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January 28, 1998 Morethana century old: Bought by Green Bay fur trader John Lawe in 1839 in Montreal, Canada, this piano, later to be called the Polly Lawe Piano, was brought to Green Bay by birch canoe. Photo courtesy of Green Bay De Pere Antiquanan Society L a w e piano w a s ·o n.e of first in Green Bay Orginally purchased in London by A century after it was brought to John Jacob Astor, the "Polly Lawe Green Bay, in 1939, the piano was Piano" was made sometime between owned by Mrs. Rachel Grignon 1805 and 1815, according to experts. Twells (1873-1950). That same year, Fort Mackinac, Mich., was the the Green Bay.De Pere Antiquarian piano's first stop in the Midwest. It Society held a Polly Lawe Piano was taken there by an officer in the Party to raise money to pw·chase English army, for use while sta the instrument. In 1940, the piano tioned at the fort. In 1839, the piano was purchased and repaired for was purchased in Montreal by John $500. When it was restored in 1980, Lawe (1792·1846), a Green Bay fur only a few of the original hammers trader. Lawe bought the piano for were left and the strings and Throughout this year of his 16·year·old daughter, Anapolia pins were missing. It cost the Wisconsin's Sesquicenten "Polly" Lawe. Antiquarians $4000 to restore nial celebration, The piano was tranfe rred from the piano. the Press Montreal to Green Bay by birch While the piano stayed put in canoe, according to historians, and Gazette will Green Bay, Polly Lawe did not. In upon arrival in Green Bay in July, publish a his 1983 publication, A Pictorial 1839, the piano was taken to the series of History of Green Bay, the late Jack Lawe home at the corner of Porlier stories on Rudolph writes that Lawe "ran off and Adams Street. local history. with an unfrocked priest and died Although John Lawe had several This feature, many years later in Buenos Aires." daughters, the instrument has prepared with Subsequent information indicates always been referred to as the the assistance of the Brown that the priest eventually returned Polly Lawe Piano. It is thought to County Historical Society, to the priesthood. be one of the first pianos in · will appear on Mondays. The piano is placed at the Cotton Green Bay. House, Heritage Hill State His When John Lawe's daughter Ra· torical Park. chel married Pierre Bernard Grig non, the house and its possesions caused from sparks flung by a pass· (Submitted by Carol Jones, Brown passed into the Grignon family. In ing locomotive. The piano sustained County Historical Society, Green 1901, the home was destroyed by fire water damage. Bay·De Pere Antiquarian Society)