This August an article in the Monroe News caught my attention: A Monroe man was planning to recreate a French-Canadian homestead. He purchased 3 parcels of land near the River Raisin National Battlefield Park and was starting a 5-year project to recreate a typical 1800s homestead.  His plans were to build a woodworking shop and incorporate his love of history and the proximity of the Battlefield into the plans.  I contacted Mr. Jim CRAMMOND and we discussed his vision over the phone and arranged to meet at the building site.

Mr. CRAMMOND said he was using paintings and drawings from artists Cornelius KRIEGSHOFF, Charles LANMAN, and others to design his homestead; he also researched 1800s French-Canadian building styles through books and at the Monroe Museum.  However, he will not be allowed to use the techniques used in the 1800s. The city of Monroe requires all buildings to meet current codes; the buildings can’t be on river stone foundations but will require block foundations and rat walls. The insulation, plumbing, and electrical work will all have to meet current codes. (He plans to build an outhouse, but it will not be used as such). His plans include a forge/workshop, stable (ecurie), store house (which is nearly completed), bread oven (four a pain), granary (grange) and a chicken coop or dove-cote.  The construction will be in the Poteau sur sole (vertical plank) style used by French Canadians in North America. CRAMMOND is using roughhewn lumber and as much natural material as possible. He may also recreate the horse-driven mill that was once on the property.  He planned the landscaping to fit the early 1800s period with pear trees and other fruit-bearing plants.

There is an old foundation where he plans to build the house. CRAMMOND uncovered a portion of this foundation in the initial stages of his project, thought it could be important, and covered it with soil until he can get a team of archaeologists to examine it.  He believes this foundation is where the original house stood.  He has gone through several strata of soil, stone, trash and clay, but has not yet uncovered any artifacts from the early 1800s. When the project is completed, Mr. Crammond intends to use the house and woodworking shop for his own purposes and they will not be open to the public, but he said he will allow interested parties into the other buildings. 

During our conversation Mr. CRAMMOND mentioned that the original French-Canadian owners of the property were Joseph L’ENFANT dit ST. JOSEPH and his wife Francoise TESSIER. Now I was really interested! He wondered if any of the descendants of the original owners were still in the area. I told him I was descended from a TESSIER and volunteered to do some research.  Francoise TESSIER was my 2nd cousin 6X removed.  Joseph and Francoise had at least 12 children, and as I researched them further I found many local names: REAUME, SHABINO, TROMBLEY POUPARD, SUZOR, MENARD, and COUTURE. 

Catherine L’ENFANT (1764-1831), daughter of the original homeowners, married Jean Baptiste COUTURE.  COUTURE died from injuries sustained in the battle of the River Raisin.  Their son Jean Baptiste (1787-1851) married Angelique MENARD. David MENARD (1851-1929), the son of Jean Baptiste and Angelique, married Mary TROMBLEY; their daughter Carrie Catharine (1880-1933) married Nicolas Lawrence CHATNER.  And bells and whistles went off again!  The daughter of Carrie and Nicolas, Beatrice (1925-1995), married Marvin ROUSSEAU, the brother of my mother-in-law.  I knew her and her husband, children and grandchildren!  Uncle Marv and Aunt Bea prepared the first muskrat dinner I ever enjoyed.

I still have to research the other children of Joseph L’ENFANT and Francoise TESSIER.  There are sure to be more descendants in Monroe County.  When I finish I will give Mr. CRAMMOND a complete chart of the L’ENFANT/TESSIER descendants.  In the meantime, work continues on this modern recreation of a French-Canadian homestead along the Riviere aux Raisins.  As the Battlefield Park is enlarged and more programs are set in place, and as the city is exploring the creation of a River Raisin Battlefield Historical Park, this homestead is sure to garner some attention.  Good luck Mr. CRAMMOND with your project.











 

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