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FLAGS OF CHARENTON
As you approach Charenton from Louisiana highway 87 and cross the Bayou Teche Bridge you will see
a lovely display of flags. These 25 flags tell the story of our area. Before anyone else was here the
Chitimacha Nation settled here. We honor that presence with the CHITIMACHA flag. There were
missionaries and settlers from SPAIN. Some of the Chitimacha were taken as prisoners back to SPAIN.
One of the early families was the Rodriquez family. One member of the family was a member of the
Spanish infantry. Another early family in Charenton was the Marcotte family. They were originally from
France but came here after living some time in Montreal, CANADA. The Acadians were exiled and
eventually also migrated here from ACADIA.In recent years they have developed an ACADIAN FLAG.
TO SEE FLAGS WAVE PRESS ARROW AT LEFT
John Law came to the area to exploit it. He was from SCOTLAND even though he came under the
protection and with the financial backing of the King of FRANCE. Later persons from Scotland came
into this area to harvest the timber. We note each presence with the flags of SCOTLAND and FRANCE.
For several years the British flag flew over much of this area. Before the local church was founded,
The UNITED STATES purchased Louisiana from France.
Among the earliest white explorers and settlers there were always Catholic missionaries. This
presence is symbolized by the VATICAN flag. Some of the very early settlers came from the CANARY
ISLANDS by way of CUBA. Before the Diocese of New Orleans was created the area was under the
Diocese of Havana, Cuba. We have the flags of both the CANARY ISLANDS and CUBA.
Very early on GREAT BRITAIN bought slaves from THE CONGO. Many were sold in this area.The first
constitution of LOUISIANA forbade the importation of slaves from foreign countries. Still, the number
of slaves increased dramatically. Mainly because slaves were imported from HAITI which for some
reason was not considered foreign. Many Free Persons of Color had migrated to Louisiana from HAITI.
Many of our earliest pastors were from BELGIUM. Many early settlers came from GERMANY. They
setlled along the "German Coast" (around Des Allemands). Eventually some of them found their way to
our area. Another group of early settlers were from IRELAND. Irish names appear in our records as
early as 1854. A large group settled in Irish Bend. In early 1861 Louisiana seceded from the United
States. At first they did not join the CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA. Eventually they joined the
Confederacy. Within a short time this area came under Union control.
After the Civil War the area quickly saw immigrants from ITALY, POLAND, SWITZERLAND, LEBANON.
HUNGARY. PORTUGAL Persons from each of those nations appear in our baptismal and other
sacramental records. The second longest sitting pastor was Father J. Otto Jud, from Switzerland.
After the VIETNAM War many exiles from VIETNAM moved into our area and are still present.
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TO CONTINUE NEXT
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CHARENTON HERITAGE MUSEUM
3041 CHITIMACHA TRAIL
Charenton, Louisiana 70523
337-923-4281 or 337-923-4649
As you approach Charenton from Louisiana highway 87 and cross the Bayou Teche Bridge you will see
a lovely display of flags. These 25 flags tell the story of our area. Before anyone else was here the
Chitimacha Nation settled here. We honor that presence with the CHITIMACHA flag. There were
missionaries and settlers from SPAIN. Some of the Chitimacha were taken as prisoners back to SPAIN.
One of the early families was the Rodriquez family. One member of the family was a member of the
Spanish infantry. Another early family in Charenton was the Marcotte family. They were originally from
France but came here after living some time in Montreal, CANADA. The Acadians were exiled and
eventually also migrated here from ACADIA.In recent years they have developed an ACADIAN FLAG.
TO SEE FLAGS WAVE PRESS ARROW AT LEFT
John Law came to the area to exploit it. He was from SCOTLAND even though he came under the
protection and with the financial backing of the King of FRANCE. Later persons from Scotland came
into this area to harvest the timber. We note each presence with the flags of SCOTLAND and FRANCE.
For several years the British flag flew over much of this area. Before the local church was founded,
The UNITED STATES purchased Louisiana from France.
Among the earliest white explorers and settlers there were always Catholic missionaries. This
presence is symbolized by the VATICAN flag. Some of the very early settlers came from the CANARY
ISLANDS by way of CUBA. Before the Diocese of New Orleans was created the area was under the
Diocese of Havana, Cuba. We have the flags of both the CANARY ISLANDS and CUBA.
Very early on GREAT BRITAIN bought slaves from THE CONGO. Many were sold in this area.The first
constitution of LOUISIANA forbade the importation of slaves from foreign countries. Still, the number
of slaves increased dramatically. Mainly because slaves were imported from HAITI which for some
reason was not considered foreign. Many Free Persons of Color had migrated to Louisiana from HAITI.
Many of our earliest pastors were from BELGIUM. Many early settlers came from GERMANY. They
setlled along the "German Coast" (around Des Allemands). Eventually some of them found their way to
our area. Another group of early settlers were from IRELAND. Irish names appear in our records as
early as 1854. A large group settled in Irish Bend. In early 1861 Louisiana seceded from the United
States. At first they did not join the CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA. Eventually they joined the
Confederacy. Within a short time this area came under Union control.
After the Civil War the area quickly saw immigrants from ITALY, POLAND, SWITZERLAND, LEBANON.
HUNGARY. PORTUGAL Persons from each of those nations appear in our baptismal and other
sacramental records. The second longest sitting pastor was Father J. Otto Jud, from Switzerland.
After the VIETNAM War many exiles from VIETNAM moved into our area and are still present.
To email bill crumley
TO CONTINUE NEXT
To return to home page HOME
CHARENTON HERITAGE MUSEUM
3041 CHITIMACHA TRAIL
Charenton, Louisiana 70523
337-923-4281 or 337-923-4649
