CAROLA LILLIE HARTLEY
Publisher and Contributing Writer
150 Years ago – Week of August 11-17, 1872
The Country Inn, kept by P. R. Mouret – alias “Little Joe”, next to Mayo’s Drug Store advertised it was the best in Opelousas with all kinds of wine, fresh game, oysters during the season, and the best of everything that the market affords, always on hand. Meals were available all hours, day and night.
St. Charles College at Grand Coteau held it commencement exercises on August 17, 1872. It was a day long event filled with many activities including music, speeches, dramatic presentations and food.
A fire in downtown Opelousas produced a heavy loss of property for the firm of Bloch and Dupre. The building that housed their immense establishment on the corner of Main and Bellevue streets was a total loss, with no insurance. The loss of goods in the building totaled about $50,000.00, but those goods were partially insured. The destruction of this magnificent building was a great loss to the community since it was one of the finest of its kind in the area, and the largest in St. Landry Parish. Built in 1842 by one of the best architects of New Orleans, it was brick and covered with what was said to be a fire-proof slate roof. The four outer walls were left standing, and the hope was those walls could be used in the rebuilding.
The St. Landry Democrat reported the fire at the store of Bloch and Dupre could not be blamed on the gentleman who had charge of the tailor shop located on the 2nd floor. This message came directly from Joseph Bloch himself.
Louis Desmarais’ Store on the corner of Market and Bellevue streets advertised he sold goods cheaper than any other store. His goods included cheap meats of all kinds, cheat coffee, cheap sugar, cheap whiskey, the best in the market. He also sold all kind of groceries and liquors, good and cheap.
P. J, Lefervre, Agent, business at the corner of Court and Landry streets offered to his friends for cash at low prices dry goods, clothing, boots, shoes, hats, notions, hardware, tinware, crockery, groceries, wines and liquor, bagging and ties, corn, oats and bran.
Camille Roos announced the opening of his new store located on the corner of Main and North streets, in Joseph Blum’s Old Stand.
100 Years Ago – Week of August 7-13, 1922
Salesmen at the Bordelon’s Garage during that time were S. A. Manuel, A. A. Mendoza and W. R. Boudreau, Jr. The advertisement in the paper that week offered the Ford One-Ton Truck for only $430.00.
Avie Bordelon announced he had just received a carload of Waterloo Boy Tractors, priced for sale at $675.00.
C. W. Rhodes of Stultguard, California, a graduate of the Gregg School of Chicago was hired to run the Opelousas Business College in town.
The home of Mrs. S. Perkins on Union Street was completely and thoroughly remodeled to have the appearance of a modern bungalow.
Phil J. Riely was hired during that week to be the associated editor of the new Clarion-Progress newspaper and was also going to be the publicity director for the Opelousas Trade Extension Bureau. Riely had been the editor of the Crowley Signal newspaper and was known as one of the best publicity men of Southwest Louisiana.
Opelousas men who were members of the Company C National Guard, left Opelousas by train to travel to Camp Beauregard where they were trained for two weeks. Company C, led by Captain E. J. Andrepont, had over fifty members.
There was some excitement at the beginning of the week in Opelousas when Amos Carriere, a well-known farmer residing at Boscoville, fired several shots at members of the Board of Commissioners of the Eleventh Road District in a meeting room at the Lacombe Hotel. He was angry at the commissioners following a decision they made to select a route for the Opelousas-Port Barre highway that would pass in the rear of Carriere’s place rather than in front, as it previous was. Board commissioners Ed Durio, J. J. Guillory and Leon Wolff were shot. All three men were treated at the St. Landry Sanitarium and recovered. Carriere was arrested and brought to jail. He was later charged with shooting at with intent to murder.
50 Years Ago – Week of August 6-12, 1972
The Opelousas Board of Aldermen met in regular session in the City Hall in Opelousas. In the absence of Mayor Wilfred E. Cortez, Mayor Pro-Tem Howard Zerangue presided over the meeting.
Martin Roy, Jr. ran an ad asking to be re-elected to the St. Landry Parish School Board in the election later that year. Robert J. Fenelon announced he was a candidate for the St. Landry Parish School Board from Ward One.
The Lazy Dazy, located at 136 West Bellevue Street in Opelousas advertised the dress shop also had great accessories such as skinny belts, wide belts, ties, handbags, knit and felt hats and jewelry for sale.
Members of the Civic Circle and the Chamber of Commerce spend an afternoon packing 100 red, white and blue ditty bags with souvenirs from Opelousas to distribute to tourists who visited the Acadian Tourist Center for Tourist Appreciation Day. The ladies working on the bags included Mrs, J. C. Sharp, Mrs, Michael Bell, Mrs. Preston Hammon and Mrs. Otis Lominick.
Some members of the Opelousas Jaycee Jaynes drove to Alexandria to attend a birthday party for the Jaynes’ adopted child at Pinecrest School in that city. Opelousas Jaynes attending included Mrs. Earl Taylor, Mrs. Richard Moore, Mrs. E. C. Anselmo and Mrs. Charles Spekschate.
Former Opelousas Mayor Percy Ledoux died at his home on August 9, 1972, following a four-week illness. He was 64 years of age. Ledoux served as Mayor of Opelousas for 12 years, from 1954 to 1966.
Eckerd Drugs announced their sidewalk sale would be held on Saturday, August 12, 1972, at their store located at 755 South Union Street in Opelousas.
