Tales from the old-timer

The “Pull” of Peshtigo

Both of my dad’s parents were born in Quebec in French Canada. Grandma came here as a two-year-old child with her family, headed up by Charles and Louise Dupuis. They settled first in Menekaunee, where on Oct. 8, 1871 the Peshtigo Fire reached parts of Marinette and Great-Grandma Dupuis and her children got on a boat which took them to safety out in the Bay.

Great Aunt Amelia Derocher on seeing the storm of sparks whirling in the sky, cried out “look, Mama, it’s snowing fire,” according to the book, “Fire at Peshtigo.” They soon moved to the unincorporated village of Peshtigo Harbor, where when Grandma Mary was about 17 she met up with a cocky young Frenchman, Ed Thibodeau, who she married and who worked at the Peshtigo Lumber Company sawmill there.

I still have a pretty kerosene lamp she bought at the Peshtigo Lumber Company store for her hope chest. But long before then, Great-Grandpa Dupuis had got involved with a co-op farming venture in which several families of these French Canadians moved to an area near what is now Coleman. In the first winter Great-Grandpa Dupuis got sick and died of a raging typhoid fever, possibly from drinking water from the Little Peshtigo River. As the area was then a part of the Town of Peshtigo the authorities sent a big horse-drawn sleigh with a coffin for Charles Dupuis atop it and Great-Grandma and her kids rode on top of Charles Dupuis’ coffin and were taken to Peshtigo, where they went “on the town” (welfare) and were installed in an upstairs apartment on French Street.

Back then public assistance was run by and paid for by local municipalities only, cities, towns, and villages. This was the American version of the Elizabethan Poor Laws, enacted in Britain about 1802 when industrialization proved to be tough for the small farmers there. Great-Grandma “took in a boarder” named Alfonse Comeau, ultimately married him and had four more children. My grandma and grandpa moved back to Peshtigo when the Harbor Mill shut down for good about 1890, where they raised their three kids, including my dad.

When the sawmill at Peshtigo Harbor shut down they moved to Peshtigo, then still a sawmill town, which was incorporated as a city about 1918. Here they raised their three children, who after some wanderings, settled in Peshtigo for good. My dad had moved first to Channing, MIch. north of Iron Mountain, then to Hartford, Wis. and then to Kingsford, Mich., but economic and other setbacks brought him back to dear old Peshtigo, as did the families of his two sisters, Hortense and Alda, who returned there with their families where there were always jobs available.

My sister Avis and her husband Bill LeFebvre and their daughter Jody felt the irresistible pull of Peshtigo for all their vacation times, as did their son “Butch” and Jody and her husband moved back to town after his retirement as a Chicago Police Officer, and Butch and his wife have a cottage in Badger Park where they spend a lot of time.

All through their years in Chicago, these families always headed to Peshtigo for their vacations and holidays.

It worked in my case also, and when circumstances changed in my life, my wife and our oldest child ended up in or near good old Peshtigo, yielding to this area and the great little town that got famous in 1871 by burning down, and recovered its boomtown spirit by recovering and rebuilding.

Only one of our children has settled here to raise her kids though the rest of them come “home” often. We don’t live in the city now, but keep the nostalgia alive with frequent trips from our home in the Town of Peshtigo, where I am still working part time and where we shop for our groceries and visit friends in the City of Peshtigo.

Recent stories, opinions and photos

Issue Date	Department	Headline
06-12-2013	Front Page	NEW UNITS
06-12-2013	Front Page	Federal Court Rules Flag Was Okay
06-12-2013	Front Page	Jail Inspection Says Maintenance Needed
06-12-2013	Front Page	Goodman Father, Son Cited In Marijuana Bust
06-12-2013	Front Page	County Continues Discussion On Coroner, Elderly Services
06-12-2013	Sports	Wickman Repeats As MVP
06-12-2013	Sports	Tough Start For Marinette Legion
06-12-2013	Sports	Pitching Gem Gives Redbirds 2-0 Record
06-12-2013	Sports	Wausaukee Makes Way To State Baseball Meet
06-12-2013	Perspectives	From our readers
06-12-2013	Perspectives	Tales from the old-timer
06-12-2013	Perspectives	Country Cousin
06-12-2013	News	Self Defense Law Topic of Meeting
06-12-2013	News	OWI Unit To Porterfield
06-12-2013	News	Yard Sale For Scholarships
06-12-2013	News	On Dean’s List
06-12-2013	Community - Wausaukee	Big Diggers at Wausaukee Library
06-12-2013	Community - Wausaukee	Wausaukee Parade Events on July 6
06-12-2013	Community - Wausaukee	Legion Council At Silver Cliff
06-12-2013	Community - Wausaukee	Lions to Clean HWY 180 June 15
06-12-2013	Community - Crivitz	Church Unit Sale June 20-21
06-12-2013	Community - Crivitz	Crivitz Playground Work Day June 23
06-12-2013	Community - Crivitz	Fly Flag June 14
06-12-2013	Community - Crivitz	Gospel Music at Living Waters Church
06-12-2013	Community - Coleman	Timeless Restorations Car Show is June 29
06-12-2013	Community - Coleman	Yard Sale For Scholarships
06-12-2013	Community - Coleman	Resignation of Principal on School Board Agenda
06-12-2013	Community - Coleman	Pantry To Give Food in Pound
06-12-2013	Obituaries	Eugene M. Yuma
06-12-2013	Obituaries	Matthew T. Wisniewski
06-12-2013	Obituaries	Claude A. Wilcox
06-12-2013	Obituaries	Boston Z. Walters
06-12-2013	Obituaries	Thadeaus Sopkowicz
06-12-2013	Obituaries	William W. Schmitt
06-12-2013	Obituaries	Jane L. Schmidt
06-12-2013	Obituaries	Dr. Henry J. Reidinger
06-12-2013	Obituaries	Margaret Raminger
06-12-2013	Obituaries	Emma K. Parker
06-12-2013	Obituaries	Mary Ann Panske
06-12-2013	Obituaries	Douglas C. Otto
06-12-2013	Obituaries	Roland W. Neumann
06-12-2013	Obituaries	Richard Leaveck, Jr.
06-12-2013	Obituaries	Richard Leaveck, Sr.
06-12-2013	Obituaries	Sandra F. LaRock
06-12-2013	Obituaries	Bonnie Kopish
06-12-2013	Obituaries	Gertrude Klingsporn
06-12-2013	Obituaries	Dudley G. Harris
06-12-2013	Obituaries	Wayne W. Johnson
06-12-2013	Obituaries	Dottie Fricke
06-12-2013	Obituaries	Marvin Eschner
06-12-2013	Obituaries	Eleanor Crowley
06-12-2013	Obituaries	Judy Budzis
06-12-2013	Obituaries	Floyd J. Berger
06-12-2013	Obituaries	Carol C. Barrette
06-06-2013	Front Page	300 Year Old Log Makes Table, Desk
06-06-2013	Front Page	New Community Center To Open Soon in Crivitz
06-06-2013	Front Page	Yes, Family Dollar Is Coming To Coleman
06-06-2013	Front Page	Kathy Cleven Is New Marinette City Treasurer
06-06-2013	Front Page	Auditor Gives Peshtigo Clean Bill Of Health
06-06-2013	Sports	Peshtigo Cage Camps Slated
06-06-2013	Sports	Vaulting To State Gold
06-06-2013	Sports	Rangers Roll Into State Tourney
06-06-2013	Sports	———— Clip Crivitz ——————————————————————— Redbirds Turn 5 Hits Into 7-0 Wishigan Win
06-06-2013	Perspectives	From our readers
06-06-2013	Perspectives	Tales from the old-timer
06-06-2013	Perspectives	Country Cousin
06-06-2013	News	Birding Hike at Arboretum
06-06-2013	News	Fair Premium Books Available
06-06-2013	News	Church Rummage, Bake Sale June 6
06-06-2013	News	Lions to Clean Hwy. 180 June 15
06-06-2013	Community - Wausaukee	Athelstane Picnic, Parade July 13
06-06-2013	Community - Wausaukee	Lions to Clean Hwy. 180 June 15
06-06-2013	Community - Wausaukee	Lawrenz Opens Counseling Center
06-06-2013	Community - Wausaukee	Front 40 Group Forum June 12
06-06-2013	Community - Crivitz	Rev. Hannemann Retires From Area Churches
06-06-2013	Community - Crivitz	Free Fishing For Kids June 15
06-06-2013	Community - Crivitz	Community Ed Summer Classes
06-06-2013	Community - Coleman	Pioneer Church Offers College Bible Courses
06-06-2013	Community - Coleman	Coleman Wrestling Meat Raffle June 22
06-06-2013	Community - Coleman	Brazeau Emergency Services Picnic July 27
06-06-2013	Community - Coleman	Pound Club Sets Yard Sale June 13, 14
06-06-2013	Obituaries	Todd F. Wagner
06-06-2013	Obituaries	Michael A. Stumbris
06-06-2013	Obituaries	Jacqueline A. Smith
06-06-2013	Obituaries	Betty Scott
06-06-2013	Obituaries	Jimmie L. Sandifer
06-06-2013	Obituaries	Dorothy B. Rafferty
06-06-2013	Obituaries	Pandora C. Powell
06-06-2013	Obituaries	Kristopher S. Mohr
06-06-2013	Obituaries	John D. Leaveck, Sr.
06-06-2013	Obituaries	Allan J. Kamps
06-06-2013	Obituaries	Edith M. Jones
06-06-2013	Obituaries	Ellen Jensen
06-06-2013	Obituaries	Dorothy M. Hotzel
06-06-2013	Obituaries	Sophie Hertig
06-06-2013	Obituaries	Jeremy Heller
06-06-2013	Obituaries	Jerome D. Gillis
06-06-2013	Obituaries	Genevieve M. Giese
06-06-2013	Obituaries	Margaret A. Gartzke
06-06-2013	Obituaries	Oscar J. Falk, Jr.
06-06-2013	Obituaries	Michael T. Downs
06-06-2013	Obituaries	James A. Dughie
06-06-2013	Obituaries	Joseph F. Dudek
06-06-2013	Obituaries	Jerry L. Bunn
06-06-2013	Obituaries	Jon H. Bruemmer
05-29-2013	Front Page	HOLD SERVICES
05-29-2013	Front Page	Wendt Chosen Coleman School Board President
05-29-2013	Front Page	Crivitz Pharmacy Broken Into, Medications Stolen
05-29-2013	Front Page	Preliminary Hearing Set In Peshtigo Murder Case
05-29-2013	Front Page	County Paperless Initiative Passes With Resistance
05-29-2013	Community - Wausaukee	Village Accepts Donations for July 6 Fireworks Display
05-29-2013	Community - Wausaukee	Athelstane Fund Raiser is July 13
05-29-2013	Community - Wausaukee	STATE DENIES 5 20 13 DOT Rejects Proposal To Lower Speed On Hwy. 141
05-29-2013	Community - Wausaukee	Library Sets Reading Events
05-29-2013	Community - Crivitz	Crivitz School Free Summer Food Meals
05-29-2013	Community - Crivitz	Crivitz Plans Bang-Up Weekend For Fourth
05-29-2013	Community - Crivitz	Crivitz Wolverine 5K Run, Walk June 1
05-29-2013	Community - Crivitz	Thompson Park Open House June 2
05-29-2013	Community - Coleman	Yard Sale For Scholarships
05-29-2013	Community - Coleman	Bonow Concert at Area Churches
05-29-2013	Community - Coleman	Coleman Village Board June 3
05-29-2013	Community - Coleman	Lions Honor Champ, 15 For Attendance
05-29-2013	News	Students Set Car Wash, Run
05-29-2013	News	Mudbash For Animal Shelter
05-29-2013	Sports	M-O's Best Get Booted
05-29-2013	Sports	Coleman, Wausaukee Host Finals Marquardt Tosses One-Hitter In 7-2 Win Over Crandon; Rangers
05-29-2013	Sports	Redbirds Rule In Memorial Tourney
05-29-2013	Sports	Slate Lemery Softball Tourney For June 7-8
05-29-2013	Perspectives	From our readers
05-29-2013	Perspectives	Tales from the old-timer
05-29-2013	Perspectives	Country Cousin
05-29-2013	Obituaries	Roland L. Zoeller
05-29-2013	Obituaries	Dorothy M. Zahn
05-29-2013	Obituaries	Cliff J. Yuma, Sr.
05-29-2013	Obituaries	Jeffrey Woodworth, Sr.
05-29-2013	Obituaries	Alvin G. Williams
05-29-2013	Obituaries	Scott A. Wells
05-29-2013	Obituaries	Thomas R. Webster
05-29-2013	Obituaries	Elaine E. Vroman
05-29-2013	Obituaries	Ken Van Camp
05-29-2013	Obituaries	Marilyn A. Thunes
05-29-2013	Obituaries	Francis E. Steininger
05-29-2013	Obituaries	Donald L. Stroika
05-29-2013	Obituaries	Betty Scott
05-29-2013	Obituaries	Michael E. Schultz
05-29-2013	Obituaries	Violet M. Saunier
05-29-2013	Obituaries	Lesili Rose
05-29-2013	Obituaries	Ronald D. Plewa
05-29-2013	Obituaries	Bernice H. Parker
05-29-2013	Obituaries	Ida Moraga