October 5, 1929
On last Monday a Chataignier fire was discovered in the home of Gustan Fontenot, and relief workers at once went to the assistance of Mr. Fontenot in an effort to extinguish the flames. In trying to bring this fire under control, the home of Mrs. Mac Miller was discovered to be in flames, although the latter place is some distance from the home in which the fire originated. It is supposed that the strong wind that was blowing at the time carried the fire to the latter place and caused it to ignite.
The Fontenot home and contents were a complete loss, while the Miller residence was a total loss, but a few of the furnishings of the house were saved. It is not known whether either of the places carried insurance.
October 12, 1929
Luther Mitchell, of Oakdale, the young man who was recently wounded in an unfortunate shooting melee at a dance at the Rainbow Garden in Ville Platte and rushed to the Ardoin Sanitarium where his life was depaired of for a time, has improved so much in his condition that he was able to leave the sanitarium last Sunday and return to his home at Oakdale.
Emile Demoruelle, who was arrested at the time of the shooting and who has been held in jail pending the outcome of the wounds inflicted upon young Mitchell, made bond in the sum of $500 as soon as Mitchell was declared out of danger, and has been released from custody.
October 19, 1929
C.S. Aucoin, better known as “Cap,” has opened a short order restaurant in the building across Main Street opposite the post office, the new place throwing its doors open to the public Tuesday, the location being where Mrs. R.L. Wiggins formerly conducted a millinery establishment.
Mrs. Eraste Vige, of Washington is in charge of the new place for the present, as Mr. Aucoin is employed by the highway commission, and will not resign for awhile, leaving Mrs. Vige to operate the place during the daytime.
Mr. Aucoin is well known here and at Mamou and Eunice, having conducted restaurants at different times as well as being engaged in other business activities.
October 26, 1929
The progressive firm of J.A. Demoruelle and Bro., grocers, announce that last Saturday was a big day with them when they specialized in reduced prices in many of their stock items in a sale that was advertised in both circulars and also carried a quarter page display advertisement in the Gazette.
Among the specials for the sale was the famous line of Heinz 57 Varieties, and on last Saturday, they had a demonstrator for the Heinz products in the person of Mr. Bodemueller of Alexandria. They report that on that day people were in attendance from St. Landry, Chicot, Pine Prairie, Mamou, Chataignier, Point Blue and many other places, in addition to the large crowds from Ville Platte who attended the sale during the day.
All of which shows that service and advertising pays and pays well.
October 7, 1939
Because the poll tax books of Evangeline Parish must be signed and poll tax certificates for 1939 are required to vote in the 1940 Democratic primary, Sheriff C.H. Pucheu has announced a list of dates at which time poll books will be available to those who have not as yet signed them.
Unlike the pro-Long days, there is no charge made for the privilege of voting. However, the law requires the books be signed else the prospective ballot castor will be prohibited from voting. Those who fail to sign the books while Sheriff Pucheu is on tour may sign them here in Ville Platte any time.
October 19, 1939
Evangeline Parish’s political pot boomed to full boil midnight Saturday as expiration deadline fell for the qualifying of candidates seeking office in this common wealth subject to the Democratic primary in January.
Late into the night political office holders and aspirants who already qualified hung around the offices of the Democratic executive committee to see what might happen. An interesting feature of the forthcoming election is that one woman candidate, Mrs. J.D. Oliver of St. Landry, will be seeking Democratic nomination.
From this time henceforth, now that the who’s who in politics has been established, the contestants will settle down to serious business. Party lines will be formed, various groups will be banded into a solid front, and the solicitation of votes will begin in earnest.
October 26, 1939
The Thirteenth Annual Tri-Parish Fair came to a most successful closing Sunday night. It was estimated that more than 105,000 persons participated in the four-day event, for Acadia, St. Landry and Evangeline Parishes.
The agricultural, industrial, and commercial show was described as the greatest in the history of the organization by the president, Ferdinard Quirk, and Eloi O. Guillory, secretary-manager, who declared there had been a substantial increase in all exhibits, forcing the use of two additional buildings.
The swine, floral, livestock, art, culinary, and dog departments were considered outstanding, and drew special praise.
October 6, 1949
Ville Platte High School was on the air last Wednesday morning in the first of a series of 10 radio programs scheduled this season. The program was heard over Opelousas station KSLO and featured the school’s Parent-Teacher association unit and officials of the student council.
Mrs. William M. Feaster represented the PTA with a talk on the objectives for the year, and C.A. Soileau, faculty representative, introduced the president of the student council, R.L. Prejean, who gave the council’s program for the session.
Gladney Deville, a student of the school, acted as chairman for the program.
October 13, 1949
Two tragic deaths by fire were reported in Evangeline Parish last week.
Dead were Mrs. Thurman Russell of Turkey Creek and Mrs. Wille Marie Wright Couvillion of Kinder.
Mrs. Russell died at a local hospital last Thursday a few hours after receiving severe burns from kerosene. According to a report, she was attempting to kindle a fire in a wood stove by using kerosene from a can. The fire ignited suddenly and the flames leaping up to the can caused an explosion, covering the victim’s body with burning oil.
October 20, 1949
Miss. Rita Favre, 19-year-old Opelousas girl, was selected last night as Queen of the Louisiana Yambilee festival in Opelousas. The 1949 queen was crowned by Miss America of 1949, Miss Jacque Mercer who flew to Opelousas for the celebration.
State Superintendant of Education Shelby M. Jackson was crowned as King Yam.
The Queen was chosen by judging from New York, Dallas, Hollywood, and London. She was chosen queen from a list of 23 candidates.
Ocotber 27, 1949
A civic minded group of this community Monday night met with Marvin Gray of Wakerfield, Virginia, to organize on a temporary basis the first Ruritan Club to be organized west of the Mississippi River.
The meeting was well-attended by a diversified group especially invited to attend because of their representing professional, business and rural groups in this vicinity. It entertained an explanation of Ruritan by Mr. Gray and ensuing open discussions of need of such an organization in the section.