McNeese State University - Log Yearbook (Lake Charles, LA)

Page 26 text:

That good ol’ A. Se iid pe Bik ae? tag TIM SAVOY ahd-Annette’Brous telax to the harmony.of the ac- cordian. if vs oy sard THE LOUISIANA MARKET is a fine example of the tr adtionalyCajun, : a ue ¥ shop. ¢ . 5 rf F » - oy Se gn JOHM.PIPRE and Kevin Savoie are = sure¢to be careful when cuddling tag witha Céjurt tnascot. “ sae MN gd mien 5 ¢ ed yn Ea b nal er? 22 Cajun Life

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i Welcome to.. rowing from one small home, owned by Charlie and Catherine Sallier, on the shore of a lake to a city of 75,000-plus, the town known as “Charlie’s Lake’’ has become Lake Charles, the home of beautiful es- tates, Contraband Days and McNeese State University. Legend holds that pirate Jean Lafitte made the lakes and rivers of Southwest Louisiana his run- ning ground and the shores of Lake Charles a cache for his con- traband. It is also believed that these treasures remain hidden somewhere in our waters. The Lake City’s beginnings trace back to the 1760’s when the French settlers came to home- stead the area. The abundant sup- ply of pine and cypress provided a haven for those whose greatest need was food and shelter. The townspeople of Lake Charles showed great initiative in 1922 as they laid plans for a port on the lake. In 1926, Lake Charles was connected to the Gulf of Mex- ico by a 400 foot wide, 40 foot deep channel and became a port large enough to accommodate 13 ships at one time. The petroleum industries followed shortly there- after; these plants still provide several thousand jobs for area cit- izens. Even today, the ties to our past are very real. The Imperial Cal- casieu Museum, which houses an extensive historical collection, sits on the original site of Charlie Sal- lier’s old Cajun style cabin, along with the legendary Sallier Oak. The infamous Jean Lafitte is al- so far from being forgotten. Two weeks of every year, a renowned event known as ‘‘Contraband Days,’ are dedicated to a cele- bration of this part of our history. In recent years, local leaders have successfully drawn national attention to Lake Charles, thereby promising nothing but continued success for a legendary and de- termined society. Today, Lake Charles has much to offer: the charm of yesterday, the technol- ogy of today, and the promises of the future. ) City of Lake Charles 21

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Cajuns is a hard workin, hard playin, fun loving people what love dey children, dey spouses (me, Ah love Sedonia, but don say it out loud), dey mommas, dey poppas, crawfish, and dey franz. An dey know dat blood is ticker dan water. An boy, do dey lak politiks, anh?! Pierre Sez Lagniappe few lines of copy written on the pages of a yearbook cannot possibly do justice to the rich history and life of a proud and steadfast people known as the Southwest Louisiana Cajuns. Arriving in Southwest Louisiana from their native land of Nova Scotia, the Acadians were determined survivors. Consisting of mostly hard-working farmers, the Cajuns provided for their physical sustenance by learning to trap, to hunt, and to fish. With a decided predilection for plenty of spicy food, beer, music and marathon dancing, the Acadians made merry with the ever-popular fais dodo. The spicy gumbo, boudin, ettoufee, and sauce piquante (all foods unique to the Cajun kitchen) were as popular then as now. Many of the Cajun ideals, traditions, and festivities still exist along the rivers and bayous of present day Louisiana. And of course, our delicious Cajun cuisine that is rapidly gaining international recognition can be found throughout an ever-expanding area. In 1987, Governor Edwards deemed November 26 ‘‘Acadian Day,”’ an honor well-deserved and long overdue for this people, a people that has molded the customs and personality of the state. The students at McNeese have the unique privilege of sharing this heritage, of living and learning in a rare environment. Our extraordinary cultural aspects of yesterday remain alive today; it is only through this history that we may learn about tomorrow. ” aet s ke - | af Cajun Life 23