Vermilion Historical Society

04/26/2026

In case you missed last week’s interesting VHS presentation on Captain Perry and his homestead nestled on the bank of Bayou Vermilion, you can see it here. Presenters were historian, Mr. Warren Perrin, and current property owner, Mr. Chris Leblanc. Check out the video below:

1 like. "April 23, 2026"

04/22/2026

Just a reminder about a great historical presentation tomorrow night in Abbeville. (Wednesday). Open to the public.

The Vermilion Parish Library System facility at 405 E. St Victor St in Abbeville will be the site of our annual organizational meeting and a quite interesting presentation.

04/13/2026

VHS Meeting & Presentation: 04/22/26 History Of Captain Perry Residence And Perry, LA -

The Vermilion Parish Library System facility at 405 E. St Victor St in Abbeville will be the site of our annual organizational meeting and a quite interesting presentation.

04/13/2026

Don’t miss our next meeting on this interesting presentation on Perry, LA next Wednesday, April 22nd. Open to the public. It’s also our membership and Board elections meeting.

The Vermilion Parish Library System facility at 405 E. St Victor St in Abbeville will be the site of our annual organizational meeting and a quite interesting presentation.

03/15/2026

On April 22, Chris LeBlanc and Warren Perrin will be hosted by the Vermilion Historical Society in Abbeville, LA at the parish library to give a talk on the history of the hamlet of Perry, LA. Here is a short summary of the presentation: Perry's Bridge, now called Perry, officially began in 1817 when Robert Perry was awarded a contract by the St. Martin Parish Police Jury (Vermilion Parish was created in 1844) to build a bridge across the Vermilion Bayou. Construction was to take place on his property near his tanyard. Perry's Bridge was to become the main commercial center on the Vermilion Bayou. Its competition, Vermilionville (Lafayette) established around 1823 and Abbeville, around 1850, were to become Perry's main rivals.

In 1806, Robert Perry, from whom the town of Perry derives its name, at the age of 19, left his family in Campbell County, Kentucky to move to Louisiana, a newly-acquired territory of the United States. At this time New Orleans was growing prosperously, and the colonization of Texas was proceeding rapidly. Trade between the two active areas was increasingly more important, and Robert Perry most certainly moved there to take advantage of the economic situation. His gamble paid off handsomely. Tellingly, Robert Perry owned stores on each side of the river at Perry's Bridge. Across the river from the two stores, he maintained a tanyard. Cattle hides were sold here in sufficient numbers to have warranted an apprentice in 1821. Among other holdings, he owned two plantations, a tavern and mercantile store at Bayou Chicot. Thus, Perry had established himself on two main routes to Texas: the Opelousas Road and the Old Spanish Trace. He also had boats capable of bringing supplies from New Orleans to Texas. With all this as evidence of Robert Perry's commercial endeavors, it can be assumed that the river crossing that came to be known as "Perry's Bridge" also called by the French "Pont Perry" was an important element to trade in the area of southwest Louisiana.

In 1820 Perry married Ezemily Booth from Georgia. They had nine children who reached maturity. Robert Perry died in 1852. His home, built in 1840 by slave labor, remains today across the Vermilion River from the town of Perry.

02/11/2026

01/31/2026

If you missed last Wednesday’s VHS presentation on the White Lake Wetlands Conservation Area by former State Senator, Mr. Fred Hoyt, and LDFW Biologist, Lance Ardoin, click the link below. Learn the interesting history of how this pristine and rare freshwater marsh was acquired by the State of Louisiana for the public to enjoy, along with the efforts of the LDWF to keep this fragile resource healthy for generations to come.

The Q1 2026 Vermilion Historical Society Meeting featured former LA State Senator, Mr. Fred Hoyt, and Marine Biologist, Mr. Lance Ardoin, speaking on the his...

01/24/2026

VHS Meeting & Presentation: 01/28/26 White Lake Wetlands Conservation Area -

Please join us Wednesday January 28th at 6:00pm as we are excited to introduce our presenter, Mr. Fred Hoyt, who will describe the history and value of the White Lake Wetlands Conservation Area.

01/24/2026

Reminder - this Wednesday evening. Please join us Wednesday January 28th at 6:00pm in the Abbeville Main Library at 405 E. St. Victor St.

Dear historically-minded friends, members and board of directors,

Please join us Wednesday January 28th at 6:00pm as we are excited to introduce our presenter, Mr. Fred Hoyt, who will describe the history and value of the White Lake Wetlands Conservation Area.

As a former State Senator for our city and area, Fred was instrumental in developments that assured this asset for now and future generations who can enjoy this unique national treasure that also serves as a hurricane buffer.

This popular site covers 72,000 acres of freshwater marsh, farmland, woods, access channels, prime wildlife habitat for waterfowl and other species. It draws sportsmen and sportswomen from across the United States. It's home to mammals, fish, alligators, 174 bird species and a reintroduced whooping crane population.

Though we can enjoy this one of a kind property today, it's highly likely and probable that our original native Attakapas used this same area specifically for the food and furs it always provided hundreds of years ago.

So please join us Wednesday January 28th at 6:00pm in the Abbeville Main Library at 405 E. St. Victor St.

*We are pleased to offer a location for our quarterly meetings that is handicap accessible.

Because History Matters,

Brady Broussard, Jr.
President
Vermilion Historical Society

Our Speaker, Mr. Fred Hoyt:

01/19/2026

🕰️ #𝐖𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲 - 𝐋𝐞𝐭'𝐬 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐩 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐚𝐟𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐭, 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐞! 🕰️

In this photo you can see the image of what was once home home to Crescent Pool Hall. But let's start from the beginning. Originally built in the early 1900's as a general store run by O.J. Chauvin until 1906 when he moved just down the street. By 1909, C.F. Grimmer took over, and in 1911, things got interesting with a bar added at the back! The winds of change kept blowing, and by 1915, the building transformed into a restaurant. In 1917, Mr. Dutel, who ran the grocery store across the street, bought an interest in the building. But that didn't last long. And in 1920, Robert Stauffer ran a dry goods store here for 12 years.

☕🍔Fast forward to 1935, and the building found its groove as a Pool Hall and Bar. They served 10 cent hamburgers and 5 cent coffee!

🎱By 1963, the Pool Hall was in the capable hands of Nelson Hebert. But it wasn't just a pool hall; it was also a bookie joint, taking bets on everything from horses to sports games. This corner of Abbeville was known as "Little Bourbon Street," with 3 bars, a pool hall, and a bookie joint all together.

👔🍳While some may remember getting a few meals there, most of the money was rolling in from other places so the many of the meals were just given away. In 1973, the state police raided the place, telling the owner to stop booking and get busy cooking. And just like that, he went from a necktie to an apron.

By 1990, Mr. Hebert sold the business, and it changed hands a few times, becoming Crescent Grill, an Italian restaurant, a steakhouse, and even the Concord Bar.

🏛️In 2019, Blaire and Ashley Menard bought the building and beautifully transformed it into La CHAMBRE - the room, turning it into an event space that can accommodate up to 100 people.

The history of this corner is a testament to change, evolution, and the enduring spirit of .

In this photo from L-R: Mac Shexnaider, Black Hebert, Lolyd LeMaire, Eugune Vice, Arthur Lege (apologies if any spelling is incorrect, only recording the caption on the back of photo)

01/09/2026

U.S. Route 167 is a north-south United States Highway within the U.S. states of Louisiana and Arkansas. It runs for 500 miles (800 km)[1] from Ash Flat, Arkansas at U.S. Route 62/U.S. Route 412 to Abbeville, Louisiana at Louisiana Highway 14. It goes through the cities of Little Rock, Arkansas, Alexandria, Louisiana, and Lafayette, Louisiana.