LES COUREURS DE BOIS ET VOYAGEURS DE STE. CLAIRE SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL ENCAMPMENT, MICHIGAN'S FRENCH CANADIAN HERITAGE DAY, AND JAMES LAFOREST'S STORYKEEPERS PROJECT

The Voyageur's Encampment at Lake St. Clair Metropark 2011

Well ... got myself all geared up for the the Voyageur's Encampment last weekend. Sturdy shoes, sunscreen, hat and camera in hand––I headed over to the Montreal canoe presentation. The presenter was a talented storyteller. He brought the French voyageurs, the fur trade, and history of New France to life. Unfortunately I did not get his name. (Wish the Schedule of Events listed the presenter's names.) 

I was about to take my first photo of his thirty foot Montreal canoe when my camera went dead. I'd forgotten to charge the battery. :( :( :(   But my kind and wonderful husband took some photos with his phone, and along with a few picture's from the 2011 Encampment, I thought I'd update this post. 

Detroit Drunken Historical Society

The Montreal canoe, 30 feet long.

Rabbit, onions and potatoes. 

Jesuit Pears?? 

Launching onto Lake St. Clair

In the Montreal canoe, twelve men could paddle tons of cargo 300 miles in a week.

Just like the 2011 Encampment, it was a beautiful day by Lake St. Clair.

And don't forget Michigan's new French Canadian Heritage day, October 4th, 2013.

Thanks to the efforts of James LaForest, members of the Ad Hoc Committee, and those who signed the petition they sent to Governor Snyder–– October 4, 2013 will be Michigan's first official French Canadian Heritage Day.

James has also started a wonderful project on his blog. He's invited descendants of Michigan's early French to submit memories of their French Canadian families to his Storykeepers Project. Family traditions, childhood memories, food and recipes, genealogy––already there are several great stories posted, so check it out. 

THE STORYKEEPERS PROJECT: YOUR VOICES, FAMILY STORIES

Just thought I'd let everyone know...And thank you James LaForest.

Vivian  : )

MACKINAC VACATION PART III –– THE FORTY MILE POINT LIGHTHOUSE, A PLEASANT SURPRISE

Fifty Miles south of Mackinaw City is the Forty Mile Point Lighthouse

And so we left Mackinaw City. Tired and happy to be heading home after a great vacation and content that we'd seen and done everything we wanted to, we pronounced this vacation over, put our cameras away and settled into the drive down US 23. But about an hour south we spotted a sign for the Forty Mile Point Lighthouse and thought we'd stop, just to use the restrooms. 

What we found was a lovely park––So nice that we dug those cameras out of the suitcase. Vacation wasn't quite over, not yet.  

The Calcite

There was the pilot house from The Calcite a 1912 steamer, and a short walk down the beach were the remains of a shipwreck...but the lighthouse? Amazing.

There are hundreds of lighthouses on the Great Lakes but this one was beautifully restored from 1896. Furnished with antiques, it was a snapshot of life at the turn of the 20th century.

 

Parlor

Dining Room

Kitchen

Laundry Room 

 Stairs to the Lighthouse

The Fresnel Lens casts light twenty miles out.

 View of Lake Huron

Remains of the SS Joseph S. Fay. As it sank in the great storm of 1905, Lake Huron suddenly decided to cast this ship and the doomed crew ashore, saving their lives. 
Its story is on the lighthouse website 

Fortunately this was not the restroom

We spent over an hour at the Forty Mile Point Lighthouse talking to the docent (a very knowledgeable man), and taking pictures. This place was a pleasant surprise, and if you are ever in the Rogers City area, it's definitely worth a stop. 

Vivian  : )

PS: Bathrooms are nice too.