Program

Hometown Heritage®

Subject

People, Religion, Site

Location

15535 Lincoln Hwy E, New Haven, IN 46774, USA

Lat/Long

41.050608, -84.937636

Grant Recipient

Mary Penrose Wayne Chapter NSDAR

French immigrants began settling the area known as Besancon near New Haven, Indiana, as early as the 1840s, forming a close‑knit farming community later named after Besancon, France. By about 1850, settlers like Joseph Dodane had started clearing swampland to create productive farmland and raise their families, establishing roots that would span generations.

Religious life quickly became central to the community, with Mass first held in Dodane’s home and a priest traveling from Fort Wayne to serve the settlers. St. Louis Catholic Church was founded during this early period, and the present church building was erected around 1871 through community donations to serve a congregation of roughly 600 people. The church exemplifies the French faith of early residents and remains an enduring institution, with descendants of the original families continuing to live in and support the Besancon community today.