A glimpse into the past reminds us why family farming matters
Every once in a while, we uncover a piece of history that reminds us just how deeply our roots run in Door County. Recently, we discovered this remarkable photograph from National Nursing Home Week at SCAND in Sister Bay, featuring our own Eldred Koepsel (back row) alongside descendants of Increase Claflin, one of Door County's earliest settlers.
What makes this photograph even more special? Also pictured are current Koepsel family members – Karrie Oram, and her daughters Karina and Kamie, who continue the family tradition today. Karina, along with her father Kevin, now owns and operates Koepsel's Farm Market, representing the latest generation committed to Door County's agricultural heritage.
The accompanying newspaper article, beautifully captured by photographer Suzi Hass, tells the story of Gertrude Kemp – a woman whose life embodies the agricultural spirit that has defined our peninsula for generations.
The Story of Gertrude Kemp
Born in Little Sturgeon in the spring of 1906, Gertie was one of nine children who grew up in a home where hard work, family, and the land were inseparable. She married George Kemp when she was just 18 years old, and together they built a life that would become woven into the fabric of Door County's history.
Gertie and George rented a few houses in Ephraim before building their own home just south of Peninsula State Park on Highway 42. George was instrumental in organizing work sections throughout the area, and their life centered around the orchards that have fed our community for over a century. The first orchard George managed was Martin Orchards, followed by Bella Vista, and eventually what became the Blue Dolphin House and SIP.
In the days before cars dominated our roads, George managed apple and cherry orchards using a team of horses. Gertie worked right alongside him, and she became known throughout the area for another talent entirely – fishing. She would fish the waters of Door County and catch enough to sell, adding to the family's income while George bought his own orchard.
But perhaps Gertie's most famous legacy was her baking. Her milk chocolate cake became legendary throughout Ephraim – so good, in fact, that locals still joke "nobody can make it as good as Gertie can." She was also a pastry cook, working in memorable places like Wilson's, Valentine's, and Halgesen's.
The Koepsel Legacy: From Roadside Stand to Door County Institution
As we look at this photograph and read Gertie's story, we're reminded that Door County's agricultural heritage isn't just about crops and orchards – it's about people. It's about families like the Kemps, the Claflins, and yes, the Koepsels, who chose to build their lives here, working the land and strengthening the community with each passing generation.
While Koepsel's Farm Market's official founding date is 1958, our family's commitment to serving Door County goes back even further. Before we opened our doors as a proper farm market, the Koepsel family operated a roadside stand, selling fresh produce to locals and visitors traveling through our beautiful peninsula. Those humble beginnings reflect the same entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to quality that Gertie Kemp embodied in her own work.
Today, as the oldest family-run and operated farm market in Door County, we couldn't be more proud to carry forward that tradition. Kevin, Karrie, Karina and Kamie represent the continuation of a legacy that has served this community for generations.
Part of Something Bigger
We're honored and deeply happy to be not only a part of Ephraim's rich agricultural history, but also woven into the broader story of Door County itself. This photograph captures that beautiful intersection – multiple pioneering families, all connected through their love of this land and their dedication to community.
Koepsel's Farm Market sits on the old German settlement, right on the edge of Ephraim and Baileys Harbor. Property and town lines might have changed over the decades, but our family commitment and recipes haven't. This land has seen generations of hardworking families building their lives and livelihoods here, and we're proud to continue that tradition in the same spirit as those who came before us.
When Gertie Kemp was selling her fish and baking her famous chocolate cake in Ephraim, the Koepsels were beginning their own journey with that roadside stand. Both families understood something fundamental: that serving your community with honest work and quality products creates bonds that last for generations.
Why Family Farming Matters
When you shop at a family farm market, you're not just buying canned goods – you're participating in a story that spans generations. You're supporting the kind of deep community roots that Gertie Kemp embodied: hard work, dedication to quality, and a genuine love for this place we call home.
We're honored to be part of Door County's agricultural heritage, and we're committed to carrying these values forward for generations to come. Because as this photograph reminds us – our roots run deep, and that's something worth celebrating.
