The first week of November, I visited my sister, who lives outside the small town of Port Barre in South Central Louisiana. Following her husband's sudden death in 2023, she built a barnamenium on her son, Eric's, property. I want to share with you a Day in the Life of that visit, but first, let's go back a few days.
One evening before my trip, my husband and I were browsing Netflix for a nice movie to watch before bed. We came across A Christmas Contract and, after discovering it was set in Lafayette, Louisiana, decided it was the perfect choice. As it turned out, much of the film takes place in Acadian Village—a must-see attraction in this charming Cajun city. That's when I knew Gin and I must include this during a day trip to Lafayette.
Now, back to my day.
Gin had a doctor appointment at noon in Lafayette on Tuesday, Nov. 4. Our day started early as I wanted to walk around the property before leaving.
The lot is perfect for walking, and Gin's home is situated in a corner surrounded by woods on two sides. The large screened-in back porch is the ideal place to relax.
Following her appointment, we drove to Acadian Village. The Acadian people in Louisiana have a long, interesting history. About 400 years ago, a small group of people left their homeland in France and sailed to Canada. Here they settled and developed a new, distinct dialect known as "Acadian," like the people. Because they refused to take a loyal oath to the English King and go against their Catholic religion, all the men were forced from their homes and arrested. All that made up the Acadian colonies was then burned, and the people dispersed.
In 1764, one of he ships carrying these dispersed people landed in Louisiana, which was ruled at the time by Spain. Over the next 300 years, about 3,000 Acadians found their way to Louisiana. They were poor, illiterate, hard-working people, with a language, culture, and customs that set them apart. In time, these people were absorbed into the population that came to be known as "Cajun". Today, Cajun is a proud and celebrated heritage, rich in traditions and a unique way of life. And these are the people around whom I grew up.
Sister, Gin at the entrance.
The Village is located on 32-acres. In the early 1970s, officials were looking for an opportunity to improve tourism in Lafayette, Louisiana while also honoring the heritage of the area. Seven of the eleven buildings are authentic homes of the 19th century, donated by the families whose ancestors once occupied them. All homes show the passing of time and are remarkable examples of the ingenuity of the early Acadian home builders, complete with wooden pegs, mud walls, hand-hewn cypress timbers, and high-peaked roofs. Each was moved piece by piece and carefully restored.
Above is The Doctor's Museum. It was at one time the office of the first resident dentist in Lafayette, built in 1890.
The grounds were being readied for their big Christmas events, and the movie shows what it will eventually look like.
This is the Aurelie Bernard House, which is the oldest structure in the village. The section on the left was built around 1800, showing the stairs to the attic. The exterior stairs are a major characteristic of the Acadian homes. The remainder was built in 1840. Inside is a large 1755 Canadian painting of The Exile of the Acadians from Nova Scotia. It depicts the Acadian arrival and settling along the bayous of Louisiana from 1763-1785.
The Thibodeau (pronounced Tib-ee-doe) Museum is constructed from cypress, a very common tree along the bayous. The house dates to circa 1820. The boys slept in the attic or loft, (called the "garconniere"), which was only accessible through the exterior staircase and door seen above.
The Saint-Jean House on the left dates back to 1840 and was donated by a local dentist. On the right is the LeBlanc House built about 1825 and is the birthplace of Acadian Statesman, spokesman, and politician, Dudley J. LeBlanc. He is the author of "The True Story of the Acadians" and "The Acadian Miracle." He is also the inventor of a very famous vitamin tonic by the name of Hadacol, 12% alcohol, and was guaranteed to cure all ailments. This was a very popular tonic among the older folks when I was growing up.
New Hope Chapel is a replica of an 1850 chapel. Today it serves as a wedding venue to many couples in and outside of Acadiana.
The Blacksmith Shop is also a replica of a blacksmith shop, built on site with weather-beaten, aged cypress boards. It now holds the nativity scene that will soon make a more prominent appearance elsewhere.
Now, this picture may not be something some of you will recognize. It was a common sight behind many old homes, especially in the South. It is called the "Outhouse" because it was the bathroom-toilet. My grandmother had one, and my sister and I hated having to use it.
The barn is featured in several scenes in the movie and is in the process of being readied for the many festivities here during the holidays.
On the way back home, we made a couple stops in Opelousas and then ran the car through the car wash. Gin made her delicious macaroni salad for supper (dinner in the south) and we spent the remainder of the evening relaxing in the recliners before hitting the sack.
This was such a fun and interesting Day in the Life of Libby and Gingie. I hope you enjoyed taking this day trip with us.
Below is the trailer for the movie mentioned above. It is available for streaming on Amazon and may still be available on Netflix.
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