Beginning as a real estate venture on the isolated prairie of southwestern Louisiana in 1894, Eunice is now a progressive small city due to its traditions of volunteerism, community spirit, and resourcefulness. In the late 1980s, the city enjoyed a renaissance when a far-sighted mayor capitalized on the dominant Cajun culture to pull Eunice out of the economic crevasse of the decade's "oil bust." It emerged as a picturesque community with an emphasis on its rich history and its newly recognized heritage tourism. The city's unique Frenchness lures tourists and locals to the live Cajun music shows at the Liberty Center and to experience the joie de vivre at a rural Mardi Gras. The historic images found in Images of America: Eunice feature the day-to-day activities of Eunice's people through good times and lean days from 1894 to the late 1980s.
Title: New book spotlights early photographs
Author: Staff Writer
Publisher: The Daily Advertiser
Date: 10/18/09
C.C. "Curley" Duson looked out on to the southwestern prairie known as Faquetaigue, at the end of a 20-mile railroad spur, and saw progress. He and his brothers had founded Crowley, Mamou and other southwestern Louisiana towns but this new venture was set to beat all.
Thousands arrived the day of the lot auction and Eunice came into being in 1894.
Arcadia Publishing creates snapshots of American history in a variety of book series and this month has published an "Images of America" book on Eunice, filled with old photos of the people, schools, churches and businesses who made up the prairie town.
The book by Alma Brunson Reed and Van Reed incorporates early photographs of Tom and George Bevan and other old snapshots to showcase how the town grew from its 19th century inception to one of the Cajun cultural and musical hubs today. The book includes chapters on early businesses, agriculture, education, religion and the pioneers who populated the area. Included among Eunice's notable citizens are many who served in the military.
For the next three weeks, we will publish snapshots from the book, including the one shown today, and the first reader to correctly guess the photo's contents will win a free book. If you think you know the name of the establishment in the photo this week, e-mail me at chere.coen@lusfiber.net or call 984-0754.
The photo is reprinted with permission from Eunice and available from area bookstores and by the publisher online at www.arcadiapublishing.com or by calling (888) 313-2665.
Title: New book spotlights early photographs
Author: Staff Writer
Publisher: The Daily Advertiser
Date: 10/18/09
C.C. "Curley" Duson looked out on to the southwestern prairie known as Faquetaigue, at the end of a 20-mile railroad spur, and saw progress. He and his brothers had founded Crowley, Mamou and other southwestern Louisiana towns but this new venture was set to beat all.
Thousands arrived the day of the lot auction and Eunice came into being in 1894.
Arcadia Publishing creates snapshots of American history in a variety of book series and this month has published an "Images of America" book on Eunice, filled with old photos of the people, schools, churches and businesses who made up the prairie town.
The book by Alma Brunson Reed and Van Reed incorporates early photographs of Tom and George Bevan and other old snapshots to showcase how the town grew from its 19th century inception to one of the Cajun cultural and musical hubs today. The book includes chapters on early businesses, agriculture, education, religion and the pioneers who populated the area. Included among Eunice's notable citizens are many who served in the military.
For the next three weeks, we will publish snapshots from the book, including the one shown today, and the first reader to correctly guess the photo's contents will win a free book. If you think you know the name of the establishment in the photo this week, e-mail me at chere.coen@lusfiber.net or call 984-0754.
The photo is reprinted with permission from Eunice and available from area bookstores and by the publisher online at www.arcadiapublishing.com or by calling (888) 313-2665.
Title: Reeds publish a pictorial history of Eunice
Author: Staff Writer
Publisher: Eunice Today
Date: 10/12/09
Historian Alma Reed and her son Van have published a must-have pictorial history of Eunice.
The photo compilation is a part of Arcadia Publishing's Image of America series which in 1993 began preserving and sharing the history of hundreds of individual communities throughout the country.
The series also includes vintage postcards that capture history through images of people, events and everyday life of the past.
The book and companion post cards will go on sale beginning Monday, Oct. 19 at various retailers and on-line.
The cost of the 128-page book is $21.99; the postcards are $7.99.
The Reeds' work tells a compelling story through more than 200 vintage photographs.
Information: arcadiapublishing.com
