Luxembourg - American
The Luxembourg American Cultural Center’s Research Center (RC) is home to the largest collection of resources pertaining to Luxembourg genealogy/heritage/culture outside of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. The RC is also home to genealogical resources for families of any ethnicity from Northern Ozaukee County, Wisconsin
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new sign for the Luxembourg American Cultural Center
now painted
Luxembourg Society of Wisconsin
Peter Thein
Croatt family
reconstructed barn
the museum
Sinnen Luxembourg Settler House
Sinnen Luxembourg Settler House
Ozaukee County Pioneer Village
4880 County Hwy. I
Town of Saukville, WI
Nestled in Ozaukee County’s Pioneer Village, among historic
buildings dating from the 1840s to the early 1900s, is the Sinnen Luxembourg
Settler House. The story-and-a- half stone house, built by the Luxembourger
immigrant Mathias Sinnen, dates back to the mid-1870s. While the home stood on
its original site near Dacada, Wisconsin for approximately 120 years, it now is
located 11 miles away in the historic setting of Pioneer Village. The Sinnen
House stands as a tribute to all Luxembourgers who settled in Ozaukee and
Sheboygan Counties, Wisconsin.
The effort to preserve the Sinnen House dates back to 1988 when a conference on
stone houses was held at Old World Wisconsin in Eagle, Wisconsin. At that time,
representatives from the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg presented the concept of
preserving Luxembourg heritage in America through the preservation of Luxembourg
immigrant pioneer buildings in Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota. Shortly
thereafter, the Ozaukee County Historical Society endorsed the effort and
granted permission for the reconstruction of a stone house in Pioneer Village.
In 1989, Georges Calteux, the Director of National Sites and Monuments in
Luxembourg, began his research to find a suitable Luxembourgian stone house for
restoration. The Luxembourg Society of Wisconsin, a newly formed Luxembourg
Heritage Society, and the Letzebuerger Kultur an Amerika organization joined
forces to fund and coordinate the project.
Though standing in ruins, the Sinnen House was selected for the Wisconsin
restoration project. This plan was formalized in Echternach, Luxembourg on July
5, 1991 by Georges Calteux and Bea Krier, president of the Luxembourg Society of
Wisconsin.
In 1992, the Sinnen House ruins were donated for the restoration project by the
Vorpahl family who owned the property. The Sinnen House was measured,
photographed and the quoins (corner stones) were numbered. Paulus Construction
of Belgium, Wisconsin oversaw the dismantling of the house and also poured the
new foundation for the house at Pioneer Village.
In early August, seven stone masons from Luxembourg began rebuilding the Sinnen
house. Volunteers from the Luxembourg Society of Wisconsin, under the direction
of Lloyd Croatt and Sylvin Watry, mixed concrete and hauled stones for the
project and also provided meals for those involved. Lumber from Luxembourg was
used in the restoration project. Eight tons of lumber, including oak beams,
windows and doors, and tools were donated by the lumber association of
Luxembourg. The association also paid for the shipping of the freight to
America.
Both the Luxembourg crew and the volunteers from Wisconsin worked for three
weeks in August and the rebuilding of the house was well underway. In September,
another work crew came from Luxembourg to finish the roof.
Work resumed on the Sinnen House in the summer of 1993. Floors were varnished
and preparations were made for displays and furnishing. The 20 x 24 foot
structure was completed and fully furnished for its dedication celebration on
August 14, 1993. Distinguished guests and speakers at the ceremony included
Luxembourg’s former Prime Minister, Pierre Werner, Honorary Consuls of
Luxembourg in the US – Robert Schaeffer, Richard Witry, and Paul Heinderscheid,
along with four of the master craftsmen from Luxembourg who had worked on the
house – Ferdy Dumont, Pierre Belhomme, Joseph Elsen and Guy Thomas.
Today, the Sinnen Luxembourg Settler House continues to be a popular attraction
for all visitors to Pioneer Village but especially for guests from Luxembourg
and Luxembourg Americans. It continues to serve as a proud representation of
Luxembourg heritage and culture in Wisconsin.
nearby barn in the Pioneer Village
Pioneer Village, including the Sinnen Luxembourg Settler House, is open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays during the summer months and for special events sponsored by the Ozaukee County Historical Society.
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Luxembourg Immigrant Stone Houses
Luxembourg Immigrant Stone House
County Road LL
Town Port Washington & Town Belgium, Wisconsin
the farm
The region of northern Ozaukee and southern Sheboygan Counties is proud to retain approximately 20 stone houses built by Luxembourg immigrants in the second half of the 19th century. These houses reflect Luxembourgian architecture and construction styles and have survived the ravages of time. This same region boasted many more Luxembourgian stone structures including houses, barns, summer kitchens and smoke houses that were demolished over the years because of deterioration, challenges in upkeep, and in the name of “progress”.
the farm
The remaining stone houses of this region are primarily located on County Roads LL, KW, and K which are main roads in the area. A few of the stone houses are located on other side roads in the region. While some of these 20 stone houses stand abandoned and deteriorated, most of them continue to serve as family dwellings. Some have been maintained meticulously and others look more primitive. While most continue to be recognizable with their stone and stucco exterior, a few have been covered with siding for easier maintenance.
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