LUCY TOWN HISTORY

The town of Lucy, located on the downriver edge of St. John the Baptist Parish on the West Bank, might legitimately lay claim to the title of cradle of the parish.

It's also a place of parish, state, national and arguably, international historic significance.� The first settlement of the area came with the influx of German settlers in 1722, as an upriver extension of Hoffen, one of the original Karlstein settlements, The area was known for many years as 'Bonnet Carre Point', not to be confused with the Reserve area, which was known as 'Bonnet Carre.'

The area is also known for being the home of Louisiana's second governor, Jacques Philippe Villere.

Lucy was also the cradle of journalism in the River Parishes, as the printing press for both Le Meschacebe and L'Avant Coureur newspapers, covering St. John and St. Charles parishes respectively, set up shop here in 1852.� The founding editor of both papers hit the streets on January 23, 1953.� L'Avant Coureur ceased publication on October 14, 1878 and Le Meschacebe continued on into the mid-1940s, often feuding with L'Oberservateur, which launched in 1913 in Reserve.

In 1876, the local postmaster, Mr. Huguet, selected the name of his fianc�e, Lucy Trudeau, as the new name for the settlement.

Bonnet Carre, as it was then known, was the parish seat of government prior to construction of the new courthouse in 1845.� According to more than one account, the parish's first courthouse is still located here, although now a private residence.

The first church in St. John the Baptist Parish, St. Jean des Allemands, was located in Lucy in 1725, with services conducted by traveling priests for the first four years.� The Chevalier D'Arensbourg, commandant of the tiny settlement, was married in that church, and it was the predecessor of St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Destrehan.� The first revolution in North America by colonists against a European colonial power was spawned in the Lucy area in 1768.� This ill-starred attempt managed to evict Spanish Governor Ulloa for several months.� However, a new governor arrived, arrested most of the ringleaders and executed some.

The Lucy area was a center of local commerce for many years, including a tobacco factory operated by Blas Perez but closed in the Civil War; a sawmill, which operated from 1844 to 1859; as well as several sugar mills associated with area plantations.

In 1896, a controversial election, which resulted in the final eviction of carpetbag rule, ended the last gasp of Reconstruction in south Louisiana.� John Webre, a leader in the black community and sheriff since 1878, headed one faction; William J. Hart was the Democratic 'reform' candidate.

It was the custom to collect the written ballots and take them all to the parish courthouse for counting.� Tensions were high and guns were plentiful on both sides.� A committee of white citizens enlisted help from the governor and the state militia to keep order on Election Day.

With the closing of the polls, the ballots were taken to the courthouse, and then taken by a group of white citizens who went to Bonnet Care Point in Lucy, intending to take them to LaPlace, on the east bank of the river, and get a fair count.

Black citizens had amassed on the courthouse lawn and on the levee, under the leadership of Senator Henry Demus.� Demus was informed, by the militia, if he or any of his followers tried to interfere, they would be instantly shot.

Riding in a parade of carriages, the ballots were taken to Lucy, in front of Berthelot's Store, arguments broke out, guns came out, and Charles Parent was shot and killed.� Nevertheless, the ballots were taken to LaPlace under state militia supervision, and Hart was declared the winner.

In 1910, the Berthelot School was built on land donated by Paul Berthelot.

David Paine built Glendale Plantation, one of several in the area, in 1802.� It includes two pigeonnieres, and the main house itself includes six bedrooms and windows inside for cross-ventilation.

Early owners included a LaBranche (or Zweig) family.� It was listed as the J.B. Sarpy house in and 1869 chart on display in the house and marked as Glendale on an April 1891 map, also on display.� The sugar plantation once included an extended community, which had its own coinage prior to 1885, a collection of which is on display in the main house.� There were also at least a dozen cabins for workers and a boarding house.

The present owner, Antoine Denis Lanaux II, lives next to the plantation with his wife of 48 years, Yolande Poche Lanaux.

Lanaux recalled the plantation was acquired for $22,000 in a March 1922 sheriff's sale by his grandfather and great-uncles.� At around the same time, the family acquired Rapidan Plantation in Central and Pelican Plantation in Taft.

Grandfather Antoine and his wife, Marie Haydel Lanaux (originally of Edgard), operated the sugar plantation until his parents, Louis and Hilda Thibodeaux Lanaux. Took over operations in the 1930s. 'When they sold off Rapidan, they donated several things to the LSU Rural Life Museum, including a three-seater outhouse,' Lanaux said. Glendale Plantation also donated the Mule Barn at Destrehan Plantation to enhance that site.

'I came her in 1946 when I got out of the service,' he recalled.� Born in New Orleans in 1922, Lanaux was one of six siblings. �He and brother, Pierre, presently operate Glendale.�

'I used to come out on the weekends in the 1930s and ride the tractors,' he remembered.� Another childhood memory was 'Brother Lockett,' a black tractor driver who 'took me under his wing and told me,' 'Cap, I'm gonna tell you what to do as we go.'

He continued� 'we all had good people and never had a problem at all.� If you respect people they'll respect you.'

During World War II, Lanaux joined the Army Air Corps and, as a pilot with the 60th Troop Carrier Group, flew missions in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, and Yugoslavia, and rose to the rank of Lieutenant in the course of his 17-month service.� He returned, married, and began administration of the busy plantation, now 3,600 acres, including 1,200 acres under cultivation.

He also launched an extensive renovation in the 1950s, which made Glendale a showplace along River Road.� 'During the Depression, it was going to the dogs,' he said.

Lanaux said Glendale is a choice location in the River Parishes. Even the crevasses of 1892 and the massive Hymelia Crevasse of 1912, less than a mile away, left the house untouched, although it left a large area beyond the railroad tracks 'like a sandy beach.'

The continued future of Glendale is assured, as he has a son, A.D. 'Denny' III, and daughter, Laurie Marie.� They also have six grandchildren.� Lucy's significance also remains assured.