Tonnancour: Life in Grosse Pointe and Along the Shores of Lake St. Clair, Volume 1

The history, lore, and legends of Grosse Pointe, Michigan, are retold in the lavishly illustrated Tonnancour: Life in Grosse Pointe and along the Shores of Lake St. Clair. The large-format volume reveals the story of this richly historic area through a unique collection of first-hand accounts, previously published material, and original essays and articles. The material has been collected and edited by Arthur M. Woodford, director of the St. Clair Shores Public Library and author of several books on the history of Michigan and Detroit.

Tonnancour is arranged chronologically and thematically. It starts with the very first written record of the Grosse Pointe region, an account by Father Louis Hennepin, who sailed across Lake St. Clair with the French explorer LaSalle in 1679. Other early narratives include previously unpublished accounts of the Fox Creek Massacre and legends of Windmill Pointe. An original study of the Jean Baptiste Rivard family is also included.

The title of the work, Tonnancour, refers to the Grosse Pointe summer estate of Theodore Parsons Hall. Hall and fellow Detroiters like Caroline Hamlin and Silas Farmer made the residence a local cultural center. Built in 1880, Tonnancour is no longer standing.

A wealth of nineteenth- and early twentieth-century material details the history of Grosse Pointe. Famous mansions and homes are profiled and illustrated, among them Tonnancour and the William and Mary Chase Stratton House. The histories of prominent families, clubs, churches, and other aspects of Grosse Pointe life are told through contemporary accounts and original essays.

Since Grosse Pointe is situated on the shores of Lake St. Clair, several articles are devoted to the lore and legends of the lake. Sightings of a mysterious sea serpent, famous ships that sailed the lake, the Windmill Point Light and other navigational aids, and the recovery of marshland are among the subjects covered.

Throughout Tonnancour more than 200 illustrations help bring the story of Grosse Pointe to life. These include pen and ink sketches, woodcuts, photographs, and maps. Early postcards from the turn of the century have also been reproduced.

Containing a combination of historical and newer material, Tonnancour is of interest to a wide range of readers, including historians, folklorists, scholars, and students.