Père Jean Baptiste à Brouillet,
Catholic Priest who founded a Mission
Jeannot Poirot portrays Father JBA Brouillet
Father Brouillet was born in Québec and came to the Walla Walla Valley in September, 1847, just a few weeks before the Whitman Massacre. He established a mission about 25 miles south of the Whitman Mission shortly after arriving. Although he and Marcus Whitman had some disagreements when the Catholic priests came to the valley, they nevertheless developed a friendship. Father Brouillet was on his way to the Mission to check out a rumor that something terrible had happened and found the bodies with the Indians still present. He and Mr. Canfield were able to convince the Indians that the people needed a proper burial and he helped arrange for the release of the captives.
Father Brouillet went on to become a pioneer figure in Catholic institutions in Walla Walla, purchasing the land for St. Vincent’s Academy in 1863, and founding Saint Patrick’s School for boys in 1865. Later he founded a school for boys, Des La Salles, that later became Desales High School.
Father Brouillet is portrayed by retired educator Jeannot Poirot, who enjoys woodworking and skiing.
Performances begin at 2:00 p.m. in the pioneer settlement at Fort Walla Walla Museum. Visitors are encouraged to question the Living History re-enactors about their lives and times. The Museum is open daily, 10 am - 5 pm, April through October; 10 am - 4 pm, November1 through December 23; and weekdays, 10 am - 4 pm, January through March.
Admission is free to Fort Walla Walla Museum members,
eligible service personnel & their familes through
the Blue Star Museums program, Tamástslikt Cultural Institute's
Inwai Circle cardholders,
enrolled members of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, and all children under 6;
$3/children
6-12; $6/seniors (62+) and students; $7/adults.
Your admission fee today may be applied to a membership,
priced beginning at $27. For more information, contact Fort Walla Walla Museum at 509-525-7703, or email: info@fortwallawallamuseum.org. |
