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| To quote Chuck Berry, "No particular place to go, so, I headed on out to the..." Again, pavement had lost its draw and I just knew that if I dug a bit in the dirt I would find some lost treasure and ride home the conqueror. I had ridden up La.752 from 758 from 182 above Sunset in an almost "auto-pilot" trance. 752 is a pretty road but soon intersects busy US.190. What should I do? I looked across the intersection of 752 and 190 to see if 752 continued. I didn't have the gps programmed for LA. so it was useless on these small roads. There was only a gravel road crossing the railroad tracks that follow 190. I saw a building on |
| the other side and decided, what the heck, check it out. I found Andrepont's Grocery. If you have looked at almost any of the other rides on this site, you know, I am obsessed with old groceries and the signs which they bare. Andrepont's (andre paws) lone sign was for Holsum Bread. I found this weird because Evangeline Maid seemed to me to be the cultural favorite. That Holsum Bread sign might be worth something. |
| Beyond Andrepont's the gravel road split into two. I chose the one on the left. If riding a bike unfit for gravel riding, go back to 190 and go to Eunice to pick up the article from there. |
| I have to tell you, I love it out here on the Louisiana Prairie. The breeze seems to blow all the time and the horizon is your destination. Ponds and rice fields, a few lone trees and then a bunch, which usually signifies a farmer's home and barn complex. My rule of thumb is that if a road has a stop sign where I pick it up, it is fair game. I can follow it until I see a gate or posted sign facing me. If it is posted to the sides then the road is acknowledged as being public. I don't care if it gets down to 2 ruts. That treasure might be just over the horizon. And, I'm convinced, from prior experience, it is. |
| The sign below says it all. Jeff raises cattle, crawfish, and rice. The Prairie is a natural for all three. |
| Sitting roughly in the center of the Louisiana Praire is Eunice. |
| Eunice has proclaimed itself as, "Louisiana's Prairie Cajun Capital". For the most part the Louisiana Prairie is Cajun. There have been contributions by many other ethnic groups. And, I don't mean light insignificant contributions, but meaningful ones whose influences are still strong. But, the Prairie is Cajun. |
| US 190 |
| La.13 |
| Liberty Theater and Cultural Center |
| After riding the fields, I hit US 190 and headed west. I ended up in Eunice. Eunice had always been a place to go through stop lights and obey the speed limit. I was determined to make it more than a slow place in the road to somewhere else. Besides, I had run out of ideas and did not want to venture further from home on this one. |
| Then, I hit the jackpot. I had forgotten about Eunice's claim to capital fame. It seems she has a claim to being the Prairie Cultural Capital, also. In a two block area, one block off 190 and just off La.13 south of 190, the Eunice Depot Museum, The Cajun Music Hall of Fame, The Acadiana Cultural Center, a division of the Jean Lafitte National Park , and the crown jewel, the Libery Theatre, are all located. |
| Pictured from the plaque. |
| It was about five o'clock, I was getting tired and the places were closing so, I didn't attempt to go in. I would suggest that you do. Combine Eunice with Chicot St. Park and Saturday morning at Fred's in Mamou. Go to the Liberty on Saturday night. If that's not doing Cajun first class, then I don't know what to tell you. The park is Louisiana's most beautiful, in my opinion. Fred's is Cajun culture on acid. I mean wild. Then check out the museums, eat, and join the dancing at the theater. Aheeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. |
| Exiting town, I will leave you with the obligatory old building and beautiful private residence pictures. You knew they were coming. Enjoy the Prairie. You'll like it as much as I do. |
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| Update: Ray's first reaction to the Eunice page was, "What about the Purple Peacock?" |
| I am slipping. How could I have forgotten a Louisiana Original, Swamp Pop Music and the temples in which it resided. Next year the Boogie Kings, one of the mainstays and among the most popular of the long list of "poppers", will celebrate their 50 years of performing. This is a significant Louisiana happening. The music is a mixture of black R&B, Cajun, amd R&R. Add to this Louisiana's special seasoning, and poof, Swamp Pop. When I was growing up and able to go to bars (15,16,17,18,...) I wintnessed a lot of the SP groups that had been formed in the late 40's to mid-50's. They mirrored the generation before mine. The music was strong, just what a teenager was looking for. The music was bi-racial, just the enlightenment that Southern kids needed to escape racism. Back to the Peacock. It was one of a group of SP lounges that crossed south Louisiana. The investigation is just beginning. Until I have more, here are a few links you need to check out to get the feel of what it was all about. |
| More Later |
| More touring the Prairie: |
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| Above is the Purple Peacock, No.2. I believe a fire consumed the original landmark that I remember. To the right is what I believe to be another Swamp Pop Landmark, the Holiday in Mamou. I will check my contacts to varify that pure guess. |
| Morgan Blanchard's Site a true promoter of Swamp Pop and Artist |
| For Online Louisiana Music, Tune into KBON Radio, located in Eunice. |
| More to come concerning "Swamp Pop". |
| The List of Swamp Pop Venues Begins. Please let me know your memories of these and other places.: The Step Inn Club or Green Lantern in Lawtell The Purple Peacock, Eunice? Jungle Lounge or the Rendezvous, Ville Platte Southern Club, on the outskirts of Opelousas |