Area author pens third book in series about her ancestors

By Ron Giofu

An area author has written her third book based around research she has done on her ancestors.

Barbara Reaume Sandre, a LaSalle resident and retired teacher, has written the novel “The Detroit Shoemaker” about her sixth great-grandfather Hyacinthe Reaume.

“It is historical fiction about life in the DetroitWindsor area in the 1700’s based on research I’ve done on my sixth great-grandfather,” Sandre explained.

Previous books have also detailed members of her family with more to come, with future titles to explore more about the history of her family in Amherstburg. Sandre said her first book “René” was about her eighth great-grandfather and based in Quebec City while her second book “…and his son Robert” was based on her seventh great-grandfather and set in Montreal in the 1700’s.

“I became interested in genealogy about 35 years ago,” said Sandre. “I was astounded by the amount of information out there so I felt I needed to write a story about my ancestors.”

Sandre said “I never really enjoyed history in high school” but her interest was sparked by information she learned about her ancestors. That made it more interesting and meaningful for her and led to her research on her family.

“I am pretty much learning about our history as I go,” said Sandre.

The new book covers issues around Fort Pontchartrain and movements of settlers from the fort to the “south shore,” which is now Windsor. She said there were no borders back then, no Canada and no United States.

“The Detroit Shoemaker” was a book that was written after “years of research” and she is happy with the results.

“It’s a labour of love,” said Sandre.

There are two more books planned about her Reaume ancestors, with both books delving into greater detail about history in Amherstburg.

Her first book “René” took about 25 years to complete, she said, pointing out she was still teaching and raising her family as she wrote it. Once she retired, Sandre said she was able to devote more time to researching and writing with her second book “… and his son Robert” taking about five years to write. Writing “The Detroit Shoemaker” followed a similar process as her second book.

The first two books were published through Borealis Press out of Ottawa while the third book has been published through Friesen Press out of Manitoba. Books have sold in every province and a number of U.S. states, she said.

“Amherstburg is full of Reaumes,” she said. “My grandfather was born and raised in Amherstburg. That branch of the Reaume family has been here since 1796, the very beginning of Amherstburg.”

“The Detroit Shoemaker” is $19.95 and available in Amherstburg at the Marsh Historical Collection and River Bookshop. Windsor locations include Juniper Books, Biblioasis, Storytellers and Girard Flowers.