Here is a collection of some of the slide and video presentations that have been made in the past at the meetings of the Vermilion Historical Society. These presentations were created primarily by Gary Theall and most of them are based to some extent on the research and writings of other researchers such as Kenneth A. Dupuy, Patricia Heard, Pearl Mary Segura, Dr. Ray Lacour, as well as on Gary's own research. The slide shows require the viewer to click to go to the next slide, but the videos play on their own.
Be advised that each of these presentations takes time to get through. The number of slides in each slide show ranges from 35 to 154. Some of the videos play for more than one hour.
Note: Javascript must be enabled in your browser in order to view the slideshows.
History of Abbeville, by John W. O'Bryan, Jr. When John W. O'Bryan, Jr., was a young man growing up in Abbeville, he put together a handwritten history booklet of Abbeville using vintage postcards as illustrations. During World War II, he became a fighter pilot. His plane was shot down over the North Sea in July, 1944. See the booklet presented in slideshow form. [35 slides]
Abbeville in 1922, by Gary E. Theall. When Paula Broussard, daughter of Ovide A. Broussard, was a senior at Abbeville High School in 1922, she had a very fine camera. She used it to take many pictures of her family and friends at various locations in Abbeville—on the streets, at the railroad depot, on Magdalen Square, on the schoolgrounds, and so on. She put these pictures into a scrapbook that was recently lent to the Vermilion Historical Society by some of her descendants. The scrapbook serves as the basis for this slide presentation. [123 slides]
Abbeville's Official Song , by Gary E. Theall. Find out how it came about that a city as small as Abbeville acquired its own official song, and hear the song played. [Video, 21 minutes, 29 seconds, 322 MB]
An Abbeville Authoress: Mrs. O. C. Jones, by Gary E. Theall and Sandra L. Theall Was Abbeville schoolteacher Mrs. Ophelia Cook Jones robbed of credit for writing the great American poem, "What My Lover Said"? Hear the magnificent poem and learn about the controversy in the late 1800s between Mrs. Jones and Pennsylvania lawyer Homer Greene as to who really wrote the poem, then decide for yourself. [Video 32 minutes 31 seconds]
Kate and Mary Area, by Gary E. Theall and Ken Dupuy. W. F. Area owned a farm just south of the town of Abbeville. In 1877, he moved his two young daughters, Kate and Mary Area, to Abbeville. They became friends with Clarence J. Edwards, who had moved to Abbeville in 1876, and who was later to become a doctor and editor of the Meridional newspaper. Clarence kept a diary at that time, and it is largely through the diary that we get a glimpse of the courtships of the two young girls. Kate Area married Gus Godchaux, and Mary Area married Edwin Marion Stebbins. Both of the couples became extremely successful. The presentation gives a good view of social life in Abbeville in the late 1870s. [57 slides]
Bank of Abbeville, by Gary E. Theall and Ken Dupuy. Experience the history of Abbeville's first bank. This bank was established in 1894 by leading citizens of Abbeville such as Gus Godchaux, Lastie Broussard, L. O. Broussard, Eli Wise, and Ophelias Bourque. The first bank building burned in the Great Concord Street Fire of 1903, after which a larger bank was designed by George Honold and built on the corner of Concord and Jefferson Streets. That building is probably the most recognizable landmark in Abbeville, and the Bank of Abbeville is still in business today. [70 slides]
The Life of Lastie Broussard, by Gary E. Theall. The life of a Vermilion Parish Cajun who did not stay down on the farm, including how he survived a duel; his marriage to Perpétue Mayard and why their fifteen children were mentioned in Ripley’s Believe It or Not; his service as deputy sheriff, assessor, clerk of court, school board member, mayor, attorney, and state senator; and how he amassed a considerable fortune before his death in 1911. [86 slides]
The Life and Music of Bobby Charles, video by Gary E. Theall. Abbeville songwriter Robert "Bobby" Charles Guidry (1938-2010) was the composer of such popular songs as "See You Later, Alligator," "Walking to New Orleans," "I Don't Know Why I Love You But I Do," and many others. This video presents the story of his life and excerpts from many of his great songs. [Video 63 minutes; 1.96 GB]
The Great Concord Street Fire, by Gary E. Theall. The fire of 1903 in downtown Abbeville destroyed all of the buildings on the south side of Concord Street and some of those on State Street and Jefferson Street, making way for the brick buildings that are there now, almost all of which are more than 100 years old. Learn the history of these buildings and see photographs before and after the great fire. [97 slides]
Vermilion Parish Courthouses, by Gary E. Theall. Beginning with the battle between Père Antoine Désiré Mégret and Robert Perry to decide whether Abbeville or Perry's Bridge would be the parish seat, up to the present time, Vermilion Parish has actually had twelve courthouse locations, whether due to change of location, fire, or demolition and reconstruction. Learn the history of these courthouses and see some of the Society's collection of pictures of these buildings and of the people involved. The presentation covers from the first courthouse started but never finished by Père Mégret, to the present courthouse designed by famed Louisiana architect, A. Hays Town. [90 slides]
The Life of Clarence J. Edwards, by Gary E. Theall. Clarence J. Edwards, son of Wakeman W. Edwards, came to Abbeville as a teenager. was already experienced in working for newspapers and in firefighting when he came. These two passions never left him. He worked with his father on a newspaper called the Vermilion Banner, which lasted only a year, but then began to write for the Abbeville Meridional, of which he eventually became the owner and publisher. He also engaged actively in politics, serving in many local offices and as a state senator. He pioneered the establishment of the state leper colony, and served on that board for many years. He was a remarkably talented man, and his energy matched his talent. [82 slides]
The Life of Judge Wakeman Wakeman Edwards, by Gary E. Theall. Wakeman Wakeman Edwards was educated in the schools of New York. He searched extensively for the perfect place to exercise his remarkable talents. He tried New York, Indiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, and New Orleans, before moving to Abbeville, Louisiana. Once he moved to Abbeville he never moved again. He was all of these things: educator, soldier, lawyer, journalist, judge, astronomer, surveyor, horticulturist, historian, musician, banker, real estate developer; in short, he was a man who used every bit of his education to the fullest extent. [107 slides]
Fenwick Sanitarium (Palms Hospital) by Gary E. Theall and Ken Dupuy. Dr. Francis Fenwick Young started a sanitarium in Abbeville about 1900. This sanitarium changed locations a few times until one was built on a lot on St. Victor Street. When this building burned in 1906, Abbeville's stellar architect, George Honold, designed a new one to be built in its place. It was one of the most beautiful buildings ever to grace the town of Abbeville. This building stood until it was demolished in 1965. Learn the complete history of this magnificent building and the people who owned and operated it. [75 slides]
The Flood of 1940 by Gary E. Theall. In August of 1940, Vermilion Parish experienced the wettest hurricane in its history. Hurricane #2 of 1940 slowly scraped the Louisiana coast going from east to west. In the process, it dumped rainfall on several Acadiana towns that has never been matched. Find out what the newspapers had to say about this devastating storm, what eyewitnesses said, and see numerous pictures taken during the flood. [138 slides]
James Fontenot's Renovations of the Eagle Hotel, video by Gary E. Theall. James E. Fontenot (1944-2004) was a Vermilion Parish lawyer, politician, musician, historian, linguist, and world traveler. In 1990 he bought a crumbling hotel in Washington, Louisiana, on Bayou Courtableau dating back to the early 1800s, and undertook to restore it. This video, shot largely by Fontenot himself, shows the work in progress. [Video 52 minutes 55 seconds, 811Mb]
Frank A. Godchaux, Sr., by Gary E. Theall. Abbeville native Frank A. Godchaux, Sr., son of Gustave Godchaux, became involved in his father's rice milling business at an early age. He began to organize rice mills in southwest Louisiana, which led to ever-growing conglomerations. Finally, in 1911, he and other investors organized Louisiana State Rice Milling Company, Inc., a huge corporation based in New Orleans that eventually bought out thirty-three rice mills. In 1926, Frank moved the headquarters of this giant corporation back to Abbeville, where it remained until his death in 1965. This presentation focuses on Frank's personal history, and includes many old pictures, personal anecdotes, his education, his philanthropy, his positions, as well as his immense success in packaging and marketing rice. [116 slides]
The Life of Jean-Pierre Gueydan, by Gary E. Theall, Patricia Saltzman Heard, and Ken Dupuy. Jean-Pierre Gueydan of St. Bonnet, France, came to this country as a young man in 1848. Over the years he and his brother, François Gueydan, engaged in a number of ventures involving New Orleans, Abbeville, New Iberia, Texas, the Civil War, and a successful claim against the United States. The two brothers then bought from the state of Louisiana about 35,700 acres in western Vermilion Parish at a very low price. After François sold out to Jean-Pierre and moved back to France, Jean-Pierre used the land to develop rice farms and settlements in western Vermilion Parish, including the town of Gueydan, making him an important historical figure in the history of the parish. [96 slides]
George Honold, Abbeville's Stellar Architect, by Gary E. Theall and Ken Dupuy. Almost all of Abbeville's great buildings were designed by the same man—Christian George Honold. These include the rice mills, St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church, the Bank of Abbeville, the Masonic Temple, the Fenwick Sanitarium (Palms Hospital), the first High School, and others. See his story and his buildings in this slide presentation. [56 slides]
Ambroise Lacour—Public Servant, by Gary E. Theall. Ambroise Lacour came to Vermilion Parish just after its creation in 1844. He became a teacher, a justice of the peace, served on the police jury, was elected sheriff, was elected mayor of Abbeville, served on the school board, and acted as clerk of the police jury for many years. Ambroise is interesting to us for two other reasons: (1) he left a scrapbook containing not only a record of his activities in the various offices that he held, but newspaper clippings from as far back as 1846 that are not available anywhere else; and (2) he claimed publicly that the first Bowie knife was made near Campbell’s Ferry in what later became Vermilion Parish, where Jim Bowie and some of his family members lived for a time. Find out more about Ambroise Lacour, his scrapbook, and Jim Bowie’s connection to Vermilion Parish in this slide presentation. [87 slides]
Father Verbis Lafleur: Priest—Soldier—Saint?, video by Gary E. Theall. After being ordained a Catholic priest in 1938, Father Verbis Lafleur was assigned as assistant pastor at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Abbeville, where he performed many good works, especially with the youth of the parish. As World War II was approaching in 1941, he volunteered to serve as a military chaplain in the U.S. Army Air Corps and was sent to Clark Field in the Philippines. This video tells of Father Lafleur's heroism at Clark Field when it was attacked by Japanese bombers just hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor; of his solemn devotion to his calling while a prisoner of war for three years; of his death on a Japanese ship that was torpedoed by an American submarine; and of the numerous honors and awards that have been bestowed upon this saintly priest. [Video 45 minutes 17 seconds]
Magdalen Square, by Gary E. Theall. When Père Mégret laid out the town of "Abbville," he left an open area two blocks from the river that he labeled "Place de la Magdeleine." What was his intention? Now called "Magdalen Square," the area was used in the past for pasture, hay, merry-go-rounds, selling booths, games of chance, carnivals, plays, photographers, magicians, medicine men, concerts, speeches, political rallies, Fourth of July celebrations, and so forth. Learn the history of the attractions, the trees and plants, the beautiful fountain, the statue of Père Mégret (how many towns the size of Abbeville have a granite statue of their founder in the town square?), the gazebo, the Hébert Memorial, and the lawsuit between the city and the parish as to who owns Magdalen Square. [103 slides]
St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church, Part 1, by Gary E. Theall and Ken Dupuy. Learn the history of the St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Abbeville from the purchase of land by Père Antoine Désiré Mégret in 1843 through the pastorates of Father Nicholas Français, Fathers Hubert Thirion and Francis Mittelbronn, Father John Rogalle, Father Stephen J. Foltier, Father Jean Arthur Poyet, Father Théodore Lamy, and Father Alexandre M. Méhault. During this period from 1843 to 1899, five different churches stood successively on the property. [52 slides]
St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church, Part 2, by Gary E. Theall and Ken Dupuy. Part 2 continues the history of the St Mary Magdalen Catholic Church from the pastorate of Father F. A. B. Laforest, the destruction by fire of Father Méhault's church, the construction of St. Anne's Hall as a temporary church, the completion of the exterior of architect Christian George Honold's church, and the death of Father Laforest in 1915. [53 slides]
St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church, Part 3, by Gary E. Theall and Ken Dupuy. Part 3 continues the history of the St Mary Magdalen Catholic Church covering the pastorate of Father Julien Ravier Bollard beginning in 1915, the completion of the interior and of the stained glass windows of the church, the changing of the name from "St. Anne's" back to "St. Mary Magdalen," and the construction of the Catholic rectory. [63 slides]
Stained Glass Windows of St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church, Part 1, by Gary E. Theall and Ken Dupuy. The stories of the stained glass windows of St. Mary Magdalen are told in this spectacular two-part slide presentation. The historical and religious significance of the scene depicted in each window is discussed in detail. The symbolism represented in the quatrefoil above each window is explained. The family that donated each window and their reasons for the donation are discussed. Part 1 deals with the windows on the west side of the church. [125 slides]
Stained Glass Windows of St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church, Part 2, by Gary E. Theall and Ken Dupuy. Part 2 continues the discussion of the stained glass windows of St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church, dealing with the windows on the east side and on the front of the church. [154 slides]
Mégret in France, by Gary E. Theall. Part 1 of the life of Père Antoine Désiré Mégret, founder of Abbeville, Louisiana. He was born in Abbeville, France, eight years after the French Revolution. After becoming a priest there, he became very political following the July Revolution of 1830. He participated with a radical priest named Lamennais in publishing a newspaper called L'Avenir (The Future). Learn how his association with Lamennais drew the disfavor of Pope Gregory XVI, and the effect that this had on Mégret before he came to Louisiana. [56 slides]
Mégret in Louisiana, by Gary E. Theall and Ken Dupuy. Part 2 of the life of Père Antoine Désiré Mégret. Mégret arrived in Louisiana in 1842 in the midst of a revolt by the local parishioners at Vermilionville (now Lafayette) against Bishop Blanc of New Orleans. Learn how Mégret dealt with this revolt and went on to found the town of Abbeville, after which he had to fight against Robert Perry of Perry's Bridge to establish the seat of justice of Vermilion Parish at his new town of Abbeville. [96 slides]
Abbeville Meridional, by Gary E. Theall and Ken Dupuy. Abbeville is fortunate to have a newspaper that has been published almost continuously since 1856. It is the source of much of the information on this website. Learn the history of the Abbeville Meridional and the people who have edited and published it over the years, including such men as E. I. Guégnon, E. I. Addison, Clarence Edwards, Floyd Edwards, and Ralph Bienvenue. [92 slides]
The Life of Adrien Nunez of Live Oak Plantation, by Gary E. Theall, based in part on the research of Pear Mary Segura. Adrien Nunez was a popular, influential, and highly respected figure in the early history of Vermilion Parish. He and his father, Joseph Nunez, acquired thousands of acres near the mouth of the Vermilion River. Adrien was the original owner of the twelve-thousand-acre Live Oak Plantation. He had fourteen children by two wives, and many of his descendants still live in Vermilion Parish. Shortly before the Civil War, when lawlessness and jury nullification were rampant in Vermilion and surrounding parishes, Nunez became the president of the "Comité de Vigilance de Pont Perry," or the Vigilante Committee of Perry's Bridge. Adrien also took an active part in politics, serving at various times as state representative and state senator. Following the Civil War, he was elected to the "dual legislature" in which many seats were taken away from Democrats by federal authorities and given to carpetbaggers, creating a controversy that eventually led to the permanent end of the period known as "Reconstruction." He personally paid the expenses of the 1877 legislative session. Much of the information for the presentation was taken from the research of Adrien's great-granddaughter, Pearl Mary Segura, who was a librarian and historian at U.S.L. for many years. [60 slides]
Robert Perry of Perry's Bridge, by Gary E. Theall. Robert Perry was one of the earliest settlers of the lower Vermilion River area. He left Kentucky, where his mother ran a ferry across the Ohio River to Cincinatti, and came to Louisiana about 1806. In just a few years had established a tanyard, plantation, and bridge in the area of present-day Perry, Louisiana. He took part in the War of 1812, serving in the Attakapas area. In 1817 he obtained a permit to build a bridge across the Vermilion River near his residence. The bridge continually needed repairs, and may have been the cause of the separation of Vermilion Parish from Lafayette Parish in 1844. With the assistance of his son-in-law, Daniel O'Bryan, Robert Perry engaged in a ten-year contest with Père Antoine Désiré Mégret, founder of Abbeville, as to the location of the parish seat of government. Find out more about Robert Perry, Perry's Bridge, a San Jacinto cannon, Alamo hero Isaac Ryan, the Perry-O'Bryan Historic Cemetery, and his 1840 home that still stands. [87 slides]
The Courtship of George Petty III and Lizzie Edwards, video by Gary E. Theall and Sandra Theall. Sarah Elizabeth "Lizzie" Edwards was the daughter of Judge Wakeman Edwards. Thanks to the generosity of Kristine Basel, a descendant, the Vermilion Historical Society came into possession of copies of letters written between Lizzie and George B. Petty III, an early Abbeville photographer, during their courtship. The letters tell the story of a long romance and the eventually successful efforts of the couple to obtain the consent of Judge Edwards to the marriage. They became the parents of George Petty IV, Esquire Magazine pinup artist (see below), one of the most famous men ever to have been born in Abbeville. This video is narrated by Gary Theall and his wife, Sandra. [Video 54 minutes 12 seconds]
The Life of George B. Petty IV, video by Gary E. Theall. George Petty IV, son of George Petty III and Lizzie Edwards, was perhaps the most famous man ever to have been born in Abbeville, Louisiana. He was born in 1894 at Greyfriars, the old Edwards home on State Street, which is still standing. After moving to Chicago with his parents, he worked with his his father and developed considerable skill in composing artworks using the airbrush. This led to advertising jobs, and then to a job supplying pinup art to Esquire Magazine. He is the creator of the famous "Petty Girls." He did work for all of the major movie studios, and in fact a movie, "The Petty Girl," was based on some aspects of his life. This video covers his lifetime and his prodigious work output. Many samples of his artworks are included. [Video 42 minutes 41 seconds]
Early Postcards of Vermilion Parish, by Gary E. Theall. Some of the best old pictures that we have of Vermilion Parish are from early postcards. See the Vermilion Historical Society's collection of old postcards, showing river scenes, buildings, pastures, farming, streets, bridges, and more. [107 slides]
J. Henry Putnam and the Rose Hill Plantation, by Gary E. Theall. J. Henry Putnam came to Vermilion Parish in 1872 and bought the Rose Hill plantation, about four miles south of Abbeville, with the idea of becoming a sugar producer. Over the years, he expanded his operation by building a sugar mill, a sugar refinery, and a railroad on the plantation. He bought cane from neighboring planters and increased the capacity of the Rose Hill refinery to ten million pounds of sugar per year. He was an admired and important figure in the affairs of the parish until government interference, a severe depression, and a bad winter combined to put him out of business. [75 slides]
The Railroad, by Gary E. Theall and Ken Dupuy. Being off the main transportation routes, Abbeville had to struggle to bring the railroad to town. This slide presentation tells the story of the fourteen-year effort to bring rail transportation to Abbeville, culminating in success in 1892. Learn of the efforts of men like James Henry Putnam, Eli Wise, E. I. Addison, W. W. Edwards, Joseph T. Labit, Gus Godchaux, Martin Bagley, Lastie Broussard, Jean M. Beauxis, August Erath, and others. Many old photographs are included in the presentation. [111 slides]
The Life of Dr. Alexander Sas-Jaworsky, video by Gary E. Theall. After living under both Communism and the Nazis, Dr. Alexander Sas-Jaworsky arrived in Abbeville in 1951 to live and to practice veterinary medicine. He concentrated on learning as much as he could about the history of his new country. In 1958, he appeared as a contestant on the CBS television program "The $64,000 Question" and won $128,000 in the category of American history. Afterwards, he won many awards, gave many speeches, and wrote a book on the evils of Communism and the untrustworthiness of the Soviet Union. [Video 33 minutes 54 seconds]
The Life of Granville B. Shaw, video by Gary E. Theall. Vermilion Parish's legendary sheriff, Granville B. Shaw, was born on Live Oak Plantation in 1845. During his lifetime, he fought in the Civil War, became sheriff at an early age, became a world class marksman, engaged in a duel with State Representative Paulin Fontelieu, subdued cattle thieves and many other outlaws, lost his fortune, then won an election for state representative. Despite some serious setbacks, his widespread reputation for firmness and fairness enabled him to bounce back and to keep the admiration of the people of Vermilion Parish and beyond until he died in 1909. [Video 51 minutes 21 seconds]
Steamboats on Bayou Vermilion, by Gary E. Theall. The first steamboat came up Bayou Vermilion in 1839, but it was not until 1874 that regular steamboat service reached Abbeville. Thereafter many steamboats conducted business on Bayou Vermilion, picking up crops, products, and people to be transported to the railroad terminal at Brashear City (later renamed Morgan City), and delivering people, stocks of merchandise for the local merchants, and other freight to Abbeville and other points on the bayou. The presentation tells about the people involved in the steamboat business, and relates some of the interesting incidents connected with particular steamboats, such as fires, assaults, explosions, sinkings, and even a homicide. [90 slides]
Streets of Abbeville, by Gary E. Theall. Find out how and why the streets of the original town of Abbeville (originally "Abbville") were named. When Père Mégret drew the map of his proposed town in 1846 and named the streets, he had scenes of Paris, New Orleans, saints, nuns, and Louisiana history running through his mind. The history behind the names will be an unexpected surprise to those who know the streets well but never turned their minds to their connection with our history. The streets discussed are Quai des Beaux Arts (Fine Arts Quay, now North Main Street), Quai des Français (Frenchmen Quay, now South Main Street), Rue du Port (Port Street, now Père Mégret Street), Rue du Bas de Ville (Bottom of Town Street, now Washington Street), Rue Jefferson (Jefferson Street), Rue de la Concorde (Concord Street), Rue de l'État (State Street), Rue de Tivoli (Tivoli Street), Rue de la Paix (Peace Street), Rue St. Charles (St. Charles Street), Rue des Souers de la Charité (Sisters of Charity Street, now just Charity Street), Rue Louisianaise (Louisiana Street), Rue St. François de Paule (St. Francis Street, now East Street), Boulevard LaFayette (Lafayette Street), Boulevard St. Victor (St. Victor Street), Rue St. Valerie (St. Valerie Street), and Rue Guégnon (Guégnon Street). [110 slides]
The Life of Louis Vallee, video by Gary E. Theall. Louis Vallee, a native of France, came to Abbeville in 1898 with his Swiss wife and his first three children. In a short time he became a leading merchant, cattleman, farmer, saloonist, restaurateur, cotton and rice trader, president of the Société Française, real estate developer, adviser to the routing of the Intracoastal Waterway, and founder of Intracoastal City. Like many other foreigners who came to Abbeville, once he settled in Abbeville he stayed for the rest of his life.. [Video 42 minutes]
Veranda Hotel, Part 1, by Gary E. Theall and Ken Dupuy. Read about the building that Père Mégret intended to be the first courthouse, but that was completed as the Veranda Hotel. Meet the owners and managers of the hotel over the seventy years of its existence. Several beautiful photographs and a painting are included in the presentation. [51 slides]
Veranda Hotel, Part 2, by Gary E. Theall and Ken Dupuy. Continuing the history of the Veranda Hotel, learn about the people and events connected with the hotel, including patrons, entrepreneurs, close calls by fire, and even a duel and a murder. [55 slides]
Vermilion Parish Prehistory, video by Gary E. Theall. The history of the land comprising Vermilion Parish from 240 million years ago until the Europeans came to North America, covering Pangea, prehistoric animals, the Bering Strait land bridge and other crossings, Native Americans, the Morgan mounds at Pecan Island, the Atakapa and other Indians, the Morgan Effigy, the Claude Gooch collection of artifacts, and Paul Bodin's collection. [Video 33 minutes 23 seconds]
Vigilante Committees of Acadiana in 1859, by Gary E. Theall. Cattle rustlers and other criminals began to organize in the Acadiana area in 1859. The local residents responded by organizing themselves into Committees of Vigilance in order to combat the criminals. Men such as ex-Governor Alexandre Mouton, his son Gen. Alfred Mouton, Maj. Aurélien St. Julien of Côte Gelée, and Hon. Adrien Nunez of Vermilion Parish were some of the leaders. On September 3, 1859, a big confrontation took place on the banks of Bayou Queue de Tortue. Find out what happened by watching this presentation. [52 slides]
The Eli Wise Home, by Gary E. Theall and Ken Dupuy. Learn about the beautiful home on the Vermilion River in Abbeville that was built in 1894 and was given by Solomon Wise to his son Eli Wise as a wedding gift. The home was modeled after the home of the bride's father, Ferdinand Marks, on St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans, in which the bride grew up, and which later was incorporated into the Bultman Funeral Home, then a Borders bookstore, and now The Fresh Market. [98 slides]
Abbeville's Official Song, by Gary E. Theall. Find out how it came about that Abbeville acquired its own official song, "Abbeville Our Abbeville," and hear the song played with representative scenes of Abbeville interspersed. [Video 21 minutes 25 seconds]