The Story of the Silver Cross

From the annals of St. Michael’s Parish, 1907 by the Reverend Wilhelm P. Bigot

A special blessing rests over the site where Loramie’s store and station had been located for thirteen years, from 1769-1782. It is the blessing of the Holy Cross. In 1872, a solid silver cross was found, nine inches long and six inches in width, made according to an artistic form. With the finding of the cross, proof was accepted that in Loramie’s time, Christian life and works were there.

A happy excitement took place for all who heard of the finding of the cross. They came from all directions to see it. This was taken as a sign that Loramie, as the first white man, was a messenger of the Gospel; that with cross in hand, he was amongst the Indians in the wilderness to spread Christianity and thus prepared this region for the present day Archdiocese of Cincinnati…

The first Germans never knew any different than that Loramie had been a missionary. The finding of the silver cross strengthened their belief, and they thanked the dear Lord that here, in the new world, exactly at this place blessed by the cross, they had found a new home.