Vermilionville and Po'Boys

Friday, November 8, 2013

Vermilionville

Vermilionville is the original name for the city of Lafayette. The name was changed in 1884 to honor General Lafayette, the French General who served under George Washington in the Revolutionary War. Vermilionville is also the name of a historical recreation of the way life was in the 1800s. We spent most of today exploring the buildings and speaking with the artisans who do crafts and talk about what life was like then. The site has seven restored homes and hosts artisans who do demonstrations and talk about the history of Lafayette.

Brenda Lalonde is one of the artisans. She showed us how to card cotton and then spin it into thread. Her spinning wheel is modern, but basically the same as it was in the 1800s. She said it took about 200 hours to make a shirt, from spinning to looming and sewing.

Brenda LaLonde

 Two women came in while we were with Brenda. They work in the Science Center and were on the hunt for native flora and fauna to replenish their supply. Basically they are looking for bugs. The young girl is an apprentice bug collector. Next to them is the loom used to weave the cotton after it is spun into thread.

Bug Collectors

Merlin Fontenot is 90 years old and still plays fiddle here at Vermilionville and at the local restaurant Randol's. 

Here we see the Blacksmith and his apprentice. The apprentice, T'Jay, is making iron hooks for sale in the gift shop.

Afterwards we went off to find  Po'Boys. We were directed, by the New York Times, of all sources, to The Olde Tyme Market. 

Fried Oyster Po'Boy

And after that, to The Best Stop Supermarket for Boudin Balls and Andouille sausage.