The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1906-01-18

OF the BafiIy Family In Porter
Woman -- Old Blue on White the
CO1Ors Used.
Mrs. Margaret Scammon Lockwood
Of Chicago recently has completed
memorial mantelpiece which is to be
placed in the historic Bailly homestead
in Porter county, Ind, says the Chi
cago Post. The mantelpiece consists Of
sixty-four painted tiles In blue and
white, filling out logical design with
historic sketches, supported by deco
rative drawing, illustrating the early
career of the Bailly family in the Unit
ed States
Several years ago Mrs. Lockwood
was given the commission by Miss
Frances Rose Howe, granddaughter OF
the founder of the Bailly homestead.
81. Joseph Bailly de Messeiu, who came
from Quebec in the early years Of last
century and established fur trading
post for the American Fur Trading
company OF the northwest in Indiana.
The old Bailly homestead, two and
bne-half stories high, is built Of i'm
mense oak logs. These are now sheath
ed, giving it the appearance of a sub
stantial frame house. The mantel will
be placed in the fireplace in the room
TO the right of the wide hall wherein
General Cass and many heroes of In
dian days were entertained with royal
hospitality.
It is interesting to follow the series
Of sketches used by Mrs. Lockwood In
constructing the memorial. The views
Of Quebec are reproduced from quaint
etchings made by friends who used to
come as guests One Of the etchings
Is by General Cass. NJ. and Mime.
Bailly are remembered in history for
their services III preserving peace be-
tween the settlers and the Indians and
In helping pioneers and travel worn
Immigrants over many hard places. -
It was ii 1924 that the Bailly home
stead was founded as a station Of the
American Fur Trading company and,
as the quaint old documents state, sin
the interest of Christianity and ciyiliza-
tion," and became the headquarters Of
the Roman Catholic missions in north
ern Indiana and Illinois.
The first historic tile gives q view Of
die port Of Quebec. birthplace Of Joseph
Bailly de Messeiu, the founder. A Sec
ond title shows M. Bailly reading Scrip
ture lessons for the instruction Of his
family and Christianized Indians liv-
Ing in the surrounding forests. To the
left is a typical drawing Of the home
stead and TO the right design from
the seal of the American Fur Trading
company
Another tile presents a general view
OF the trading post in 1880, taken from
q northeast point, as described In q wa
ter color sketch Of the period. From q
second water color sketch is q south
east view, painted at the same time. A
pen and ink sketch Of hermitage and
picture Of a bridge over tho Calumet
river as il was in 1929 also are shown.
A typical scene Of the pioneer days
Is shown in picture Of Indians car
rying peltries to the agency warehouse
and the daughter Of the homestead"
opening small storeroom designed
for use Of the Indians in storing their
personal effects This was drawn be-
tween 1919 and 1924. 54
Between 1880 and 1885 the home
stead of huge white oak timbers, COW
cred with siding, presented quite
showing. It was pretentious mansion
In the eyes of the early settlers, and
it's outbuildings were constructed 50
substantially Of logs that they are in
an excellent state Of preservation to-
day. Miss Frances Rose Howe Is In
terested in taking care Of the place. as
it is a valuable feature In the early
history Of Indiana.
In 1S41 Rose Bailly was married to
Francis Howe of New Haven, Conn,
In the old homestead, and the armOrial
bearings Of the Bailly and Howe fami-
lies have been used as decoration on
the tiles.
The conventional patterns employed
by Mrs. Lockwood in her scheme are
very simple and fitting as a back
ground to the story which runs through
the tiles. The colors, old blue on
white. keep alive the ANTIQUE feeling.