Bertrand

Bertrand is a Michigan historical marker in Bertrand Twp, Berrien County, dedicated 1967.

Betrand Road at Bond Street, Bertrand Twp

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Nearby French and English trading posts were known as parc aux vaches or “cowpens” for the wild buffalo once found here. Joseph Bertrand, an early trader, married the daughter of a Potawatomi chief and through her acquired land in various Indian treaties. In 1833 this land was platted into the town of Bertrand, which soon included several large hotels and stores and a four story warehouse— remarkable on the Michigan frontier. Bertrand became a stop for stages on the Detroit Chicago Road, and in 1844 the Sisters of the Holy Cross founded their first American convent here. Failure of the railroads to pass through town, and the high price of lots, caused the decline of this expansive village and the financial ruin of its founder.

TodayHistorical map

Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.

David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries

Historical maps covering this location

1819 · Ohio & Indiana (H. S. Tanner, 1819) (Barry Lawrence Ruderman Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1826 · Indiana (A. Finley, 1826) (Barry Lawrence Ruderman Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1831 · Indiana. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1838 · Indiana (1838) (Barry Lawrence Ruderman Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1873 · (Map of Berrien County, Michigan) (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)

Ohio & Indiana (H. S. Tanner, 1819), 1819, covering the location of Bertrand, with a pin at the marker's coordinates — Ohio & Indiana (H. S. Tanner, 1819), 1819, covering this location. Barry Lawrence Ruderman Map Collection, Stanford Libraries. The pin is ours, placed from the marker's coordinates.

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Marker data: Michigan History Center
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More markers nearby

St. Joseph's Missionunder 1 mi
Pare Aux Vaches - Madeline Bertrand Parkunder 1 mi
Fort St. Joseph3 mi
Ring Lardner3 mi