 In 1935, Ruth Teuscher purchased 40 acres of land in the Town of Somers in northeastern Kenosha County. Inspired by a grove of native hawthorn trees growing along the Pike River, she and her sister Margaret, both teachers in Racine, named the property Hawthorn Hollow. They soon posted the land as a wildlife refuge, the first step toward developing what is now Hawthorn Hollow Nature Sanctuary and Arboretum.
Reflecting on the Teuscher sisters’ interests, Hawthorn Hollow today combines nature, history, and horticulture. Two miles of nature trails wind through the woods of the Pike River Valley. In spring, the forest floor is covered with native wildflowers. During the spring and fall, many migrating songbirds stop at Hawthorn Hollow. Others remain year-round, making Hawthorn Hollow one of the finest bird-watching spots in the area.
With the help of outside contributions, three historic buildings were moved to the property in 1967: the original Pike River School (1847), the second Pike River School (1906), and the original Somers Town Hall (1859).
The Hyslop Foundation also established a twelve-acre arboretum designed by Morton Arboretum’s Clarence Godshalk.
Unique to Hawthorn Hollow is a small but valuable area of original prairie, reflecting the type of vegetation that once covered much of the Midwest. Hawthorn Hollow also boasts a restored prairie, perennial gardens, a butterfly garden, and a dwarf conifer collection.
To assure the preservation of Hawthorn Hollow, the Teuscher sisters deeded their property to the Hyslop Foundation in 1967. Since then, its Board of Trustees has made many significant contributions to Hawthorn Hollow.
The Friends of Hawthorn Hollow was established in 1988 to help preserve, maintain, and further improve Hawthorn Hollow. This organization provides financial and maintenance support through memberships, fundraising events, boutique sales, and volunteer workdays.