Several descendants of a family that immigrated to Shawano before the start of the Civil War gathered Sept. 11 to, among other things, see the Shawano Has History plaque showcasing the family hardware store.
Mary Podzilni, of Shawano, was joined by four family members to see the plaque marking the former home of Schweers Hardware at 127 S. Main St., Shawano. Today, the building is home to War Bonnet Native American Gifts.
“The Schweers family came to Shawano because of one man, Herman Nabor,” Podzilni said.
The Shawano Has History Project started in April 2022 when Ben and Diane Hartwig visited the Shawano County Historical Society looking to bring plaques to historic buildings in Shawano. These plaques would tell the visitor about the history of the property, businesses and owners.
After Ben Hartwig visited London and found plaques on their historic properties, he wondered if that could happen in Shawano. This was the impetus that would become a Shawano Has History project partnership among the historical society, Leadership Shawano County, the Business Improvement District of Shawano, the city of Shawano and the Shawano Country Chamber of Commerce.
The plaque at Franklin Park (the former site of Franklin School) was the first one installed. That was done March 27, 2024. Since then, nearly 20 more plaques have been installed, mostly in the downtown area.
Journey through time
The Shawano School District Community Education program is teaming up with the Shawano Has History Project to provide a two-part program about the city’s history.
The first night, Oct. 14, will be a one-hour panel presentation and Q&A session, featuring Shawano County Historical Society staff and project volunteers who will share the process of preserving Shawano’s unique local history, historic downtown and the stories behind the plaques.
On Oct. 21, participants will take part in a guided one-hour walking tour of downtown Shawano, visiting several historic buildings marked by the Shawano Has History Project plaques and ending at Stubborn Brothers for a free drink.
Learn about the people, businesses and events that helped shape the community of today. Whether a longtime resident, new to the area or just someone who loves local history, this class offers a meaningful and memorable way to connect with Shawano’s past.
To sign up, visit https://shawanosd.cr3.rschooltoday.com/public/home/. The registration fee will be donated to the Shawano Has History Project.
Schweers family history
Podzilni proudly shared her family story.
Nabor was born in Prussia (known today as Germany) in the 1820s, immigrated to the United States, settled in Shawano and then returned to Prussia to find a wife, which he found in Margarete Schweers. The two were wed June 6, 1851, when Schweers was 18.
“Margarete must have thought the little community had opportunity to offer, because she wrote to three of her younger brothers in Germany to come and see for themselves. She must have been lonesome, too,” Podzilni said. “Little did she know that the whole family — five brothers and her mother and father — would also choose to come.”
The three oldest brothers (John Martin, Frederich and William) arrived first and landed in Charleston, South Carolina. John and Frederich made their way to Shawano, and William stayed in Charleston. By June 1860, the entire family had arrived.
When the Civil War broke out, John and Frederich joined the Union Army, while William joined the Confederacy.
“He died of cholera while a Confederate soldier,” Podzilni said.
The others are buried in the Pioneer Hill section of Woodlawn Cemetery.
John Martin Schweers would go on to serve as county clerk and county sheriff, and then as co-owner of the hardware store.
The business was originally on the east side of South Main Street, and the 127 S. Main St. building was constructed immediately after an 1890 fire destroyed six buildings on the west side of the street.
Schweers specialized in tinsmithing, among other trades.
The building was home to various hardware stores as late as 1927, but by 1938, it was occupied by F.W. Woodworth Co.
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