2018 July NewsA_Layout 1 7/19/18 9:27 PM Page 1 WA C PE OU CCHS Newsletter Number 92 IP N July 2018 T H Y C H Y I S T T E O I R C ICA L S O CCHS • 115 Ashmun Street • P. O . Box 342 • Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783 906-69306-635-7085-702 • 82 h i s•t oFax:ry@ 906cchs-63mi.5-9com280 • •w [email protected] Rendezvous in the Sault 2018 By Angie Patterson The 2018 Rendezvous in the Sault is scheduled for Saturday, July 28 (10 a.m.– 6 p.m.) and Sunday, July 29 (10 a.m.– 4 p.m.). In addition to the historical encampment on the grounds of City Hall, the Historic Water Street Homes will be open to the public with activities for the whole family along with tours of the facilities. Opening Ceremonies will take place at Brady Park on Saturday at 11 a.m. Visitors from the Sault’s sister city, Ryuo-Cho, Japan, have scheduled time to visit the event and attend the opening ceremonies that will be held under the supervision of the Belletre French Marines. This is the sixth year for Rendezvous in the Sault in its present form. The event is supported by the Sault Convention and Visitors Bureau, the City’s Osborn Trust Fund, and through ticket and food sales. The event is staffed by volunteers from the Chippewa County Historical Society and the general community. Reenactors come from around Michigan and surrounding states to set up camps and provide demonstrations of life e p in u o r T colonial e c n a times in D l a c the Great i s u M Lakes e i n g region. a p m o C a L There is truly f o y s fun for the entire family at this event. e t r u o In addition to the reenactors that have returned each year since 2013, C this year there are several new demonstrators registered, including the Metis Author, Cheryl L. Morgan, who will be talking about the information in her 2017 book Ottissippi: the Truth about Great Lakes Indian History and the Gateway to the West . Blacksmiths will once again be ringing their hammers as they create iron works, and visitors can try their hand at throwing the tomahawk. (Those wishing to throw the ‘hawk must remember to wear closed toe shoes and 2018 July NewsA_Layout 1 7/19/18 9:27 PM Page 2 y f l l children should be accompanied by an adult.) The Society of e Joe Pete and B l i h Professional Surveyors will be on site to demonstrate the old ways of P Big John f o land surveying and provide a glimpse at the equipment used to create y s e By Phil Bellfy t r the maps that they will have on display. Trappers, Blanket Traders, u o c s r Wood Carvers, Musicians, Gunsmiths, and Native American e v Florence Elizabeth o c interpreters are ready to educate and entertain the entire family. Food k o McClinchey’s first novel, o and refreshments will be available for purchase. B Joe Pete , was published in 1929. Big John , the Military demonstrations will be ongoing throughout the weekend; “long-lost” sequel, was just however, Saturday at 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 published in June of this p.m., the troops will once again march across Water Street to Brady year. Both of these novels Park and provide military tactical demonstrations using cannons and revolve around American long guns. Last year’s skirmishes were well attended and the visitors Indians living on Sugar enjoyed watching as the opposing sides fought to win ground for Island, which is located at their countries. the far eastern end of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Saturday at 8 p.m., La Compagnie Musical Dance Troupe will once on the border with Canada. again be providing uplifting music and dance presentations on the This is how one reviewer of east grounds of City Hall. La Compagnie has some new members this Joe Pete put it in 1929: year, and we’re looking forward to hearing the lineup of stories and “Florence McClinchey has songs that they have been working on for the City’s 350th had the opportunity to celebration. For more information including the schedule of events observe the Ojibway Indians and ticket prices, visit www.HistoricWaterStreet.org/rendezvous. at first hand, and for many summers has lived on Sugar River of Destiny Island, the setting of Joe Pete , the powerful tale of the River of Destiny: The Saint Marys —the classic history of the twin degeneration of Mabel, an Saults and the EUP—is now available! CCHS has republished it this Indian woman, the mother of year to coincide with the 350th anniversary of the City. The book was Joe Pete. It is Joe Pete, ‘the originally published in 1955 by Joseph and Estelle Bayliss, with Dr. thorough-bred,’ for whom n o Milo Quaife. Our s p the story is named and who, m o commemorative reprint has a h through many obstacles, T e i Foreword by Bernie Arbic, n emerges victorious; but it is n o C and contains additional f Mabel who stands forth as the symbol of a dying race—a submerged o y s historical images. e people at the mercy of their conquerors.” t r u o c r e v We are thankful to Bernie o After McClinchey’s death in 1946, her niece, Sue Anderson, came c k o Arbic for leading the o into possession of the Big John manuscript, which was (a number of B project and to Connie years ago) shared with the CCHS. Joe Pete , while widely acclaimed Thompson for her publishing in 1929, was also quite controversial (and still is, to this day); and, for ability. Funding was those who first read McClinchey’s Big John manuscript, this long- generously provided the lost sequel was also considered to be a bit too controversial to pub - Roberts P. and Ella B. lish. It was then that the CCHS contacted me to see if I might take on Hudson Foundation, the the task of shepherding the manuscript through the publishing Friends of Bayliss Library, process, which I readily agreed to do, once I read the manuscript. It and the City of Sault Ste. was also agreed that Joe Pete should also be re-printed. The result of Marie’s Chase S. Osborn those efforts is the “re-publishing” of Joe Pete , and the first-printing Historical Trust. The book is available for $20 at various locations in of Big John . The first print runs of both books are pretty much sold the area, including our Gift Shop and at Bayliss Public Library from out, so, both are being reprinted as this newsletter is being the Friends of Bayliss Library. distributed. Both should be available soon at the CCHS Gift Shop. 2 2018 July NewsA_Layout 1 7/19/18 9:27 PM Page 3 s e m Through research into McClinchey, I discovered that she had donated a J n a over 50 of her “Sugar Island” photos to the University of Michigan’s s u S f o Museum of Anthropological Archaeology when she was a student y s e t there in 1926. These photos, and many from Bayliss Public Library’s r u o c Steere Room Collection, will be compiled into a book that will give o t o h the reader a glimpse into the Sugar Island of the early part of the 20th P century, using the photos to help the readers of both novels to see Sugar Island and its Indigenous People as McClinchey saw them, and the images she used to inspire her writing of these masterful novels. y r a r b The black-and- i L c i white photo that is l b u P printed at the right s s i l y A brief meeting was held prior Dr. Schenck’s program. LSSU shows a B m professor James Schaefer was elected to fill one of the terms of o McClinchey’s r f y departing Board members Shawna Mauldin and Mark Van Doren. e “Sugar Island h c n i City employee Kelly Freeman was later selected by the Board to l Guest Book.” If the C c complete a term. Thank you to Shawna and Mark for their time on M details can be e c n the Board. Shawna and her son Rowan continue to volunteer for e r worked out, I'd like o l F CCHS in the Gift Shop and elsewhere. Welcome to Jim and Kelly. y to see the contents b o t Officers of the Board were chosen at the May Board meeting; o of the Guest Book h P everyone was willing to continue in their positions. Thank you, be published, also. especially, to Carolyn Person for agreeing to continue as President. According to Bernie Arbic, who has seen the Book, President’s Report it is much more By Carolyn Person than a “register of guests and dates,” It’s fun and interesting to draw people into a conversation about as many who wrote Chippewa County Historical Society. One question that comes up in it (including more frequently concerns what the Society does. Well… Governor Osborn) Our organization is made up of volunteers who have an interest in included a bit of history, especially area history.