Detroit and Grosse Point
Source:
Grosse Pointe on Lake Sainte Claire. : Historical and descriptive.
Commentary:
I like Detroit history because I like North American French history. People seemed to especially remember the early French in Michigan in terms of celebration and festivities. Here is a nice picture painted of such events.
Excerpt:
“These lands are now being drained by ditches from which the water is pumped by wind-mills; but only a few years ago the road we are now passing over was “navigable for small craft” during several months in the spring. Under the ancient French regime the ” Cabaret du Grand Marais,” or Big Swamp Tavern, was located in this vicinity, near the shore, and was the resort of wedding, racing and picnic parties throughout the winter months. The carioles drawn by fast pacing French ponies would glide merrily over the ice along the water’s edge. At the Cabaret would alight the black eyed demoiselles with their chattering swains, and, after a toothsome lunch of (pate de gibier), game pie, or of succulent (poisson blanc) white fish, washed down by copious libations of (liqeur de peche) peach brandy, they would join hands in “la dance ronde” to the inspiring strains of a cracked fiddle. Nowadays the best we can do is to demolish a dish of frogs on toast with such liquid accompaniments as appetite may suggest. Away off on the distant Pointe we notice a white Lighthouse. It was built in 1838 and rebuilt in 1875. It shows a fixed white light varied with red flashes, the light being visible for thirteen miles. The tower is fifty – one feet high. This locality is known as “Presque Isle” (almost an island), and otherwise as Windmill Point, from the ancient stone windmill whose ruins now lie along the shore. Opposite Windmill Point is “Isle au Peche” (Fishing Island), called by some Peach Island, perhaps because there was never a peach on it. It is said that during the summer season Pontiac made it his home.”
Source:Detroit one hundred years ago by Robert Ellis Roberts, 1809-1888.
Commentary:
In French Detroit, farms were spread out along the river, with each one possessing a narrow sliver of riverfront, with long and narrow farmland extending away from it. The farms were essentially long strips of land. No doubt, this increased the sense of community and safety along the river as the settlers lived close together and each had access to the waterways.
Excerpt:
“In social life the French characteristics predominated. Judge James May, an Englishman who resided here from 1778 until he died in 1830, said, ” The citizens all lived then like one family (referring to the time he came), had Detroit assemblies, where ladies never went without being in their silks. The people dressed very richly. Assemblies were once a week, and sometimes once a fortnight. Dining parties were frequent, and they drank their wine freely.” After the day’s business was over in summer the older citizens spent their evenings in social visiting, and by the younger in paddling their own canoes on the blue strait, by moonlight promenading on the green lawns beneath the extensive orchards of pear-trees, or along the gravel beach, or in dancing at the farm houses,, by turn, which fronted the river, not more than four arpents apart, from the city to Grosse Point. A fiddle was in every house, and music would soon bring sufficient numbers together for a dance any pleasant evening. The following order was recently found among the papers of the late patriarch, Joseph Campau. JANUARY 17, 1807. Mr. Campau will please furnish for the Grand Marie Party on Saturday next, provided there is carioling, a qr. of roast beef and a pair of fowls ready for the spit. MAJOR ERNEST. JAMES ABBOTT. James Abbott was brother-in-law of Gen. Whistler, U. S. A., and postmaster at Detroit for a quarter century until 1832, and manager of the American Fur Company’s business in Michigan for same time. The following description of the ” Grand Marie Party ” is from Mrs. Sheldon’s History: “In winter, when a vast sea of ice separated them from their eastern neighbors, and their Indian allies were far in the depths of the forest engaged in the chase, the denizens of the fort and of the crowded town gave themselves up to unrestrained pleasure seeking. Three dr four miles above the city was a large marsh called by the French Le Grand Marais. It extended down to the river brink, and when the autumnal rains came the entire surface was submerged, and the wintry frosts soon converted it into a miniature sea of glass. In the absence of sufficient snow for sleighing, the Grand Marais, which could be readily gained by the icy margin of the river, was a favorite drive for the citizens; and late in autumn the young men of the town would erect on its border a long one-story building, with stone chimneys at each extremity, and furnished with rude tables and benches. Every Saturday morning during the long cold winter, carioles, filled with gay young men and laughing girls might be seen gliding over the glassy surface of the ice-bound river, or, if there was snow, flying along the river road, where now extends the broad and beautiful Jefferson avenue, each finally landing its freight of life and beauty at the Hotel D u Grand Marais. The box seats of the cariole were always well filled with mysterious baskets and packages, which were speedily transferred to the aforesaid long tables, and soon the rattling of the dinner service was heard in the lulls of the gay chatter of the French girls; and the aroma of the, fragrant Mocha escaped into the frosty air in delicate smoke wreaths-an incense of anticipation to the coming repast. As soon as the dinner was over, the tables and benches were removed, and dancing commenced, which continued until the booming of the evening gun at the fort warned the merry party that “The evening shades might be but vantage ground For some ill foe.” The next day, Sunday, after morning mass, the gentlemen were accustomed to resort to the Grand Marais and spend the day in carousal and feasting on the remains of yesterday’s store. Sleigh riding on the ice, and ball and parties in town, filled up the week’s interim. The summer’s earnings scarce sufficed for the winter’s waste. “
Source:
Historic Michigan, land of the Great Lakes; its life, resources, industries, people, politics, government, wars, institutions, achievements, the press, schools and churches, legendary and prehistoric lore, George Newman.
Commentary:
This excerpt begins with a note about a British politician who was attempting to curry favor by hosting a party. It does include a very interesting note about Jean Baptiste Beaubien, who is obviously an interesting historical character.
Excerpt:
“At another time he writes: “Have proper booths erected for my friends at the hustings; employ Forsyth to make a large plumb cake, with plenty of fruit, &c., and be sure let the wine be good and plenty. Let the peasants have a fiddle, some beverage and beef.” Jean Baptiste Beaubien, one of the founders of Chicago, and a noted fiddler at every dance in the early years of that village, was born in Detroit, September 5, I787. He was a cousin of Angelique Cuillerier. The change of government finally came in I796, when the English left and the Americans came in. It was not an unexpected change, and yet it made such an impression on the Canadian citizens who left the place rather than submit to the American rule that they gave it the name of the “Exodus,” a name by which it is familiarly known among their descendants even today. The newcomers were from New York and New England stock, and they brought with them some new ideas, amusements and holidays.”
Source:
The city of Detroit, Michigan, 1701-1922.
Commentary:
Here we have the sale of fiddle strings in 18th century Detroit.
Excerpt:
“In 1775 Sterling sold some goods to “Drouin, schoolmaster at Chapoton’s.” In the same year he sold to Lieut. Jehu Hay (afterwards lieutenant-governor of Detroit) “one spelling book 2/6.” He also sold Lieutenant Hay various other items, boys’ hats and shoes, two rings and some fiddle-strings. “
Source:
The history of Detroit and Michigan. Silas Farmer.
Commentary:
For the interested, the below is a link to a poem found in a county history about Detroit with references to dancing and fiddling. Because of its length and lineation, I’ll refrain from posting it here.
Excerpt:
Source:
Early days in Detroit; papers written by General Friend Palmer, of Detroit, being his personal reminiscences of important events and descriptions of the city for over eighty years.
Commentary:
The following excerpt and the one to follow are two of my favorites not just in the Detroit area but in Michigan in general. It shows the constancy of dance in early Detroit but also includes a how some folks found the dances — a remarkable method.
Excerpt:
“The Detroit &.Black River Steam Mill Co. had their saw mill and lumber yard just west; and opposite the tannery yards were quite a number of saloons, a French dancing house and billiard room; also located in the vicinity were two or three other dance houses, and it was said a seeker after a chance and place to “trip the light fantastic toe” had only to get on top of any of the lumber piles nearby to determine where it was located by the sound of the fiddle. “
Source:
Early days in Detroit; papers written by General Friend Palmer, of Detroit, being his personal reminiscences of important events and descriptions of the city for over eighty years.
Commentary:
Here is another reflection on the same by the same person, with some added information about the orderliness of the dancing.
Excerpt:
“What Shoepac says in regard to the fiddling and dancing among the French habitants is true to life, as I can testify, having seen so much of it andi participated in so much of it. I think I have mentioned elsewhere how the young fellows in the early thirties used to get on the top of the lumber piles of the Detroit and Black River Steam Mill Lumber Co., near the foot of Beaubien Street, to locate the dance by the sound of the fiddle. That part of the town then was decidedly French and scarcely a night passed without one or two dancing parties. They were orderly, too; no nonsense permitted.”
Source:
The city of Detroit, Michigan, 1701-1922.
Commentary:
Here is an example of what I consider an unfortunate religious situation that would possibly have made Jesus cringe, and as a Christian, it certainly does me. It stands to mention that I know one Jesuit brother today who both calls and fiddles for dances in Michigan.
Excerpt:
“The Rt. Rev. Octavius Plessis, Bishop of Quebec, Canada. “My Lord: “After having visited the different stations that form the Catholic Church of Detroit, I have reason to believe that the people’s inordinate love of social pleasures, evening gatherings and dances, was the cause of their immorality, idleness and extreme poverty. I protested with all possible vehemence against balls in particular. I succeeded, with God’s help, in convincing them that all or nearly all of them committed thereat a number of sins, that certainly it was for every one a proximate occasion of sin, and consequently that it was impossible to allow them. Perceiving that my words had made a salutary impression, I publicly forbade balls and reserved to myself absolution of the sin which would be committed by those who should lend their houses for such entertainments, and of any musician who should play at them. Moreover, I forbade the priests to give absolution unless the penitent promised to forego these gatherings. Thus far this peremptory action has succeeded perfectly, and last week a fiddler of my diocese refused an offer made to him of thirty dollars if he would play two nights at a dance at Malden. I am persuaded that the Canadians of your diocese could be led to adopt similar rules by threatening them with the same penalties; thus the law being a general one, its observance would be neither so difficult nor so odious as it is at present,, for now those so disposed who no longer have a chance to dance on this side cross over to yours, where they can dance with impunity, to compensate themselves for the deprivation at home. I am accused of strictness, of meddling, etc., in a word, the devil is leaving nothing undone in order to re-enter the kingdom, whence, with God’s help, I was fortunate enough to banish him. If you see that these balls can prudently be prohibited in your diocese under the same penalties, please authorize me by letter to announce the fact, and before I leave I shall establish the same rules on both sides of the river.”
Source:
The history of Detroit and Michigan. Silas Farmer.
Excerpt:
Here we have a good picture of what the French Sunday of Detroit looked like.
Commentary:
“When I first came to the place, Sunday markets were as common as week-day ones. The French brought in their meats, fowls, vegetables, etc., on Sunday as regularly as on week-days. After selling out they would go to church, attend mass, and, perhaps, confess, and pay for absolution out of their market money, and then go home apparently in good spirits. Nor did the American and foreign population generally pay any more respect to the day, for they patronized the thing to the fullest extent. On this practice I proclaimed a war of extermination. At first it made a stir. But a young Presbyterian preacher, who was there, joined me in the denunciation of the practice, and, in a short time, the city council decreed that Sunday markets should cease, and in place thereof a market should be opened on Saturday night. This raised a great fuss among the French, who, from time immemorial, had thus broken the Sabbath, and, after market, gone to mass, then to the horse-races in the afternoon, and fiddled and danced and played cards at night; but they made a virtue of necessity, and soon yielded to authority and gave up the Sunday market, but adhered to the other practices.”
Source:
Historic Michigan, land of the Great Lakes; its life, resources, industries, people, politics, government, wars, institutions, achievements, the press, schools and churches, legendary and prehistoric lore. Page 156.
Commentary:
The following is a description of Detroit in the first years of the 1700s. It might be the earliest name of a fiddler that exists in Detroit.
Excerpt:
“I am quite positive that they had no glass utensils of any kind. The mirror that was used for purposes of shaving and of the toilet was of tin, and the windows were of skins scraped as thin as possible. The nearest article to glass that I can find in any of the early records is a porcelain ring and some glass beads, but in two or three instances I found mention of tin mirrors, and I have two or three contracts to complete dwellings, where the contractor agrees to put in good skins for windows, and in one case of an exchange of properties, one party agreed to remove the old skins that had become thickened by action of the elements, and replace them with new, thin ones. There were few musical instruments at the place. A few tin horns, Ioo tin trumpets, probably brought here to sell to the Indians, for the citizens were too old to be amused by such toys. It is possible, however, that these horns and trumpets were sometimes used by coasters, on the hillside at the water’s edge, for we may well believe that even the older people allowed themselves, sometimes, to indulge in this pastime, when the snow and frozen waters of the river and bay just below the post permitted it. I have no evidence that there were any skates here or that skating was indulged in. I do know that Jerome Martiac dit Sansquartier had a violin, and I presume it was frequently called into requisition in the long winter evenings-but where the people danced I do not know, unless they used the church or storehouse for that purpose-for their dwellings were so miserably small that little room could be found for such a purpose. Frenchmen, however, are noted for their vivacious temperament, and it is not hard to believe that there being a will they soon found a way, and that on many occasions they “chased the glowing hours with flying feet” to the music of Sansquartier’s old violin. At an early day Cadillac brought three horses to the settlement, but two of them died, and the one remaining horse “Colon” was the only nag of which the settlement could boast when Cadillac left in 1711.”
Source:
The history of Detroit and Michigan. Pages 349-350.Silas Farmer.
Commentary:
This is a fantastic reference to “lilting,” or the singing of dance tunes using vocables. It was common where instruments could not always be procured.
Excerpt:
“Soon after my arrival here I was married to Miss Cuiellierrie, who desires to be remembered to you in the most grateful manner and returns you hearty thanks for your civilities to her whilst at this place. Although several different names are given in these extracts, they all referred to the same lady, Miss Beaubien, who was notably brilliant and accomplished. All gatherings of young people were enlivened by music and dancing, and if no violinist was to be obtained there were not a few demoiselles who could lilt the dancing tunes so blithely and so well as to make the violin almost needless. When th.e English came the officers made sad havoc with the time and thoughts of the lively maidens of that time; and in the warp and woof of revolutionary days, the scalp-cry of the Indians, the drum-beat of the garrison, and the howl of wolves, were mingled the music of the ball-room and the gay laugh of merry dancers. Captain Grant, of the navy, wrote to a friend, “We hop and bob every Monday night at the council-house.” Later on dancing parties or assemblies were arranged for by subscription, and several invitations to these gatherings, written on the back of playing cards, are preserved. Some of the amusements of 1789 are described in a letter written by Miss Ann Powell, who was here in May of that year. She says: As soon as our vessel anchored, several ladies and gentlemen came on board; they had agreed upon a house for us, till my brother could meet with one that would suit him, so we found ourselves at home immediately. The ladies visited us in full dress, though the weather was boiling hot. What do you think of walking about when the thermometer is above ninety? It was as high as ninety-six the morning we returned our Visits. Whilst we staid at the fort, several parties were made for us,- a very agreeable one by the 65th, to an island a little way up the river. Our party was divided into five boats; one held the music, in each of the others were two ladies and as many gentlemen as it could hold. Lord Edward and his friend arrived just time enough to join us; they went round the Lake by land to see some Indian settlements, and were highly pleased with their jaunt. Lord Edward speaks in raptures of the Indian hospitality; he told me one instance of it which would reflect honor on the most polished society. By some means or other, the gentlemen lost their provisions and were entirely without bread,’in a place where they could get none. Some Indians travelling with them had one loaf, which they offered to his Lordship, but he would not accept it; the Indians gave him to understand that they were used to do without, and that, therefore, it was less inconvenient to them; they still refused, and the Indians then disappeared and left the loaf of bread in the road the travellers must pass, and the Indians were seen no more. Our party on the Island proved very pleasant, which that kind of parties seldom do; the day was fine, the country cheerful, and the band delightful. We walked some time in the shady part of the Island, and then were led to a bower where the table was spread for dinner. Everything here is on a grand scale; do not suppose we dined in an English arbor! This one was made of forest trees and bushes, which being fresh cut, you could not see where they were put together, and the bower was the whole height of the trees, though quite close at the top. The band was placed without and played whilst we were at dinner. We were hurried home in the evening by the appearance of a thunder storm; it was the most beautiful I ever remember to have seen. The winter season furnished many a scene of gay festivity.”
Source:
Early days in Detroit; papers written by General Friend Palmer, of Detroit, being his personal reminiscences of important events and descriptions of the city for over eighty years. Pages 407-408.
Commentary:
Here is a reference to a Detroit dance school in 1840. Also, an interesting reference to a man who almost dances himself to death.
Excerpt:
“OVER the store of Cook & Burns, on Jefferson Avenue, Miss Barker had a dancing school, the only one in the city then (1840). She lived there with her brother and family. The dancing was done in the parlor. Barker was a musician and played on a number of instruments, the violin being the chief. He furnished the music when sober, but was so rarely in that condition that Miss Barker had to sing or hum. dancing tunes, and we would do fairly well, considering the orchestra. She had quite a class of boys and girls from the first families and, although her methods were crude, she succeeded in making her pupils pretty fair dancers. Many that I know and remember received their first and only lessons from Miss Barker-some of them pretty good dancers, too. Fancy a dancing school waltzing to the tune of the song,”Dark-eyed one, dark-eyed one, come hither to me,” hummed by the teacher. Levi Brown occupied the other part of this brick store (his family lived upstairs) for many years, until into the forties, and then moved to New York. He dealth in jewelry, clocks and watches. Chauncey S. Payne was his partner and succeeded him in the business for awhile, then moving to Flint. Levi Brown was the inventor of and the first to manufacture the gold pen in the United States or elsewhere. He used to charge five dollars for the nibs alone and people thought them cheap at that. A nice man was Levi Brown and a Christian gentleman. After Mr. Payne, Mr. Sibley, from Canandaigua, N. Y., occupied, the premises and dealt in the same kind of goods as Messrs. Brown and Payne. ADAM COUSE. Speaking about dancing schools, somewhere in the forties these buildings were swept away to make room for the Masonic Hall, with stores underneath, and in one of these stores Mr. Adam Couse, assisted by C. F. Amsden, opened a music and piano store, and had a dancing school in one of the rooms attached to the hall. Mr. Couse was a finished dancing master and introduced here all the new dances as fast as they appeared on the carpet east. He had a large class at once. and gave universal satisfaction. He almost danced himself to death and had to give it up.”
Source:
Early days in Detroit; papers written by General Friend Palmer, of Detroit, being his personal reminiscences of important events and descriptions of the city for over eighty years. Pages 652-653.
Commentary:
Here is an early French house party — romanticized, but the mention of specific dances is helpful.
Excerpt:
“Payee, who lived on the bank of the river, just above Judge Leib, was a jolly, rollicking Frenchman, and it was at his house more than any other up the river that the French dances came off, almost weekly, during the winter. They were liberally patronized by the young bloods from the city, who were always eager to bask in the smiles of the pretty French girls, whom they knew, and whom they were sure to meet. Have any of you that read these lines ever been to a French dance given in a French farm house, not in a tavern? If you have, then you know all about it. The large kitchen and living room, with its polished floor, quaint old-. fashioned furniture, the tall clock in the corner, the huge castiron plate stove of two, stories, brought from Montreal in the early days, in which a scorching heat could be engendered in short order. “Music in the corner posted,” which consisted of two violins. And then the gathered company, eager to begin, which they did always early in the afternoon, and kept it up until the small hours in the morning. No round dances, only Money-musk, Virginia reel, Hunt-the-grey-fox, French four, the pillow dance and occasionally a cotillion. It did not seem to me as though the feet of the dancers would ever grow weary moving to the inspiring music of “French four,” given on a violin, and as a Frenchman alone could give it. Refreshments were also ample, served in primitive style, of course, and of good quality. Then the going home with your best girl, if you had one. or the going home with any of the girls, was a pure delight. “In the lingering by the wayside and the tarrying on the door-step, in the light of the winter moon, there were many tender words spoken and solemn vows exchanged, and many a good-night kiss stolen before the pretty girl, her cheeks painted by the frost and rosy with the touch of her rustic lover’s lips, went blushing into the kitchen to say ‘good-night’ to the wife of the house and to dream of her joy in her little low chamber, where the same moon stole in that had witnessed their plighted vows on the doorstep.
“I can’t remember what they said,
‘Twas nothing worth a song or story;
Yet that rude path by which they sped
Seemed all transformed and in a glory
The snow was crisp beneath their feet,
The moon was full, the fields were gleaming;
By hood and tippet sheltered sweet,
Her face with youth and health was beaming
Perhaps ’twas boyish love, yet still,
O listless woman, weary lover;
To feel once more that fresh, wild thrill
I’d give-but who can live youth over?”
But there were other houses besides Payee’s where the inmates were quite as jolly. Abraham Cook owned the farm a short distance above Payee. All these had to be reached by the River road. Jefferson Avenue was then opened up only as far as the residence of the late C. C. Trowbiidge. I do not call to mind the names of the owners of the farms between the Cook farm and the water works, but think they were all of them of French descent. One of them must have been, as is evidenced by the small apple orchard, and the group of sturdy French pear trees yet remaining. The apple and pear trees are entirely unprotected, and it seems to me the owner, whoever he is, ought to look to it that they are not destroyed. They have survived the wear and tear of all these years, and deserve to live as long as possible.”
