from the Teche News files
100 Years Ago
February 13, 1926
The farmers are all at work now preparing their hot beds to grow slips for an early crop of sweet potatoes. The acreage in this crop, the coming season, will be much larger than that of last year, in this section of the parish.
The interior of the Post Office building is receiving a coat of paint, which will add much to the appearance of the place.
Dog licenses for 1926 are now delinquent. All dogs found roaming on the streets of St. Martinville without a license tag after ten days from this notice, will be killed.
Sheriff Wade 0. Martin took ____________ to the insane asylum at Pineville, in his car, this week, and was accompanied by ___________________.
A meeting of the Catholics of the parish was called last Sunday, after high mass by Father Peters, to undertake the task of raising the funds necessary to complete repairs to the church, and some repairs to the presbytary. Father Peeters estimated that $5000 will be necessary to make the needed repairs.
The graveling of the street in front of the high school has been completed and work on Main Street, from Bridge Street to the upper limit of the Catholic cemetery will be completed this week.
50 Years Ago
February 11, 1976
Sandra Thompson showed members of the Atchafalaya Basin Commission a map of the proposed Atchafalaya Wilderness Center being developed near Catahoula. Much of the land for the $5.7 million center has been acquired and trails ad building locations have been staked out.
Miss Pamela Theriot, daughter of Rotarian and Mrs. James Theriot, was chosen Queen Ann XXX to reign over the annual St. Martinville Rotary Mardi Gras Ball.
Lead wagons of the Bicentennial Wagon Train rolled through St. Martinville on the first day of their two-day passage through St. Martin Parish. The wagon train made stops in St. Martinville, Parks, Breaux Bridge, Henderson, Butte LaRose before moving on to Krotz Springs. The wagons eventually made their way to Valley Forge, Pennsylvania to join up with other wagons from throughout the U.S. on July 4th.
40 Years Ago
February 12, 1986
Annette Fontenette reigned over the 1986 Newcomers Mardi Gras Parade in St. Martinville.
Presented at the Miss Black and Gold Pageant were Vanessa Ann Johnson, Vandella Madrid Filer, Bridgette Landry, Theresa Valsin, Jennifer A. Thomas, Andrea Marie Sam, Cynthia Anthony and Florence Marie Cormier.
The St. Martin Parish Office of Family Security was one of the 38 parish offices targeted for closure if the OFS was forced to implement a 22 percent budget cut.
Rotary Club Mardi Gras monarchs Huey Dugas and Debbie Dunham portrayed King Phillip II of Spain and Queen Elizabeth I of England at the lavish 40th annual carnival ball.
25 Years Ago February 14, 2001
A presentation by the Safety/ Zoning administrator to the St. Martinville city council members showed that 10 homes were declared dilapidated by the city, with some facing demolition. Included on the list of run-down structures was the Adrian Dumatrait House, which dates back to the 1840s.
Land acquisition stalled the Henderson sewer project, after Henderson was approved for a $4.2 million grant to construct sewer collection lines and a treatment facility.
