The Detroit times., 1909-05-27
FIRST PRESS SET
UP CENTURY AGO
Event Will Be Celebrated in Notable
Way in Museum Of Art,
June s.

Although Detroit was founded more
than 200 years ago. II is but century
since the frst printing press was sci
up in this community. The centenary
OF this event will be celebrated in the
Museum Of Art, Tuesday, June g.,
Under the auspices OF the Michigan
Press association, committees have
been appointed which are working 20
make the occasion a memorable one.
Father Gabriel Richard, q Sulpician
priest. whose charge was not only Stc
Anne's parish in Detroit but practical
ly the entire Ronfan Cafhoffc- popuia
ton OF Michigan. was responsible for
bringing this press here and his life
and career will be the subject OF sew.
eral papers.
Melville E. Stone, the head OF the
Associated Press. will be the principal
speaker. Lawton L. Hemans, of Ma
son, will deliver u historical address,
while FIR. Ernest Van Dyke will talk
of stha educational work OF FIR. Rich
ard. Librarian Henry NJ. Utley is 70
discuss THE Genesis OF Printing In
Michigan" while other addresses will
be made by Mrs. Beatrice Larned
Whitney and William Stocking, a vet
eran newspaperman.
The Richard press was also the frat
one IN the entire northwest. so that
the event has a wide significance. The
need Of one lad been felt by the Of
ficials 81 the community but II was a
long and arduous journey from the
east to Michigan at that time, and
none was received until this priest,
feeling the need for newspaper and
for the means of printing educational
works, sent to the east for the first
crude press to be set up here.
FIR. Richard was born Oct 10, 1884,
in Saintes. department OF Charente-
inferieur, France and educated as
priest in Anglers. going to Paris just
at the time the French revolution was
beginning. The -lxead of the Sui
pician order sent a number OF young
priests to Baltimore in 1892 to found
st. Marys seminary, and FIR. Richard
was one of these He was sent In the
same year TO minister TO the religious
wants OF the French In Illinois, and
thence transferred TO Detroit, coming
here In June. 1898
The settlement on the Detroit river
then had a population of about 1900
French beside a scattering OF English,
and other nationalities. The
prest was A man OF simple life and
Gustere habits but his intense earnest
ness made him a prominent figure In
the community at once In 1904 he
established separate schools for boys
and girls. The Are of 1905 DESTROYED
the old village ana he removed to the
Lasalle farm in Springwells for time
until hich church was rebuilt.
Finding that there was a scarcity
OF necessary books and no news
paper, he sent for press and IL was
brought across the mountains by
James NJ Miller, printer who oper.
ated IL for a time. On Aug. 81 1909.
the first copy OF the Michigan Essay
of Impartial Observer was issued.
printed in both French and English
r he first number contained a notice of
a number OF books which FIR. Richard
intended to print, but his original pro-
gram was not strictly adhered to. The
did not live long but he
printed la Journale de Chrettiennes,'
an Epistle and Gospel for Sundays AMI
In the Year and other works
of a religious and educational sort
The press was also used TO print
deeds and government records. Theo-
phile Mettez became the printer later
and from this press was issued the
first compilation OF the laws or the
new territory The most striking use
OF the press was IA 1912. when II was
used to print the proclamation, of the
British general. Brock, after Detroit
had been surrendered TO him, FRI
Richard was a local American citizen
and denounced the British leaders in
his sermons so that he was taken as
a prisoner TO Sandwich. Here he
preached in captivity and used his in
ffuence 70 prevent the torture OF pris-
oners by Indian allies OF the British
army.
After the war he went to Washing.
ton To argue for better roads and was