Stories by author "Rusty Chastant": 4
Stories
The Oldest House in Lafayette Parish is Circa 1790. – The seventh generation of the Arceneaux family still lives in The Arceneaux House, circa 1790.
The Beaubassin House and the Arceneaux House were built by two brothers, Pierre and Louis Arceneaux, the two sons of Louis Penault Arceneaux. The father came to Lafayette Parish in 1765 and is believed to be the inspiration for the character…
Thousands of German POWs in Acadiana During WWII – German POWs Helped with Severe Labor Shortages During WWII
Many of us have older relatives, perhaps a grandfather, a dad, or a great uncle who fought overseas during WWII, but many of us are unaware that at the time the US was housing over 425,000 enemy POWs (mostly Germans, but also Italians and a few…
The Resurrection of Darby Plantation – Darby Plantation is Reborn into a Beautiful Golf Club Community Development
Considered to be one of the most famous paintings by the celebrated Cajun painter, George Rodgrigue, the Aioli Dinner features a group of men sitting around a large table set for a meal under the shade of a large live oak tree in the…
Evangeline's Gabriel Settled in Lafayette in 1765 – Is Beau Bassin a Cajun Shangri-La?
One of the earliest settlers of Lafayette parish was Louis Arceneaux. Many believe that Louis was the real-life character, “Gabriel” in Longfellow’s famous poem, Evangeline. Back in Nova Scotia, Louis was engaged to Emmeline Labiche,…