U.S. Army Pvt. Hillary Soileau was buried with graveside honors 79 years following his military departure from the nearby Whiteville community in St. Landry Parish.
People
St. Landry WWII Army Private Returns Home After 79 Years
U.S. Army Private Hillary Soileau returned to St. Landry Parish for the first time in 79 years Tuesday accompanied by a Louisiana State Police and St. Landry Parish Sheriff Department motorcycle escort.
A Veterans Veteran Kenneth Thibodeaux
Kenneth sits on the board and is also a volunteer for the SLP Memorial. He is also a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion and has served as honor guard at military funerals, just another way of honoring the veterans. Before his recent illness the army veteran served as an Read More…
Patrick Guidroz Profile
The town of Arnaludville is celebrating their annual Crawfish Festival this week-end and naturally the town was gearing jp for the large crowds in town for the event. As I arrived Saturday morning the first person I ran into was an old friend I haven’t seen in years. Patrick Guidroz is a lifelong resident of Read More…
Doris Barrow Profile
I saw many people that I was acquainted with but was especially glad to see Doris Barrow walking near the boulevard. If anyone knows South City Park, it is Doris. He is the maintenance supervisor for the park, and I dare say that no one knows more about the day-to-day operation of the park than Read More…
Dr. V. K. Irion Served Opelousas in Many Ways
The dental office of Dr. V. K. Irion on the corner of Market and Vine streets in Opelousas during the late 1890s. Dr. Irion practiced in Opelousas for several years, but he also served the community in many other ways.
Profile – Chef Randy David
Guest speaker Chef Randy David gave a cupcake decorating demonstration during the Opelousas Noon Rotary Club meeting on Tuesday..
Profile – Maureen Little
Maureen Little was on hand at the 30th anniversary celebration of the Opelousas Museum and Interpretive Center.
1922 Opelousas High School Football Team
Sports became an activity for schools in the area after baseball, football and basketball came to Opelousas at the turn of the 20th century. One of the earliest sports teams was the 1922 Opelousas High School football team.
Remembering Mr. Tony – The “Ole Master”
Anthony “Tony” Chachere (1905-1995), pharmacist, award-winning insurance salesman, business owner, and popular chef during his lifetime, opened Tony Chachere’s Creole Foods in 1972 on North Lombard Street in Opelousas, as a retirement hobby. Most of us know this, but what we don’t know is the rest of his life story.
Photo from the Past – Easter 1941
The photograph shows Robert Bienvenu and Lessley Prescott at the Old Garland House on Easter Sunday in about 1941. The two cousins are pocking eggs, a very old South Louisiana tradition. – Courtesy of Ann and Keith Bienvenu
Jackie Cochran Profile
It was a good assignment but the main reason I wanted to attend was NuNu’s marketing person, Jackie Cochran. For many years she and I worked together at the Daily World. She was a first class reporter and I always enjoyed going on assignments with her. Her beat was the St. Landry Parish School Board Read More…
Saizan Corner on Main and Landry Streets in Opelousas
The northeast corner of Landry and Main streets in downtown Opelousas was named for Dr. Joseph P. Saizan.
Opelousas Trivia – The First Boy Scouts in Town
Did you know Boy Scouting in Opelousas goes back over a century?
J. J. Thompson and Horse Racing in Opelousas
Although racing horses as a sport, and a business goes back over 200 years in Opelousas and St. Landry Parish, the history of this sport goes back thousands of years before that.
Who are You? Where is This? – Help us identify these ladies.
A few days ago, we published the first of this series we call Who Are You? Where Is This?
Photo from the Past – Joseph Leopold Cahanin
The son of Jules Leopold Cahanin (1862-1953) and Philomene Marvina Richard (1866-1919), Leopold was born on November 5, 1891, in Opelousas, LA.
More Letters from Ukraine
Here are some of the recent e-mails written beginning in late February and early March by Calland, a 1995 graduate of Opelousas Catholic, that were received from her by the Gaudin’s along with photos. The correspondences have been approved for publication by the Gaudin family and Marina Calland.
Angela Gregory’s Contribution to Downtown Opelousas
Have you ever entered the St. Landry Parish Courthouse from Court Street?
Who Are You? What Building Is This? Where Is This Located?
t seems people today are interested in history and stories of the past.
Photo from the Past – Mary Plonsky (1864-1877) of Washington, Louisiana
A few months ago, a good friend gave me two antique photograph albums. Most of the photographs in the albums were from St. Landry Parish, and many from Washington.
Photo From the Past – 1913 Opelousas Baseball Team
Several years ago, Robert “Bob” Bienvenu (1936-2022) sent me this photo and information on the 1913 Opelousas baseball team.
Photo from the Past – Academy of the Immaculate Conception (AIC) 1942 Six-Man Football Team
The 1942 AIC six-man Football Team is pictured on school grounds in the fall of that year.
Tidbits of Opelousas History – African American Education in Opelousas
The history of education for the Opelousas area Black community goes back to the late 1820s.
Opelousas Firsts – St. Joseph Industrial College
The first college for Blacks in Opelousas was St. Joseph’s Industrial College, also called St. Joseph College and St. Joseph Industrial School, established with help from Father J. Engberink, pastor of St. Landry Catholic Church, and St. Katharine Drexel.
Opelousas Firsts – St. Landry High School Football Team
Although the game of football came to St. Landry Parish in about 1893, the first high school football team in Opelousas was the St. Landry High School team of 1900.
Profile – Jose Herrera
The home, once used as a boys home, was built in the 1890’s and is now owned by Angela M. Angello. While walking by the home Thursday morning I stopped to talk to Jose Herrera, who was busy working on some of the moldings to be used on the interior rooms. Herrera and his brother, Read More…
Opelousas Firsts – Early Opelousas Plumbers
Ever think about some of the first things that happened in the historic town of Opelousas? With its beginnings going back over 250 years, it is not always easy to research and conclude what business, club, event, etc., was the first in the town.
Photo from the Past -Three Washington Friends
Three friends who were born and raised in Washington, Louisiana are shown here in this photograph taken during their early teenage years.
Narratives of Ex-slaves — Henry Reed and Mary Ann John of Opelousas, Louisiana
As part of the United States Work Progress Administration started by President Franklin Roosevelt uring the great depression, in 1935 the Federal Writers’ Project was created. The project went on until 1943.
Profile – Tiffany Matt
On Saturday There was a grand opening celebration for her brand new studio and gallery located in her hometown, Washington, La. On display were numerous works of her beautiful photos which were admired by the many guests that attended the grand opening. Washington Mayor Dwight Landreneau was also there to wish Tiffany the best with Read More…
Profile – Kia Williams
Job seekers arrived at the Yambilee Building early Thursday in hopes of finding employment at the St. Landry Career and Resource Expo, hosted by Acadiana Workforce Soluntions in partnership with St. Landry Parish Community Action Agency. “The lines were forming outside before the event began,” stated Opelousas Mayor Julius Alsandor who was there representing the Read More…
Photos from the Past – Eugene Petetin Store in Grand Coteau
The featured photograph above shows the Petetin Store in Grand Coteau, photographed by Lester Jones on February 27, 1940.
Profile – Brent Dupre
Popcorn is good but if you really want a tastyt treat try a sample of Dupcorn, created by Brent Dupre who was at the Java Square Downtown Makers Market with a booth displaying the tasty popcorn. Brent has been in the popcorn business for five years as he describes it. “Three years trial and error Read More…
Photo from the Past – Fred Sandoz Store
In 1896 Fred Sandoz opened his general merchandise store on the corner of West Landry and Liberty streets.
Photos from the Past – Newsies
As in other towns, newspapers were an important part of life and the economy in the early days of Opelousas and St. Landry Parish.
Photo From The Past – 1901 AIC
Although the Academy of the Immaculate Conception, called AIC, began as an all girl’s school, by the turn of the twentieth century it was for both girls and boys.
Profile – James Levier
I had the pleasure of sampling a grilled chicken salad at Wednesday’s Opelousas Kiwanis Club weekly meeting. I arrived at the meeting just minutes before James Levier arrived with the plate lunches with all the trimmings. James is one half of Jimmy’s Party Service a catering business started about ten years ago with his brother, Read More…
