My Journey Into My Past

Monroe County, Michigan has had its share of lost towns and villages.  The Monroe News used to publish a regular column with comments and history of towns like Grape, Grafton, Scofield and others.  One of the least known of these was the Port of Harve. Located one mile north of the Ohio state line, the Harve Company, or Port Harve was envisioned as the next best port on Lake Erie. Earliest plans were to buy land north of and on Halfway Creek.  The land would be developed from lot sales from the larger parcel. In 1836 the Harve Branch Railroad was chartered as a private line to run a track about eleven miles long to intersect with the Erie and Kalamazoo Railroad, near Ottawa Lake. According to the Detroit Free Press “A railroad…will soon be constructed from Harve to intersect that to Adrian…which will reap the harvest on which Toledo now prides itself.”  (Remember, this was the time of the Michigan Ohio War!) In 1834 Daniel Miller purchased Indian Island off Harve’s c...

 There was no date on this note. It was part of a larger memory, as the entries are numbered.  She wrote a note about her siblings and lessons she learned at home. 24.  Lawrence - always full of business. very intelligent Clara (my mom) - very kind, sensitive helped take care of us kids, helped out at home, etc. Earl - always cheerful and a peace maker Cletus - a big tease Herman - tender and kind Teresa -  played piano by ear, beautiful singing voice Agnes - the pampered one because she was so tiny Rita - the spoiled one who we love Helen - Died when I was 11 years old.I remember when they brought her to our house in a little white coffin. 25.  At home we were taught many lessons - to be honest, kind, forgiving, helpful To be a listener    very hard sometimes To volunteer To go to Church regularly To receive the Sacraments often Not say anything bad about anyone. (I wonder what the rest of the memory said!)

 9-7-94 I was only 4 1/2 when grandma passed away so I don't remember a whole lot. I think that makes a what I do remember more precious to me. I remember sitting in grandma's lap in her rocker.  We were sewing a little pillow for my doll together.  It had flowers on one side, little triangles on the other side.  I thought it looked like sail boats.  I loved it. I'm sure grandma did most of the sewing because it is still in one piece. The big wide stitches I'll bet are mine, the rest are nice even little stitches. I remember going to see grandma when she was sick in bed. I don't think I understood she was sick. I just knew she was always tired so she was in bed. She used to keep a box of paper dolls in her closet. I used to play with them a lot. When she wanted me to lay down by her she would pat the bed and say "Come lay by grandma my little golden hair." (She always called me her little golden hair). So, I'd crawl up in bed with her and she'd tal...