A History “Discovery” While Off Grid

Over the past seven days, I have not read much beyond topo maps, and the lays of trout in small, fast streams while exploring the U.P. of Michigan.

What I’ve read since returning to the grid, deals with a bit of history, and this is because I “discovered” this.

image

The photograph is a bit difficult to view; I’m no photographer and one hundred and twenty-nine (129) years have weathered away the sharpness of the marks; but what the photo shows is the following carved into that rock:

Aug. 17 1881
Simon Denomie

What cannot be seen in that photo, are the words “Bayfield Wisconsin,” as they are carved into the face of the rock, and they have weathered more than the above date and name.

I had climbed over this particular rock four times, which is alongside a ten (10) foot drop waterfall, unawares that anything was carved on the rock, and upon climbing back down the fourth time, I noted what appeared to be a letter carved into the rock, and close examination revealed the above.

Since returning to my home late Friday, I’ve been researching this, and have found that Simon Denomie was a Lake Superior Chippewa Indian, former postmaster of Assinins, Michigan (1894), not far from where I was exploring in the U.P., and he was also a recipient of congressional legislation dealing with Indian affairs, amongest other bits and pieces of information.  I have also found out that this carving into the rock though “known” about, its exact location was unknown, as was what exactly was carved into the rock.

I’ve also reached out via email regarding this “discovery,” which has resulted in contact with the Chairman of the Mackinac Bands of the Chippewa and Ottawa Indians, and with Simon Denomie’s great-granddaughter, and they are very excited about this historical record of their ancestor, and that I reached out to inform them of this.

I, also, am excited about this “discovery,”  corresponding with Simon’s ancestors, and that I have been personally invited by the Chairman of the Mackinac Bands of the Chippewa and Ottawa Indians to the Rendezvous at the Straits this August.

Just thought I’d share this with you.

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/19 at 09:05 AM

  1. John,
    Very cool stuff. There is a lot of history up here buried in the tangle of thick forest. There are still some areas here seldom visited by humans.

    What stream were you fishing? grin

    Posted by Jim  on  07/19  at  02:07 PM

  2. Jim,

    This is “very cool stuff.”

    I was fishing a section of the Tioga River, about 2 1/4 miles from the nearest road, except a two track, on private property with permission of the owner.

    The private property is 80 acres surrounded by state and national forest running miles in all directions, so I was in the thick of it, and let me tell you I had to work hard to fish these waters.  It was excellent.  Not a soul around except bears, moose, deer, coyotes, and the like.

    I am itching to return, this time with GPS, rather than simply a compass and topos, and to dive into the history buried in the forests, though my fly rod will go along.

    Posted by John Venlet  on  07/19  at  02:25 PM

  3. Tioga is pretty remote. Swampy isn’t it?

    Posted by Jim  on  07/19  at  02:38 PM

  4. Wow, etched in stone. The family must be elated. Can you imagine finding something from your past like that?

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  on  07/21  at  06:36 AM

  5. John - if you go there again, try to photograph the rock with the light behind you if possible, and if not, try to avoid allowing too much light to enter the lens from your right hand side. Looking at it, I imagine it might be possible to capture the letters in sharper relief by approaching the rock more from the right hand side - but obviously I have no idea whether the terrain will afford you a move like that.

    Posted by mike  on  07/24  at  02:54 AM

  6. this was my greatgreatgreatgrandfather could u write me directions to it i would realy like to see it miigwitch (thank you)
    if you could send to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) would be great

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  on  03/29  at  12:36 AM

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