No courthouse? No thank you
By Jamie Anfenson-Comeau
Ever look on a map, and wonder at the odd shape of Evangeline and St. Landry parishes, particularly in regards to Eunice?
Retired 13th Judicial District Court Judge and amateur historian Preston Aucoin explained the formation of Evangeline Parish to the Eunice Kiwanis Club last week, and spoke of how Eunice backed out of the new parish after helping create it, a decision Aucoin described as a “big mistake”.
Imperial St. Landry Parish, as it used to be called, at one time stretched from just south of LeCompte down to the Gulf of Mexico.
In the 1890’s, residents of what is now Evangeline Parish decided they wanted out - the courthouse in Opelousas was the only place to go for mortgages, wills, deeds, marriage licenses and other legal documents, and was a two-day trip for many.
“This was before automobiles, and the train didn’t run to Evangeline,” Aucoin said. And as for the roads, “It wasn’t even a dirt road, it was more like a mud road.”
Aucoin said that the influential politicians in Opelousas were vehemently opposed to dividing the parish, but when Eunice joined the movement in 1904, it began to gain momentum.
The movement came under the leadership of Polin “P.L” Fontenot of Bayou Chicot, along with O.E. Guillory and Rene DeRouen.
They rallied the troops under the battlecry of “Division, division, we want division,” and held barbecues to gain support, where Aucoin said, “they were passing those flasks of amber-colored liquid around.”
In 1908, division became the most heated election issue, and Fontenot, Guillory and DeRouen rode the wave of support to the state legislature.
Fontenot wrote legislation to form a new parish, and it passed both houses unanimously and was signed by the governor.
An election was held in 1909 to decide the new parish seat, which was contested between Eunice, Ville Platte and Mamou.
“Ville Platte had the most politicians, the most size, and they won,” Aucoin said.
All three cities accused each other of voter fraud and worse, Aucoin said, and the conflict became so acrimonious that Eunice decided they wanted out of the new parish.
At the same time, officials in Opelousas filed suit, saying the law was unconstitutional, due to several technicalities.
The Louisiana Supreme Court shot down the law, so in 1910, Fontenot came back with a new version, without the deficiencies, and with Eunice carved out of the new parish.
It passed by an overwhelming majority, and Evangeline Parish was born Jan. 1911.
“In Evangeline, they threw the biggest barbecue you ever saw, and they got drunk,” Aucoin said. “Eunice made boudin and stayed out, where they are today.”
Sour grapes has cost Eunice, according to Aucoin. “Eunice made the mistake because they didn’t get the courthouse, and they still don’t have it.”
“If Eunice had stayed in Evangeline, it would have gained a lot more than it has under the thumb of Opelousas.”
Aucoin said that he feels most people in Eunice have more in common with Evangeline Parish than the rest of St. Landry Parish.
As for Fontenot, the “Father of Evangeline Parish”, he was appointed sheriff of the new parish, and won the first election, but his support of Prohibition cost him a second term.
“He ran for reelection on that platform, and I don’t have to tell you what they did to him,” Aucoin said.
It didn’t stop Fontenot from returning to the state legislature in 1920, however, where he served until his death in 1926.
“Tell people that a teetotaler was the father of Evangeline Parish, and they won’t believe you, but it’s true,” Aucoin said.