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  : )

VACATION AT MACKINAC PART II

Mackinac Island is the place to go when you visit the Straits of Mackinac, but the hubs and I prefer to head across the Big Mac Bridge to Sault Ste. Marie and the Soo Locks. Guess I am just a Boatnerd at heart and watching a 1000 ft. freighter, that's 104 ft wide inch its way through the 110 ft wide Poe Lock, fascinates me. This year we planned our visit for the annual Engineers Day on June 28th when the locks were open to the public. It was a great time and I took hundreds of photos, but these two videos give the best impression of the Locks. Go full screen. 

American Spirit entering the Soo Locks

Edwin H Gott vs The Alpena

The footprints of the early French and the Society of Jesus, or Jesuits, are all over the Straits of Mackinac and Michigan's Upper Peninsula. One of their most famous is Fr. Jacques Marquette, missionary, explorer, and mapmaker. He founded missions to the native Americans at Sault Ste. Marie in 1668 and another at St. Ignace in 1671. That was before he decided to make the 3000 mile canoe trip to explore Wisconsin, Illinois and the Mississippi River as far south as Arkansas. He died on the return trip in 1675. His grave is in St. Ignace. Wish I'd known that. Will have to visit his grave on my next trip to the Straits. I did visit the Fr. Marquette Memorial though. 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacques_Marquette

Thanks to Bobak Ha'Eri for this photo of Fr. Marquette's grave.

A map of Fr. Marquette's journeys is embedded in the floor of the memorial.

To learn more about the good Father here's a great bio link. 

Fr. Jacques Marquette, Dictionary of Canadian Biography
Sketch from Wikimedia Commons

We headed home the next day. Will post photos of the Forty Mile Point Lighthouse near Rogers City, (a pleasant surprise) next time. But I can't end any post about Mackinac without a mention of its most famous product, Mackinac Island Fudge.

It wouldn't be Mackinac without a little something from The Mackinac Fudge Shop

I bought a block of the Mint Chocolate chip, just to take a photo of it for this blogpost. But by the time I found my camera the entire block had disappeared, nothing left but the wrapper??? Honestly... I have no idea where that delicious fudge might have disappeared to. So I posted the link above for you Fudgies.

Vivian : )

VACATION AT MACKINAC PART I

The Straits of Mackinac

  

The Straits of Mackinac must be one of the most photographed places in the world. Yet no two photos are ever quite the same. Sunlight, clouds, mist, wind, change the scene from moment to moment, and tomorrow will seem entirely different from today. That's why people return year after year to the same park bench by the Mackinac Bridge.  

  Everybody's favorite bench. Best place in the world to just sit and take in an awesome view.

Had a great vacation at the Straits. Discovered some new places and events. Started with Engineers day at the Soo Locks, toured Michilimackinac again, found the Fr. Marquette Memorial in St. Ignace, and the Forty Mile Point Lighthouse on Lake Huron. 

Took hundreds of photos but don't worry, I'll only post the best ones here at The Last Lord of Paradise, starting with the good old Big Mac Bridge and Colonial Michilimackinac.  

Always changing

Lilacs in July. Mackinac has the perfect climate and soil for growing Lilacs.

One more thing I love about the Mackinac area is its long history. From the Colonial Fort Michilimackinac, set on the archeological digs of the original French fort built 1718––to Fort Mackinac on the Island, built by the British in the late 18th century, it's authentic history.  

Michilimackinac gardens

British soldier

Apothecary Rose, has an interesting history and a delightful old rose scent. 

Ste. Anne de Michilimackinac Church

Bake oven

Blacksmith

Open hearth cooking.
Today's treat, cow tongue stew.

Mending her stays. Even young boys wore these. Poor posture and Chiropractors were unheard of in 18th century.

Though I've been there many times, there's always something new to learn at Colonial Michilimackinac.

The Forty Mile Point Lighthouse and New France Discovery Center were pleasant surprises, and the Soo Locks Engineers Day...a Boat Nerd's dream. (Took a great video.) Will post more soon. Thanks for stopping by.

Vivian :)

DETROIT MICHIGAN DUSK

Happened to catch the webcam on Belle Isle at just the right moment last Saturday evening. My thanks to The Dossin Great Lakes Museum, and the Detroit Historical Society for these great photos. 
http://detroithistorical.org/dossin-great-lakes-museum/detroit-river-watch-webcam

Ambassador Bridge to Canada. Windsor Ontario is on the left.

The Detroit River makes a sharp bend toward the West. This makes Detroit the only place in the US where Canada is to the South. If you're doing genealogy research about the old French settlers don't be confused. If the records state birth or death place as the South shore, they are referring to the Canadian side of the river.

http://goo.gl/maps/NC7rM

Vivian :)

DETROIT AND ITS NAIN ROUGE

Le Nain Rouge–The Red Devil of Detroit

This past March 25th, the people of Detroit Michigan gathered together. Their objective? To chase the Nain Rouge from the streets of their town. http://marchedunainrouge.com/gallery/  

Nain Rouge?  you ask. What's that? The name translates from French as Red Dwarf and the reason this guy hangs around Detroit goes back to its founder Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac who built Fort Pontchartrain on the banks of the Strait in 1701.  

Statue of Antoine Laumet de La Mothe, sieur de Cadillac commemorating his landing along the Detroit River in Detroit, Michigan. (Sept. 28, 2004) from Decumanus

Elves, dwarves, trolls, and even the Irish Leprachauns-- history is full of these mythical creatures, all of whom crave flattery, and are quick to be offended. The story of the Nain Rouge came to us from ancient Normandy in France. He is a a lutin or imp, a small, mischievous devil or sprite.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nain_Rouge

The French brought these old stories with them to the New World and the shores of the Detroit River and passed them down the generations.

One of the best versions of Detroit's Nain Rouge story is found in Legends of Le Détroit, by Marie Caroline Watson Hamlin. First published in 1883, the author claims in the book's introduction to have heard some of these stories from "the aged lips of ancestors who's memories extend into the last century." It's a great book, written in a lyrical style. My kids enjoyed it's strange tales too. It can be found in Google books. Legends of Le Détroit

On page 27 in this collection of old Detroit myths and legends a footnote describes the Nain Rouge as "... the demon of the Strait ... Most malignant if offended but capable of being appeased by flattery."

Mrs. Hamiln  describes a party in 1701 at the Castle of St. Louis in Quebec City, home of the French Governor of New France. Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac is enjoying himself with the dignitaries of New France. After years as a successful Commandant of Michilimackinac he now revels in his plans to found a new post on "the Strait" between Lake Huron and Lake Erie.

A fortune teller arrives at the party and the amused guests offer their palm for her to read. They laugh  at the secrets she reveals about the guests, but when Cadillac offers his palm he says, "I have no interest in the past...tell me about the future."

The fortune teller predicts that Cadillac will found a great city. A city that will one day contain more inhabitants than New France, and it will reach a height of prosperity he could not imagine in his wildest dreams. Then she warns him to beware of his own undue ambition, that his policy of selling liquor to the Indians for furs is contrary to the wishes of the Jesuits and will ruin him.

"Be careful not to offend the Nain Rouge," the fortune teller says or your children will not see a vestige of your inhertance, and your name will be unknown in the city that you founded." The other guests go serious at her words but Cadillac laughs.  

In 1707 the settlement at Detroit is prosperous and growing. A crowd gathers before Cadillac's home  to celebrate May Day. He appears dressed in his blue uniform and cavalier hat with plumes. The crowd gets down on one knee and pledges loyalty to their Lord, the Fleur dis Lis (flag of France)  is raised and Cadillac is seated with his family on a gallery to watch the days festivities. As he watches his habitant's dance he is delighted with all he has accomplished.

When the party is over he and his wife take a twilight stroll through the Kings Garden. They cross paths with a small man with a red face and a gleaming eye. His smile reveals pointed teeth.

"It is the Nain Rouge," his wife whispers, but Cadillac strikes the man with his cane shouting, "Get out of my way, you red imp." There is a fiendish laugh as the dwarf disappears into the darkness ... and the rest is history.

That same year there is an investigation into Fort Ponchatrain's management. Cadillac is accused of selling liquor to the Indians, and falsifying the number of permanent inhabitants at Detroit. In 1709 he is called back to Montreal and arrested on charges of extortion and abuse of power. The  investigator's report is strangely similar to the headlines of today's Detroit.

"... report, submitted in November 1708, was a crushing indictment of Cadillac as a profiteer and of his policy as a menace to French control of the interior. It began by pointing out that Detroit was not the highly developed settlement which Cadillac was describing in his dispatches in order to induce the minister to separate it from Canada. Besides the military garrison and a few hundred Indians there were but 62 French settlers and 353 acres of land under cultivation. Over this domain Cadillac exercised a tyrannical rule which had earned him the hatred of white and red man alike. Tradesmen were obliged to pay him large sums of money for the right to ply their craft; a jug of brandy, which cost two to four livres in Canada, sold for 20 at Detroit."

http://www.biographi.ca/009004-119.01-e.php?&id_nbr=888

The officials who had promoted Cadillac for so many years, hated admitting to their mistake and assigned him to a post in Louisiana, that he badly mismanaged. By 1717 officials were tired of Cadillac's drama. At his own request he was sent back to France and spent six months in the Bastille prison for publicly defaming Louisiana. He remained in France and sold all his land holdings in Detroit. At his death in 1730 only three of his thirteen children survived him.

The settlement at Detroit struggled on, often visited by that Red Dwarf. From sightings before the great fire of 1805 that destroyed the newly American city, to it's surrender to the British in the war of 1812, and even during the summer of Detroit's 1967 riots, the Nain Rouge remains a terrible urban legend that simply will not go away.

Unless of course he is routed out by Detroit's own citizens. 

Marche Du Nain Rouge Returns To Detroit

Vivian :)

WHY DO YOU THINK THEY'RE CALLED "GREAT" LAKES? Part Three, Lake Huron

Welcome to Michigan's "Sunrise Side"––The shores of Lake Huron. Much quieter and just a teensy bit nicer than the heavily traveled shores of Lake Michigan––Lake Huron is where you go for true relaxation. Walk its sandy beaches for miles, enjoy a bonfire on the beach, and it begins to feel as if you have its entire 3,827 miles of coastline to yourself.

The residents like it this way, so I'd appreciate you not telling anyone about this gem of a Great Lake, please. : )

The early French explorers called this body of water La Mer Douce or Fresh Water Sea, though it was called "Lac des Hurons" on their early maps. It is 183 miles from the Michigan shore to the Canadian side. Huron carries the waters of Superior and Michigan, from the Straits of Mackinac, 206 miles south, where it suddenly narrows into the St. Clair River at Port Huron Michigan (a great place for ship watching). From there it flows into beautiful Lake St. Clair, then into the Detroit River and on into Lake Erie.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Huron

Lake Huron

I could mention where this is. But then everyone would know 

Under the Blue Water Bridge to Canada, ships enter the St. Clair River at Port Huron

Lake St. Clair boat traffic for Detroit's 300th Anniversary July 2001

Sharing the channel on Lake St. Clair

On into Lake Erie

Vivian : )