Discoveries

     From Butch's I rode south to Rayne, the "Frog Capital" of Louisiana. After being slapped in the face by the museum find, I moved slowly through town looking for the next "planet". For sure there would be one.
     I first found a "moon" there. The "Duck 88 lb, crawfish 6 99" sign at the Piggly Wiggly qualifies. You don't see that everywhere. So go by and look if you are in the neighborhood.
      Moving further down the street, main street, La.35, no deviation required, you cross the tracks. I believe there is a great old train station there but it didn't catch my eye. The church and cemetery did. Places with historical markers in front usually have an interesting story. Stop. St.Joseph's Catholic Church and Cemetery does. Read the marker. Theories abound. Why would the graves be perpendicular to Christian Tradition/Law? What could have influenced the designer? I'd start with the traditions of other religions and see if those could have been an influence. Louisiana is the ultimate melting pot. For example, there are Baptist Churches named in the Catholic tradition of using saint's names. Mixtures run the scale. Christian conversion often incorporated bits and peaces of the former pagan religions to help ease the transition. (this is a recollection of mine that might be fabricated, so this is a disclaimer, I am not a theologian, ask my wife).
The cemetery rating is at least a "Mars", maybe a "Jupiter".

    The next PPT to grab me was another Historical Marker found on the south side of Rayne, still on La.35. It is the former site of Pouppeville. It was evidently misnamed on the marker, being named after Jules Poupeville. Naw, I didn't spell it wrong. Look at the marker. The town has three "p's" and the guy's last name only has two.
   I also question this since the marker obviously already has a smear of incorrectness: Was the guy's name "Poupe" or "Poupeville or Poup- peville"?
   If his name was Pouppeville or Poupeville, it sure was a coincedence that his name was "town ready", "ville" means "town". No change needed, just name the town after the guy with the town's name. Done. Easy. Did they botch it and add the extra "p" after it had been so simple?
   I find that as interesting as the cemetery mystery. After further investigation, I found another commerative exhibit, a stone marker marking the Pouppeville Post Office (3"p's"). If you have the anwer, please write.
   Confounded, I left Rayne.
I just read the Church and Cemetery Historical Marker up the page. The town's name was Poupeville according to it.
   Is it correct? Now I'm looking at the Post Office marker and it's "Pouppeville".
   Now here's how you could use up a day. Go to the Courthouse and get it right.

For those who can't see, like me, I'll write it out but leave the picture as proof to my un-conclusion.
"The site of St. Joseph's Catholic Church and Cemetery was determined after the new settlement of Rayne was established.
Huge wooden wheels were made and the old church from the original Poupeville settlement was mounted on them and moved to this location in 1882. The cemetery adjacent to the church was the only known Christian cemetery for many years where the graves were placed in a north-south position legthwise. According to ancient Christian customs, graves are positioned east-west so the bodies of the dead lie facing the rising sun, the symbol of Christ's resurrection. Fokelore about the cemetery's misallignment has been passed down over the years in stories, but no one knows for certain why this cemetery does not follow tradition".

You can enjoy the mural on the far building's wall while you are there.

The late Fall sun would be opposite the shadows or southwest. Imagine the sun positioned true west and "if that ain't right".

Discoveries:
A Moon and a Planet

Next if you dare.

Something just came to me doing the rere-read. If the town was named after Pouppeville, if that was his name, shouldn't the town be named Pouppevilleville. I have a point.
I think the mayor has some explaining to do.