Photograph: James Douget, president of Preservationists of St.Landry, Inc. speaks to a group who attended the non profit organization’s annual membership meeting Nov. 6. (Photograph by Bobby Ardoin)
BOBBY ARDOIN
Editor/Consulting Writer
The Preservationists of St. Landry Inc., are seeking ways to fund several critical projects that group members hope will help maintain the condition of the 200-year-old Michel Prudhomme Home in Opelousas.
Preservationist members met again Sunday afternoon following a previous presentation held at the home Nov. 6 during the annual membership meeting.
On Sunday the group was presented with potential methods of funding projects which include rebuilding a brick wall destroyed by a hurricane two years ago on the south side of the residence in addition to replacing the roof shingles and a portion of the upper floor gallery which has deteriorated due to age.
There is currently little money in the Preservationists of St. Landry budget to fund any of the impending projects, according to James Douget, president of the organization.
“It’s been a rough two years for us due to Covid. There is a lot of work that needs to be done and in the past we have done the best we can. We’re a small group and all of us are not exactly spring chickens anymore. We try to do the best we can with what we have,” Douget told those who attended the Nov. 6 meeting.
In addition to the projected expenditures for renovations, Douget said there are annual expenses like insurance and maintaining the heating and air conditioning unit.
Sunday Presentation
Members of the non profit organization listened during the Sunday afternoon meeting to a presentation by Phyllis Lear, an art history professor at Northwestern State University, who suggested several ways that funding might be provided to cover the costs of the projects.
Most federal revenues that can assist with funding projects for residences like the Michel Prudhomme Home which is on the National Register of Historic Places, require an action plan in addition to a specific purpose, said Lear.
“There has to be a reason for obtaining the funding, such as using (the Prudhomme Home) possibly meetings of the (parish) genealogical society, or a place where people can meet and do crafts with raw textiles. Maybe the house could be used as a place to store records of the people who live there or the slaves who lived there,” Lear added.
Lear said genealogical groups or other groups needing space, could provide rent income for their meetings.
“You also need to know what your needs are. It’s important that you define a purpose for the home beyond just it being a place on a tour map,” said Lear.
Other Possibilities
Lear additionally reminded the group that the former St. Luc’s Hospital in Arnaudville has been converted into space for French immersion classes. The non profit group that now owns the hospital has also expanded the scope of the building to include workshops for spinning brown cotton as well as renting space for artists.
“That’s also something to think about. Spaces in the house could be also rented by artists and for different types of workshops. Those types of events would coincide neatly with the history of (the Prudhomme Home),” Lear said
The unique design of the home, whose attic was apparently constructed on the ground away from the house and then hoisted to connect to the second story, is documented in the National Library of Congress, said Lear.
Lear said student interest in the house could be expanded to having individuals go to the house and possibly write papers on the architectural designs or other aspects.
“I think the house represents quite a number of real life opportunities for students,” Lear said.
Carolyn Jarrell informed the group that there is an annual grant that includes matching funds sponsored by the Daughters of the American Revolution.
The DAR grant can be used for historic preservation for amounts up to $10,000, said Jarrell.
Douget described the Prudhomme Home as a “jewel that most people are not aware of. Many people don’t understand the significance of what this old home is or have any idea of its significance in Louisiana and American history.”
Douget said when college archeology students visit the home, they are astounded by the overall floor plan.
