(Photo by Sanderson Photography, Inc.)

The Hermitage is a historic log home tucked away on the west side of Highway 42, just north of Juddville Road. It is a unique log structure, difficult to spot from the road, with a remarkable history.

Elizabeth Merrill Bass, a politically active Chicagoan, bought the property on which the Hermitage was built in 1919. Her husband was Judge George Bass who presided over a Chicago courtroom. Elizabeth was 16 years younger than Judge Bass. She and her brother Llewellyn, who she was close to and sometimes traveled with, were both educated at Oxford.

The home was designed by architect William Bernhard. Bernhard initially found success in Chicago, and then in 1926 moved to Ephraim, WI to a house he designed for himself. He was the architect of the Ephraim Village Hall, the Ephraim Fire Station, and the second homes of some wealthy summertime residents of Door County.

The Hermitage was built using logs from two barns east of Juddville and was constructed by local builders John Brude, Thor Hansen, and Olaf Olson. The log house took about 3 years to build. The great room has a stone fireplace on one side, French doors on the opposing side, and windows along the other two walls. Above the fireplace is a balcony with steps leading up to it that were cut from split logs. Mrs. Bass sometimes used the balcony to give political speeches to an audience down below on the main floor.

A 4,000 tree cherry orchard was planted on the property, and the most recent owners of the Hermitage, Miriam and Howard Erickson, speculate that Jens Jensen may have consulted on the landscaping due to the use of wild roses, a Jensen trademark.

Clarence Darrow was a visitor to the Hermitage. Olaf Olsen, a native of Juddville, who worked as a chauffeur for the Bass’s in the 1920s and early 1930s, met Darrow one day when Olsen was making a fire in the Hermitage library’s fireplace and Darrow walked in with his wife Ruby. Olsen learned from Ruby as Darrow walked around the house that the couple was the Clarence Darrows from Chicago. This was probably relatively soon after the time of the famous Leopold-Loeb case in Chicago in which Darrow was the defense attorney for two college students whom he was able to spare from execution.

Olaf remembers times when he was down in Chicago with the Bass’s, Clarence Darrow would call Mrs. Bass and request that Olaf drive him somewhere. Olaf would provide the transportation for Darrow but never received a tip for his efforts, even after driving a long distance across Chicago to give Darrow a ride. Olaf remembered Darrow as “a dog” for the way he was treated by him.

Research indicates that Mrs. Bass knew and corresponded with Woodrow Wilson, Franklin Roosevelt and their wives. Mrs. Bass was a strong supporter of the Democratic party while her husband was a staunch Republican. They were able to get along well by treating one another with respect and keeping politics out of their marriage. 

During the Depression, needing income to live because of failing real estate investments in Chicago, Mrs. Bass’s friend FDR appointed her to be an Internal Revenue tax collector in the midwest.

In 1938, the Hermitage was sold to Frieda and Edward Collins. Edward was a Chicago pianist and composer. Edward met Frieda, the daughter of Oscar Mayer, the founder of the Chicago-based meat packing empire, while she was a voice student in Chicago. While the Collins owned the house, the great room held two grand pianos, and was used as a rehearsal and composition space, and also a recital hall.

A small stone studio, designed by Frieda Collins for her husband Edward, is located on the north edge of the property and is visible from Highway 42.

The next owner of the property was the Orchestral Association in Chicago who bought it in 1962.

Then in 1966 the Ericksons bought it with the intent to turn the property into a resort. That plan did not come to fruition because the financing fell through, but they decided to purchase it as a home. They then lived in it during the winter months while operating and living at the Shallows resort during the summer months.

To find out more about the Hermitage and view numerous PHOTOS, click HERE to read a “Cabin Life” magazine article.

(Source: Jones, Gary. “Rustic Grandeur: The Hermitage in Egg Harbor”. Door County Living, May 1, 2011. https://doorcountypulse.com/rustic-grandeur/)

(Source: Smith, Linda Neeck. Interview with Olaf Olsen, longtime Juddville resident, captured on cassette, undated.)