Cecil Royer, my uncle, wrote this history in 1968. I have edited it; and added some pictures and newer details in 2013.
From French and Swiss and German climes,
The Royers, Roofs in early times
Came to America by sea,
To build a home in land of free.
With Franklin Township, Section Twelve,
Coshocton County soil to delve,
They won together land hard-got,
And turned it to a beauty spot.
Don't let it be forgot,
That once there was this spot.
This history is dedicated to our parents, grandparents,
great grandparents and great-great grandparents, and uncles and aunts who were
its principal characters.
Cecil Royer
June 2nd, 1968
THE CHAPEL
The last time I was there the sunlight was slanting off the
gold gilt of the Chapel cross. On four corner stones, the diminutive structure
with slate roof and full sized stained glass windows sat shining with a new
coat of white. Leading to its only door were three steps of rough stone slab, lying
rather un-square and un-level. The door key was between the third and second
slabs.
Inside, walls newly decorated radiated sky-blue. Six short
pews of weathered hard-wood with kneeling benches of the same material were
still there, set in three rows on either side of the narrow aisle. The altar
was placed with a white cloth, candles and a cross.
From the east wall a stern, heavily framed portrait of Aunt
Ann Royer was looking across the small room. From the opposite wall a similar
portrait of her husband Uncle Martin Royer was peering. Financed by them, the
Chapel had been built to mark the site occupied by the original church
building.
The well-kept lawn was green and vibrant. The beautiful
statuary of the cemetery was standing in front of purple shrubbery in silent
reverence to those departed long ago, while two towering pine trees at the
north were whispering in the breeze. As
I walked on the soft moss covered ground into the shade of the pines, flowers
planted long ago were scenting the air.
Here still standing, were two leaning tablets of white
stone, marking the last resting places of Nicholas and Ann Lego Royer,
progenitors of Coshocton County Royers.
Close by was a footstone fashioned as a lamb reclined in sleep, marking
the grave of Pearlie, their granddaughter who had drowned in the run.
From this vantage point of the Chapel plot in my mind's eye,
the rolling lands of the original Royer homestead lay north, west and south. I
was born and raised there.
THE NICHOLAS AND ANN ROYER FAMILY
In the year of 1800 Nicholas Royer was born in the Province of
Alsace-Loraine, France. He played and matured near the German border in the upland
Lorraine plateau, just northwest of the Vosges Mountains. The location of the Royer home here has been
described as being halfway between Strasbourg in Alsace and the fortified city
of Metz in Lorraine, a district rich in iron.
The medieval experiences of early Royer ancestors can only
be conjectured from a brief history of these provinces. Until their
incorporation in the kingdom of France, the histories of these provinces had
been quite distinct. The name Lorraine is derived from Lotharingia, the kingdom
of Charlemagne's grandson Lothair. French Lorraine represented a district known
in early medieval times as Upper Lorraine.
Though tributary to the Holy Roman Empire, Upper Lorraine became more
and more closely related to France. Ruled
by the dukes of Lorraine until the 18th century, it was then for a time in the
possession of Stanislas, ex-king of Poland. At his death it passed under the
sovereignty of France.
Alsace, a territory lying in the upper Rhine valley, has
been throughout its history, disputed territory. The Romans, on entering Gaul, found this
district inhabited by Celtic tribes. The Celts in time were supplanted by the
Teutons, and the whole territory gradually came under German sway. From the 7th
century, Alsace was governed by petty princes and other dignitaries, later by
the dukes of Swabia, and finally by the Hapsburgs. Between the years of 1648
and 1697, Alsace became partly incorporated with France and was subsequently
taken through force of arms by Louis XIV.
Accordingly, by the Treaty of Ryswick, 1697, it came entirely under the
domination of France (2).
Ann Lego, future bride of Nicholas Royer, was born in France
in 1802. She probably was a better-than-average educated lady for that day as
she enjoyed the title of "schoolmistress". Here in Lorraine near the German border where
the family dwelt the schools were conducted bi-lingually, in the French
language in the morning and in the German language in the afternoon.
In France, Nicholas by occupation was a stage-coach driver and
an inn-keeper. He was a proprietor of an inn located on the Strausbourg, Alsace
- Metz, Lorraine road, midway between the two cities. Although inn keeping was his principal
business, he was quite proficient in several skills, such as 'cooperage', 'masonry',
'carpentry' and many other crafts.
In temperament Nicholas was of a pronounced independent spirit,
rebelling at restraint. He was of short build, but exceedingly stout. "Chris" Royer once told my father
Charles that John Royer of Conotton, Ohio was very much like Nicholas in spirit
and build.
To the union of Nicholas Royer and Ann Lego six boys and two
girls were born who grew to manhood and womanhood: Martin, Dennis, Prosper,
Dominick, Joseph and Adam; and Christine, who married Stephen Salrin, and
Malinda, always called Aunt Linn, who married Jacob Aschbaker. All were born in
France. Adam, the youngest, in 1842, May
17th.
1844 was a year of great decision. At the age of 44, Nicholas Royer, the man of
independent spirit, not too big but very stout, embarked with Ann and their
eight children from France for America. Adam,
the youngest, was two years of age. From
a sailing vessel bound westward into the turbulent Atlantic Ocean, they bade
their native France farewell. The voyage
was long and rigorous, which no doubt taxed the endurance and patience of
all. As all other emigrants in those
days, they came 'steerage', not 'first class'. All the emigrants aboard the ship occupied the
hold, a large space or room in the interior of the bounding vessel, where they
ate, slept and lived for many months. What
plans for a new life in a new world they must have dreamed during the calmer
hours of the voyage! And during the
turbulent days what courage they must have drawn from their venturesome spirits! They first touched American soil at New
Orleans, at the mouth of the great Mississippi river.
At New Orleans, they took passage on a river steamer and proceeded
upstream through the heart of the new country. As the river packet glided
smoothly past Natchez, Vicksburg, Memphis, turned at Cairo into the broad Ohio River,
the Royers were seeing America for the first time. Then Louisville, Cincinnati
and Huntington floated away in the distance. Arriving at Marietta, they changed
to another boat of shallower draft and ascended the Muskingum River to
Zanesville, Ohio, head of inland navigation.
The long journey was ended. It had consumed 120 days, or
four months of time. Nicholas Royer and
family were greeted at Zanesville by the Erman family, old friends and
neighbors in France who had preceded them to America, and were entertained by
them for a time. However, Nicholas at
once purchased 72 acres of land near the present village of Sonora in Muskingum
County, Ohio, where he established a home.
At the time of his emigration to America, Nicholas's parents
were still living in Alsace-Lorraine and were very desirous of joining the
family here. Dennis, the eldest son,
returned to France for the purpose of bringing them to America. Both parents embarked on the long voyage to
the new home, but owing to the rigors of an ocean trip died enroute and were
buried at sea.
At Sonora, Nicholas followed his cooperage trade. The barrels he made were hauled to Zanesville
for sale, which in those days were in great demand, as many products of the farm
were shipped in them.
Nicholas’ house at Sonora burned to the ground, but good
neighbors turned misfortune into good fortune for Nicholas. His neighbors, in the spirit of the times, all
joined together and built another house, which was reputed to be superior to
the destroyed structure.
In 1851 Nicholas sold his land at Sonora and moved his family
to Coshocton County, where he purchased from the John Dahy heirs for $775
eighty acres of land lying in the southeast quarter of Section 12, Franklin
Township. Later, he purchased 200 adjoining acres lying to the south and
engaged in the occupation of farming. These
tracts of land constituted the original "Royer Home Place". On the latter tract, he built a frame house,
which occupied the site used later as a garden by Harvey Royer.
On February 13, 1874 Nicholas Royer died. On November 1st
the same year, Ann followed him to the grave.
The grandchildren of Nicholas and Ann Royer by each child, with
the names of each grandchild's spouse where known in (brackets), and other
identifying names in quotes, are as follows:
MARTIN: Christopher, Agustus, Frances (Lauvray), Catherine
(Bordenkircher), and Clara.
DOMINIC: John, William "Minic's Will", Agnes (Milton
Hiddle), and Belle (Abner Dover), and George.
PROSPER: William "Big Will", Prosper, and Mary
(Samuel Seigrist)
JOSEPH: Anna (Albert Cook), Sadie (never married), and William
"Little Will".
CHRISTINE (Stephen Salrin): Mary (Hufford), Julia (Hufford),
and Elizabeth (John Roahrig), and Amanda (Salrin).
ADAM (Susan Roof): The names of these grandchildren follow under
the account of THE ADAM AND SUSAN ROYER FAMILY.
THE BERNHARDT AND SUSANNAH ROOF FAMILY
Susan Roof, future bride of Adam Royer, was the daughter of
Bernhardt Roof and Susannah Michael Roof. Bernhardt Roof was born in 1815 in
Baden, a province of Germany. He immigrated to America as a young man and was
naturalized in 1841. He resided in Roscoe, Ohio for a number of years and
worked on the Ohio Canal. Accumulating
sufficient capital from this and other employment, he purchased 80 acres of
land in Linton Township of Coshocton County in 1868.
Susannah Michael, daughter of David and Margaret Michael and
a native of Goldi, Bern, Switzerland was born in 1823. She came to America in 1834 when she was
eleven years of age. She retained a
vivid memory of her native Switzerland and enchanted her grandchildren with
stories of the "old country", as native lands were always referred to
by emigrants. Her people lived in the mountains, of course, as all Switzerland
is mountainous. My father, her grandson, has recounted with delight her stories
of driving the cows up the mountain slopes in the morning, tending to them
while pasturing during the day, and driving them back the slope in the evening
to their quarters for milking. Her most
vivid and repeated descriptions were about the "beautiful edelweiss
flowers" that grew on the mountainsides.
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| Edelweiss flowers |
Bernhardt and Susannah Roof were the parents of seven children
who grew to adulthood and married: Susan, who married Adam Royer; John, who married
Elizabeth Roller; Saul, who married Margaret Kaufman; Abraham, who married Minnie
Sandel; Mary, who married John Martter; Anna, who first married George Roller
and after his decease John Jackson; and Alice, the youngest who married Thomas
Stockum.
Susannah Roof died in 1901 and is buried in St. John's Lutheran
Cemetery, where Bernhardt also is buried in Linton Township Coshocton.
Susan Roof, who married Adam Royer, was born January 28th, 1845.
(1) Taken from notes of an address by Charles Royer,
presented at the Second Annual Reunion of the Adam & Susan Royer family Plainfield,
Ohio, Sunday June 7, 1953.
(2) Lincoln Library.
THE ADAM AND SUSAN ROYER FAMILY
After Nicholas, the story of the "Home Place" is
that of the Adam and Susan Royer family. Adam and Susan Michael Roof were united in
marriage November 10, 1868. Adam,
Nicholas's youngest son, acquired the land through the will of his father by
paying each of the six heirs $1200.
Adam improved the land by the construction of several new buildings.
He first built a large barn, usually
painted red. Later in 1884, he replaced
the frame house with a two-story home of red brick. The brick were baked on the site from clay off
the farm. Located on a flat between the
run lined with willow trees and a lane on the northeast and a low hill planted
in orchard on the southwest the new home was a show place against a backdrop of
orchard foliage. The structure contained
eight large rooms, three walk in presses and a small press, two halls and two
stairways, all with 12' ceilings.
Gracing the interior were hallways, doorways, windows,
including a large bay window of finished woods from the farm. A unique winding
stair led to the upper level. The newel post and the posts supporting the
handrail were turnings of various hardwoods, placed in the case in repeated
patterns of wood types, while the treads were cherry and the risers were chestnut.
The parlor was finished in chestnut, and the dining room in walnut. Six rooms ere
equipped with fireplaces and slate mantles. Even a special niche was framed in
the living room wall for a Seth Thomas clock.
In the cavernous cellar a coal-fired central heating furnace
was built-in, a unique feature for the times. Separate rooms contained many shelves
and bins for winter storage of apples, potatoes, canned fruit and other provisions.
Ceilings were equipped for hanging of cured hams. A long hallway provided space
for several barrels of cider and wine.
Such was the home Adam and Susan built.
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| Old Royer Homeplace |
To the union of Adam and Susan Royer ten children were born,
all at the Home Place in Franklin Township.
ALICE JANE ROYER, born April 3, 1869;
JOHN NICHOLAS ROYER, born January 28, 1871;
EMMA AGNES ROYER, born January 20, 1873;
CORA MAY ROYER, born December 1, 1875;
HARVEY EDWARD ROYER, born February 28, 1878;
DELLA ANN ROYER, born August 16, 1879;
CLEMENCE A. ROYER, born November 22, 1881;
CHARLES ELMER ROYER, born September 6, 1884;
PEARLIE ODESSA ROYER, born February 19, 1887;
SHIRLEY IRENE ROYER, born May 27, 1890.
All these children spent their childhood and reached
adulthood on the Home Place, except Pearlie who at the age of 3 years and 3
months strayed to the run and drowned (May 4, 1890).
Their early years here were during an age when the
essentials of living were still largely produced and fabricated at home. Hand craft, hand labor and animal power were
exclusively employed to operate the farm. Alternately, playing some and then assisting their
father in operating the farm, the boys during the summer followed a rugged
outdoor life. Tools of the times were
such as wheat cradles, corn slashers, scythes, corn spuds, hoes, axes, hatchets,
husking peg; and horse drawn soil preparing implements such as plows, discs,
harrows, corn planter, drills, spreaders and cultivators; harvesting implements
such as mowers, rakes and binders; and conveyances for the summer such as
wagons, buggies and surreys and for the winter sleds and sleighs.
The girls were experts at clothing fabrication, cooking, canning
winter provisions, housekeeping, gardening, and even helping in the fields. Susan Royer was especially adept at
beautifying the home and surroundings with flowers. The bay window overflowed
with blooms, while outside she planted and cultivated many beds of colorful
flowers at strategic locations.
Hearty meals were prepared in the kitchen on a coal-fired range,
with a lid lifter at hand and a scuttle of bright-black coal and poker nearby
on the floor. Bread, cakes mixed at home
from long standing recipes, and pastries made of elderberries, blackberries, currants
and fruits which abounded on the place, were baked in the range's oven.
Laundering was accomplished with tubs, corrugated boards and
homemade soap. Washed clothes were hung
on outside lines for drying in bright sunshine and clean air.
Light for the nighttime was by kerosene lamps whose glass chimneys
and cotton wicks needed frequent attention. Kerosene lanterns provided
illumination for outdoor nighttime walking and in the barn.
During the winter months, the children pursued education at eight-grade
school of Pine Grove. The one and a half mile dirt road up the valley to the
one-room school in the grove was walked each school day each way through
sunshine, rain or snow sometimes knee-deep, carrying books and pre-packed
lunches.
The floor plan of the frame school building was about
square. Dividing rows of desks and seats was a wide center aisle with a cast
iron, coal-fired stove located midway for comfort heat during the cold winter
months. In a front cross aisle a desk
and chair were set where the teacher presided over the school. Behind the teacher's desk the entire width of
the wall was equipped with slate black-boards, chalk and erasers. Because paper and pencils were either
unavailable or too expensive, each pupil had a small slate and chalk of his own
for individual use. Each grade marched
to the front row recitation benches at the call of the teacher - "first grade
reading", "third grade writing", "eighth grade arithmetic",
"sixth grade English", "seventh grade history", etc. At
their desks the pupils studied their textbooks, wrote on their slates, or
listened to other classes recite. Surprisingly enough, a large percentage of
the pupils gained an excellent elementary education.
All the Royer children were apt pupils, having inherited a scholastic
talent from the Roofs. Shirley was
reputed to have been able to read and recite at the age of three. Charles continued his education at Conesville High
School, West Bedford College and West Lafayette College to obtain a teacher's certificate.
Social life was largely confined to the community and near-by
communities. Socials, dances, school
programs, church activities were affairs contemplated with delight. One of the most genuine social joys was the
exchange between neighboring families of a Sunday visit. Hitching up the tassel topped surrey with the
best gaited horses, and dressed in their very best clothing, the family would
drive out in the early, clear morning through the beautiful, sunshine bathed
countryside to a neighbor's home, arriving in time for a delicious, many-course
dinner, and staying the afternoon for an exchange of conversation.
Royers have always subscribed to the Christian religion,
supporting at various times both branches, the Catholic and the Protestant. The Nicholas Royer family, originating in
France, was devout Catholics. The Adam Royer families became devout supporters
of the Lutheran church and were members of the St. Paul Lutheran Church of Franklin
Township.
In 1907, Adam and Susan Royer retired from the farm, and
purchased a home on Seventh Street, Coshocton. Adam died at Coshocton in 1910 and is buried
in the South Lawn Cemetery. Susan Royer
died in 1925 and is buried beside her husband.
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| Susan |
All members of the family married and established homes of
their own. John, Harvey and Clemence
followed a life-time of farming, while Charles taught school for several years,
farmed for several years, served as County Recorder for two terms and retired
as an abstractor of title. The girls married enterprising men of various
occupations. A list of each member, life span dates, their spouse, major
residences and occupation is as follows:
NAME LIVED MARRIED LIVED RESIDENCE OCCUPATION
- --
Alice 1869-1937 Joseph Spring 1863-1952 Coshocton, Industrial
John 1871-1943 Eliza Stockum 1871-1937 Ellis, Farmer, Conotton
Emma 1873-1925 Emmett Barcroft 1871-1954 Coshocton, Grocer
Cora 1875-1962 Howard Sandel 1869-1941 Dresden, Farmer
Harvey 1878-1957 Lulu Stagmyer 1886-1969 Franklin Twp, Farmer
Della 1879-1946 Edward Stockum 1877-1947 Linton Twp, Storekeeper
Coshocton, Farmer, Deputy Recorder, Industrial
Clemence 1881-1957 Ida Kaufman 1887- Franklin Twp, Farmer
W. Lafayette
Charles 1884-1967 Nora A Sandel 1884-1947 Franklin Twp,
Teacher, Coshocton, Farmer, Recorder, Abstractor; lived for a few years near
the end of his life with Cecil in Elmhurst, Ill.
Shirley 1890-1923 Melvin Lapp 1885-1968 Linton Twp Farmer
After Adam and Susan Royer retired to Coshocton, the “Home
Place” was operated for a number of years by Clem and Ida Royer. Everett Royer was born in the red brick
house. The Clem and Ida purchased a farm
in the northern part of Franklin and Linton Townships where they moved.
The “Home Place” was then divided. Harvey and Lulu acquired the part lying south
of S.R. #76 where they lived in the house and farmed the land for many
years. Their children were raised
there. To the acreage, they added the
Getwood place.
CHARLES ROYER – NORA ANNETTA SANDEL FAMILY
The original 80 acres purchased from the Dahy heirs, lying
north of S.R. #76, was the home of Charles and Nora Royer for many years. They lived in the frame house, which along
with the barn had been built by Susan Royer.
Cecil and Cozette Royer were raised there. To the house, they added a large kitchen and
to the acreage, they added the Amore and Schaik Places. Charles worked as a teacher, farmer, County Recorder,
and Abstractor of Title in Coshocton County; he lived for a few years near the
end of his life with Cecil in Elmhurst, Ill.
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| Charles on right at Recorder's Office |
Charles married Nora Annetta Sandel of Wills Creek in
1909.
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| Charles |
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| Nora |
Their descendants are:
Cecil Roy Royer married Margaret
Ann Lynn married Dennis - divorced
Rebecca
William
Stephen
Cozette Royer married William
John married Carol - divorced
John adopted Katrina
James married Sharon
Nathan married Sherry
Cole
Jeffrey married Alyson
Anthony
Zachary
Melissa married Steve
Dominic
Abigail
Joseph married Georgia
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| Cozette |
 |
| William |
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| Bill, Cozette, Charles |
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| Bill, Cozette, John, Jim, Joe |
Strip Mining the Land
Since then sparse days have befallen the land. It, at this writing, is owned by the Peabody
Coal Company, a giant strip mining concern which has acquired all the coal
lands in Franklin and Linton townships.
The land has been stripped by a giant shovel for a 36” vein of coal to
fuel the Conesville electric generating plant of the Columbus Southern Electric
Company, supplying power to the industrial city of Columbus.
Instead of the cheery “hello” of enterprising people and
flourishing fields, silent spoil banks and ugly 100 foot cliffs greet the
eye. All the buildings have been
demolished. The area is retreating into
a wasteland wilderness. Restoring the
land to its original, agriculturally productive state appears to be an
economically impossible task.
Only the chapel remains.
Miss Cleo Royer, who was born and reared in the red brick
home Adam and Susan built, before the buildings were demolished, commissioned
the artist Adelaide Williams to make an oil painting of the premises. This oil painting hangs at the residence of
Opal Stockum and Cleo, and preserves for the eye the beauty of the Home Place.
Follow-Up 45 years later in 2013, by Jim Bentz
I purchased on the Internet an 1872 plat map of Franklin
Township in Coshocton County; it shows the location of the Nicholas Royer farm
in Section 12 near the small town of Wills Creek. Nicholas
Royer was my great-great-grandfather. The
location of Royer Chapel is shown on map by the location the Catholic Church
which had burned down. According to
Uncle Cecil’s writing, Martin Royer built the Royer Chapel to commemorate the
site of a church.
The plat map below from the 1930’s/1940’shows the location of the
Charles Royer farm that was passed down from Nicholas Royer in Section 12 of
Franklin Township. Charles Royer was my
Grandfather. Harvey Royer owned the land
with the Royer Old Home Place. The
cemetery is the location of the Royer chapel.
Pictures from Royer Chapel
I
made trips to visit the Royer Chapel in October, 2013. The first time I went to the Chapel in a
morning, it was locked; the second time I went in an afternoon, it was unlocked;
so someone must be taking care of it. The
grounds are well taken care of. On an inside wall of the chapel, there was
sign that said: “The original chapel was
destroyed by arson on December 8, 2002. The
cross behind the altar and the cross behind the memorial wall are made from
burned timbers salvaged from the original chapel.” The chapel has been rebuilt. This picture below is the rebuilt Royer Chapel
and the Memorial Wall. People donated to
the rebuilding effort and added bricks Memorial Wall to remember loved
ones. The re-built chapel looks a lot
like the original chapel that I remember from the 1960’s, but it is clad in
vinyl siding and asphalt shingles instead of wood and slate.
The
chapel is just off State Route 83 about 15 miles south of Coshocton, halfway to
New Concord, on Coshocton County Road 280.
I remember from the 1960’s that you could see the chapel from Route 83; but
you could also see the spoil banks and the high-walls from the strip
mining.
The
land is now part of the AEP (American Energy Partners, or previously, American
Electric Power) Recreational lands. AEP
makes the land available to the public for outdoor activities, such as hunting,
fishing, and horseback riding. From
looking at the today’s maps and the old township plat maps, I believe that the
Old Royer Home Place lies along a horse riding trail in the Conesville AEP Fallon
Park. I hope to go back sometime and see
if I can find any traces of the Royer Home Place, but I am not optimistic that
I will be able to find any because the land is now overgrown.
After
45 years, the land has grown back into the forest like it was before the white
man came; but, of course, the trees have not grown nearly as large as they were
back then. The scars on the land from
the strip mining are still there but you cannot see them because they are
obscured by the new forest; but you can still find the scars without looking too
hard. You can no longer see the chapel from
Route 83 because of the trees.
The
strip-mining in Franklin and Linton Townships was some of the first
strip-mining done in the state of Ohio, when there were no laws requiring the
strip-miners to restore the land.
Subsequently, the state of Ohio required the strip-mining companies to
restore the land to its original contours after the strip-mining was done;
however, unfortunately, the law has not been made retroactive to previously
strip-mined land.
The
pictures below are pictures I took at the new Royer Chapel.
There
is painting of the Old Royer Home Place hanging in the interior of the chapel. It looks to be the original of an oil painting by Francis
Page.
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| Old Royer Homeplace |
“The Little White Chapel on the Hill” - Cambridge Daily Jeffersonian, Nov. 25, 2013, written by Beverly Kerr
Pleasant surprises often appear when least expected. Such was the case with the little Royer
Chapel which set back off winding Route 83, very near Wills Creek Dam in
Coshocton County. Many claim that it is
the smallest chapel in Ohio.
Originally built in 1897 through the efforts of Anne Royer,
the chapel served as a memorial to her husband, Martin. Wood from an abandoned St. Nicholas Church
and a stained glass wind from old St. George Church were used in the
construction.
When arriving at chapel, a cross made of burned wood stands
out behind the Memorial Wall. Later
information discloses that the original church was destroyed by arson on Dec.
8, 2002, and rebuilt by men of the community a few years later. Two crosses were made from the burned wood – one
outside and another inside above the altar.
Funds for constructing the new chapel were raised in part from memorial
bricks engraved with the name of loved ones or contributors. The Memorial Wall standing out front was
built with these same bricks.
Tiny Royer Chapel measures about 10 feet wide by 18 feet
long, and is located near a cemetery where Martin and his daughter, Clara, were
buried in 1888 and 1896. Clara’s
monument, which was imported from France, displays a statue in her actual
likeness. The chapel and the cemetery
are located across the road from the old family farm to accommodate Anne’s
frequent visits.
Don and Esther Royer initiated the reconstruction process to
keep alive family tradition started by Don’s great-great-aunt Anne. In 10 days, 400 friends and neighbors signed
their petition for assistance, so they knew the community supported their pans
to rebuild the chapel just like it used to be.
Since Don and Esther’s wedding had taken place there years before, they
had pictures showing exactly what it looked like inside. The reconstructed chapel was built on a new
foundation but maintained it original size.
Inside, a peaceful chapel scene appears when you gently open
the door, which is never locked. Seven
small pews seat about twenty-one people.
At the front of the chapel, a table contains a prayer box surrounded by
a wreath of flowers. The inscription on
the side of the box reads: Where dreams come true. Inside the box are numerous requests written
on slips of paper available on the table.
Here’s a great place to sit down and enjoy the silence of
peace while reflecting on life and its many twists and turns – rather like the
road leading to the chapel.
While electricity, water, and heat do not exist at Royer Chapel,
services are held there approximately once a year. Maybe you will want to take a half hour drive
northwest of Cambridge and explore a hidden treasure nearby.
This little chapel on the hill serves as a reminder to be
thankful for the small things in life – a smile, a card or email, the joy of
each new day.
