I understand and appreciate anyone’s loyalty to family, therefore, I would like to submit a brief history of the original Goudreaus, to assure those who question recognition of this family that they are among the area’s original settlers and earned any praise awarded them.

Amable and Marie Vallier Goudreau settled in Mackinac County around 1840, about 170 years ago. They maintained homes in St. Ignace and Epoufette. Both industrious, he was a successful fisherman, and Marie extracted and shipped fish oil from a small plant in Epoufette Bay.

The parking area located in back of the businesses on Main Street was Goudreau Alley. St. Anthony’s Rock was also called Goudreau Rock. Amable and Marie owned property on the hilltop now posted Goudreau Street. Although devout Catholics, they gave this land to the Methodists to build their first church. Goudreau families lived on this street, including Jane and Louis. The side streets were named for their children.

I am a fourth-generation descendent of Amable and Marie, a granddaughter of their daughter, Caroline. Goudreaus still are prominent in St. Ignace and along the western shores of Lake Michigan. Through marriage, many local families can claim relationship to Amable and Marie, especially those of French descent.

Being part of this family, you inherit a loyalty and love for Mackinac County. It will always be home. Any honor bestowed upon the original Goudreaus is deserved and does not have to be defended. We, the present generation, are obligated to live our lives in a manner worthy of our heritage.
Ruth (nee Wixson) Tuohy
Venice, Florida

Editor’s Note: A portion of Goudreau Street in St. Ignace was once widely known – and still is referred to by longtime residents of the town – as Maloney Hill. A reference in the newspaper this past fall to the impressive downtown slope as “Goudreau Hill” prompted a concerned letter from Margaret Merriman of Marquette: “Maloney Hill Falls Victim to Revisionist History,” published November 5, 2009. Our occasional letters correspondent, Lawrence “Ashcan” Furlott, was then inspired to weigh in, pointing out that “all are guilty” of revisionist history. “I was born on Goudreau way back when Hitler was a corporal, and we always called it Maloney Hill,” he said. But this wasn’t the end of the story. Ms. Merriman was further alarmed when she noted in the December 17 issue a reference to “Maloney Street and Goudreau Alley,” writing December 31 that we must now consider, “Was there once a Maloney Bay? A Maloney Island? A Straits of Maloney?” We are glad to hear this week from the Goudreau family, who graciously provide additional historical perspective about this landmark, and even give us a bit of news about other downtown landmarks thrown in for good measure.