New Fence at Fayette

Your Donations Doubled; New Fence Installed

Last year, we received funding from donors and from the Passport Match program to pay for a new fence behind the furnace complex. The Friends’ funding of $5,573.37 was doubled, and $11,146.74 was available to pay for the project. This September, the new 600-foot fence was installed! Photos below show the beautiful results. Thank you to our donors, who made it possible!

Trillium

 Trillium Time at Fayette
Spring has finally sprung! The woods are alive with the white and green carpet of a storybook fantasy. Come see! It won't last long!

Christmas at Fayette in 1878

Last time we learned about an incident at a turkey shoot on Thanksgiving Day 1879. 

From the Escanaba Iron Port of January 11, 1879, we learn about an accident at a turkey shoot that took place on Christmas Day of 1878:

"We regret to learn that Capt. Colwell, of the tug Joe Harris, met with quite a severe accident at a turkey shoot given at Fayette on Christmas day.  It appears that while waiting for his turn to shoot, the Captain had rested his Winchester rifle on his foot, muzzle downward.  In some unaccountable manner it was discharged.  The ball went partially between the toes, but the wound was very much lacerated and burnt by the closeness of the gun.  He is now doing as well as could be expected, but it may lay him up some time yet."

Kind of makes you wonder about the Fayette men of yesteryear and their marksmanship skills.

Thanksgiving Day, 1879, at Fayette

When we think of the olden days and men going out to shoot a turkey for Thanksgiving Day, we envision them heading off into the woods, rifles in tow, tracking the whereabouts of Mr. Tom and carefully taking aim.

You’d think that could have happened at Fayette during the company town era from 1867-1891, and indeed turkeys were shot there, but it’s not what you expect.

At Fayette, they had a rifle club and a range and some live turkeys. They fastened the birds, one at a time, to a target, and then someone took aim and killed the bird. Not exactly sporting.

In 1879, evidently the weather did not cooperate for the annual Thanksgiving Day turkey shoot. The newspaper reported that due to an all-day rain, half the turkeys provided for the shoot were left at the end of the day and were to be auctioned off on Saturday night.

In addition, a “close call” was reported as follows in the Escanaba Iron Port issued on November 29, 1879.

“One of the men attending target on Thursday [Thanksgiving Day] had a very close call.  He was kneeling at the target fastening a turkey, when a shootist let drive and killed the bird in his hands.  He didn’t tend target any more, fancying the occupation unhealthy.”

So there you go. That’s how it was done at Fayette.

Fall at Fayette - The Apples are Ripe!

Have you ever wondered why there are so many "wild" apple trees at Fayette? 

Back in 1879, an apple tree salesman paid a visit. His appearance was reported in the Escanaba paper.



Iron Port, Escanaba
September 27, 1879
Moulson & Son’s man has been taking orders for fruit trees on this side. He has sold to everybody. We shall raise our own fruit after this, and cooning will be a popular amusement.

"Cooning" was picking apples from trees that didn't belong to you. (A typical raccoon behavior.)