|
Painswick Farms and Olde Painswick Farmhouse vacation rental are located between Ellison Bay and Gills Rock at the tip of the lovely Door County peninsula in Wisconsin, where they are surrounded by open countryside. Quaint fishing villages, towering limestone bluffs, numerous galleries and restaurants - including the famous Door County fish boil and delicious locally caught fresh and smoked whitefish and chub - are close by. Beautiful Europe Bay sand beach, Europe Lake kayak waters, Newport Wilderness State Park and the Nature conservancy's Mink River Basin are each only a mile away. There are a further five Town Parks and two County Parks within four miles; and it is a short drive to four additiional State Parks. Ferries for Washington Island depart nearby Gills Rock (passengers and bicycles) or Northport (cars, passengers and bicycles). In summer there are charter fishing trips from Gills Rock; and in winter you can cross country ski or snowshoe right on the farm or at nearby Newport or Peninsula State Parks. There are many wild birds on the farm and in the nearby parks and nature preserves: if you are lucky you will see sandhill cranes, bald eagles and wild turkeys right from your window, together with deer and coyotes. The Mink River estuary, Toft Point and The Ridges are wildlife sanctuaries within easy reach of the farm. . . . .
|
In 1881 President James A Garfield deeded the homestead property that now comprises Painswick Farms to Hans and Anne Margrethe Peterson. Hans and Anne cleared and farmed much of the land. In 1882 they sold one acre on the corner of Europe Bay and Timberline Roads to Door County school district #6 (the old school building still stands and operates as Uncle Tom's Newport School candy Store - try their peanut brittle or Swedish pancake mix). In 1887 they sold the remaining land to fellow Swedes John and Ida Carlson. For many years, first John and then his son Harry, ran a dairy herd and operated a cherry orchard on the property. About 1910 John had Olbin Aohman build the still existing Dutch gambrel roofed, post and peg construction dairy barn: this barn was a replacement for an earlier structure that had been burnt down as a result of his daughters playing with matches in the hay loft. The old granery across the farmyard dates from the 1880's: it was moved over the ice by sled by John from his former farm on Washington Island. Following son Harry's death in 1968, his wife Dena and their children leased the land for grazing until it was sold in 1980 to John Fitzgerald Sr.. John and his family farmed the land and rented out the farm house, while living nearby. John also operating a local dock construction company until his premature death in 1989. The land was later sub-divided and sold. Present owners Don and Lynne Luker aquired and consolidated the 120 acres that currently comprise Painswick farms over a number of years commencing in 1994. First, they restored the barn and granery and built their own new home. Then in 200, they completed a full restoration of John and Ida's old farm house as a vacation rental. Don and Lynne keep a small flock of purebread shetland sheep, producing wool for handspinners and weavers. Lynne also spins, dyes, knits and weaves select fleeces herself. Some 80 acres of the woods and pasture are now protected from future development by an easement granted to the Door County Land Trust.
|
