Parisville/Paris Township

The Oldest Polish Settlement in Michigan (Founded 1855/1856)

Parisville Museum Sketch by Marilyn Rutkowski. Cabin circa 1875

by Charles Ciechanowski-Chinoski-Chase

March 2019

1 A Special Thanks

The following people have made invaluable contributions to this document:

• Roger Laske • Evelyn Osentoski-Clor • Richard Clor • Jackie Rutkowski-Gracey • Janis Stein • Norma Glaza-Novick • The late Donald Lucien Susalla • The late Stanley & Marilyn Miklasz -Rutkowski

2 Contents 1. Problems in Poland 2. Poles in America 3. Emigration from Poland to the Parisville Area 4. Where is Parisville Located? 5. A Stopover in Canada 6. The Founding of Parisville 7. Early Purchasing of Land in Paris Township 8. The Move to Their New Property 9. Early Pioneer Life in Paris Township 10. St Mary’s Catholic Church 11. Huron County Ravaged by Fire: 1871 12. Huron County Ravaged by Fire: 1881 13. Parisville Becomes a Town (Again) 14. Parisville Today 15. References 16. Appendices

3 1. Problems in Poland Introduction • In the mid-19th Century, Michigan was experiencing a rapid rate of expansion. A large part of this growth was due to a significant influx of immigrants, primarily from Europe. • Conditions in many parts of Europe, especially Poland, created an incentive for Europeans to seek a “better life” in America • Between 1772 and 1795, Poland was partitioned by Prussia, Russia and Austria. By 1795, Poland, as an independent nation, no longer existed.

• This overrun of Poland, by other nations, caused many problems for the “Polish” people, including the following: • They had the culture of a foreign power imposed upon them, • They were, often, not allowed to openly practice their religious beliefs, • They were, often, not allowed to teach their children their native language in schools. • Polish merchants often had to shutter their businesses because the partitioning power would not allow its support by the locals. • They were, often, conscripted into the military of the partitioning countries, • They had significant restrictions imposed on them regarding land ownership and the growing, harvesting and selling of crops—highly dominant serfdom was commonplace. • The Result: the movement Poles to America—primarily starting in the mid- 1800s

4 2. Poles in America Poles Coming to America • Hundreds of thousands of Poles eventually settled in large US cities, such as New York, Philadelphia, Detroit and Chicago. This migration primarily took place in the late 19th Century and the early 20th Century. • The true Polish pioneers came to America in the mid-19th Century. They were primarily farmers who had to find cheap land in a strange new country. They faced the very difficult task of clearing and developing “wild”, and often dangerous, lands for agricultural purposes. Also immigrating, near this time, were coal miners who went to work in such places as Shamokin, Pennsylvania. • In 1857 the mining area of Pennsylvania encountered a major financial crisis, resulting in many miners losing their jobs. Michigan became an attractive alternative. Miners who ended up purchasing land in Michigan included: Andrew Florkowski, Joseph Ossowski, Francis Talaga, Joseph Dropiewski, Michael Dutkowski, Joseph Bloch, John Wojtalewicz and Matheus Suida.

First US Polish Settlement • Many documents have been published addressing the subject: which was the first “Polish Settlement” in the United States? By Polish Settlement is meant that Poles were the primary inhabitants of the town. • The two primary contenders were: 1. Panna Maria, Karnes County, TX 2. Parisville, Huron County, MI • Panna Maria celebrated their first mass on Christmas Eve 1854 • In 1977, Harry Milostan published his book: “Parisville Poles, First Polish Settlers in U.S.A.”? On page-25, Milostan showed a figure indicating that Francis Susalla, a Pole, purchased his first Parisville land on 11 September 1854 (over 3-months before the Mass in Panna Maria). It looked as though Parisville would win the honor of 1st Polish community. 5 Francis Susalla’s Land Purchase (As shown on page-25 Milostan’s book)

6 3. Emigration from Poland to the Parisville Area

7 Settling in a New Land Involved Overcoming Many New Problems • First, it should be noted that all families who migrated to the Parisville area between 1855 and 1875 were true pioneers. • Settling in the “Thumb” of Michigan brought with it significant challenges such as:

1. Much of the land was covered by thick forests, inhabited by wild animals and various Indian tribes. 2. Some areas had swamps that needed to be rid of water 3. No roads or internal waterways existed to aid in travel between areas. Travel was by foot, using the trails of Indians and animals. 4. Not speaking the native language, English, was a significant hurdle the Poles had to eventually overcome. • Besides offering political and religious freedom, Michigan provided these farmers with three other important things: (1) cheap land, (2) excellent land for growing crops and (3) a climate fairly close to that of their homeland. Additionally, this area provided excellent hunting which yielded both food and pelts, and the virgin forests which supported the building of log cabins and the establishment of a lumber industry. From Where in Poland Did the Parisville Pioneers come? • Although Poles came to the Thumb from a number of areas within Poland, most came from within the Prussian Partition. • Within this partition, two villages stand out as the dominant contributors of the Polish immigrants who settled in the area immediately around Parisville: • Boronów, Lubliniec County (Powiat), Silesian Voivodeship, Poland • Śliwice, Tuchola County (Powiat), Kuyavian- Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland • Families who came from these two areas in Poland, and settled in the Parisville area, involved over 80 different surnames. 8 The Villages Included in the Areas Around Boronów & Śliwice

• Boronów & Śliwice are each the Seat of their local district (Gmina) • Gmina Boronów includes the following villages: • Boronów, Cielec, Dębowa Góra, Grojec, Hucisko and Zumpy; and settlements Doły, Sitki, and Szklana Huta

• Gmina Śliwice includes (1) the following villages: • Brzeźno Male, Brzozowe Blota, Bylyczek, Glówka, Krąg, Laski, Ląski Piec, Linówek, Lińsk, Lipowa, Lisiny, Lubocień, Okoniny, Okoniny Nadjeziorne, Rosochatka, Śliwice, Sliwiczki and Zwierzyniec, Biała, Lążek, Duże, Krówno, Osówek, Osieczna, Rzepiczna, Szlachta, Starzyska, Zdrojno.

(1) NOTE: the villages shown for Gmina Śliwice are for 1850, Source: Dariusz (Darek) Rząska

Map of Poland with its 16 Provinces

9 Families with Over 30 Surnames Moved from the Boronόw Area to the Parisville Area

• Borowiec • Piełot/Pieloth • Bula/Buła • Plewnia/Plevnia • Bulla • Pluta • Bureiza/Bureisa • Polk • Burzik • Pyrek/Pyrrek • Dzuik • Sowa • Gomoluch • Sowka/Sofka • Goniwiecha • Stroba • Klama • Swierc/Swiercz • Kozlowski • Sławik/Slawik • Kucharczyk • Ulfig/Ulfik • Kulish • Walentek • Lescznewski • Warczak • Myrcik • Zielinski • Mzyk • Zurek • Moy • Zyska • Ossadnik/Osadnik Families with about 50 Surnames Moved from the Śliwice Area to the Parisville Area

• Chabowski • Peplinski • Ciechanowski • Pilawski • Czayka • Piotrowski • Glaza • Pliszka/Plyzka/Pliska • Gliniecki • Połłom/Połom/Polom • Gornowicz • Ryngwelski/Ringwelski • Gorecki • Rytlewski • Grabowski • Rząska • Gryfka/Grifka • Szmaglinski/Smaglinski • Gwizdała/Gwizdałła/Gwisdala • Śmielewski/Smielewski • Kanabay/Kanaby • Śpica/Spica/Spitza • Kaminski • Szamocka • Klejna • Szlachcikowski • Łepek/Lepek/Leppek • Szuida/Suida • Linski • Talaszki/Talaśki/Talaski • Litkowski, Łytkowski, Łytkowski • Trepkowski • Lubanski • Warczak • Niezurawski • Węsierski/Wesierski • Nowak • Weyznerowski • Olszowy • Wilkowski • Osentowski/Osentoski • Włoch • Ossowicki/Osowicki • Wrόbel/Wrobel/Wroble • Zielinski • Partyka/Parteka 10 • Pawłowski/Pawlowski • Zurawski 4. Where is Parisville Located? Parisville’s Location Within Michigan

Huron Established as a County • Originally attached to adjacent counties: Sanilac & Tuscola • Huron established as a Michigan County by Michigan Law on 1 April 1840 • Fully organized by Act of Legislature on 25 January 1859 • Sand Beach (now Harbor Beach) was the county seat until 1865. • The county seat then moved to Port Austin until 1873. • Finally, the county’s Board of Supervisors designated Bad Axe as county seat, where it remains today.

11 28 Townships of Huron County, MI

Extent of Huron County’s Boundary

Counties Near Huron County

12 5. A Stopover in Canada Arrived in Quebec  on to Ontario • Upon arrival in Quebec, the Poles encountered agents, who informed them of railroad construction jobs available in Ontario. • The first of the Poles arrived in Quebec around 1854 and 1855. We know that Ambrose Ciechanowski and his step brother, Thomas Smielewski, obtained passports, for their passage, in April 1854. No actual sailing dates have been found, because the Canadian government destroyed most, if not all, ship passenger lists for the period prior to 1865. • We do know that Franz Polk, his wife Josefa, nee Sławik, and their family, sailed from Hamburg, Germany to Hull, England in April 1855. Even though records for the remainder of the trip to Canada cannot be found, we do know that his wife, Josefa Sławik, gave birth to their son, Francis, in Paris, Ontario in July 1855. • During this same period, two other key Polish pioneers arrived in Ontario: Francis Susalla, with his wife Josefa, nee, Zolonek, and Anton Sławik, and his wife, Johanna, nee, Walentek . Anton’s wife had recently (28 April 1855) given birth to their son, Anton, in Boronów, Poland. Anton and Josefa (Josephine) Sławik-Polk (wife of Franz Polk) were paternal 1st cousins.

NOTE: Ambrose Ciechanowski was my gr-grandfather, Franz Polk was my gr-gr-grandfather

Life in Ontario for Railroad Workers was Tough

13 Important Canadian Railroad of the Day

Ontario, Canada

14 Polish Children Were Born/Baptized in Paris, Brant County, Ontario

Most Poles Knew that Canada was only a Temporary Home • Families in Poland knew that North America offered them new opportunities to create a better life. They learned that Canada offered an excellent means of earning wages by helping to build one of several Canadian railroads under construction. • These wages were critical to the Poles, because it provided a means of saving part of their earnings and eventually applying this money to the purchase of land, which they, for the first time in their lives, would be owners. • Even though Canada did provide the Poles an excellent opportunity during their initial life in North America, many of these Poles knew that Canada did not satisfy their long-term goals. Some explored Pennsylvania and New York, while others decided to explore opportunities in Michigan. 15 6. The Founding of Parisville Forays to Michigan • While working on the railroad, the Poles heard that cheap land was available in the “Thumb” peninsula of Michigan. • Periodically, a few Poles would travel to Michigan to assess the possibilities that existed. • This land was not desirable to many, because it not only required significant forest clearing operations, but much of it was low land with swampy areas. This latter characteristic did not dissuade the Poles, because their work on the railroad taught them how to efficiently clear swamps and make them into useful pieces of land. Additionally, work on the railroad gave the Poles excellent experience in clearing forested areas in order to create a pathway for the railroad. • An important attraction to this Michigan land area was that it contained excellent creeks which could provide fresh water. • The forest included a variety of trees: principally pine, hemlock, beech and maple with a scattering cedar, black ash, elm, oak and basswood. • The wildlife in the area included deer, bear, wolf, fox, beaver and fish. This wildlife could not only provide an excellent source of food, but could also provide furs which could be used for warm clothing, or for trading to obtain food, or farm implements. • Now, it was just a matter of the time required to save up the funds needed for purchasing land.

The Team of Five Five Poles spearheaded the move to Michigan. These included: • Francis Susalla (age-66 in 1856) • Francis Polk (age-44 in 1856) • Anton (Anthony) Sławik (Slavick) (age-32 in 1856) • Thomas Smielewski (age-29 in 1856) • Ambrose Ciechanowski (age-23 in 1856) • When his father died in 1837, Ambrose, my great grandfather, was adopted by Casimir Smielewski after marrying Ambrose’s mother. Casimer traveled with the family to Michigan. Therefore, for his initial land purchase, Ambrose used the surname Smielewski 16 7. Early Purchasing of Land in Paris Township Layout of Land Sections Within Paris Township (15N-14E)

Nomenclature Used in Dividing a Section Within a Township

17 The First Poles to Purchase Land in Paris Township

1856 Paris Twp Land Purchase by Francis Susalla

18 Polish Pioneers Who Purchased Paris Twp Land with Land Patents Dated Between 1859 & 1860(1)

Signatures of Some of Paris Township’s Early Settlers

19 8. The Move to Their New Property Travel from Paris, Ontario to Their New Home in Michigan

9. Early Pioneer Life in Paris Township Getting Started

20 Cabin Building Implements

Early Parisville Cabin

21 Checklist of Additional Key Tasks • Make interior of cabin suitable for family habitation. Eventually finish out the cabin interior • Clear underbrush between tree stumps so that a preliminary planting can occur. • Dry out any swamp areas needed for planting • Continue felling trees in order to provide logs for out buildings, and firewood for the cabin. Clear the stumps, in order to provide more land available for crop planting. • Procure one, or more, horses, or oxen, from White Rock, or nearby Forestville, so that stump clearing could proceed more efficiently. Initially, this was probably done as a group, so that each of this small group could , more quickly, get their cabin built for their family. Stump Removal

22 Some Additional Early Chores

• Initial felling of trees: COMPLETED • Initial clearing of stumps: COMPLETED • Building a cabin for the family: COMPLETED WHAT’S NEXT? • Build some basic furniture for the cabin • Fell more trees and clear stumps • Build a barn • Cultivate some fields for family garden and crops • Trek back and forth to White Rock, or Forestville, to: • Stock the pantry • Purchase needed tools • Purchase some domestic animals (pigs, cows, chickens, etc.)

Busy Times

23 A Women’s Day Never Ends

Indians as Neighbors

• The Polish pioneers were blessed with neighboring Indian tribes that were both friendly and helpful. • They taught the Poles how to make wigwams so that they could quickly build protection from the elements • They taught the Poles how to hunt and trap some of the local wild animals, so that they provided a food supply • The Indians taught the Poles about local flora that could be a source of nourishment • The Indians also taught the Poles how to grow certain crops, such as corn, beans and squashes. • Local Native People/American Indians probably included families from such tribes as: Sauk, Huron and Anishinabe-Ojibwa (1) • The Poles were able to teach the Indians many of the ways of farming in Poland. They were also a handy source for bartering. • One winter, things went very poorly for the Indians and they were close to starving. Poles, such as Urban Kucharczyk, offered them bags of potatoes, loaves of bread, bacon and other staples. Later, when things were better for the Indians, the Poles were supplied with fresh venison, homemade pottery, blankets and other essentials.

(1) Celebrating 150 Years, Huron Co, MI, (1859-2009), Parisville, by Pamela Kladzyk 24 The First Birth in Paris Township

Death: Always Waiting to Strike • Survival in the back woods of mid-19th century Michigan was a big challenge. • The difficult work of building a new homestead, too often involved accidents, which sometimes resulted in death. • Births often resulted in the child dying before the age of 2-years. • Diseases often ran unchecked, because the 19th century medicines were not sufficiently capable of attacking many of the problems of that time such as tuberculosis, pneumonia, typhoid, diphtheria, smallpox etc. • Additionally, surgical skills were very limited, so that medical problems, which can be easily addressed today, too often resulted in death. 25 Smallpox in Paris Township • Smallpox: an infectious disease, caused by a virus. In 1980, the World Health Organization declared that smallpox had been eradicated, globally. • In the 1870s, smallpox was a killer, with little available, medically, to thwart its progress through a community. • In January 1877, smallpox entered Paris Twp and infected eight families. These families were quarantined in an attempt to stop the spread of this disease. • The quarantine worked, but not until at least one death occurred: Susanna Wojtalewicz-Oberski died, at age 22, on 23 January 1877. She was the wife of Leonard Oberski and the mother of two young boys, Leo and Frank. She was buried in St Mary’s Cemetery, in Parisville Data source: Roger Laske

Diphtheria in 1894 Devastates Paris Township

26 Shrine to St Roch

10. St Mary’s Catholic Church

• First Church • Second Church • Third Church • Fourth Church • Cemetery • Church Festival • St Isidore Parish

27 A Primitive Start to a New Parish • The Parisville Poles left their homeland for many reasons, most important of which was religious freedom. • Now that they were in their new homeland, one of their early priorities was to properly worship the Lord, and give him thanks for his many gifts. • Through their purchase of land at the Detroit Land Office, it became known, to the Poles of Detroit, that a group of Polish pioneers was now going to inhabit an area in the “Thumb” of their state. • Therefore, the Catholic Diocese of Detroit began to periodically send missionary priests, up to the “Thumb”, to tend to some of the religious needs of the newcomers. These services included baptizing children, blessing any graves and saying mass. • No church was initially available, so mass was said at the home of Anton (Anthony) Slawik, using the kitchen table as the altar. The first funeral and first wedding ceremonies were also conducted at the Slawik home.

Early Priests Provide Help in Huron Co.

28 Realizing the Dream of Their 1st Church

Typed Copy of the Key Elements of Anton Slawik’s Sale of Property for Parisville’s First Church "This indenture, March 5, 1859, between Anton Slawick and wife, Joanna Slawick, party of the first part and Polish Settlers, party of the second part, for and consideration of nineteen dollars ... conveyed, certain piece or parcel of land known and described as follows: To wit: A square piece of land from the southeast corner of the Northeast quarter of Section 22 in Township 15 North, Range 14 East, containing twenty one acres, in the County of Huron, State of Michigan. This land was free of any incumbrances ... and the signatures of (Signed) Anton Slawick, Joanna X Slawick (Her Mark) The witness to the signature and transfer was Agny Gelski. Notarized in Sanilac County on March 5, 1859." 29 Concept Sketch of 1st Parisville Church

First Permanent Church for Parisville

30 Two St Mary’s Churches Destroyed by Fires in 1871 and 1881 • In October 1871, the first St Mary’s Church and rectory were destroyed by a wild fire which ravaged the area. Temporarily, masses were conducted in John Woytalewicz’s home (it was the largest home of the area, with the largest living room). • A new energetic pastor, Fr. Joseph Musielewicz, arrived in 1874, with the charter to get St Mary’s parish back on its feet. In June 1875, the second St Mary’s church started construction, with completion in October 1875. • Six years later, on 5 September 1881, a forest fire struck Huron County, and totally destroyed St Mary’s second “permanent” church. (NOTE: details of the fires are discussed in a later sections)

A New St Mary’s Church is Built • The people of Parisville had to build a new church, after clearing the ashes of destruction of the church which was completely destroyed—the only “relic” which survived being the church’s bell which had been used to warn the parishioners of the pending disaster, when the fires started. • The parishioners drew from their proven history of strength and determination, thus creating the spirit of solidarity which was needed to successfully complete the building of a new, larger and more glorious church to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary. The new church was completed in late 1882. It had an impressive tower which housed three very large bells. The main body of the church was about 60 X 160-ft (capacity: 800) and included three altars and a huge pipe organ containing 1600 tubes. Also completed was a new rectory. • That same year, Fr. Gratza returned to his original diocese in Altin, Illinois. He was replaced by Fr. Constantine Domagetski. • In the late 1880s, a new 2-story school was completed. It included two classrooms on the 2nd floor (one: grades 1-4, one: grades 5-8) a chapel and accommodations for the Felician Sisters were on the 1st floor.. Daily mass was held in the chapel, Morning classes, and all conversion, were conducted in Polish. In the afternoons, all operations were done in English. Classes included geography, arithmetic, history, reading )in English, catechism (Polish/English), Bible history, Polish History and Polish Reading. • The Felician Sisters, officially known as the Congregation of Sisters of St. Felix of Cantalice Third Order Regular of St. Francis of Assisi (CSSF), is a religious institute of pontifical right whose members profess public vows of chastity, poverty and obedience, and follow the evangelical way of life in common. This active-contemplative religious institute was founded in Warsaw, Poland, in 1855, and named for a shrine of St Felix, a 16th-century Capuchin saint especially devoted to children. (1)

(1) Source: Wikipedia 31 St Mary’s New Church of 1882

St Mary’s Church: Inside & Out

32 Aerial View of St Mary’s Complex (About 1955)

St Mary’s Rectory and School

33 Grotto to the Immaculate Conception

St Mary’s 3rd Church Destroyed by Fire (Tuesday 22 October 1974)

34 St Mary’s Catholic Church Dedicated 11 July 1976

Satellite View of St Mary’s Complex ((2018)

35 St Mary’s Cemetery

St Mary’s Annual Festival

36 St Mary’s Becomes a Part of St Isidore’s Parish

St Mary’s Museum

37 St Mary’s Museum (Interior)

St Mary’s Museum (Interior)

38 11. Huron County Ravaged by Fire in 1871 Local Forests Became an Important Part of the Economy

Logging Affected Large Areas of Thumb

39 Creating the 1871 Michigan Holocaust

The Midwest Fires of 8 October 1871(1)

40 Fire Travels Quickly from West to East • Catastrophic fires started on Lake Michigan’s west coast: • Chicago, Illinois: city totally destroyed • Peshtigo, Wisconsin: more than 1000 people killed, 1.2 million acres (1,875 sq. miles) totally destroyed • Fires reach west coast of Michigan (Manistee, Holland, etc.): total destruction • Big Rapids experienced significant damage • The fires raced across the state of Michigan • Reached Port Huron, Cass City, Forestville and devastated the “Thumb” • In Michigan: • 2.5 Million acres (3,900 sq.-miles) were destroyed • In the “Thumb”: • 3,500 families were displaced • Many killed

Paris Township Nearly Wiped Out • 1871: a full 15 years since the founding of Parisville. • By 1871, the farms around Parisville had developed in productive farms, with numerous cows, oxen, horses, etc. • Homes and barns were becoming far more sophisticated than the simple log cabins used to begin life in this challenging area. • People of this wonderful area had big dreams about the promising future that was evolving. • Then came 8 October 1871: virtually the entire “Thumb” was engulfed in flames. Flames that went helter-skelter in all directions, indiscriminately destroying everything in their path: forests, fields for crops, homes, barns, mills, stores, and lives: both human and animal---the dreams seemed shattered.

41 Huron, Sanilac and Tuscola Counties Devastated • Most of Huron, Sanilac and Tuscola Counties were totally engulfed in flames. • Many tried to outrun the flames and lost their lives. • Some hid in their wells: some were successful, others were killed by the extreme heat, or suffocated by the smoke. • Some were fortunate enough to reach the waters of Saginaw Bay and Lake Huron and were reasonably safe. Safe too often meaning they were alive, but severely burned. • The Thumb communities of Glen Haven, White Rock, Forestville, Sand Beach, Port Hope, Grindstone City, Elm Creek, Huron City, Forest Bay, Center Harbor, Rock Falls, Verona Mills were almost totally obliterated and the residents were left destitute, without food, shelter and with only the clothes on their backs. Winter was only weeks away. • Port Austin was set up as a focal point for recovery. Relief shipments from Detroit and elsewhere were sent there to help clothe victims, provide them with sustenance and protect them from the elements..

Trying to Escape

42 A True Test of the Faith and Strength of the Poles • St Mary’s Church was in ashes, most of the homes were destroyed, there was little food to eat. It was a time when the people of the state of Michigan needed to come to their rescue. • Temporary living structures were built, massive food supplies were brought into the area, masses were said in homes that were still standing, and the task of rebuilding the infrastructure of a community gradually began to take hold. • A lot of the trees still had salvageable trunks, because, in some areas, the fire skipped along the tree tops. Logs were cut from the remains of the tree trunks, allowing lumber to be made. Therefore, new homes could begin to be built. • The town of Parisville, and the surrounding farms again started to take shape.

Monuments Remind US Today of That Which Occurred in 1871

43 12. Huron County Ravaged by Fire in 1881 The Summer of 1881 was the Driest Since 1869

Life in Paris Township had Pretty Much Returned to Normal Until 5 September 1881

44 Again, the Thumb was Engulfed by Fire

Notes

45 Witness to the Holocaust (A letter from Deine Schwester to her family in Europe)

Devastation Enshrouds Paris Township

46 Paris Twp Farmer John Sperkowski Loses Wife and 5 Children to 1881 Fire

Paris Twp Burn Victims of 1881 Fire

• Simon Wrobel’s daughter, Anna

47 The Thumb’s 1881 Fire Victims: The First Campaign of the Red Cross

Experiences of the 1881 Fire Shown in the Art of Marilyn Rutkowski

48 Canadian Skies Darkened

Monuments Remind US Today of That Which Occurred in 1881

49 Religious Roadside Shrines (To Promote Prayer While Traveling the Countryside)

13. Parisville Becomes a Town (Again) The Poles of Parisville had to Dig Deep for the Strength to keep Moving Forward

50 Where did the Names Come From? (Paris Township and Parisville)

Early Paris Township Government

51 Paris Twp’s Population Changed Quickly

Log Cabins Began to be Replaced by Comfortable Homes

52 Plat Map of Paris Township: 1890

Plat Map Details of Parisville: 1890

53 Parisville Businesses: Late 19th & Early 20th Century (NOTE: These Businesses Came and Went at Various Times)

“Polk Brothers of Parisville Make Big Success within First Year of Starting Chicken Business”(1)

54 “Carburetor Made by Parisville Man” ( The Huron County Times, 14 May 1926)

Parisville Blacksmith: Joseph (Wojtalewicz) White

55 Parisville in the 1890s to Early 1900s

Casimir Schornak General Store (Atwater & Parisville Roads)

56 Early Auto Dealership & Gas Station

Paris Twp Public School Locations (1890)

57 Early Paris Twp Public Schools • The early Public Schools of Paris Township were typically about 20 X 30-ft, in size, one story and with a single classroom • My 2nd Great Uncle, Vincent Polk, served on the Shemka (below) School Board from 1889 to 1912.

Sources: (1) Rutkowski Collection (2) Janis Stein collection. Janis Stein is the author of Schools of Yesteryear, Vol I & Vol II (see web site below) (3) Janis Stein definition: A school built near a township line, where it serves more than one township’s students. Web site: www.steinexpressions.com

Railroad Opened Through Ruth in 1881

58 Railroad Through Ruth Helps Paris Twp

Parisville Band—24 June 1906

59 Parisville Event 1923

The Arcadia Ballroom

60 Parisville Baseball Team (1946)

Crops & Farm Animals in the 1870s • By 1870, crops were beginning to produce revenue for the farmers. Winter wheat (not spring wheat) was the most important crop. This was mainly used to make flour for both sale and home use. Next came oats for feeding the animals. • Corn was difficult to grow, because of the weather conditions. Later, corn would be grown when certain hybrid forms were available. • Rye was particularly important for family use, because it was a key ingredient in the dark bread of the Poles, and could be used in the making of some alcoholic beverages. • Home gardens were an important part of each household, and were usually tended to by the women and children. • Most farmers, at this time, preferred oxen over horses, although a few horses were in use. The strength of the oxen was critical for clearing tree stumps, in order to provide more land for crops. Oxen were also used for plowing, which could be a tough job because hidden roots from felled trees were still prevalent. Almost zero mules/asses were in use. • Other animals included sheep and swine (pigs), along with cattle for beef. Chickens were a necessity for eggs and meat.

61 Crops & Farm Animals of the Late 19th Century & 20th Century • With the passage of time, large amounts of acreage became available for raising crops, or raising animals for the meat industry, or dairy cows in order to produce milk products. • Oxen became less popular since they were replaced by tractors • Horses became less interesting for work on the farm, and more important for recreational riding • Animals for meat primarily included cattle, sheep and pigs. • Several local hatcheries were in business in order to support the very important poultry market. • Farm machinery development and evolution made farming much more efficient. Additionally, the development of improved seeds allowed a wider variety of crops to be planted. • Crops were always important, and, eventually, included beans, soy beans, oats, wheat, sugar beets, rye and corn (field and sweet). • Home gardens included tomatoes, potatoes, squash, strawberries and raspberries, sweet corn, pop corn and cucumbers. Much of the garden produce would be canned in jars to be used during the non-growing season.

Significant Infrastructure Supports Today’s Farming in Paris Township

62 Farms and Farming

A Variety of Farm Chores

63 Source: Jackie Gracey Collection Funeral with Glass Enclosed Hearse

14. Parisville Today Primary Roads of Paris Township

64 Satellite Overview of Paris Township

A Place to See the Past, in the Present Pioneer Log Village, Bad Axe

65 Parisville Hotel

Parisville Hotel Happenings

66 Changes are Happening to Paris Township’s Landscape

Michigan’s “Thumb” has Become the State’s Center for Windmill Activity

67 St Mary’s 150th Festival: 1868--2018

Ciechanowski-Chinoski Centennial Home

68 15. References

69 16. Appendices

Appendix-1

Paris Township Plat Maps

70 Paris Twp 1835 Surveyor’s Map

First Paris Twp Land Purchases (Between 1853 & 1856)

71 Paris Township 1873 Plat Map

Paris Township 1875 Plat Map

72 Paris Township 1890 Plat Map

Paris Township 1904 Plat Map

73 Paris Township 1913 Plat Map

Paris Township 1930 Plat Map

74 Paris Township 1954 Plat Map

Paris Township 1960 Plat Map

75 Paris Township 1981 Plat Map

Paris Township 2002 Plat Map

76 Paris Township 2013 Plat Map

Appendix-2

1875 Landowners Paris Township (15N-14E)

Source: Bad Axe Library

77 1875 Landowners Paris Township

78 1875 Landowners Paris Township

Appendix-3 : Biography of Rev. Simon Wieczorek, C.R.

79 Appendix-4: Pastors of St Mary’s Catholic Church

Appendix-5: Fire of 1871 Destroys Thumb Area (Article in the Cass City Chronicle, 6 February 1958)

80 Appendix-6: 1894 Diphtheria Deaths in Paris Twp c

NOTE: 1893 Death Listings for Townships within Huron Co, MI, with specific cause of death, are NOT Available 81 Appendix-7: 1895 Diphtheria Deaths in Paris Twp

Appendix-8

St Mary’s 3rd Catholic Church Destroyed by Fire Tuesday, 22 October 1974 (As Reported in the Huron Daily Tribune)

82 St Mary’s Church (1882-1974)

Photos: Roger Laske collection

Huron Daily Tribune (1 of 3) (Wednesday, October 23, 1974)

83 Huron Daily Tribune (2 of 3) (Wednesday, October 23, 1974)

Huron Daily Tribune (3 of 3) (Wednesday, October 23, 1974)

84 85