Ghost stories
Various ghost stories can be gathered from newspaper articles in the later 1800's and early 1900's.
A story concerning Mrs. Mary Higbee, a daughter of Joseph Bertrand, relates one such tale.
"A burying ground was established in the same grounds and to this day the church and cemetery which have passed out of use long since, are known as 'the haunted church yard.' Tales of the shades of the early French traders and Indians wandering over the church yard and through the church are still heard and there are those who will testify that weird music has been heard distinctly at midnight."
-The Saint Joseph Daily Press, Nov. 13, 1914
Other more specific tales were shared in the South Bend Tribune on July 15, 1928:
"In days gone by there was a marked prevalence of supernatural stories in and about Bertrand. Again the old church, from whose shattered walls the owls hooted, was peopled with worshipers and ghosts of the early settlers were conjured up by the kindling imagination of the dwindling population of the 'deserted village,' where 'there was a contagion in the very air that blew from that haunted churchyard; it breathed forth an atmosphere of dreams and fancies infecting all the land."
The article goes on to relate the story of Mrs. Henry Lardner, the mother of Ring Lardner. The story tells the tale of two young lovers who after a few years of marriage had decided to divorce. The couple met one evening in the abandoned cemetery to talk things over. The daylight quickly faded and as darkness fell they heard strange music and turned to see that lights were shining from the windows of the church building. A ghostly troop of parishioners was seen entering the church and when the couple went to investigate, found that a Mass was being celebrated... by ghosts.
The article states, "For lights were burning and the congregation of Indians and white people were joining in the worship in response to the pale priest who stood in unearthly beauty, attended by dusky acolytes, the young Indian converts, who had loved him. Pastor and people, when they arose or kneeled, moved as shadows do."
At the conclusion of the Mass, the ghost priest turned to give the benediction, uttered the words "Dominus vobiscum" and the whole congregation disappeared leaving the young couple alone. The story becomes a bit more confused at this point as it seems the bodies of the couple were found weeks later, along with the Native man Grey Eagle, who loved the young woman and had murdered the couple and took his own life. Apparently all three were buried in the cemetery, although there are neither written records nor headstones for any of them. I wonder if all of the witnesses of the phantom Mass died in this murder-suicide, who was it that related what they saw to others? I suppose with stories like this it is best not to ask too many questions and just leave it at that.
The article concludes by telling the general fear of those living in the village at that time.
"This and many other stories are rife as to the alleged nature of the apparitions. Not a resident of the old, dilapidated village will approach the churchyard after night sets in and even the unkempt youths of the hamlet give the cemetery a wide berth at all times. On several occasions of late it is claimed 'Ghosts' have appeared before belated villagers, and as suddenly disappeared."
I wish that the example of the "unkempt youth" of Bertrand would have been followed by later-day vandals.
Yet another tale of mysterious lights at the abandoned mission speaks of the upset citizens of the community of Bertrand. "The old Catholic church in Bertrand village is and has been for some time a source of considerable perplexity to the good people over there, says the Niles Democrat. At certain periods of more or less regularity mysterious lights are seen in the windows, sometimes appearing, according to the statements of various observers, as if a person with a lamp were roaming about the interior, and again all the windows are suffused with an indistinct glow that suggests anything but the light from a lamp within". The author of the article, mentioning the residents of the graveyard whom he remarks, "...are all still comfortably dead", makes a rather unflattering remark concerning the state of Bertrand in 1890. "Even did anything rest heavily on their consciences, which would incline them to return from that bourn... it is beyond belief that they would care to see Bertrand again, so long as they have a wider range of travel." Though many were frightened by these lights at the abandoned mission, two resolute citizens decided to settle the matter with an investigation. "Going nearer the building and facing it, they stood with their backs to a neighboring house, within one of whose windows stood a brightly burning lamp, the light from which shining on the church windows was reflected to the observer when standing at the proper angle. The lamp in the house being removed the light in the church window vanished, and the two villagers went home satisfied. Thus this ghost is laid." - South Bend Tribune, Nov. 8, 1890
A story concerning Mrs. Mary Higbee, a daughter of Joseph Bertrand, relates one such tale.
"A burying ground was established in the same grounds and to this day the church and cemetery which have passed out of use long since, are known as 'the haunted church yard.' Tales of the shades of the early French traders and Indians wandering over the church yard and through the church are still heard and there are those who will testify that weird music has been heard distinctly at midnight."
-The Saint Joseph Daily Press, Nov. 13, 1914
Other more specific tales were shared in the South Bend Tribune on July 15, 1928:
"In days gone by there was a marked prevalence of supernatural stories in and about Bertrand. Again the old church, from whose shattered walls the owls hooted, was peopled with worshipers and ghosts of the early settlers were conjured up by the kindling imagination of the dwindling population of the 'deserted village,' where 'there was a contagion in the very air that blew from that haunted churchyard; it breathed forth an atmosphere of dreams and fancies infecting all the land."
The article goes on to relate the story of Mrs. Henry Lardner, the mother of Ring Lardner. The story tells the tale of two young lovers who after a few years of marriage had decided to divorce. The couple met one evening in the abandoned cemetery to talk things over. The daylight quickly faded and as darkness fell they heard strange music and turned to see that lights were shining from the windows of the church building. A ghostly troop of parishioners was seen entering the church and when the couple went to investigate, found that a Mass was being celebrated... by ghosts.
The article states, "For lights were burning and the congregation of Indians and white people were joining in the worship in response to the pale priest who stood in unearthly beauty, attended by dusky acolytes, the young Indian converts, who had loved him. Pastor and people, when they arose or kneeled, moved as shadows do."
At the conclusion of the Mass, the ghost priest turned to give the benediction, uttered the words "Dominus vobiscum" and the whole congregation disappeared leaving the young couple alone. The story becomes a bit more confused at this point as it seems the bodies of the couple were found weeks later, along with the Native man Grey Eagle, who loved the young woman and had murdered the couple and took his own life. Apparently all three were buried in the cemetery, although there are neither written records nor headstones for any of them. I wonder if all of the witnesses of the phantom Mass died in this murder-suicide, who was it that related what they saw to others? I suppose with stories like this it is best not to ask too many questions and just leave it at that.
The article concludes by telling the general fear of those living in the village at that time.
"This and many other stories are rife as to the alleged nature of the apparitions. Not a resident of the old, dilapidated village will approach the churchyard after night sets in and even the unkempt youths of the hamlet give the cemetery a wide berth at all times. On several occasions of late it is claimed 'Ghosts' have appeared before belated villagers, and as suddenly disappeared."
I wish that the example of the "unkempt youth" of Bertrand would have been followed by later-day vandals.
Yet another tale of mysterious lights at the abandoned mission speaks of the upset citizens of the community of Bertrand. "The old Catholic church in Bertrand village is and has been for some time a source of considerable perplexity to the good people over there, says the Niles Democrat. At certain periods of more or less regularity mysterious lights are seen in the windows, sometimes appearing, according to the statements of various observers, as if a person with a lamp were roaming about the interior, and again all the windows are suffused with an indistinct glow that suggests anything but the light from a lamp within". The author of the article, mentioning the residents of the graveyard whom he remarks, "...are all still comfortably dead", makes a rather unflattering remark concerning the state of Bertrand in 1890. "Even did anything rest heavily on their consciences, which would incline them to return from that bourn... it is beyond belief that they would care to see Bertrand again, so long as they have a wider range of travel." Though many were frightened by these lights at the abandoned mission, two resolute citizens decided to settle the matter with an investigation. "Going nearer the building and facing it, they stood with their backs to a neighboring house, within one of whose windows stood a brightly burning lamp, the light from which shining on the church windows was reflected to the observer when standing at the proper angle. The lamp in the house being removed the light in the church window vanished, and the two villagers went home satisfied. Thus this ghost is laid." - South Bend Tribune, Nov. 8, 1890