Category: News

Hundreds of long-forgotten individuals buried in an Oconto cemetery will be remembered in a special way on Memorial Day weekend. Among those to be memorialized are a cigar maker born in Russia, a prize fighter, a survivor of the Peshtigo Fire, a hired man, the wife of a man who died in the 1937 Polish uprising, and 2 sisters, daughters of a migrant family that lived and worked seasonally in the Oconto community for over 40 years.  All of these individuals and nearly 300 more will soon be getting the long overdue respect they deserve, thanks to the Oconto County Historical Society.

A monument honoring them will be dedicated on Memorial Day weekend at Evergreen Cemetery in Oconto. The Dedication of the Evergreen Cemetery Potter’s Field Memorial will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 27, at the cemetery, 325 Cook Ave., Oconto. The term “Potter’s Field” refers to the burial sites for individuals who had no family or whose families did not have money to pay for a burial plot. Current records indicate that about 300 people were buried in the Potter’s Field areas of Evergreen Cemetery, beginning in the 1850s and continuing into the 1900s.  Very few of their names were engraved on markers, but most of the names have been recorded in the cemetery’s record books.

One individual buried in the Potter’s Field is a distant relative of Peter Gabrielson. Peter serves on the board of the Oconto County Historical Society and Evergreen Cemetery. He stumbled upon records of Potter’s Field burials while searching for the burial site of his grandfather’s sister. She died as an infant shortly after the family arrived in America in 1893. In 2017, Peter started recording the names of the deceased buried in Potter’s Field and researching their lives using genealogical websites and digitized newspapers to find information about the deceased. As a result, he published the Oconto Evergreen Cemetery Potter’s Field Research Project.

“It’s been a project that’s been so fascinating for me,” he said. Over hundreds of hours, Peter tracked down the names and tidbits of information about the individuals buried in the unmarked graves. The plaza is a lasting tribute of respect for the individuals buried in the Potter’s Field.

The plaza, located on the south side of the cemetery, features a granite boulder with a bronze plaque, which reads in part, “This monument is dedicated to ensure that the final resting place of these departed souls will remain forever consecrated and their names will be forever remembered.” The plaza also features 36 granite paver stones engraved with the names and interment dates of 287 individuals buried at the cemetery in unmarked graves. In addition, two marker stones have been placed on the north edge of the cemetery which identify that section as another Potter’s Field burial area.

The May 27 dedication ceremony is sponsored by the Oconto County Historical Society. The ceremony will not only recognize the deceased but also the living who contributed their time and resources. The Leon H. and Clymene M. Bond Foundation is a major supporter, providing a $20,525 grant. Other contributors include Brian Vandenlangenberg of Oconto City Monument Company; Scott and Brandon Tousey of Scott’s Concrete; Jeremy Wusterbarth and the City of Oconto Department of Public Works; Greg and Lilly Mortier, Creative Curbing & Design; Carl Liegeois, Carlie’s Landscaping; Laurie Wusterbarth, Oconto County Register of Deeds; the Oconto County Genealogical Society, especially Kitty Werner and Vern Mortier; and Peter’s wife Patty, whose support from the beginning never wavered.

Peter encourages individuals to attend the dedication to honor the people who made the memorial possible, to honor the deceased, and to acknowledge the empathy, compassion, and fair treatment that all people are entitled to.

“The time has come for us to give these individuals the recognition and respect that they deserve; in fact, have deserved for a long time,” he said.

For more information, visit www.ocontoctyhistsoc.org or Find us on Facebook.

About Historical Society

The Oconto County Historical Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving Oconto County’s history. Offering education, programming, lectures, historic city tours, museum exhibitions, and other special events, this organization strives to be a preeminent resource for exploring and instilling an appreciation of Oconto County’s diverse history. Learn more at www.ocontoctyhistsoc.org.

Oconto Middle School students will have a chance to explore new career opportunities as they try their hand at welding. The school district purchased a MobileArc Augmented Reality Welding System and Prusa i3 3D printers as part of a $20,000 technology makeover made possible through Leap for Learning. Leap for Learning is a new technology makeover program offered by the Green Bay Packers and UScellular and partially funded by a grant from the NFL Foundation.

Emily Miller, Superintendent of the Oconto Unified School District, said virtual welders will give students the opportunity to try welding without its inherent dangers.

“The goal is to provide different STEAM ((Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) opportunities and allow the students to follow up with welding and metal fabrication at the high school level,” she said. The high school offers college credit courses in welding through Northeast Wisconsin Technical College.

Samantha Boucher, Oconto County Economic Development Corporation, said that a community that supports the welding trade opens up a world of economic development opportunities. When more people learn how to weld, local industries have a larger pool of skilled trade workers who contribute to their company’s success and the local economy, too.

“Exploring the welding trade can help young people gain valuable skills and knowledge that will serve them well as they join the workforce and contribute to the community’s economic growth,” she said.

By using the welding simulators, students can practice multiple welding processes in a realistic simulator that generates three-dimensional images of metal workpieces. Realistic arc sounds accompany the visuals, contributing to an immersive experience. Students are monitored, scored, and provided feedback regarding their welding technique. Initially, students in grades five through eight will use the welding system, although the system can easily be moved to the high school, also.

“Students will learn the basics of welding, choosing different types of welds, and practicing different welding techniques in a safe environment,” Emily said.

The virtual welding program is a clear example of how collaboration between the school district and local businesses helps strengthen the community. Chad Hendzel, an NWTC welding instructor and operations manager at Yakfab Metals Inc. in Oconto, said the metal fabrication industry needs more welders, and programs like this one introduce youth to this lucrative and versatile career path.  

“It’s nice to get the exposure at the middle school level so they can get into some welding classes in high school if that’s the path they’re interested in,” he said. “If a person has mechanical abilities and likes working with their hands, welding can be a fun job to have.”

Yakfab is a CNC machining, custom welding, and fabrication machine shop serving a wide variety of industries, including marine, fire protection, paper, food processing, and chemical processing.

“The type of (welding) work can be all over the board. You’re not just sitting in a booth and welding for 10 hours and go home,” he said. Welding careers pay well and provide numerous opportunities for advancement.

“Lots of careers can spawn out of a welding certificate,” Chad said.

Jim Eckes, fabrication manager at Nercon, said welders have a lot of different career opportunities in sectors like manufacturing, metal working, and metal art. Welding is an integral skill for employees of Nercon, which designs and manufactures conveyor systems and equipment for all types of consumer-packaged goods.

Jim said that one of welding’s rewards is the ability to create something with your hands and your skills.

“Even at its most basic form, you’re creating something,” Jim said. “You get to see the end product and how it fits into the other assembly.”

Introducing welding at the middle school will open doors to careers that students might not have considered and save them the time and money of pursuing a college degree or career that isn’t a good fit, Jim said. Plus, students have a safe environment to learn welding, without the heat and danger, even before entering high school.

“The earlier you can pique their interest, the better off you are,” Jim said. “They can hit the ground running and be more successful going into it.”

Experiencing welding at the middle school level also helps remove the stigma that manufacturing is a dirty, dingy jog, while it’s actually a challenging, complex and rewarding career, Jim said.

The welding system was installed in a STEAM lab at the middle school during the 2022-23 school year. The virtual welders provide students with real-world, interactive experiences in welding, plus fun opportunities to practice what they learn.

What are Chamber Bucks? Chamber Bucks are gift certificates to businesses belonging to the Oconto Area Chamber of Commerce. Each business that chooses to participate accepts the Chamber Bucks as cash, then turns them in to the Chamber, who then reimburses the business. Buying and accepting Chamber Bucks are great ways to help money stay right here in our community, as they can only be used at Chamber Member businesses!

Why Use Chamber Bucks? Why buy a generic gift card when you can buy Chamber Bucks and support local businesses? Here at the Chamber, we want to encourage people to shop locally, and we want to promote the many exceptional businesses who support our efforts through their membership. By supporting the Chamber Bucks program, you can spend exactly what you want and keep your investment local! You can feel good about supporting your community while giving the people you care about precisely what they’re looking for.

Gifts and Rewards! Chamber Bucks are the perfect way to gift and reward throughout the entire year. Reward your employees for their hard work or send a gift to a loved one. Chamber Bucks offers the flexibility to the recipient to choose how they want to use their Bucks, all while supporting our local businesses and community.

• Chamber Bucks are available for purchase at Stephenson National Bank & Trust, 101 Bralick Way, Oconto. Please email or call ahead to place an order so we can arrange them for pickup. Contact: Jenni Dolata, jenni.dolata@snbt.com or 715-735-2313.

• Chamber Bucks are valid for 5 years from the date of issue, which is the day purchased from the Chamber. This date will be listed on the Chamber Bucks. DO NOT ACCEPT any Chamber Bucks beyond that date.

• Chamber Bucks are not redeemable for cash and must be used at their full value, as no cashback will be given.

• To redeem your Chamber Bucks as a business. Please write your business name and address on the Chamber Bucks and mail it to Oconto Area Chamber of Commerce, PO BOX 174, Oconto, WI 54153. The Chamber will issue you a reimbursement check.

Don’t hesitate to contact us at the Chamber if you have any questions.

We hope the Chamber Bucks program will continue to benefit you greatly, and we appreciate your support!