February 5th, 2026

The Early Peopling of Oconto County -Topic of February OCHS Speaker Series Program

The Oconto County Historical Society will present its monthly Speaker Series Program on Thursday, February 5, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. The program will be held in the meeting room of the Beyer Home and Carriage Museum, located at 915 Park Avenue, Oconto, Wisconsin.

The evening’s presenter will be Peter Stark, Oconto County Historian.

Stark’s presentation, titled The Early Peopling of Oconto County, will explore how, when, where, and why people first arrived in Oconto County. The program will examine changes over time in technology, population, culture, and subsistence practices, offering insight into the region’s earliest inhabitants and their way of life.

Stark is the author of four short books: Remembering the Oconto Brewery; Soda and Water Bottlers of Oconto County; Frontier Fisherman – The Samuel Thomas Family; and Early Peopling of Oconto County, Wisconsin. He has written and co-written numerous historical articles and archaeological papers published in Voyageur Magazine, The Wisconsin Archeologist, and Fox Valley Archeology. He has also participated in historical investigations and professional archaeological digs and studies.

In addition to serving as Oconto County Historian, Stark is the Vice President of the Oconto County Historical Society. Over the past 25 years, he has also served as President, Treasurer, and a member of the Society’s Board of Directors.

The program is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.