TF1 VISITED OLD MINES

April 02, 2021
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A French television crew visited the Old Mines area recently and filmed excerpts for a broadcast on the channel TF1. Reporter Jerome Garro and photographer Adrien Ponsard were filming and learning about the ‘Paw Paw French’ dialect that had developed in the culture along Old Mines Creek. On Monday, March 15th the two met with a few representatives of the Old Mines Area Historical Society to find out the ‘lay of the land’ and get some background on what is still considered the French connections. On Wed., March 17th Garro and Ponsard were treated to some live music by Miss Natalie Villmer and Joe Politte. The duo sang some of the traditional French songs that have been handed down through the generations in Old Mines. The reporters got to visit the grounds at Old Mines and also the ‘hillside’ at Fertile as well as visiting with Dennis Stroughmatt and recording some of his historical music. Garro’s main interest was the unique dialect and sayings that had developed among the French through the 1700’s, 1800’s and 1900’s. He found much of the historical landscape and culture of great interest as well as they visited the area. (OMAHS Photos)