Morgan City High School - Tiger Yearbook (Morgan City, LA)

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Early planters included Etienne youth he was denied the benefits of gave nance strong mind and he lived a an education, natHF0 very profitable 1ifGo Penneson, who came to to where the railroad Berwick Rav in l800. Later he IYIOVGC1 now crosses the Bocuf and opened a store thaGP in connection with his plantation. Pennoson was the first man to plant sugar cane in that vicinity. His place became the main supply headquarters for swampers, and he did a large busi- ness as a merchant. In 1805 Christopher O'Brien, a classmate of Henry Clay, came from Virginia and settled on the bay. While Clay rose to political fame, O'Brien settled down to the life of a sugar planter and left behind him the name of a good citi- ZOI1. Another Virginian, William Rochell, was prominent in the region of the bay. His picturesque residence on the lower Atchafalaya was always the scene of much social en- joymont. A native of Kentucky, George Schwing, will long be rc- membercd by the old planters for his improvements in the sugar house and kettle setting. Henry Renthrop emigrated to America from Sweden. Like most planters, he was a financial victim of the Civil War. His fine plantation, which later became the residence of Captain John N. Pharr, was for many years the home of genuine Louisiana hospitality. Dr. John Tarlton from South Carolina is remembered as a planter, physician, and member of the legislature from St. Mary Parish. Mr. Verrct, a Creole from Lafourche Parish, was another early planter. It was easy to see that, with the developing of plant- ing on such a large scale and the constant coming-in of citizens, some sort of organization would result. On Mav ll, l86O, the town of Brashcar was incorporated and G.H.Mnnn became tae first mayor. The present residential section was a large sugar plantation owned by Mr. Brashear and the business section was on the water front and across tha present railroad track. Later, Mr. Brashear gave to the town the site of our park and city square. Until after the Civil War the railroad stopped at Ber- wick Bay. There was only stage coach service to the west,

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Later a steam boat line between Morgan City and New IbC1 if1 was established, and stage coaches were used farther west. At this time one of the chief industries was the hand- ling of commodities passing through here going to and coming from the Gulf Border Points. Thousands of head of cattle were driven through. Fish, oyster, and game came in for their, share of commercial activities, and the lumber business began to grow. On February 24, 1878, the name Brashear was changed to Morgan City in honor of Charles Morgan, owner of the rail- road and steamship line. In 1880 the first railroad bridge spanning Berwick Bay was constructed. The present bridge was built after 1900. During the first World War a shipyard was constructed here. This was the second great part Morgan City had played in war, fer during the Civil War, Fort Star, south of the railroad, Fort Buchannan, north of the town, and Fort Brashear on the west bank of the river were built by the Confederates and severe fighting occured here on several occasions. By the beginning of the twentieth century, Morgan City was ready to become the thrilling little city it now is. PUBLIC SCHOOLS As you have noticed, the early settlers were interested in educationg in fact, some were very well educated. Their idea of this training, however, was the instruction received fran private teachers, and they gave no thought to public schools. The earliest recorded movement toward the establishment of a public school is dated in 1861, when our present city was known as Brashear. A sum of three hundred dollars cssooy was provided by the mayor and councilmen'for the erection of a public school-house on the town square, and the remaining sun was raised by the School Board through public subscrip- ti.OI'lo In the early seventies this structure was used as a Union church and school-house. What became of this first building we do not know, but, the lower floor of the Masonic Hall replaced it. At that time, it was due to the efforts of Mr. Thomas Shannon, w h 0 served the schools for fourteen years, and of Mr. Gus Drews, President of the School Board, that a great interest 1 n S