Gaudrau boy, 8, drowned, body found at bridge

This story was published by the Ypsilanti Daily Press on Tuesday, August, 5, 1930.

Armond Gaudrau, eight year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Adrian Gaudrau, 102 N. Huron St., was drowned Monday evening in the Huron River, at the rear of his home. The child’s body was not found until 12:30 this morning, after he had been missing since 3:30 in the afternoon.

No one saw Armond go into the river, but he had been accustomed to playing alone, and often waded in the river. His clothing was found on the bank, not far from the home, after Police Officers Emil Susterka and Cyril Ray discovered the body near the Michigan Ave. bridge.

When Armond did not return home at supper time the family thought he was with the children of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Bason who live at the same address, but at 8:30 when he failed to arrive and was not found in the neighborhood, the parents became alarmed and notified police. The theater was searched, as it was thought he might have gone to the movies and fallen asleep; later search of the river bank revealed the body, and the little pile of clothing only a short distance away. It is thought the child stepped into one the deep holes between Cross St. and Michigan Ave., and was drowned before he could make an outcry. The body had been in the water about five hours, according to Coroner E. C. Ganzhorn, who was called. There will be no inquest, as no witnesses could be found.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday morning, at St. John’s Church, at 8 o’clock, with interment in the Catholic Cemetery.

The boy is survived by his parents and a sister Pauline, six and three aunts in Sparta.

The drowning is doubly tragic as the father has been ill and unable to work for three years, while the mother, who during that time has been supporting the family, is now recovering from an illness which proved almost fatal three weeks ago.