09/04/2026
I am posting my song, "Door County" from my "My Wisconsin, Vol. One," album here, along with the oral prologue and lyrics. Just click on the link below to go to YouTube to listen to the song for free. I have written and perform the song, and I hope you enjoy it. People love Door County and enjoy visiting there, and it has a great history.
Door County
ORAL PROLOGUE:
Jesuit missionaries who served Door County referred to is as the "paradise of the Indians.”
The Frenchman, La Potherie, noted fertile fields of Indian corn and abundant game in all seasons. Autumn brought a prodigious abundance of ducks feeding on the wild rice and the Indians maintained large villages by fishing for sturgeon and herring. Fruits in winter and wild rice and acorns allowed the peoples of the bay to live in utmost comfort.
When Jean Nicolet landed in 1634, the Winnebago citadel at Red Banks held nearly 5,000 Indians. Another village on Washington Island contained a mixture of Potawatomis, Sacs, and Menominees. Ottawa and Fox Indians also lived in Door County.
The Winnebagos, a branch of the Sioux from the southwest, who originally came from Mexico, were extremely warlike. They were cannibals and in one incident set a trap for an envoy of 500 peaceful Illinois Indians, and, killing all of them, made a great feast of their flesh.
After their defeat at the hands of the remaining Illinois, the old Winnebago citadel at Red Banks was taken over by Sac Indians. As was their custom, the Sacs captured an Ottawa Indian and his wife and burned them to death on a high scaffold. Nangadook, who heard of his sister's death by fire, vowed revenge on the Sacs and attacked with a force of Potawatornis, Menominees, Chippewas, Ottawas and other tribes. Their canoes lined the beach at Red River for two miles so thick that not one more canoe could be fit in. Nangadook leveled the old Sac and Winnebago capital to the ground and no Indians ever rebuilt a village on the cursed spot.
Indian tradition has it that nearly 300 Potawatomis died one night near the big bluff called “Death's Door" in a battle with the Winnebagos who also lost many warriors. The Potawatomis were to land in canoes and surprise the Winnebagos encamped nearby. Betrayed by one of their own number who built a false signal fire, the 300 Potawatomis landed in the wrong spot and were dashed against the rocks and perished.
A party of Winnebagos who had set out in canoes also went down in the storm and their canoes drifted back to shore, empty. The Indians took this as an omen and called the channel the "Door of Death," which the French translated into "Porte des
Morts," or “Death's Door." Door County was later given its name by settlers who shortened "Death's Door" to "The Door" and then "Door County.”
Door County Written and Performed by Barbara Smits Copyright 2026 all rights reserved
"A place of quiet beauty,
Indian’s paradise,
Home for the Algonquin,
Pushed West by the Iroquois.
The savage Winnebago,
North from Mexico,
Proved cannibals at Red Banks
And ate the Illinois. (Such
CHORUS
Such things the rocky cliffs have seen,
Such beauty and despair.
Blazing guns of Nicolet,
The wild deer and bear.
The frail canoes that met their doom,
Passing through Death’s Door,
The black robes of the Jesuits
Who labored for the poor.
Door County, Door County,
Indian’s paradise…….
Red River saw the war canoes,
Two miles, side by side,
Nangadook attacked the Sacs
Who’d watched his sister die.
The cursed fort at Red Banks,
Was leveled to the ground,
No Indian tribe would live again
WithIn its bloody walls.
Door County, Door County,
Indian’s Paradise…………….
CHORUS
The peaceful Potowatomis
Helped all who passed their way.
The Ottawas and Hurons
Fished sturgeon in the bays.
Menominee Chief Tomah
Never killed a man,
The Chippewas were led in peace
By good Chief Silverband.
Door County, Door County,
Indian’s Paradise……..Such
CHORUS LAST TIME add
Home for the Algonquin,
Pushed west by the Iroquois,
The savage Winnebago,
North From Mexico,
The black robes of the Jesuits
Who labored for the poor;
Door County, Door County,
Indian’s Paradise………
