had a variety of interests in bringing information to the public – from being the editor of the Manitowoc Pilot newspaper, to the superintendent of schools from 1880 to 1891 -  this man has left a legacy in early ideas to improve teaching and learning techniques. A lasting monument was dedicated in his honor in a place where education and our local ‘heritage’ have flourished.  

#17 - Reading is good for all ages, even for pioneer-era children! Travel to the village created by German immigrants seeking a better community and find the building that at one time had the largest collection of library books of any rural education building in Manitowoc County.  Imagine a building filled with maps, papers, and books – and even a picture of one of our founding fathers - who the site was originally named after.

#18 - As early settlers came to Manitowoc County, this space was one of the first areas to be developed. It was originally part of an early sawmill but was later turned into farmland. Almost 50 years after the city’s development, the land began to share the stories of Manitowoc residents in their eternal rest who did not have a voice in the community, some young, some old, and some just passing through.

#19 - Even in the town that celebrates sweet treats, there were moments of unrest. Travel back in time to where wooden pails were manufactured and a workers strike was held in 1895. On this spot workers demanded payment in cash, not company scrip that had to be spent at the company store. After 11 days, the strike was won. The structure burned in 1930 and led the way for aluminum to take center-stage.

#20 - Cross the wide plank pine floors and explore history inside the walls of hand split lathe that once provided shelter to Manitowoc County pioneers such as Hiram McAllister and the August Eberhardt family.  Take a moment to reminisce and recount your family’s roots in local history.