Opelousas Business and Merchants Organizations – Over the Years

CAROLA LILLIE HARTLEY
Publisher and Contributing Writer

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.

By the start of the 1880 decade, that began to change with the organization of a group called the Opelousas Merchants Exchange.[1] Officially chartered in Opelousas on September 21, 1883[2], the purpose of the organization was the protection of its commerce and the interest and welfare of the community. The ongoing promotion of the commercial and manufacturing interest in the town was one of its goals. The first board of directors were:  R. Mornhinveg, Solomon Loeb, H. E. Estorge, Theodore Chachere, Charles N. Ealer, E. Latrette, J. Lasalle, Alphonse Levy, J. Bloch and C. Dietlein.^[3]   It seems this organization was in operation for about a year. After 1884, there was no mention of it in any of the local or state papers.

At the start of the 1890s, another promotional group was started in Opelousas. Affiliated with the Louisiana Progressive League, it was known as the Opelousas Progressive League, formed in February of 1891.[4] The purpose of the organization was to work with existing businesses to help the local economy, promote the town and bring in new business and industry. With the organization of the Progressive League, the leaders of Opelousas felt the town would really start to grow and prosper. But since this group was so involved in some of the hot political issues of the time, not everyone in Opelousas saw this as a good thing. The organization did not have much local support and it did not survive but for a short time.

On December 21, 1896, a charter was issued for a new organization called the Merchants’ Exchange of Opelousas. The purpose of this organization was to bring the merchants together to do promotions and support each other. The first board of directors and officers of that group were:  Isaac Roos, Jules Melancon, J. K. Sandoz, A. C. Skiles, William M. Thompson, President, I. E. Shute, Vice-President, and Joe Lassalle Treasurer.^[5] The charter of this organization was published in the St. Landry Clarion starting in January of 1897. But, again, this group eventually dissolved.

Later in that decade there was another effort to organize the merchants and professions in Opelousas when the new Opelousas Progressive League formed on October 19, 1898. The following appeared in the Opelousas Courier newspaper: “Opelousas Progressive League. Opelousas, La., Oct. 19th, 1898. Pursuant to a call issued by a number of the businessmen, those interested in the material welfare of Opelousas and the parish of St. Landry met at Sandoz Opera House on Wednesday October 19th for the purpose of effecting an organization.”[6]

At that meeting Judge E. T. Lewis submitted an Act of Incorporation, which was read to the meeting and accepted. The following permanent officers to serve for one year were elected: Leonce Sandoz, President; Jos. P. Saizan, Vice President; Fritz Dietlein, Treasurer; John W. Lewis, Secretary. Elected to serve on the Board of Directors were E. J. Estilette, Remi Mornhinveg, P. T. Blackshear, J. A. Haas, Nathan Roos, K. Baillio, F. J. Dietlien, E. T. Lewis, Jas. O. Chachere, R. L. Garland and Jos. Lassalle.^[7]

The charter of the Opelousas Progressive League was printed on page four of the Opelousas Courier on December 10, 1898. The first order of business for this group was to get a sugar refinery for Opelousas.  However, just as with the first Progressive League, Opelousas citizens did not support this organization and by 1902, there was no sugar refinery in Opelousas and no mention of any other league activities. 

The Opelousas Progressive League was again reorganized on Thursday, July 20, 1905 at a mass meeting of the people of the town at the St. Landry Parish Courthouse.  A sixteen member Board of Directors was elected at this meeting as were the officers:  Dr. A. J. Bercier, President; H. E. Estorge, Secretary; Leon S. Haas, Treasurer; and F. M. Welch as advisory member to the executive committee.^[8]   The first regular meeting of this reorganized group was held at the Courthouse on Monday, July 31, 1905. This organization seemed to have more support than did the first two leagues and continued to operate for a few years.

Following the first meeting of the 1905 Progressive League, Opelousas citizens were hopeful this organization could produce positive changes and make the upgrades necessary to move the town into the twentieth century. In August the St. Landry Clarion ran the following article on the organization and their newly elected board of directors:

  “The Progressive League of the Town of Opelousas was formed at a mass-meeting of the people of the town on Thursday night, July 20th, 1905. It has for its purpose the up building of the town of Opelousas and the parish of St. Landry, the land of enchanting scenery, of beautiful bayous and glassy lakes and bays; of splendid prairies and noble forests; of pleasant skies and gentle breezes; the land of flowers, of beauty and of health. This fairyland has attracted the eyes of capital, and the day of inactivity and fogyism is fast becoming a thing away back in the by-gone times, Lost ‘mid the rubbish of forgotten things. A campaign for improvement and activity, for modernity and for the attainment of the honey-and the prosperity that is justly ours; a campaign for the purpose of bringing to the attention of the world the great resources of this, the garden spot of the fairest and richest country on the globe, is now on, and the sixteen men whose pictures appear herewith have charge of this campaign, and, with the assistance of our other citizens, are determined that the work shall be pushed forward with vigor and energy. Already good work has been accomplished and had not the yellow fever situation interfered with their plans, still better results would have been attained. They have not, however, relaxed in the good work, and are doing all they can under the circumstances. A special edition of the Clarion, showing fully the grand possibilities for the investment of capital in the land of fair Opelousas, had been planned, but of course this had to be temporarily abandoned on account of quarantine restrictions.”

The article in the St. Landry Clarion also included a photo of the League’s board, listing their name and a brief bio on each man, numbered so they could be identified. They were listed as follows:

1. Dr. A. J. Bercier, the President of the Board, who appears in the center of the group, was a prominent dentist and a member of many dental organizations.
2. Hon. H. E. Estorge, the Secretary of the Board, owned a successful insurance business in Opelousas. He was connected with the St. Landry Parish Clerk of Court’s clerk’s office for over twenty years, serving as deputy clerk and as clerk.
3. Leon S. Haas, Esq., Treasurer of the Board, and Chairman of the Finance Committee was a young lawyer and capitalist in Opelousas. He was the son of Capt. Samuel Haas, one of the wealthiest men in the parish.
4. J. G. Lawler, was a member of the firm of Littell & Lawler, the well-known real estate men. His firm was actively engaged in the work of securing immigration and promoting enterprises.
5. Dr. E. M. Boagni, a local medical doctor who was described as the best-known banker and capitalist in Southwestern Louisiana. He was President of the St. Landry State Bank until he retired to participate in private banking business. 
6. G. H. Cretin, described as the jovial, enterprising and up-to-date Boniface of the Lacombe Hotel, one of the best-known hostelries in the State.
7. B. Bennett, a member of the Executive Committee of the Board. He was a prominent retail and wholesale clothing merchant, known throughout the area.
8. Hon. Thos. H. Lewis, described as doing more for Opelousas and the country than any other man in the parish. He was a parish judge, and the president of the Opelousas, Gulf & Northeastern Railroad, which he founded about that time.
9. F. Charleville, secretary of the Opelousas Compress Company and Chairman of the Committee on Canvass.
10. W. J. Sandoz, Esq., Chairman of the Committee on Sanitation and Embellishment, was a prominent attorney in Opelousas and very involved in all parts of the community. 
11. Hon. R. Lee Garland, St. Landry Parish District Attorney. 
12. M. August A. Crouchet, a young Opelousas Merchant who represented big interests in the town and area.
13. Hon. Gilbert L. Dupre, a member of the Executive Committee and the Committee on Printing and Statistics. He was a member of the Dupre & Haas Law Firm in Opelousas. The Judge served Opelousas and the area in various capacities. He represented the parish in the State Legislature, and later served as District Judge for one term.
14. Dr. James O. Ray, a prominent physician of the town and a member of the Opelousas Board of Health. He was described as one of the pillar rocks of Opelousas who served as Mayor for several terms.
15. Raymond Breaux, Chairman of the Printing and Statistic Committee, was the Editor of the St. Landry Clarion and the parish printer.
16. Remi Mornhinveg, was the senior owner of the R. Mornhinveg and Son Jewelry Store, and one of Opelousas’ most progressive citizens. He believed in everything that is for the good of the town, no matter what.

Another important adviser to the Board of Directors, who was not pictured. was F. M. Welch. Although he had an office in New Orleans, he was involved in the movement to make Opelousas the greatest city in Southwest Louisiana.^[9]

The new league board had big plans for the town and immediately began promoting Opelousas as the place to live and do business.

In 1906, the Opelousas Progressive League had a float in the Rex Mardi Gras Parade in New Orleans.  Their slogan was “Opelousas, The Coming City of Southwest Louisiana.” In February 1907, with Sheriff Marion Swords as president, the league voted to get local merchants involved in recruiting a large sawmill to Opelousas.^[10] However enthusiasm among its members seemed to dwindle and in July of that year the St. Landry Clarion ran the following note: “The Clarion can’t answer advisedly the inquiry of citizens, as to the where about of the Opelousas Progressive League. The last time we saw it, it was in waning health, and perhaps it is summering. It had a pronounced attack of financial epilepsy, a disease especially telling in summer months. It ought to get on its legs by fall, however.”^[11] 

In 1908, the Opelousas Progressive League was again meeting on a regular basis, working on projects to bring new businesses and new people to the town.  And again, as in 1898, the Progressive League voted to work to get a sugar refinery in Opelousas.^[12]  The organization, with Dr. A. J. Bercier as president, became very active during the next years working with the city government in 1909 to get natural gas to Opelousas and with J. Franklin Schell, with the Schell Canal, and other projects in 1910.^[13]  

In 1913, Lorenzo Mornhinveg was president of the league and the work to recruit new businesses, retain existing businesses, and bring new industry to Opelousas continued. However, in December of 1914, the city fathers of Opelousas refused to appropriate money to help finance the Opelousas Progressive League,^[14]  and by the end of 1915, no mention of the league could be found.

Again, local businesses were left without an organization to help them and the town. Of course, something else was happening about that same time as the US became involved in the Great War in 1917, later called WWI (1914-1918). With several of its young men away fighting for the country, Opelousas citizens were worried about their sons, and not about new ways to promote the town.  (To Be Continued.)

[1] St. Landry Democrat, Opelousas, LA, September 8, 1883, page five.

[2] Opelousas Courier, Opelousas, LA, October 6, 1883, page one.

^[3] Opelousas Courier, Opelousas, LA, October 20, 1883, page one.

[4] Opelousas Courier, Opelousas, LA, February 28, 1891, page one.

^[5] St. Landry Clarion, Opelousas, LA, January 9, 1897, page three.

[6] Opelousas Courier, Opelousas, LA, October 22, 1898, page one.

^[7] Opelousas Courier, Opelousas, LA, Saturday, October 22, page one.

^[8] Opelousas Courier, Opelousas, LA, July 22, 1905, Front Page.

^[9] St. Landry Clarion, Opelousas, LA, August 12, 1905, Page 3.

^[10] Donaldsonville Chief, Donaldsonville, LA, February 23, 1907, Front Page.

^[11] St. Landry Clarion, Opelousas, LA, July 29, 1907, Page 2.

^[12] St. Landry Clarion, Opelousas, LA, September 12, 1908.

^[13] St. Landry Clarion, Opelousas, LA, September 24, 1910.

^[14] St. Landry Clarion, Opelousas, LA, December 12, 1914, Page 1.