St. Clair Rotary Club’s
Competition for St. Clair’s 2015
Bootlegger Balladeer
And Poet Laureate
Contest Rules & Regulations
www.StClairOnTheRiver.com
The competition is open to all amateur and professional song writers or poets. The
competition is to determine who can write the best song or poem for the “2015 Legend”.
The 2015 Legend
PIONEER INGENUITY
Dorothy Mitts, author of the Port Huron Times column “Where the Wild Goose
Flies?”, tells an interesting story about Andrew Westbrook’s sons. Mr.
Westbrook had a farm in East China Township and one day several valuable
horses were stolen. Ebenezer Westbrook and his half-brother William
volunteered to go after the horse thieves and retrieve the horses.
The horse thieves headed to Detroit and then traveled west, always one step
ahead of the brothers. The tail continued west, almost to Chicago, before the
brothers recovered the horses somewhere west of Niles, near a little town named
Bertrand. While the brothers were able to recover the horses, the horse thieves
got away.
The brothers faced a dilemma when they recaptured the horses. The trip to
recover the horses took longer than they expected and they found they did not
have enough money to return home.
The brothers’ solution to their problem was illustrative of their character.
Ebenezer, a religious man, with leanings for a career in the ministry, decided to
preach his way home. William, who was adept at playing cards, chose to get his
money by gambling.
Dorothy does not tell us anything about the trip home, she ends her tale by saying
the boys returned home with the horses and more money than they started with.
The interesting stories that could be told of Ebenezer preaching during the day
and William gambling at night and the confused town folk’s responses to the
brothers when they arrived at each hamlet with the stolen horses on their trip
home.
Page 1 of 3
St. Clair Rotary Club’s
Competition for St. Clair’s 2015
Bootlegger Balladeer
And Poet Laureate
Contest Rules & Regulations
www.StClairOnTheRiver.com
Epilogue:
When Suzanne Wesbrook Frantz was asked about this story she shared this information
with us:
I can be very precise with the location of Andrew's farm. His main farm was located
along the St. Clair River about 2 miles north of what is today's Marine City. It was
originally part of St. Clair Township, and by the time of Andrew's death in 1835, it had
become China Township. (East China wasn't formed until 1859.) This property would be
south of Recor's Point, (south of the St. Clair Power Plant), as that parcel belonged to his
neighbor on the north, the Recor family. The land where the Red Brick School Museum
sits on Meisner Road was deeded by Andrew Wesbrook. He owned many properties in
St. Clair County from today's Algonac to Port Huron, but this farm was his main
residence since 1815 when he purchased 53 acres from Jean Marie Beaubien.
I do know that Ebenezer was sort of a lay Methodist preacher. And the 1860 Census Port
Huron tells us William's occupation was "gamester" although I'm exactly certain what
that means; all that I have been able to find about the definition of a 19th century
gamester has to do with cards... if so, the story rings very true (but what an odd
"occupation" to give to a census taker.)
The challenge is who can write the best ballad or poem telling the story on the Westbrook
brothers’ trip home. Many facts are missing and the writer is given creative license to
share the facts he or she uncovers from their independent research of the incident.
1. Songs will be judged based on melody, composition, originality and lyrics (must
be based on the “2015 Legend”). Poems will stand-on their own. The decision
of the judges is final.
2. Poets are competing for the title, St. Clair’s 2015 Poet Laureate. Song writers
are competing for the title, St. Clair’s 2015 Bootlegger Balladeer. Winner will
receive a proclamation from the St. Clair City Council, at a date To Be
Determined.
3. In addition to winning the title of Poet Laureate or Bootlegger Balladeer, the St.
Clair Rotary Club will award cash prizes in each category: $250 for 1st place,
$150 for 2nd place and $100 for 3rd place.
4. Each entry shall be wholly original and shall not infringe on any copyrights or any
other rights of any third parties. Each entrant shall, by entering, indemnify and
hold the City of St. Clair, St. Clair DDA, the St. Clair Rotary Club and the St.
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St. Clair Rotary Club’s
Competition for St. Clair’s 2015
Bootlegger Balladeer
And Poet Laureate
Contest Rules & Regulations
www.StClairOnTheRiver.com
Clair Events Company harmless from and against any claims inconsistent with the
foregoing.
5. The entrant grants the City of St. Clair, St. Clair DDA, the St. Clair Rotary Club
and the St. Clair Events Company an unlimited license to use the song or poem
submitted.
6. We are requesting that an “Entry Form” be completed by noon, Friday, January
23, 2015 with a copy of entrant’s song or poem. Entry forms may be dropped off
at LaCroix’s Riverside Pub (314 Clinton Ave.), St. Clair City Building (547 N.
Carney Dr.) or e-mailed to info@StClairOnTheRiver.com
7. Entry forms, poems and songs will be accepted on the day of the event.
Entering contest Entrant agrees to perform at these times and locations at nocharge to the City of St. Clair, St. Clair DDA and St. Clair Events Company.
Date
Wednesday, Jan 28
Monday, TBD (1)
Time
7:00 pm
7:00 pm
Location
LaCroix’s Riverside Pub
St. Clair City Building,
Council Chambers
Other
Competition
City Council meeting
Note 1 – The winner of the songwriting and poetry contests will be invite to a St. Clair
City Council meeting where the Mayor will give them their proclamation.
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