Brett's blog
Just another Victorian town
Submitted by Brett on Tue, 07/15/2008 - 12:28pm.
Former Congressman Chris John's former home. Sold so he could go live on K street in D.C. full time.
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Historical synopsis (Lifted, as I did not write this one)
Along a canopy of oak trees, tour our acclaimed Historic District which boasts of over 200 homes and buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. These homes are of the Victorian, Queen Anne era and encompass about 33 blocks.
Settled primarily by Midwestern farmers, Crowley offers fine restaurants, an art gallery, and many forms of entertainment. Here in south Louisiana, we enjoy our lifestyle; music, good food and SLOW conversation... and we love to share.
Crowley, the seat of Acadia Parish, in the heart of the rice growing belt of Southwest Louisiana, was the only town in the parish that did not develop naturally. Crowley was totally planned and founded by two brothers, C.C. and W.W. Duson, with the financial backing of a group of St. Landry parish businessmen in 1886. Crowley was named for Pat Crowley, the Irish contractor who graded the roadbed for the Southern Pacific Railroad through Acadia Parish. The railroad had placed a switch, or spur tracts, on property near the present site and as a courtesy to the contractor, named it the Crowley Switch. The switch played an important role in the development of the new town, which was situated in the middle of a treeless prairie. All of the construction material was first brought in on the switch.
W.W. and C.C. Duson were enterprising brothers and dreamers of the practical sort. In July of 1881, they rode on the recently completed Louisiana Western Railroad across a dry prairie. Geographically, this was hardly an inviting area in which to begin a town. But in addition to their energy and motivations, the brothers were also visionaries. They saw a thriving community that would someday contribute significantly to Louisiana and the rest of the country.
Crowley's birth date is January 4, 1887. Not many towns know the exact day of their birth, but Crowley does. She was conceived in the mind of one W. W. Duson and was carved deliberately out of 174 acres in the heart of the prairie country of Southwest Louisiana. Duson and his brother saw an opportunity for people to come and start a new life in a new land. And so, the people came, 240 in 1890 to 6,000 by 1917. People came from all over the United States. Why? Some came for the sheer adventure of pioneering a town. Others came to build a home and still others came because the prairie was well suited for agriculture, especially rice.
Greetings from Crowley Louisiana
Submitted by Brett on Thu, 06/19/2008 - 6:14pm.I have landed a new job in Crowley and find it prudent to take down this blog post in the interest of keeping said job.
The original contents have been saved, including all post in response to my writing.
Thank you my friends for your support and help (you know who you are) in my time of need.
I will go forward with my project quietly as starving to death will do me no good. I still feel as I did when this ordeal began, and look forward to the day when my hometown becomes part of 21st century America.
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Submitted by Brett on Mon, 02/11/2008 - 3:38pm.edited
a bit angry and personal
if you read it, thanks, things will work out
:)
Maron v. Seder audiophiles
Submitted by Brett on Fri, 01/11/2008 - 1:39pm.Treasure from the Attic
Submitted by Brett on Tue, 12/25/2007 - 7:25pm.These photo's of my dad were rediscovered this fall and were a big hit at our family gathering. Happy Holidays everyone!
Both photos taken in Shortbread, Louisiana (you'll never find that place on a map!)
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v My Dad in 1949 with 2 of his nieces v
Harry Shearer's -- Crescent City Stories
Submitted by Brett on Sun, 11/18/2007 - 4:41am.
Part VI might play audio only
if so, download this .mov file to view it.
