Early 1940 Gazette reports on French entertainment program, plans for city hall

On March 7, 1940, two stories on the top, front of The Weekly Gazette, then published on Thursdays, reported on the largest gathering of people ever in the parish for an entertainment program and plans for construction of a new city hall in Ville Platte.
At least 2,500 people came from all around the parish to watch an entertainment program a week earlier that “jammed the huge high school gymnasium to the rafters for the presentation of a parish-wide all French program.”
The purpose of the program, developed by university and parish schools -- was to “stimulate the interest in the French language customs, and traditions of South Louisiana. Judging from the attendance and applause which greeted every number, the program had the desired results.”
Song or dance routines were presented by young and elder performers. The article reported, “Three generations were represented; the school children, the parents, and the grandparents.”
That same edition of the newspaper reported that the winning bid for construction the new brcick combination city hall and fire station was submitted by G.J. Deville Lumber of Ville Platte.
The amount of the bid -- $8,006 -- would be used only to pay for construction materials for the new building. The rest of the work -- provided by architects, engineers and skilled and unskilled workers -- would be provided by the National Youth Administration.
The NYA began in 1935 as a New Deal agency for young men and women age 16 to 25, at first operated under the Works Progress Administration and then, in 1939, it became part of the Federal Security Agency. The NYA then was made part of the War Manpower Commission in 1942 before being terminating the next year.
L.E. Soileau, director of the Evangeline Parish NYA, said he believed the city hall project was the “most elaborate ever sponsored,” by the NYA in Louisiana.
The Weekly Gazette article stated the new city hall “will closely match the appearance” of the new post office in Ville Platte.
The article went on to report, “Material used to make up the building will be of the best, and it will serve Ville Platte for years to come. Not only is it being built with an eye to present needs, but also for usefulness for future generations.”