The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1922-03-03

still owned by the railroad company.
1t was not unlikely then in 1872 that
L,Anse would remain the terminus Of
the railroad fer some time to come.
Things moved along nicely until the
panic Of 1873 when the speculative
/ properties of the enterprise became
Stern reality took the place
Of fiction and L'Anse from that day is
what remains of the wreck.
Fer some unexpainable reason. ev-
cry effcrt to resurrect the dead ambi-
ticn was proven futile. Many aban-
doned all hope and left the earnings
Of liftime, which had once seemed SO
full of promises.
The location remained with every
quality it ever had so far as a ship
ping point is concerned. The iron dis
trict was approached within five miles
from L'Anse and it was expected that
the metal would be shipped from this
point. At one time locations were ia
cut for one or more plast furna - 1t
owing 'tc the pane of 1879 lie PR
ject was not pushed forward. Those
who remained here thoroughly UNDER
stcod the situation FNd remained to
make the best of it.. they were wide
awake and energetic men and con-
Quoted the business of the town in a
that was a credit to them.
They recognized the difficulties under
which they worked but they still hoped
for better things. Those who were
engaged in trade had large business
from the town and surrounding coun-
try. They also had a large trade
with the Indians from the Catholic
and Methodist Missions. Every ad-
vantage the town then had, it still
has as a manufacturing point. Those
who then owned it were Indifferent to
every project to revive the town. Beau
tiful sites for residences were then
splendid water powers
went to vast and during this time a
heavy gloom settled down ever the
future that was once so bright.
Its railroad and shipping facilities
with the immense power of Falls Riv-
er seemed to promise in time that it
would become an important manufac-
turing point. Within the limits Of the
village there is fall of seventy-six
feet and nine miles from the mouth Of
the fall is not less than one thousand
feet.
The first hotel to be established at
L'Anse was the L'Anse House, moved
here en- a scow from Hcughton in
1871, by Samuel Lloyd. A stone foun-
daticn fronting Main Street was
built and the house was placed on it.
The Lake Linden House was moved
from Lake Linden in 1872 by Prosper
Roberts. Like the L'Anse House, a
stone foundation was built on Main
Street Just north of Meadow Creek
(now called Linden Creek and the
was placed on it. Later the
Berlin, Ottawa, Coles and Voetsch
Houses were built and operated as
hotels.
There was a large bank which was
opened for business on October 1,
1871, and run by E. L. Mason for the
accommodation Of mining and lumber
ing interests.
A saw mill had been built at L'Anse
in 1888 by Charles Childs, but this
burned about 1850. 1t was the first
manufacturing industry OF
this village. Later a mill was built
by Marshall Buffers and Company,
which operated for a while and then
shut down until it was taken over by
Stearns & Culver Lumber Company
a few years ago.
There was a drug store kept by d.
j. Norton and several ether stores
kept by j. B. Smith, who established
his business in July, 1871; Ruppe and
Sons, John Brady and Patrick Bren-
nan.
There was also a good newspaper
published here bv Sylvester Kinney
formerly of Michigamme, having
founded the Lake Superior Sentinel
the first paper in Baraga county, in
1880. Mr.. Kinney worked hard to at
tract settlers into this section to oc-
cupv the fine farming lands Of the sur
rounding country. At this time the
naper had a circulation Of five hun
dred copies. :,
y Other early business men were H
Selden, who came here in 1871 as con.
tractor and manager Of the railroad;
john Bernard, station agent; Charles
Blankenhorn, proprietor OF the mea,
market; Peter Crebassa, the first
postmaster Of L,Anse, holding the Of.
fee for thirty years. He was also
agent of the Hudson Bay Fur Com
panv after John Holiday.
DR.. Borden was the first doctor ant
DR.. Turner was the government ply
sician of the Macllinaw Agency.
Churches
The Methodist M. E. church wal
built in 1876, Reverend Van Avery be
ing the first pastor, while David Cur
+tis. q Methodist missionary, came herr
often.
The Catholic church was built il
1874. Reverend George Terhorst be
ing the first priest. He came from tn
Catholic mission. This church wal
burned in 1912 and was replaced by
stone edihce.
L'Anse ~ . Manufacturing Point
The fine water running to wast'
within few rods Of Main street is O
sufficient capacity to operate larg'
factory. Why some industry does no
select this point to engage in manu-
|facturing Of some kind lis a>myster!
that can only be explained by the fac
that those who have tried in the pas
| lhaye BEEN unsuccessful. thus discour
aRirg others from making an attempi
The beauty Of this place can only b
Expressed in extravaRant lanRuaee
| The natural beauty Of the town ID no