Another Sunday, another parish celebration. The Territory Legislature established St. John the Baptist parish two hundred and twelve years ago today, easier known as March 31, 1807. It includes the third oldest settlement in Louisiana. Germans primarily settled in this area. The French controlled the land until 1763 when they lost the Seven Years’ War to Great Britain. They ceded Louisiana to Spain at that time. In North America History, the war is known as the French and Indian War.
In the mid-1760s, the French were expelled from Nova Scotia by the British. The French Arcadians settled in St. John the Baptist parish. Their first village is known as Wallace, Louisiana today. The transplanted Arcadians are the ancestors of today’s Cajun folk.
In 1869 a church was built on the east banks of the Mississippi River. The west bank already had St. John the Baptist. In 1897, a second church on the east bank was built, St. Peter. This church stood until 1965 when Hurricane Betsy hit Louisiana. The hurricane also ruffed up Bill’s Cajun House of Pleasure in the fictional town of Bayou Cove.
History doesn’t write itself, but what fun it is to learn about the great state of Louisiana. Learn more about St. John the Baptist parish here and here.
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What I’m Reading – Many readers I know like to inquire what their favorite author is reading. At the end of each blog post, I’ll let you know what book is open on my Kindle. I hope my choice of reading material inspires you to read a variety of authors and topics. Currently, I’m reading The Circus Fire by Stewart O’Nan.