W
100 Years Ago January 30, 1926
The Woodmen of the World held its regular meeting and installed their newly elected officers, as follows: Jas. F. Halphen C. Commander; B. S. Dessens, Adv. Lieut.; L. J. Duchamp, Banker; Robert P. Halphen, Clerk; Leonard Resweber, Escort; Hypolite Barras, Watchman; Anatole Bienvenu, Sentry; C. T. Bienvenu, Manager; Lucien Durand, Manager; and P. J. Fleming, Manager. After the installation of the officers, the members chatted and smoked while Mrs. B. S. Dessens was preparing an elegant supper, which was served by several pretty young ladies. The membership is now 103.
The time is right now to start to make your hot beds to plant your sweet potatoes to make your slips for an early crop. The early crop is always the best, as you get the top market price.
The cane planters in general are very much disgusted with the result of this last crop and from reports we hear from every section, the acreage for the next crop will be greatly reduced. Some farmers are quitting cane entirely.
Last Saturday and Sunday proved real winter days of many years ago. Saturday was cloudy, cold, indicating snow, early in the afternoon, sleet commenced to fall, which was followed by snow which fell heavy enough to put a light layer of snow on the ground, the snow fell all the balance of the day, until late at night, when sleet commenced again, and Sunday morning everything was frozen. It rained all day Sunday. This was the first snow we had in many years.
50 Years Ago
January 28, 1976
After a 30 minute closed door negotiating session, a compromise agreement for sale of water by the police jury to the city of St. Martinville was set at 30 cents per thousand gallons.
The Acadian House Museum in Longfellow State Park became the state’s first bilingual museum with the presentation of French/English explanatory cards for museum exhibits.
Ralph Barras of St. Martinville was named “Outstanding Educator” by the New Iberia Jaycees.
Members of Boy Scout Troop II, St. Martinville who were advanced in rank at a Court of Honor included: Drue Fournet, Richard Duchamp, Pat Hammon and Eddie Bonin, star scouts; Rodney Wetzel, life scout; and Joey Bonin, Bronze Palm award.
Serving as queen and king of the St. Martinville Lioness Club Carnival were Michelle Potier of Parks and Jack Bienvenu of St. Martinville.
40 Years Ago
January 29, 1986
Formal dedication ceremonies for the new St. Martin Parish Livestock Exhibition Facility, located on the Breaux Bridge Sr. High campus, were held.
The Atchafalaya Basin Levee Board took the first steps to begin clearing the West Protection Levee right-of-way north of Catahoula for scheduled improvements.
Evangeline Fire Department Chief Leon Bourque received the National Fire Safety Council’s award for dedicated service and standing fire safety education.
Annette Fontenette and Ronald Mitchell reigned as queen and king of the 24th annual Newcomer’s Mardi Gras Ball. D’vena Robertson and Elguster Polite were Little Miss and Mister Newcomer.
25 Years Ago January 31, 2001
About 150 acres of the 765-acre Lake Martin, home of one of North America’s largest water bird rookeries, were closed to boaters for about five months to allow nesting to go undisturbed.
Local officials with J. B. Talley General Contractors Inc., one of the oldest construction companies in south Louisiana and a mainstay in the local economy for 50 years, denied rumors that the company was closing its doors.
The manufacturing portion of Martin Mills, a garment subsidiary of Fruit of the Loom, shut down for 10 days with officials blaming the Jan. 13 earthquake that ravaged San Salvador, El Salvador.
The Breaux Bridge Area Chamber of Commerce honored three outstanding community members at its annual banquet. They were: City Judge Randy P. Angelle, Clerk of Court Allen Blanchard and BBHS football coach Mike Mowad.
