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St Landry History
Candle Flames Shine A Light On The Opelousas Massacre
Lighted candle flames danced against the strength of a strong breeze Wednesday night as the memory of perhaps the most violent incident in Opelousas history was recounted by voices from the present.
The St. Landry Progress – The Donato Brothers, Emerson Bentley and the 1868 Opelousas Massacre
After reviewing the materials I’ve collected over the last 40 plus years of researching the newspapers of Opelousas, I feel an important paper to the history of our town is one that was almost forgotten
From Benny’s Big Star to Benny’s Supermarket
First known a Benny’s Big Star in 1976, Benny’s Supermarket remains in business today in Opelousas.
Candlelight Vigil to be Held September 28, 2022 in Opelousas, LA
The deadliest instance of racial violence during the Reconstruction period “the Opelousas massacre” is little remembered today, where hundreds African-Americans died, killed by lynch mobs in an effort to suppress voters turnout.
Photo from the Past: Christman Building
This is a photograph from c. 1908-09 of the Christman Building on West Landry Street in downtown Opelousas. It was owned by Ben Christman, an Opelousas businessman who operated in town over a century ago. (Photograph courtesy of David Parnell.)
Photo From The Past – 1961 Swimsuit Style Show in Opelousas
The Opelousas Civic League and Abdalla’s Department Show held a unique style show at the Indian Hills Country Club in Opelousas on April 11, 1961. What made it unique were the fashions that were modeled.
Opelouas Trivia — A Little Jim Bowie Info
Where was Jim Bowie Born?
Did Jim Bowie Live in Opelousas?
The Jim Bowie Oak
This Week — Over The Years From August 25 – September 2nd.
150, 100 and 50 years ago during this week in St. Landry Parish.
Photo from the Past – Arnaudville Family Over a Century Ago
Emile and Anna Roger with their two sons Frank and George, at their home in Arnaudville, LA. (John W. Coffey Collection.)
This Week — Over the Years
From the two centuries of newspapers in Opelousas during this week of August, over the years …
Opelousas Business and Merchants Organizations – Over the Years
Following the US Civil War, the merchants and businessmen of Opelousas started to discuss the possibility of organizing for promotional purposes. Although earlier groups were formed over the years before the war, they eventually dispersed because of the war. By the 1870 decade the town was rebuilding, and new businesses were opening. At that time some of the local merchants began to organize, and several groups were started, but with not much success until the 1890s.
This Week Over the Years
See what was happening in our area of Louisiana 150, 100, and 50 years ago.
The Opera Houses of Old Opelousas – Part Four. The Opera House That Never Was
We know Opelousas had an opera house as early as the 1830s, with the first being called the Opelousas Varieties. There was also the Opelousas Opera House, Perrodin’s Hall, Littell’s Opera House and the Sandoz Opera House. But there was a plan for another opera house that would have outdone all the rest. Unfortunately, it never got built. Read the story of the Opera House That Never Was.
This Week … Over The Years
Here’s what was happening in our area of Louisiana this week, over the years.
The Opera Houses of Old Opelousas – Part Three
It was a magical time in Opelousas. A time when there were opera houses in the city. We learned about some of the earliest Opera Houses of old Opelousas, the ones that operated during that century. In Part two we left our story as the 1800s was coming to an end, and Opelousas was moving into a new century. Part Three continues the story of the Opera Houses of Old Opelousas.
Opera Houses of Old Opelousas – Part Two
The story of the Opelousas Opera Houses continues: By the end of the 1880s and into the early 1890s, the appeal of the Opelousas Opera House and Perrodin’s Hall was starting to fade. The talk of the town at that time became “a new more modern opera house is needed.”
Photos From The Past: The Depot in Washington, LA – Early 1900s
Photographs of the Depot in Washington courtesy of Tommy Lafleur and were used in the book Through A Lens, Early 20th Century Washington, LA. – Photo Album of Ophelia Pitre Lafleur – by Carola Lillie Hartley and Tommy Lafleur.
The Opera Houses of Old Opelousas – Part One
From its humble beginning in the 1700s, Opelousas provided different forms of entertainment for its citizens. In the early days one could find musical performances and other forms of entertainment at ball rooms in the local hotels, at social halls located on the second floor of downtown business places and even local homes.
Photo from the Past – Louisiana Yambilee Parade c. late 1940s.
Louisiana Yambilee Parade heads south down Court Street in this c. late 1940s photograph. (Carola Lillie Hartley collection.)
Photo from the Past – Early Yambilee Parade c.1940s
Today’s Photo from the Past shows an early Yambilee Parade as it rolled down Court Street during the 1940s.
Journey Back In Time to Explore The Old Gibbs Corner
Ever wonder as you ride through Opelousas what it must have been like one hundred or even two hundred years ago? This story will bring you back in time and show the changes made to just one corner in old Opelousas over its centuries of existence. Let’s explore the corner of Bellevue and Court streets, originally known as the old Gibbs Corner.
Fourth of July in Opelousas – 1901
It was only the second year of the new 20th century and Opelousas was flourishing like never before. The town was called one of the most progressive and most beautiful in Louisiana. More and more people wanted to visit to see this special place.
A Place Called Toby’s
One of the city’s historic landmarks was recently lost when a fire destroyed Toby’s, also known as Toby’s Little Lodge in Opelousas. Toby’s started operating on the Sunset Road to the south of Opelousas as a restaurant in the 1950s. For four decades it had a reputation as being one of the best restaurants in the Opelousas area, serving some of the most delicious foods. But there is so much more to Toby’s story.
Photo From The Past – Opelousas’ Famous 1912 Baseball Team
Opelousas’ Famed 1912 Baseball Club: The featured photo from the past for today shown the members of the 1912 Opelousas Baseball Club.
Opelousas Jewish Cemetery Gets New Name and More
Members of the Opelousas Jewish community, many who came as immigrants to South Louisiana over a century ago, made great contributions to the St. Landry Parish area, to the City of Opelousas, and especially to the Opelousas downtown commercial district. The legacy of those immigrants to the area, and their descendants, is that small Hebrew cemetery located near the east entrance to Opelousas. The following is an article on the history of that cemetery, and important additional information about the Jewish community, sent to St. Landry Now by M. Troy Weinstein, President, Secretary and Treasurer of the Temple Emanuel Board of Directors
Washington Had the First Cotonseed Oil Mill in the Parish
William Schwing came to Washington from the New Iberia area in the early 1880s and along with his brothers John and Joseph opened the Pelican Oil Mill in town, believed to be the first cottonseed oil mill in the southwest Louisiana area.
Photos from the Past – Tri-Parish Fair in Eunice, LA
The Tri-Parish Fair in Eunice was one of the top highlights of the year for the parishes involved. Promoting the three parishes of St. Landry, Acadia and Evangeline, the fair was started in 1927 and went on until the early part of the 1950s.
Photo from the Past – Shopping in Washington, LA c.1908-1915
This photo from the past shows a group of young ladies enjoying themselves on Main Street in Washington over a century ago.
Opelousas Gets Its First Bank
Studying the history of Opelousas for so many years, I’ve discovered many firsts for the town. I enjoy researching to find things like when did Opelousas get its first bank. Here is what I found about the start of the banking industry in Opelousas.
Opelousas Trivia – Cedar Crest Country Club and Golf Course.
Did you know before there was a Cedar Lane Club, there was the Cedar Crest Country Club and Golf Course? The opening of that golf course created great excitement in and around Opelousas.
Photos from the Past – Daly Motors of Opelousas
In 1922, Frank Truman Daly became the area salesman and associate dealer for the Dodge Motor Car Company.
Photo from the Past – Perrodin’s Hall – 1882-1892
Located on the corner of East Grolee and Main streets, the building in this
photo from the past was one of the Opera Houses of Opelousas, known as
Perrodin’s Hall.
The Buildings and Other Attractions of Le Vieux Village
Located on U. S. Highway 190 at the east entrance to the city, Le Vieux Village du Poste des Opelousas is a historic treasure. Created by the Opelousas Tourism and Activities Committee in 1988, development of the village took over two decades. Today the village features historic buildings of interest to the St. Landry Parish area of southwest Louisiana.
Memorial Day – Not a Celebration but a Commemoration
Memorial Day has a deep meaning that we all need to respect. What we now consider a three-day celebration was really intended to be a commemoration.
Photo from the Past – Airbirds Come to Opelousas – 1912
Many Opelousas citizens got to see an airplane for the first time in 1912 when the Airbirds came to town.
Photo from the Past – Sam Perkins Livery Barn on Landry Street
During the 1870s to the 1890s, the old livery barn, facing Landry Street but located on the grounds of the hotel, was owned by James Samuel “Sam” Perkins (1847-1892).
Le Vieux Village du Poste des Opelousas – A Historic Treasure
At the East entrance to Opelousas sits a historic treasure known as Le Vieux Village du Poste des Opelousas, the Old Village of the Opelousas Poste. Created in 1988 by the Opelousas Tourism and Activities Committee, the history of the development of the area where the village is located goes back over fifty years.
Photo from the Past – Governor’s Mansion in 1972
The Governor’s Mansion once stood on the corner of Grolee and Liberty streets in Opelousas. It is pictured on this post card, produced 50 years ago.
Photo from the Past – Boscoe Hotel on Bellevue Street
The Boscoe Hotel operated on Bellevue Street in downtown Opelousas from 1932 to about 1940.
