The L'Anse sentinel., 1922-08-11
RecOlIectiOns of
q Pioneer +!
ASSININS AND ZEBA
The Two Oldest Permanent Settle
ments on Keweenaw Bay

Note-The writer is an octo-
genariar Tc ... -. Pegasus :t
this state of life is like trying to
obtain Wholesome drausnc
from a pool of stagnant water,
laboriously forced through rus
ty pipes, as comnared with
swallow from a living spring
bubbling up from Mother Earth
ever sparkling and delighting.
When the tourist approaching Lake
Superior from 'he east has crossed
the Huron Mountain range and speed
ing down the steep grade leading
shoreward, energies from the shadow
of the WOODS into u,oad daylight, an
agreeable surprise waits him. A
grand sheet of water tinted in ultra
marine, stretches out before his gaze,
toward the north until lost in the
vast expanse of the lake. It's unlim-
tied horizon gives the mind an idea of
the mightiest in existence.
Leaving L'Anse, the county seat, to
our right, the "Fire Car" after a
short run along the waters edge,
reaches Baraga the sawmill town.
Closely nestled in the furthest nook
of the bay, it lies west Of Lance.
Less than three miles due north, run
ming on perfectly level road-bed
through an idyllic pine-grove, takes
US to Assinins, The Catholic Indian
Mission. Here we get out, leaving
the iron horse and proceed into the
heart Of the Keweenaw Peninsula.
The late Mr.. Curzon, rector of the
Episcopal church of Houghton, once
asked the writer, How comes it that
the Catholics, who have always been
first taking a fovthold in the wilder
ness, were beaten by the Methodists
in the establishment of mission in
Keweenaw Bay?" / could not an
swer the question then and there and
simply took coen'zance Of the fact
True, the foundation of the Methodist
Mission takes pro-" "donce Of The Cath
olic by few years. However, Jesu-
it.
Jesuit missionaries had penetrated
into the Lake superior country and
labored among its inhabitants as car
ly as the seventeenth century. The
latter kept changing their camps with
the seasons and had never yet seer
a white man. Father Menard, as ear.
ly as 1860 made his headquarters ir
St. Theresa Bay, as he named orr bay
of Keweenaw. There in all proba.
bility at the present site cr PcG-am
ing, he erected temporary chapel
Less than q century ago band Of
Ojibwas were still enthroned there il
a village. On this same ground, oul
Methodist Indians gather for theil
annual camp meeting.
Menard remained at this place min,
months, whereupon he started will
three Indians for the head waters o.
Black River, where, he had been told
band of Hurons, many of then
Christians, were awaiting him. II
spite Of the warnings and entreatie1
of his companions to turn back, h
continued his perilous march in tn,
direction of Lac Vieux Desert, in tn,
vicinity of which he got lost. Wheth
err he starved to death or was kille,
by the hands of some raving Indians
will never be known.
Keweenaw Point, the marrow
tongue Of land reaching far out int,
Lake S.pe.ioi, ,.ay De Compared
with an arrow, the confguration O
the lake indicating the bow draw
ready for action. The resemblanc,
is striking and the comparison tn,
more appropriate as the surrounding
country has always been the home O.
the Ojibwas with bow and arrows tn,
principal weapons used in battle a.
well as in the chase. The peninsula
with its rich copper-bearing rocl
forms an important part of the state
and its history presents a parallel t.
the history Of Manhattan, the world,
capital. Both islands were acquired
by the United States from the native,
for ridiculously low price. Today
the valueu Of these two possessions, Il
divided among the descendants of the
tribes concerned, would create mil.
lionaires of them, every man, woman
and child; in the case of Manhattan
Island, multi-miltonaires. Previous
to 1885, narrow neck Of land, the
Portage, connected the "Point with
the main body Of the Upper Peninsula,
thus ungratifying 1t to become
classed an island, but since, in the
interest Of navigation this neck has
been removed, the minor peninsula