This is a post that is a little off topic but was referred to me by a friend in Maubert, France. While on "vacance" he paid a visit to the construction site for the good ship Hermione. This is an historic reconstruction of the ship La Fayette sailed to America in support of the revolution. This ship is a massive undertaking using donated funds. The web site is beautifully done....and we hope to see the ship in Boston in the near future.
If you are a marine/naval history buff you will enjoy this site: http://www.hermione.com/en/
While we are on the topic I ought to suggest a visit to the Maine Maritime Museum is worth a visit as well. Their web site is at : http://www.mainemaritimemuseum.org/
A visit to Bath, Maine is a great opportunity to see a very special portion of the Maine coast.
A two day trip ought to include Brunswick, Wiscasset,Boothbay, and Bath.
Check out the Maine Tourism page for mid-coast info: http://www.visitmaine.com/region/midcoast/
Their mid-coast pages will give you the information you need for a wonderful trip.
If you are reading this in search of your Franco heritage you will want to check out Bowdoin College
a gift of a very wealthy Franco in Maine many years ago. Wonderful small museum on campus
http://www.bowdoin.edu/art-museum/ and a summer music theater on campus as well....
the Maine State Music Theater at: http://www.msmt.org/
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Monday, July 7, 2008
Champlain's travels on the New England Coast
This site has the full text of Champlain's reports to the king of France regarding discovery in Quebec and New England. It makes fascinating reading because it is possible to visit many of the sites which are annotated for history buffs and travelers.
A special trip to the Saint Croix Island National Park Service site will give you a wonderful picture
of historical documentation and tours possible on this journey.
This year and 2009 mark anniversary celebrations for the founding of Quebec City and the discovery of Lake Champlain.
The Quebec Anniversary guide is here:
The Vermont/New York Celebration plans and events can be followed here:
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
The Champlain periplum
We will occupy the next few posts with a review of the Champlain periplum of the Northeast from Quebec City to Cape Cod with special stops at Saint Croix Island, Acadia National Park in Bar Harbor, Maine and up the Penobscot to Bangor......or Norumbega.
These posts will be interspersed with return to the source trips from New England back through Maine to Quebec and New Brunswick. A return to the source for many Franco-Americans.
You thoughts and comments are always welcome especially during this period when the blog will get a lot more specific about finding our roots in Maine and Quebec.
Come on up and trace your roots!!!
These posts will be interspersed with return to the source trips from New England back through Maine to Quebec and New Brunswick. A return to the source for many Franco-Americans.
You thoughts and comments are always welcome especially during this period when the blog will get a lot more specific about finding our roots in Maine and Quebec.
Come on up and trace your roots!!!
La Grande Traversee de l'Atlantique
"La Grande Traversée de l'Atlantique" has completed its journey to Quebec as of June 24th. If you remember our past entry about LaRochelle and the recreation of the voyage of settlers from Charente to Quebec you will be pleased to know that the voyage was completed on schedule. You can view the history of the voyage and some pictures of the welcome here:
http://www.grandetraversee400.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=10&Itemid=54
Le Retour aux Sources
A return to LaRochelle is scheduled for July 6 departure and a August 24 arrival in France. You may still be able to get a hammock below decks:
| Fédération de Voile du Québec 4545 Pierre de Coubertin CP 1000, Succ.M Montréal (Québec) H1V3R2 | Tél. (514) 252 3097 Fax (514) 252 3158 ras2008@retourauxsources.info www.retourauxsources.info |
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Franco Events for the rest of June
There are an amazing number of events that can fill a Northeast francophile calendar here are just a few for June, our favorite is the Festival la Kermesse franco-américaine in Biddeford, ME:
6/19 Fête du Québec à Boston @ 6 pm, Boston, MA http://www.quebec-boston.org/
6/19 Soirée Karaoke @ 6:30 pm, French Library, Boston, MA http://wwwfrenchlib.org/
6/19 Nathan Williams & Zydeco Cha-Cha's @ NYC, NY ([ http://www.concertedefforts.com/ ]www.concertedefforts.com)
6/19 Heritage String Band @ 7:30 pm, LeFoyer Club, Pawtucket, RI http://www.lefoyer.org/
6/20-26 Film: Le Voyage du ballon rouge @ Movies, Portland, ME http://www.moviesonexchange.com/
6/20-21 Franco-American Heritage Festival @ St.Albans, VT ([ http://www.stalbanschamber.com/ ]www.stalbanschamber.com)
6/21 Fête de la Musique (Music Day) (1982) ([ http://www.fetedelamusique.culture.fr/ ]www.fetedelamusique.culture.fr)
6/21 Fête de la Musique @ 1-10 pm, Harvard Sq., Cambridge, MA ([ http://www.makemusiccambridge.com/ ]www.makemusiccambridge.com)
6/21 L'Orchestre Baobab @ 8 pm, Somerville Theatre, Somerville, MA ([ http://www.worldmusic.org/ ]www.worldmusic.org)
6/21 Lucie Therrien @ Multi-Cultural Festival, State House, Concord, NH ([ http://www.nhhistory.org/ ]www.nhhistory.org)
6/21 Duke Robillard @ Colonial Theatre, Bethlehem, NH ([ http://www.bethlehemcolonial.org/ ]www.bethlehemcolonial.org)
6/21 Fête de Saint Jean Baptiste @ 5 pm, Fr.Am.Centre, Manchester, NH ([ http://www.facnh.org/ ]www.facnh.org)
6/21 Michèle Choinière @ 7 pm, Fr.Am.Centre, Manchester, NH ([ http://www.michelechoiniere.com/ ]www.michelechoiniere.com)
6/21 Franco-American Festival @ Church of Precious Blood, Woonsocket, RI ?
6/21 Franco-American Dinner & Dance @ 6 pm, KofC, St.Albans, VT http://www.stalbanschamber.com/
6/22-7/02 AATF: Summer Institute: Samuel de Champlain @ FAC, Orono, ME http://www.maine.edu/
6/22-29 Festival acadien de Madawaska @ Madawaska, ME
http://www.acadianfestival.com/
6/22-29 Réunion de famille Guerrette @ Madawaska, ME ([ http://www.acadianfestival.com/ ]www.acadianfestival.com)
6/22 Va-et-Vient @ 3 pm, Boarding House Park, Lowell, MA ([ http://www.indie911.com/va-et-vient ]www.indie911.com/va-et-vient))
6/24 Fête chrétienne de Saint Jean Baptiste (Saint John the Baptist Day)
6/24 Fête nationale du Québec (Quebec National Day) (QC) /www.fetenationale.qc.ca)
6/24 Célébrons Notre Héritage @ 5 pm, Parc de Notre Renaissance, Nashua, NH (603-889-6437)
6/25 Les Petits Chanteurs du Mont-Royal @ 1:30 pm, LeFoyer, Pawtucket, RI ([ http://www.lefoyer.org/ ]www.lefoyer.org)
6/26-29 Festival la Kermesse franco-américaine @ Biddeford, ME www.lakermessefestival.com)
6/26 AFB: Ensemble Jyugoya @ 7 pm, French Library, Boston, MA ([ http://www.frenchlib.org/ ]www.frenchlib.org)
6/26 Le Vent du Nord @ 8 pm, St.Kieran Arts Center, Berlin, NH ([ http://www.stkieranarts.org/ ]www.stkieranarts.org)
6/27-29 Lucie Therrien @ Festival la Kermesse, Biddeford, ME ([ http://www.luciet.com/ ]www.luciet.com)
6/27 Famille LeBlanc @ 8 pm, Festival la Kermesse, Biddeford, ME ([ http://www.lakermessefestival.com/ ]www.lakermessefestival.com)
6/28-29 Festival des Rameurs @ Petit Roches, NB ([ http://www.festivaldesrameurs.com/ ]www.festivaldesrameurs.com)
6/28 Erica Brown @ Festival acadien, Madawaska, ME ([ http://www.ericabrownonline.com/ ]www.ericabrownonline.com)
6/28 Chantal & Marcel @ 2 pm, Festival la Kermesse, Biddeford, ME ([ http://www.lakermessefestival.com/ ]www.lakermessefestival.com)
6/28 Pierre et Lionel @ 4 pm, Festival la Kermesse, Biddeford, ME ([ http://www.lakermessefestival.com/ ]www.lakermessefestival.com)
6/28 C'est Si Bon @ 7:30 pm, Festival la Kermesse, Biddeford, ME ([ http://www.lakermessefestival.com/ ]www.lakermessefestival.com)
6/28 Illusion @ 8 pm, Festival la Kermesse, Biddeford, ME ([ http://www.lakermessefestival.com/ ]www.lakermessefestival.com)
6/28 Pierre et Lionel @ 9 pm, Festival la Kermesse, Biddeford, ME ([ http://www.lakermessefestival.com/ ]www.lakermessefestival.com)
6/29 Chantal & Marcel @ 1 pm, Festival la Kermesse, Biddeford, ME ([ http://www.lakermessefestival.com/ ]www.lakermessefestival.com)
6/29 Famille LeBlanc @ 6 pm, Festival la Kermesse, Biddeford, ME ([ http://www.lakermessefestival.com/ ]www.lakermessefestival.com)
6/29 Pierre et Lionel @ 7 pm, Festival la Kermesse, Biddeford, ME ([ http://www.lakermessefestival.com/ ]www.lakermessefestival.com)
6/29 C'est Si Bon @ 8 pm, Festival la Kermesse, Biddeford, ME ([ http://www.lakermessefestival.com/ ]www.lakermessefestival.com)
6/30-8/29 L'Été en Français @ French Library, Boston, MA ([ http://www.frenchri.org/ ]www.frenchri.org)
Oral History and Franco Tradition
This from Lisa Desjardin at the Franco American Center of the University of Maine
Our project consists of digitizing the Oral Histories that have already been captured and to continue to gather more. Also making them available to be viewed by all Francos wherever they may be via the Internet. Our website which is currently under construction will house all this. Check it out for a sneak peek, http://www.francoamericanarchives.org
These are interesting memories and give pause for thought. My grandparents were quite old when I knew them.....and I did not ask the questions I would now as a person trying recreate history. If you have older family members who can impart family history I suggest you capture it as soon as possible. Create your own archive. It will lead you to interesting places, people and events that have shaped your family
Thursday, June 12, 2008
LaRochelle and the church
I just got an interesting email form Marc Pembroke in response to the LaRochelle post. There are several pieces in Marc's note that I will include in other postings but this particular section is a brief history of religious reformation and the central role of LaRochelle. Thanks Marc.
"........I found it interesting that La Rochelle was a starting point for so many immigrants to New France. As you might know, the town was once a hub of the French Hugenot movement. Samuel de Champlain married at a Reformed Church there where his wife was clearly a member. There is little other indication of Champlain’s beliefs, but apparently, he and Du Mont were both Calvinists. In fact, the nearest French equivalent of the Presbyterian/Calvinist Westminster Confession is known as The Confession of La Rochelle. That confession is still a constituent document of l’Église Réformée Évangélique Indépendante in France (a denomination where I served as pastor-evangelist in Perpignan 1978-79) and of l’Église Réformée du Québec, where I served as professor of theology and supply pastor 1998-1999. I am still a member of the ERQ church in Saint Georges"
"........I found it interesting that La Rochelle was a starting point for so many immigrants to New France. As you might know, the town was once a hub of the French Hugenot movement. Samuel de Champlain married at a Reformed Church there where his wife was clearly a member. There is little other indication of Champlain’s beliefs, but apparently, he and Du Mont were both Calvinists. In fact, the nearest French equivalent of the Presbyterian/Calvinist Westminster Confession is known as The Confession of La Rochelle. That confession is still a constituent document of l’Église Réformée Évangélique Indépendante in France (a denomination where I served as pastor-evangelist in Perpignan 1978-79) and of l’Église Réformée du Québec, where I served as professor of theology and supply pastor 1998-1999. I am still a member of the ERQ church in Saint Georges"
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
