Spring 2024 Newsletter from Friends of High Cliff

Spring 2024

Photo Credit: Beth Braun

Click here to view the upcoming High Cliff State Park Program Calendar

OR visit www.wiparks.net

for details and most current information.

OR follow us on Facebook!

Here are just a few of our many Upcoming Park Activities:

Wednesday May 29th

Bumble Bee Brigade Training at the Park Office, call the office to save your spot.

4:00-5:30 pm

Saturday June 1st & Sunday June 2nd

Wisconsin State Parks Open House & Free Fishing Weekend

Saturday June 15th

Families of High Cliff Presentation

1:00-3:00 pm

Please join us for the Families of High Cliff Presentation

Have you ever wondered about what life was like at High Cliff State Park before it became a park? Who lived there? What was real life like for them? Do you want to learn more about the amusement park on the grounds and the boats that brought people to High Cliff with women, adorned in long dresses and hats, and men in suits? What were the lime kilns like when they were operating?

These and many other questions can be answered by the people whose families homesteaded and worked on these grounds. Some of these folks are graciously sharing their knowledge and pictures with us.

This special program will be at the upper pavilion/gathering place in the park on Saturday, June 15th from 1:00-3:00 pm. There will be a short presentation from each family, a Q & A session, a children's activity and possible tours.

Follow our Facebook page for updates!

Organized by Beth Braun

Waves of Warblers

By Rob Zimmer

An annual spring tradition is just about to commence as waves and waves of migrating wood warblers will soon swarm along the shores and the bluffs at High Cliff. The highlight of the year for many birdwatchers throughout our area, the arrival of the warblers, usually the first or second week in May, sometimes lasting into Memorial Day weekend, is one of the most anticipated natural wonders here in Wisconsin.

High Cliff is one of the best locations in the entire state to witness this incredible movement of the “butterfly birds,” as they are often called because each species is dressed in its own bright colors, and they flit about like butterflies among the trees and shrubs. Because of the location, as well as the varied habitats found here, High Cliff is the perfect spot to seek out the colorful warblers.

Warblers that spend the night on their long journey return to the treetops as the sun begins to rise. The shore of Lake Winnebago is the perfect migration route for warblers returning from the south. They literally follow the shoreline north. Where the shoreline ends, or turns to the west, the warblers descend from the skies in sometimes unbelievable numbers. On peak warbler migration days, it may be possible to see you up to 30 different species of wood warblers at the park. Of course, this will mean exploring different areas and different habitats to seek them out.

The Butterfly Pond Trail is especially attractive to warblers because of the dense shrubs, the flowing spring, cattails, as well as the pond itself. Often, the warblers are at or close to ground level in this area, making it an attractive spot to watch warblers. The Lime Kiln Trail is another hotspot for migration. Warblers can be seen all along the shoreline here, including in the trees and along the rocky ledge.

It’s time to start researching different warbler varieties or purchase a good field guide to bring along with you on your warbler watching adventures at High Cliff State Park.

What Wisconsin wildflower can be called wake-robin, toadshade,

tri flower, birthroot, birthwort, or Wood lily?

It's the lovely Trillium!

Take a Spring walk through the many paths at High Cliff State Park and discover the beauty of a carpet of Trilliums dancing in the spring breezes. The name Trillium comes from the Latin tres that means three and lilium for lily - the mature plant has three leaves, three petals and three sepals. They are native to North America with over 30 species. From a planted seed, it takes 5-9 years for a large white Trillium to bloom. So, when you see the ground covered with Trilliums, you can know they are at least a decade old and probably much older.

With the fields of Trilliums, I wondered how they propagate themselves? Amazing! ANTS!!!! Yes, ants, not the wind, not birds, not bees. Each flower produces only one seed when it fades, very unlike daisies, coneflowers, marigolds that produce hundreds of seeds. Ants are attracted to the sticky covering of the seeds and take them underground where they can begin to grow. Because ants can't travel far, you will see groups of Trilliums close together.

Trilliums are often viewed as a reminder of the Trinity: God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Also because of the pure white petals and light fragrance, it is a symbol of tranquility and natural beauty.

The Trillium has become part of American culture. You can find a photo of them on postage stamps, selected as a state flower, and as a chosen emblem of restaurants, resorts, and bookstores throughout the United States.

Visit High Cliff State Park this Spring and appreciate the Trillium's uniqueness but, more than anything, enjoy their simple beauty.

Always remember, take only photographs, leave only footprints!

By Debra Cook

Trillium photo credit: Debra Cook

Did You Know?

By Cindy Mueller

The little settlement on the far northeast shore of Lake Winnebago was called Clifton, Wisconsin. It sat on the grounds of what is now High Cliff State Park.

The limestone business on “The Ledge” brought immigrants, largely from the east and south, with hopes of finding good paying jobs at the limestone business.

Around the time of the Civil War, Clifton grew and a General Store and an office for the Western Lime and Cement Company was established. The self-sufficient community had a one-room schoolhouse. It was called the Walter Cheever School. Not much has been written about Walter Cheever and why the school was named after him. There is also little history of why the original schoolhouse was torn down and the school rebuilt.

The school stood boldly on the north side of the hill across from the present-day marina, just a little west of the Butterfly Pond parking lot, on Lower Cliff Road. It was also next to Clifton Creek, which filtered down to Lake Winnebago under a stone bridge. The creek still flows from the recreated Butterfly Pond system.

Registers were kept year to year by teachers hired under contract through Calumet County. Attendance and grades for each student also reflected when some students were needed to help work on the farms or in gardens during planting and harvesting seasons. Fifty percent of the male students were marked as withdrawn or absent during those times.

One such student was my Grandpa. His name was August Sternhagen. He attended the Walter Cheever School in the late 1880s with his brother Henry and sister Elsie. During the 1889 school year, their teachers were Miss Sarah, Mary, and Mamie Carney. Records show that the Sternhagens were all good students, excelling in math and English. My great grandparents Joe and Lizzie lived just west of the school near the corner of State Park Road (originally named Manitowoc Rd) and Lower Cliff Road that still runs past the park ranger station.

Since they did not attend the Cheever School together, I don’t exactly know how Grandpa August and Grandma Anna met. However, like the fires in the lime kilns, sparks flew and they fell in love at High Cliff. The house where my Dad was born is still standing, across from Sacred Heart Church and school in Sherwood.

The Cheever School operated until about 1951. It was quickly torn down after the lime plant business began to dissolve and the State of Wisconsin started buying up the land for what is now High Cliff State Park.

As of this writing, a large weeping willow tree still stands northwest of Great Grandpa’s house and the former school. If you are walking the south portion of the Butterfly Pond Trail, take a moment to stop and reflect on the community by the shore and all the people who lived here, way back when!

High Cliff State Park Maps

Lime Kiln Trail Update:

The FOHC Board Members recently accepted the final version of the Assessment and Plan for the Lime Kiln Trail redevelopment from Trail Eyes LLC. The Recreational Trails Program grant application is now sought for replacement of the two wooden stairways. The Board is also seeking help with funds from the Community Foundation Nelson Family.

Recent News from the Friends of High Cliff:

Purchased a portable microphone to support naturalist programs.
Researched various credit card company purchasing services.
Began planning for a new osprey nest pole location.
Removed many ash trees affected by the Emerald Ash Borer.
Repaired numerous wood picnic tables.
Attended and showcased the Lime Kiln Trail project at the Fox Cities Greenways Annual Meeting.
Planned for the park's Earth Day activities on April 27.
Designed and ordered new merchandise.
Hosted a Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon.

Photo from the Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon on March 26, 2024

Earth Day 2024 was celebrated at High Cliff on Saturday, April 27th with many volunteers planting trees and picking up garbage. Their time is greatly appreciated!

Thanks to everyone who helped!

N7630 State Park Rd

Sherwood, WI 54169

920-989-1106

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