The Harrison History
Over 130 Years of Logging, Farming and Bootlegging
Welcome to The Harrison History
My Story
Our Community
BUY My Book
Grant Voermans, a native of Harrison, Wisconsin, developed a deep interest in the history of his hometown, particularly because his great grandfather was among the Dutch immigrants who settled there in the early 1900s. Grant's passion for Harrison's history grew during his senior year of high school when he chose it as the subject of a research paper. He conducted extensive research, collecting photographs, examining newspaper microfilms, and interviewing the oldest residents of the village.
In 1998, Grant published the first comprehensive documentary on the community's history, which quickly sold out. Encouraged by the demand, he continued gathering more details, photos, and accounts. Eventually, he compiled an expanded second edition, satisfying the numerous requests for another printing. This edition shared everything known about the remarkable history of Harrison, Wisconsin.
BUY My Book
Our Community
BUY My Book
Harrison, a small village in northern Wisconsin, was founded by lumbermen seeking to exploit the vast pine forests for lumber production. After the white pine was depleted, a second wave of loggers and European immigrants arrived, drawn by the opportunity to acquire their own land and provide a better life for their families. Most of the immigrants in Harrison were of Dutch or Belgian descent, thanks to the efforts of Father Charles Hoogstoel, who encouraged them to settle in the area and sold them their own land for homesteading.
Our Community
Our Community
Our Community
The Harrison community transformed from a remote logging town to a farming village built by hardworking Dutch and Belgian immigrants, with a strong Catholic faith and a close-knit bond. Harrison also became the site of a large illegal distillery that supplied bootlegging businesses in major Midwest cities like Chicago, Milwaukee and Minneapolis, but the operation was raided by Federal, County and local authorities making headlines across the country. The community continues to thrive as a recreational haven with some of the most beautiful UTV, ATV & Snowmobile trails in the state.
MATT PERSIKE'S PODCAST - "If these woods could talk"
If these woods could talk, they might tell you that there is no illegal moonshine operation here, and to beat it, and stop asking questions if you know what's good for ya.
We had the chance to talk with Grant who recently released his book.