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Gravier, J.B.
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- Description:
- 4-page letter was handwritten in black ink on slightly yellowed paper by Desire B. Willemin, Correspondence Secretary for the Franco-American Club. The paper has a watermark that shows a crown and shield emblem with the words, "Pure Linen Stock." The text of the letter has been transcribed as follows: "The Franco-American Club to the People of Detroit in the year 2001 Detroit, January 1st 1901. Greeting. The members of the Franco-American Club, French born of descendants of the French of our beautiful city, wishing to express their hopes and expectations for the future of Detroit, join hand and heart with you in the 1st of January in the year 2001. They beg of you not to forget at your inauguration of a new century that the French population in the city of Detroit, is entitled, no matter what is or will be their number, to a great consideration on the part of those who live on the beautiful spot, chosen by the French in 1701 and w[h]ich was the foundation of Detroit. The name of Cadillac, must and ought to be dear to all citizens of this metropolis as the names of Romulus and Remus were at all times dear to the Romans. As all know, the French under the command of the celebrated Lamothe de Cadillac crossed our splendid river and after examination of the land and its surroundings made it their camping place and erected a fort on what is to-day the center of our city. He predicted great things of the new settlement, as did the great Caesar when first beholding Laetitia w[h]ich was the name of the world renowned city of Paris, the cradle of art, science, literature and above all of Liberty. Soon after, taking advantage of a military establishment, French immigrants, the very pioneers, came and did settle all around, and build little by little the great city of Detroit. Thus it is that a good many of our streets to-day bear French names in honor of those noble Frenchmen of the early days of our city; such as Lafayette, Champlain and many others. The French however are all American citizens, have kept their language and parts of their usages and customs, among themselves, and have founded several societies: The Lafayette Society, of benevolent nature founded in 1848. First President Daniel J. Campau; its actual President Chas. J. Dossin. The St. Jean the Baptist Society founded in 1869. First President Henry M. Deare and actual President Chas. M. Rousseau. There are many other French institutions and gatherings too long to mention. The most recent acquisition is the Franco-American Club founded in 1898 with J. B. Gravier as its first and actual President. We expect those institutions, will be still existing when reading the present, and will be an honor to the great city of Detroit. When the author of these lines came to Detroit 32 years ago, the city had then 45,000 inhabitants; today she has a population of 300,000. During the coming century the population will increase and it is safe to predict a population of over a million for our city of Detroit by 2001. But what will be the French population at that time? Proportionally their number may be very small. Frenchmen do not immigrate in comparison with other nations. They love their native soil; its sciences, arts, industries, etc. and above all enjoy to live under the flag and motto Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite. Citizens of Detroit, in the year 2001, if there are 20,000 Frenchmen amongst you or only one, remember that they are of that noble nation that shed some of its more noble blood during the struggle for independence of this glorious country, and that your noble city. La Belle of the Straits is an offspring of the noble and great Lamothe de Cadillac. The members of the Franco-American Club, wishing you prosperity. The committee. J. B. Gravier, President Andrew P. Ducy Desire B. Willemin Louis Aulry Emile Connault Chas. M. Rousseau G. Grimaldi"
- Date Issued:
- 1900-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society