European Vacations

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Haunted House

Hello Everyone, By now, everyone is starting to notice that summer is winding down. In the Land of 10K Lakes, the Minnesota State Fair starts on Thursday, and runs through Labor Day.  And what is a fair or carnival without the spooky haunted house? I have been through my fair share
of spooky haunted houses. They never scared me, because as far as I was concerned, they were actors and actresses dressed up in funky cool constumes! Just like Witchypoo from HR Puff n' Stuff!:)
I always thought that the house that I grew up in was rather haunted in a funky sort of way. It is now sitting on its original foundation at Crow Wing State Park near Brainerd, Minnesota. It was built by a fur trader, who's name was Clement Beaulieau. Ironically, according to my extended family history, this gentleman may actually be a distant relative of mine! But, I am getting ahead of myself.

The short story regarding this gentleman was that as he worked and traveled for the Hudson Bay Company, he decided to settle in the village of Crow Wing, Minnesota. He did build one home, but it burned down. The second one  that he built, is the one that I lived in. He even added on to the house in order to provide for his growing family and employees, and to meet with  people who wanted to help develop the town of Crow Wing, because the rail road was coming! He also wanted help with peacemaking efforts between the Caucasian people and the Ojibwe Native Americans These  people included Indian Chief Hole-In-the Day 2,  Minnesota Catholic Bishop Thomas Langdon Grace, along with Father Francis Pierz.  However, trouble was brewing, and Mr. Beaulieau knew that. Chief Hole-In-The-Day 2 was shot while in Crow Wing. The rail road changed its mind about Crow Wing, and headed to Brainerd instead, And Father Pierz died in his homeland. So, Mr. Beaulieau offered his beautiful home to two of his nephews, and they split the house in two between them, and hauled it away by ox cart to two farms near the town of Little Falls, Minnesota. The original part of that house stayed with the Bellefuille Family until 1965, when my dad bought it from my great-great aunt, Antoinette Dugas Bellefuille. It remained on my parents farm until 1988, when it was hauled away by a rather large truck, and it was put back on its original foundation. That is, after they excavated the foundation, along with the rafters of the roof and the walls in order to find artifacts like arrowheads,dishes, liquor bottles, utensiles, and newspapers.

 My brothers loved to explore the farm. But I think it was because the spirits of Mr. Beaulieau, Chief Hole-In-The-Day 2, Bishop Grace, and Father Pierz were exploring right along  with them! My brothers thought that it was really cool to find arrowheads and trinkets along the banks of the Mississippi River! But, every time I would sit in my room while reading a book, I could have sworn that I saw a vision of  an Indian chief with a headress and mocasins on. Or, even another vision of a man with a furskin hat on his head, and a gun in his hand! Wow! Spooky moments! So, is your house haunted, or filled with mystery and intrigue like the one that I grew up in is? Let me know! I would LOVE to hear from my readers! Happy trails!:)

No comments: