Tape 1, Side 1, Part 1 - Introduction. Tape 1, Side 1, Part 2 - Born on farm in 1905. Left in 1961; quit farming '59. Tape 1, Side 1, Part 3 - Father built the brick house in 1904. Helped by hired hand, Joe Martin, a deaf-mute and neighbor who built for those "he knew and trusted." Tape 1, Side 1, Part 4 - Original log house. Shingle roof and sides (down to certain depth). Feels added shingles to make bedrooms warmer. Describes location of rooms. Living room was made into a woodshed by making double doors; rest served as granary. Slope on north side built into storage for two vehicles. Remembers tearing the structure down as a "kid." Tape 1, Side 1, Part 5 - Log building for shingle-making. Hauled them to the Bay. Weren't making them anymore in Mr. Herlache's time. Tape 1, Side 1, Part 6 - Description of stable and grain barn. Tape 1, Side 1, Part 7 - Only 4 acres under cultivation when his father bought the 120 acres. The '40s are in different sections; differences in tax assessment. Tape 1, Side 1, Part 8 - Most timber off the land in his memory. Logs for buildings from cedars on the land, hauled by sleigh in winter. Tape 1, Side 1, Part 9 - Beer-making. Describes process and vats made it in. His job as a boy to keep fire going and add water. Took full day to make 8-9 half barrels. Tape 1, Side 1, Part 10 - Coffee for company only. Beer for most meals; nourishing. Children drank it, too. Tape 1, Side 1, Part 11 - Farm on borderline of different nationalities; German, Bohemian, Scandinavian. Only two families in his school were Belgian. Belgians "spread out" over time. Tape 1, Side 1, Part 12 - Early school days. Learning English. Tape 1, Side 1, Part 13 - Herlache family; there are several branches in the area. At one time, there were so many Herlaches in the area 2-3 miles south of the farm, along the Bay, that it was called "Herlacheville." Tape 1, Side 1, Part 14 - His grandfather, Clement Herlache, a "big hunter." Hunted all around area, mostly rabbits and squirrels. Tape 1, Side 1, Part 15 - Barns in Belgium built close to house. Here, they had more land so spread the buildings out. Tape 1, Side 1, Part 16 -No chapel on their land. 1/2 mile to Destree's chapel, which they went to often. (See photo of this chapel in the collection). Tape 1, Side 1, Part 17 - Catholic Church; St. Joseph's. Was a mission church, so mass held on Mondays and interfered with farm schedule. The Herlaches joined another church because of this; eventually the congregation dwindled. Church was mostly Belgians (there was a "neighborhood of them to the north"). Tells of reading he's done on Father Vilatte. Tape 1, Side 1, Part 18 - Spiritualists. His grandparents on father's side joined Spiritualist Church. His father refused to go to their church, causing conflict in the family. He married Catholic. Harold was only in that church as a pallbearer for "neighborhood." Tape 1, Side 1, Part 19 - He and his wife stayed with parents on farm after his marriage; from November to April of 1935. Afterwards his parents moved to Brussels. Tape 1, Side 1, Part 20 - Smokehouse for fish and meat. Tape 1, Side 1, Part 21 - Did little fishing; mostly helped fishermen out. Saw more money in farming; commercial fishing a gamble. Fished 1 1/2 yrs. with brother, whom he sold out to (refer to Edwin Herlache tapes). Tape 1, Side 1, Part 22 - Sister's relationship to parents. They bought cheese-making equipment for her husband's trade. Due to her poor health, her father bought a general store for them, which was easier to handle. Tape 1, Side 1, Part 23 - Brother moved onto farm across road his father bought for him. Tape 1, Side 2, Part 1 - Introduction. Tape 1, Side 2, Part 2 - Youngest son usually got farm in Belgian community. When older, the son had to pay bond of support or whatever. Describes how his father equalized his support of the three children in their family. Tape 1, Side 2, Part 3 - Never worked off the farm except to occasionally help fishermen. Tape 1, Side 2, Part 4 - His father one of first dairy farmers in areas. Originally sold to stores in Sturgeon Bay, then people came to the farm. Cheese factory opened after others in area also began dairying. Tape 1, Side 2, Part 5 - Cheese balls. Mother stored in basement. Tape 1, Side 2, Part 6 - House frame with brick veneer. Thinks bricks came from Marinette across the ice. Tape 1, Side 2, Part 7 - Hauling across the ice. Father bought bales from local farmers and hauled to Marinette Flour and Feed, and Goodman Lumber Company. He recalls his first trip when 11 years old, his last at 17. Stopped when channel made. Tape 1, Side 2, Part 8 - Materials for house. Only bought bricks and shingles and possibly windows and doors. Used logs which drifted to the bay shore for lumber; stacked and hauled to mills to make into lumber. Tape 1, Side 2, Part 9 - Remodeled house in 1954. Tape 1, Side 2, Part 10 - Silo one of first in Door County. Tape 1, Side 2, Part 11 - Materials. All concrete mixed by hand. Stones for gravel from bay shore. Fine gravel from gravel pit 1 mile from farm. Tape 1, Side 2, Part 12 - Father expanded buildings as he went further into dairying. Tape 1, Side 2, Part 13 - Amusing incident with milk inspector and relocation of outhouse! Tape 1, Side 2, Part 14 - Present barn built as cow stable 40' by 60'. Rest used for grain storage. Tape 1, Side 2, Part 15 - Blacksmith shop. He and neighbor shared equipment. Tape 1, Side 2, Part 16 - Obtaining water on the farm. Why wells located where they are. Tape 1, Side 2, Part 17 - He learned to bake bread when his mother and sister sick. Amusing incident about his first try. Tape 1, Side 2, Part 18 - The following was related to me by Mr. Herlache after the taped interview was completed. Sugar Creek was once a part of their property. When they sold it to the county, it was suggested that the name become "Herlache Park." The Herlaches refused, feeling that they didn't want the recognition; besides, it had been known as Sugar Creek for so long it would be a shame to chnage it. The story of how the Creek originally got its name was told to Mr. Herlache by his grandfather. Flat beds used to come a ways into the creek, and there was one time when a load of sugar was accidentally dumped there, giving the creek its name. Colts were once raised on the farm. Sugar beets were raised for 3-4 years, but depleted the soil too quickly. Mr. Herlache told of hauling other products into Green Bay and stopping one day at the beet factory. The owner proposed to him that he try raising beets, but a very wet year in which the beets could not be taken out of the soil discouraged Mr. Herlache from continuing with the crop. [For Side 2, Parts 10 through 17] the tape was recorded while drawing the farm map and is therefore confusing to the listener. The information has been transferred to the map in the collection; sections which were difficult to do so with or which reveal attitudes, etc. are listed below.
Material owned by University of Wisconsin - Green Bay. No reproduction without permission from the Special Collections Department Cofrin Library, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, 2420 Nicolet Drive, Green Bay WI 54311