The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-01-10
a LOST AMERICAN HAVRE.
The Once Promisias vniae Now Beaeath
the Waters OF Lake Erie.

TOLEDO, o., Jan. s.-within n few miles OF
the corporation line OF Toledo lies the site OF n
lost village. which was peopled not so long ago
by several hundred souls. Its existence is I'll
most forgotten. and only q few of the oldest
Inhabitants are able to indicate even vaguely
where the town once stood. The blue waters Of
Lake Erie ripple over town lots and building
sites which. Il was hoped. would some day bring
great wealth TO the projectors OF the village.
A few miles north of Toledo. Ten mile Creek.
dignihcd by geocraph~rs with the name OF OF.
tawA River. marks tho boundary on the lake
front between Ohio and Michigan. On the
north bank of tho stream. Just within Monroe
county, Mich. Is the site OF what once was the
town OF Havrs. II was not a hamlet, such as Is
gradually formed around a few fishing shanties
when n country Is young, but n town that was
created by hundreds OF colonists. When Havre
was laid out It was the only place that was more
than a mere settlement between Monroe, Mich.
and historic Old Maumee. o. Toledo was
only n name, for when the colonIsts landed. In
1880. this city was just u year old. and its future
growth was highly problrrnaticai. II was situ-
ated twelve miles from the island that marks
the western end OF the lake, while llavrc, situ-
Ated to the north OF Gard Island, was practically
on the broad highway Of waters.
The colouists were brought TO the sight OF the
town by tho steamer Superior from Buffalo. II
Is probable that this steamer was the first craft
other than an Indian canoe that had ever ven.
tured into the channel between Gard Island and
| the mainland. Many OF the coloni-ts Of lIavre
were French, and they named the new town
after the famous port in their mother country.
Denis Moriu. whose descendants still live on the
water front near the old town site. laid out tho
streets with his plough, and helped to grade
the location OF the principal buildings. OLD
Peter Trevick. who Is still living Ia Vienna,
Mich, also helped to build the town. Houses
rose rapidly. a first rate church WAS built, and
stores out Of all proportion to tho business Of
that day. md a commodious tavern were erect
ed. In short, within two years from the time
the nrst colonists landed. 500 houses had been
built along the water front, and the little
steamer that piled between Detroit, Monroe.
and Maumeef found profitable trading at Havre.
Then came the cataciysin. Old Lake Eric
began slowly to rise. The town was only n few
feet above the level Of tn. creek. and tine coun-
try all around was msrshy. Il was at first
high water. But the water came over the sills
OF the doors nearest the lake, and slowly but
house was invaded. aud tho pretty little creek
mouth gradually widcned until It WAS nearly \
mile across. on the water came until the floors
in tho highest portion OF the town stood four
feet deep 10 the water, The people were, OF
that could float. they hurried To the highest
spot on the mainland aud waited for the end.
Finding after u day or two, that the waters
had apparently cea>ed To rise they returned
and took away all. tho property that could bo
moved BY the old-fashioned canoes, which were
an Indispensable adjunct to every French trap
per's outfit. Tho boats were rowed right into
the houses. and when II came to transporting
tho barrels OF good liquor with which the tay-
ern taproom was stocked. there was many u
poor Frenchman who had AN opportunity OF
drinking better spirits than he had ever, tasted
as memorable n drunk as this part OF the c0uh-
try had ever seen.
big winter. Ten Mile Greek was frozen To its
bottom. and the snow was very deep. The
founders OF Havre. who had encamped along
should recede and they should come Into their
own again. were. forced by the inclement
weather to hunt for new new d homes; Monr9e re,
adjacent farms absorbed the rest 3f the VII
layers. Tho waters never went back, and the
following spring there was a great sale 81 the
towns buildings. They went cheap, aud the
settlers came from miles around TO bid for
them. The houses were raised before the Ice
s1ssSa ~ %Hss I'll IN good s6%'sS coa SIHii'S % %
were iott near 2@ sEs village sss site, and the the only IS" one
that can now be identified is occupied by, Young
bodily TO Vienna, Mich, where 1t stood toI
years. Even the pioneer steamer was broker
I'M. and to-day some OF her planks are built into
the house OF Levi MORN. whose uncle ploughed
the street Inns Of Havre. All that is left OF
Havre T. a few piles that can still be seen rot
Whether the water of Lake Erie actually rose
or whether the land about the town site sank
ern Lake Erie has any record Of such an increase
In It's waters; but II Is argued by those who be
not have been so noticeable At any other poln'
as at Havro. on account OF the low level OF III
. SISS s stss; ,Ms ssrsst.. s shS G %ssS = sh sn .s piss s Sst
black bAss has been taken. on the site OF tho ole
sSTni Slshhoush fey ,1 OF N n mani many ,,ssss .m fTGT
with tho story Of the town beneath Its surface.