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September 18, 1947Wilmettes 75th Anniversary 1872-1947107Early Mission Once BuiltNear Edge of Skokie MarshFather Pierre Francois Pinet,Jesuit missionary, who founded theMr. Grovers suggestions of pos-first two permanent settlements insible sites for the mission are theIllinois, two Catholic missions atCahokiagrounds of the sanitarium (formerly and Kaskaskia, also wasDr. Sanger Browns and now Mary-the founder of the first Illinois mis-haven) directly west of Kenilworth;sion among the Miami Indians. Thethe present site of St. Josephssame Mission of the Guardian An-gelchurch; on Ridge avenue, due west, which was with one exceptionof the Kenilworth railway stationthe first Catholic mission in Illinoisandat the site of a former Miami In established before these twodian village. It is also possible thatlater missions, was on the bank ofanthe mission might have been lo- inland lake somewhere in whatcated at what is now the corner ofis now the western part of NewTrieIllinois and Hibbard roads. Thisr township.spot, it seems probable from a mapPinet came to Illinois when hewaof 1851, was the southeast corners 36 years old and for the nextof the old Skokie marshes.eight years, until his death at Ca-hokia in 1704, founded these thre~missionsTOWN CLERK. He not only had to facethe hardships experienced by everyTownship clerk for 23 years untilpioneer and explorer, but he alsoher death in 1946 was Mrs. Mar-had the antagonism and oppositiongaret Scheidenhclrn Pierson. .Slieof Count de Frontenac, governor ofwas appointed to the office in 1923FORMER LANDMARK The old Gage residence stood for many yearsNewto fill out the term on the death of France, upon his shoulders.at the northwest corner of Chestnut avenue and Sheridan road. For aTheher husband, Township Clerk Le- Jesuit authorities claim thatlong time, during the later life of the building, it was a roadside res-deland V. Fierson, and was re-elected Frontenac unfairly drove Fathertaurant. Damaged by the tornado of Palm Sunday, 1920, the inn for aPineregularly thereafter.t from his first mission.time bore the name "Tornado Tavern."* * *The Mission of the GuardianAngels was probably founded in1696, temporarily abandoned in1697, and re-settled early inILL SAY ITS FUNNY1698, Finet supposedly stayedthere until 1699 or 1700 when themission was permanently aban-doned.* * *MISTER !/ ib n ^MOTORSThe exact sice of the mission isEDITOR /SOMETHIN^WILL PRINT A COMICa very controversial queston. Cluesto its location, however, can beO ^Z FUNNY FOR STRIP CALLEDgained from the letters of CatholicpriestsYOUR. PAPERi who visited the mission inthe fall of 1698.9 ^L -DONT MISS ONEIn September, 1698, Saint Cosme,Montigny, Davion, Vincennes and a, guide set out to travel down the Des Plaines, Illinois, Mississippi, andTELL Arkansas rivers. When they wereonly five leagues (i.e. 15 miles) fromChicago in October, they were sud-WUS- SOE CAN idenly overtaken by a violent windand storm. The party made its wayLAUGHto shore and after a short walk onTOO /land, arrived at the mission.* * *According to Saint Cosmesletter, the mission "is built onthe bank of the small lake, hav-ing- the lake on one side and afine prairie on another."* * *Frank R. Grover, author of thebook, "Father Pierre FrancoisPinet," says that this lake couldbe none other than what is nowknown as the Skokie. Before settlersbegan draining the lake for richfarm land, there was an inland lakewhich extended from Lake countyalmost to Lake avenue. "The vol-ume of the water discharged throughthe outlet of the lake, the northbranch of the Chicago river, wassufficient to furnish water for asaw mill," Mr. Grover says. It isalmost certain that there was noother inland lake or body of waterwithin 50 miles of Chicago, nearLake Michigan.* * *The only prairie in this vicin-ity which the letter mentionedwas at the south end of theSkokie, extending through thelater villages of Gross Point andNiles Center and eastward toKenilworth, according to Mr.Grover. Few trees on this sec-tion of land indicating any con-ROGER B. PALENSKEsiderable age, in comparison tothe large growth of trees cover-ing other sections, show thatthis was probably the only spotDODGE MOTOR SAlES PLYMOUTHwhere a prairie could havebeen located.80 Green Bay Road, Winnetka Phone Winnetka 655