History Of Herron, A French Community

By Ruth Ann Cochrane 

Story contributed by Ruth Ann Cochrane of Lachine, Michigan, and the following individuals who kindly loaned photos and clippings, and who answered many questions during interviews.  These contributors include: Lena Prevo, Leo Prevo, Leo Kaiser, Lillian Paquette, Bernice Kaiser, Arlene Moore, Rod Morris, Wayne Munroe, Jean Hayka, Arlington Martin, Mildred Hall, Alfred Domke, Martin Domke, Ruth Wagoner, Edward Tillitson, Edward Olsen, Alice Standen, Marge Manning, Louis Martell, Alice Walker, Olive and the late Frank Wise, and the late Diana Ritsen.  Census records, deeds, and Polk Directories were also consulted.  A special thanks goes to the employees at the Jesse Besser Museum, Alpena County Courthouse, and the Alpena County Library for their help and guidance. 

Herron, a community in Wilson Township of Alpena County, Michigan, was named in honor of Fred Herron, an early settler, lumberman and farmer.  It is likely the personnel of the Boyne City, Gaylord, and Alpena Railroad named the village “Herron” at the time the rails were put into operation in 1918.  Early maps show the settlement as “Frenchtown”.

As in other areas of Michigan, the vast area forests attracted lumbermen during the 1870’s.  These lumber barons bought large tracts of forest and hired crews to harvest the virgin pines and other valuable stands.  Once this mission was accomplished, they sold the lands at relatively low prices as they saw no further value in it and no future in farming.

Many crewmen bought the lands or took up homesteading and became the area’s first permanent settlers.  They lumbered the lesser stands, cleared the land of stumps, build log houses, and began farming, an occupation which still remains prominent today.  Some lumbered during the winter and farmed during the other seasons.

By the spring of 1873, enough people had settled in the area to organize Wilson Township.  Before, it had been a part of Alpena Township.  According to the census records of 1880, many of the pioneer settlers were of French origin.  Some had lived in Canada for a stint before traveling on to the rich and free lands of Wilson Township.  Frenchtown, as their settlement became known, offered the sought after opportunities of land ownership and an environment in which the rights and individualities of each could be exercised. 

Charles Murray, Louis Aure, Oliver Prevo, Joseph Patnode, James Tuggey, Samuel Clearwood, Adolphus Martell, Louis Martell, Pardon Buell, Henry Munroe, John Compeau, Dan Munroe, Alphonse LaBarge, Joseph Bewas, Napoleon Baganais, Joseph Fradette, Israel Cousineau, Samuel Holcomb, Drum Crawford, Jay Napper, Tom Smith, Joseph Bartrow, George Ballow, Samuel Davison and William Mulvena were among those settling in the area prior to the turn of the century.  Peter Rouleau, Charles Bussey, Joachim Sauve, John Mills, Louis View, Frank Herron and Fred Herron were among those settling in the are soon after the turn of the century.  Most of these early families engaged in both lumbering and farming.  Adolphus Martell was also a noted trapper. Some took up storekeeping, blacksmithing, and other trades needed in a pioneer community.  Their ventures will be elaborated upon in the business section of this study.  Corn, beans, oats, wheat, rye, hay and potatoes have been major agricultural crops in the vicinity.  Beef and dairy herds have been prominent and have contributed much to the economy.

EARLY BUSINESS VENTURES

PREVO’S BLACKSMITH SHOP – One of the earliest, if not the earliest, business venture was the Prevo Blacksmith Shop.  It was built on  St. Rose Church property in 1889 by Oliver Prevo and sons.  Oliver and Adelore Prevo were general blacksmiths at various times.  The upstairs was used for St. Rose Church masses, card parties, and dances.  The Prevos were musically inclined and often provided music for the weekend “hoe-down.”  Some activities were used as fund-raisers to build the church.  In 1897, the blacksmith shop burned.

CRIPPENS’ SAWMILL – Near the turn of the century, Mr. Crippen had a sawmill near the corner of Herron and Taylor Hawks Roads.  Mr. Crippen lived in the home which later became the LeBlanc residence.  Mr. Crippen died in a sawmill accident there. 

SAUVE’S BLACKSMITH SHOP – During the early part of this century [20^th], Joachim Sauve had a blacksmith shop at his home near St. Rose Church.  He performed general blacksmithing until his death in 1908.

MARTELL’S STORE – The 1905 business directory lists Mrs. L. Martell’s store.  It was a small general store operated from a room of her home near the St. Rose Church Cemetery.  The store played a vital role in the community as she stocked the basics.  It served as a great convenience since trips to Alpena for supplies were very limited.  Traveling conditions of this time period were not the best.

VIEW’S GENERAL STORE – During the teens, L. N. View owned and operated a grocery store which was near St. Rose Church property.  It was a small building from which general merchandise was sold.  In 1917, or 1918, Mr. View sold his store to Alexander (Sandy) Martin.

1. C. MARTIN & COMPANY – In March of 1918, the Alexander Martin family moved from Leer to Herron.  Mr. Martin had recently purchased View’s General Store and had it moved across Herron Road to land which he had purchased from Fred Herron.  Levi Prevo used horses to move the store to its new location.  Mr. Martin had an addition built onto the store, as well as living quarters to the back. 

Since the store was increased in size, more stock was carried than previously.  Hardware, bulk seeds, and general merchandise were supplied.  Mr. Martin bought cream and eggs from the farmers.  He also purchased cedar posts, railroad ties, excelsior wood, potatoes, grain, wool and hay from the farmers.  Most of these products were shipped out on the B. C. G. & A. railroad which ran near the store.  Mr. Martin also sold coal from his enterprise.  The coal came from West Virginia in gondolas. 

In 1920, Mr. Martin became postmaster for the newly organized Herron Post Office.  The post office was located in his store.  More on this venture will be mentioned in the section of “Post Office.”

Mr. Martin operated his store until his death in 1934.

ROGERS BROTHERS’ SEED COMPANY AND FARMS – The Rogers brothers owned farms in the Herron area.  They hired men to work these farms to raise many acres of peas, beans, onions, alfalfa, potatoes, etc.  From these crops, seeds were obtained for packaging at the Alpena plant.  Seeds were marketed throughout the United States.  In 1940, the company left its Alpena plant and moved to Utah. 

HERRON ELEVATOR COMPANY – In 1925, Alex Domke, a native of Moltke, purchased land from Fred Herron to establish an elevator and a general store.  It was built near the tracks of the B. C. G. & A.  Railroad for convenience.  In the mid 1930’s, there was a fire at Domke’s elevator enterprise, and the building was reduced in size as the result.  It was never rebuilt to the former size.  Alex owned and operated the business for 44 years.  His son Alfred also ran it for a couple of years.  The buildings are unoccupied today, but they remind us of a once thriving business which occurred within its walls.

MUNROES’ STORE – After Alexander (Sandy) Martin’s death, Mrs. Martin sold the store to Ed and Dorothy Munroe, son-in-law and daughter of the Martins.  Dorothy became postmistress and held the position until Diana Ritsen was appointed in 1945.  The Munroes carried general merchandise and continued as Herron storekeepers until they sold the store to Halvor and Diana Ritsen.

RITSENS’ STORE – In the early 1940’s Halvor and Diana Ritsen purchased Munroe’s store.  They ran the general store and post office.  In 1955, the Ritsens moved to their new home on M-32 near Emerson and took the post office with them.  Mrs. Ritsen had the post office in her home until her retirement in 1970.  The store was sold and was never reopened as a general store.  Together with the residence, it burned during the time the John Bussey family was making their home there. 

THE B. C. G. & A. RAILROAD

The B. C. G. & A. Railroad was incorporated in 1905.  Its namesake included the cities of Boyne City, Gaylord and Alpena.  Construction began in Boyne City and was completed as far as Gaylord. 

Construction halted until August 29, 1912 when it was resumed west from Alpena and east from Gaylord.  W. H. White of the White Brothers Company, a Boyne City logging company, was President of the B. C. G. & A. Railroad.  Since he held vast logging interests in Otsego and Montmorency Counties, he was eager to extend the rails through the lands of opportunity.  He was also interested in purchasing the Gilchrist Lumber Mill in Alpena for a sawmill for eastern lumbering operations.  Because the area which the rail was to serve was growing agriculturally and industrially and contained large tracts of standing timber, it was gratifying to the promoters.  Freight and passenger outlook looked good as it was the only east-west railroad, and it connected the major north-south railroads such as the D. & M., Michigan Central, and Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroads.

However, many problems arose with securing right of ways from property owners and other railroads.  In spite of the ups and downs, only 25 miles of track were left to lay between the eastern and western extremities by October 1913.   The completion of the last 25 miles was delayed as the result of the B. C. G. & A. Railroad and the interests of the White Brothers going into the receivership of the Michigan Trust Company in 1914.  In 1917, through the efforts of Irwin Canfield, an Alpena lawyer, a bond issue of $800,000, was established t pay off the account and to finish railroad construction.

After five years of ups and downs, the B. C. G. & A finally connected the cities of Boyne City and Alpena.  At 5:00 P.M., September 26, 1917, the “steel gang” on the extension of the railroad placed the last rail in position.  The eastern and western ends were united making a continuous track from Lake Michigan waters at Boyne City to Lake Huron in Alpena.  A work train was soon sent out and work commenced reballasting and putting it in condition over its entire length.

December 16, 1918, the first through passenger train left Boyne City at 11:45 A.M. and arrived in Alpena t 6:00 P.M.  At 8:55 A.M., a train left Alpena and arrived in Boyne City at 8:00 P.M.  This definitely marked a new epoch in northern Michigan rail transportation.

The Alpena News reported that between 20 and 25 passengers made the first trip from Alpena.  Most of them were woodsmen bound for various lumber camps.  Of those on board were Circuit Judge Frank Emerick, Circuit Court Stenographer, A. H. Briggs, and attorney Irwin S. Canfield who were bound for Atlanta on court business.  A. Fortier, Superintendent of the Loud Lumbering operations, Robert Rayburn of the Island Mill Lumber Company, and Ira Simmons, a traveling salesman, were also among the first passengers.

Local shippers held a dinner at the Elk’s Club in honor of B. C. G. & A. officials on December 20, 1918.  A get acquainted session set the ground for future business.

The B. C. G. & A. ended its services east of Atlanta in March of 1931.  Local representatives said the reason for discontinuance was that the tracks and right of was were overflowed when the level of the reservoir dam of the Alpena Power Company was raised March 15^th.  By this date, the major lumbering operations had ended, and automobiles were competing with passenger service.  The agricultural and industrial products could not support the railroad.  Therefore, the tracks were not raised for continued service.

One of the stations along the B. C. G. & A.  was located in Herron.  The tracks ran between Martin’s store and Domke’s elevator and store.  Hay, cattle, peas, wool, logs, pulpwood, excelsior, railroad ties, cream, potatoes, cedar posts, grain, and mail were shipped out from Herron.  Coal came in by the carload and was piled near Martin’s store.  Customers would come there to buy their coal.  Arlington Martin recalls delivering coal to the Wilson Township Schools with a truck made from a 1923 Dodge touring car.

There was a siding near Martin’s store.  Cars were switched onto it while being loaded.  A boxcar was placed near the tracks to be used for storage of goods ordered until pick up by the purchaser.  The boxcar was approximately 35’ X 9’, and its remains can still be seen near Domke’s elevator.

The B. C. G. & A. began purchasing right of way in the Herron area in December 1912.  Men from the area helped clear the grade and blow the stumps.  The area residents recall several railroad employees: Roy Smith was a conductor.  Moses Sauve was a section boss.  Harry Holloway watched the track.  Other names associated with the railroad were Joseph Zybtowski, Frank Zybtowski, Carl Christopherson and Mr. Crick.

Many men from the area worked in Camp 4 and Camp 6 which were built by the White Brothers along the railroad.  The B. C. G. & A.  was also known as the “White Road” since it serviced many of their camps. 

The train schedule for Herron is shown on the following B. C. G. & A.  time table.  It went into effect on December 15, 1918.  It appeared in The Boyne Citizen ON December 11, 1918.

ST. ROSE OF LIMA CATHOLIC CHURCH

French settlers were Roman Catholic for the most part.  Their religion played an important part in their lives.  The nearest Catholic churches were in Alpena some twelve to fourteen miles distant.  Traveling over tote roads through wilderness-like conditions limited church attendance.  It was a major task of the day to travel to Alpena even in good weather.

In 1886, Bishop Henry J. Richter of the Grand Rapids Diocese recognized the need for Catholics outside the city of Alpena.  He commissioned Father Joseph Thadee Hudon, Pastor of St. Anne Church in Alpena, to establish a preaching station in King Settlement.  The King Settlement Mission was the beginning of the church which later became known as St. Rose of Lima.

Father Hudon served 41 families (12 English, 26 French, and 3 German) in the King Settlement.  His work continued for one and one half years.  He said mass twice a year.

Father Theodule Blais replaced Father Hudon at St. Anne.  Father Blais was credited with securing the initial parcel of land now owned by St. Rose of Lima parish.  On June 20, 1890, Samuel Clearwood deeded a small corner portion of his farm for the mission.  However, no church was built for several years.

The Adolph Martell home served as a house of worship until a church was built.  Services were also held in the blacksmith shop which was just to the south of the present church.  It was built on church property.

The mission remained under the jurisdiction of St. Anne Church until October 1, 1897, when Father Godfrey Lenzen was appointed as first resident pastor.

Construction of the St. Rose of Lima Church began in 1898.  The construction of the church and rectory was accomplished through the efforts of enthusiastic parishioners under the direction of Louis Girard who acted as head carpenter.  The church was finished in 1908.

On October 6, 1940, St. Rose Church burned.  Nothing could be saved.  Neighbors, Father Bourget, and members of St. Rose stood helplessly and watched the church reduced to ashes.

However, the congregation was not defeated.  Plans were made to rebuild.  An insurance reimbursement and help from the parish made construction of a new church possible.  The new St. Rose of Lima Church was dedicated on October 25, 1941.  During the time St. Rose was being rebuilt, parishioners attended St. Mary’s Church in the Indian Reserve.

During the mid 1960’s, a new rectory was built.  The original rectory built at the turn of the century had outlived its usefulness.  The church was also remodeled, and an addition was built onto the front.

The first child baptized at St. Rose was Lillie O’Toole, the daughter of Robert O’Toole.  She was baptized on September 18, 1898.  The first marriage at St. Rose was that of Celina LaBarge and Israel Bisson on October 23, 1899.

From its days as the “St. Rose Mission,” the church continues to grow and play an active role in the community.  In 1986, St. Rose parishioners celebrated their centennial year with much festivity.  A centennial dinner and a special mass helped celebrate the occasion.

The pioneers were interested in the education of their children.  November 25, 1892, Samuel Davison and Emma Cousineau deeded a parcel of land to the Public Schools of Wilson Township of Alpena County for the purpose of building a rural school to serve the area.  The school became known as the Besaw School.  Located on what is now known as Prevo Road, it served the area until the area schools consolidated forming Wilson Community School in 1956.

Among the teachers who taught the Besaw School were Jennie Shell, Miss Maggie Parr, Mary Holcomb, Oscar Carr, Esther McClure Morrison, Mable Hall Daw, Sylvia Beaufore Adamski, Elizabeth Stinson Nugent,            Mary Connor, Anna Laundry Compeau, Helen Wegmeyer Rensberry, Irene Pasaczny, Genevieve Gallagher, Ernestine Chabot, Ida Kennedy Cousineau, Agatha Compeau, Jay Ostrander, Kathryn Cobb, Leona Villenueve, Donald Cochrane, Margaret Stamm Gamache, Rose Couture, Hilda Hartman, Agatha Bushey, Viola McGirr, Elwood Coombs, Ardath Thorburn, Ruth MacConnell, and Jennie Chabot.

As the population increased, it was necessary to build another school in the area to meet their needs.  November 5, 1915, Mr. And Mrs. Louis Martell deeded a parcel of land to the Wilson Township Schools for the purpose of building what became known as the Martell School.  The Martell School, located on Herron Road, served the needs of the people until the Wilson schools consolidated in 1956.

Teachers who taught the Martell School included: Hazel Smith Dorothy Beyer, Gertrude Donnan, Myrtle Donnan, Anna Lester, Harlo Herron, Helen Wegmeyer, Lorraine Cochrane, Ethel Wright, Odile Mainville, Mrs. Bromund, Arlene Donnan Moore, Elizabeth Connon, Warren Barrie, Jack Makiel, Edgar Diamond, Valva Wallace, Ada Nugent, Mabel Campbell, Sherdan Campbell, Margaret Stamm Gamache, Delores Prevo, Irene Alexander, Cerelda Wallace, Doris Habermehl, and Kathryn Cobb.

The Besaw School and the Martell School offered the typical curriculum of their day.  Kindergarten through the eighth grade were housed within.  Spelling bees, baseball games, Christmas programs, Valentine’s day parties, and the last day of school activities will long be remembered as highlights of the rural schools.

Arlene Moore recalls the last day of school activities in the maple grove on the corner of Napper Road and Herron Road near the present Wilson Community School.  Homemade ice cream highlighted the day along with a picnic, races, and other games.

HERRON POST OFFICE

Plans for the Herron Post Office were being made in the spring of 1920.  Alexander Martin became Herron’s first post master October 5, 1920.  The post office was located in Martin’s General Store which was located just south and across the road from St. Rose Church on Herron Road.

Records show that Herron was not the first post office to serve the area.  Hobson, Dafoe, and Lachine Post offices had previously served the area. 

Hobson Post Office had its beginning April 25, 1899 when Kate Turner was appointed its first postmistress.  On November 7, 1901, Edith Patrick became Hobson’s postmistress.  Kate Turner became Hobson’s postmistress for the second time March 1, 1905.  She continued to serve in that position until the post office was discontinued December 21, 1909.  The post office was located in the homes of the postmistresses.  Mail was transferred to the neighboring Dafoe Post Office.

On August  5, 1899, the Dafoe Post Office was commissioned to Samuel Dagget and located on King Settlement Road near the Taylor Hawks Road.  Mr. Dagget was entitled to employ a carrier as often as practical.  January 2, 1900, Susan McHarg became postmistress.  January 26, 1904, Henry Portwine became postmaster of Dafoe.  He served as postmaster until April 21, 1904, when the post office was moved to the home of Charles Wise Sr., the new postmaster.  Mr. Wise was postmaster of Dafoe until his death in 1915.  After his death, the post office was moved next door to the Shell residence, and Agnes Shell became postmistress March 19, 1915.  She served as postmistress until the post office was discontinued and transferred to Lachine Post Office, November 30, 1917. 

The opening of the Herron Post Office in 1920 was indeed a homecoming.  The area was once again served by it own post office, offering much more convenience.

Postmasters serving the Herron Post Office throughout the years are shown on the following chart along with their service dates.  The post office remained in the store until Diana Ritsen moved it to her new home on M-32 in 1955.  After Mrs. Ritsen’s retirement in 1970, the post office was moved to its present location on M-32. 

Through the years, several people have served as clerk and postmaster relief.  Among them were Herman Goodman and Barney Norton (from Lachine prior to Herron), Halvor Ritsen, Pat Ritsen Homant, Shirley Pugh, Marge Manning and R. Joan McHarg.

Of the mail carriers, Frank Wise is the most remembered.  Mr. Wise had been carrying mail from the Lachine Post Office at the time of the founding of the Herron Post Office.  When Alexander Martin (Sandy) opened the post office in his store, Mr. Wise transferred to Herron from Lachine to continue basically the same route.  Mr. Wise carried mail for Herron until his retirement in 1965.  Mail carriers since Frank’s retirement include: William Dubie, Jerry Burnham, and Frances Goff.  Sub carriers throughout the history of the Herron Post Office include: Monroe Napper, Ralph Chevalier, Ed Zbytowski, Joseph Hemmingson, Don Neuman, Dorothey Munroe Niewola and Valarie Zbytowski.

At the present time, Herron’s mail route is 70.35 miles.   Marge Manning is the postmistress, and Frances Goff is the mail carrier.  Valarie Zybtowski is the sub carrier, while R. Joan McHarg is postmaster relief.

The Herron Post Office continues to expand.  In 1985, it advanced from fourth class to third class.  At that time, the mail route was only 34 miles as compared to over 70 miles today.  An interesting sideline in postal history is that of the Wise family: Charles Wise Sr., postmaster of Dafoe from 1904-1915, was the father of Frank who carried mail for 45 years.  Frank’s daughter, Marge Wise Manning is now postmistress at the Herron Post Office.  Charles Wise Jr., and Harry Wise, sons of Charles Wise Sr., were also mail carriers.  Charles Jr. carried mail from the Lachine Post Office for some time.  Harry carried mail from both Dafoe and Lachine Post Offices.  May 31, 1956, he retired after having served as mail carrier for over 39 years, 38 of which were in Lachine.  Hats off to the Wises for their great contribution to postal history!

RECREATION

As was mentioned earlier, dancing and card parties served as early forms of recreation.  Box socials, picnics, and visiting also made for much entertainment.  Team sports such as baseball were played with enthusiasm.

Of the sports, baseball became very popular.  A leading figure in the community’s baseball history was Alexander (Sandy) Martin.  He helped organize the County Baseball League.  Herron played the other county league teams on a regular basis.

“Take Me Out To The Ball Game” were words of eager spectators.  They filled the bleachers and cheered for the home team many Sunday afternoons.  The ball field was between Herron Road and the St. Rose Cemetery.  Wayne Munroe lives near the former baseball diamond.

Herron youths who formed the Herron Baseball Team over the years were: Arlington Martin, Gordon Kaiser, Wilfred Kaiser, Wilbert Napper, Wilbert Leeck, Medas Prevo, Jack Donakowski, Ted Baker, Arnold Donnan, Howard Murray and Paul Bogart.  Harold Ellsworth of Alpena, also played for Herron.  Around WWII, the team broke up when many of the young men went to the service.

THE HERRON BLAST

October 30, 1952 will long be remembered as a day of tragedy in Herron and surrounding communities.  It was on this day that five men were killed and 26 children were left fatherless as the result of an explosion.  Three Domke brothers, Sieghard, Bernard, and Henry, and their brother-in-law, Ralph Chevalier, of Herron were killed along with John Wilczynski of Chicago.  The men were killed instantly about 11:15 PM as their bodies were dismembered in an explosion in an abandoned gold mine shaft by Herron Road near the Angus Morris residence. 

They were probing in search of uranium ore, then they struck natural gas.  It is theorized that the gas fumes were ignited by a spark caused by a drill point striking rock.  A great burst of flames from the 272 ft. shaft rose heavenward and subsided. A quietness settled over the earth shaken countryside. 

Sieghard Domke and Ralph Chevalier had been drilling from a platform 180 ft. below the ground when the blast occurred.  Henry and Bernard Domke and John Wilczynski were near the edge of the shaft at the time of the explosion, and their bodies were dismembered and blown into nearby fields.  The bodies of Sieghard Domke and Ralph Chevalier were discovered later by rescuers. 

John Pastuszka, a Chicagoan who had been in the nearby power house and took shed, was the lone survivor of the crew.  He had been following Wilczynski when he decided to turn back to check on the stove.  Soon an explosion blew out the side of the building and hurled Pastuszka into an open field.

Tom Martell, a resident of Herron who had worked with the crew on previous runs, was the first to arrive on the scene of tragedy.  Albert Dubie, another Herron resident, was second to arrive.  Seeing the seriousness of the incident, Dubie left immediately to summon help.  Tom shut off the switch on the diesel which operated the plant generator that supplied power to the pumps used to keep the shaft free of gas and water.  He walked through the fields in search of the bodies.

Authorities, ambulances, and neighbors answered Dubie’s call.  Relatives of the deceased gathered in sorrow.  Many became involved in the search for and the identification of bodies.

The crew had been working at night in hope of securing a few last minute samples before closing the mine for the winter.

Presence of uranium ore had been found in previous ore samples.

Three years prior to the blast, Wilczynski, operator of the Alpena Enterprise, Inc., had leased the mine property from Angus Morris.  He had deepened the shaft an additional 172 ft.  According to Pastuszka, he had been operating on an off-and-on basis.  This particular operation began about a week before the explosion.

Angus Morris recalled that the first 100 ft. of the shaft had been sunk 24 years prior to this incident.  Charles Herriman, a Chicagoan who had been in quest for gold was the head man in the enterprise.  After operating unsuccessfully for about a year, Harriman left the local scene, and the mine was closed.  James C. Walker and James H. Kerr were among the Alpena men in the enterprise.

Soon after the explosion, the mine began filling in with water.  Today its water filled walls leave little hope for future entrepreneurs.

"Some owners of the former A. C. Martin and Company were unintentionally omitted. The owners and/or operators who followed Halvor and Dianna Ritsen were the John Busseys, Irving Prevos, Alfred Kirchoffs and Ruth Dege Hedges. The store had been used as the John Bussey residence in later years, but the Busseys sold it prior to the fire which claimed it. "The pioneer was Napoleon Daganais. The store owner was L. N. Vieu. "The Herron Post Office became a third class post office in 1958, rather than 1985."

This page last updated 04/25/2006