Very little is recorded about how New Iberia became known as the Queen City. For his new book “Teche,” historian and author Shane Bernard was able to locate an article dated Sept. 2, 1899 published by the St. Martinville Weekly Messenger in which the writer was not exactly forthcoming about the positive connotation of the name.

“New Iberia is not as progressive as it thinks it is even if they call it the queen city of the Teche,” stated the writer of the Weekly Messenger.

Speculation about the name has been given to the days when New Iberia was the hub for steamboat activities, but according to a number of long-time residents, no further records establishing the name have been discovered.

Little did the Weekly Messenger writer know community leaders would embrace “Queen City” as a motto and make the parish seat rich with culture.

City of Destiny

The second annual Dave Robicheaux’s Hometown Literary Festival begins Friday morning. Visitors long to walk the haunts of Robicheaux and once discovered, the artistic atmosphere to the community has caused several recent transplants to choose life along the Teche.

It is easy to see why Iberia Cultural Resources Association founder Cathy Indest has continued the christening of New Iberia as “the Queen City of Culture.” A recently compiled list of organizations contributing to the name include a cross germination of visual arts, cultures, historic architectural preservation, industry, music and theatrical performing arts, literature and history. All combine to makes it hard to draw a line of distinction between activities supporting the economy.

Artistic cooperation has made this week’s festival a multi-cultural cavalcade of experiences for participants to “pick their passion.”

Recently the Iberia Preservation Alliance — a coalition between Shadows-on-the-Teche, Iberia Cultural Resources Association and Bayou Teche Museum — issued an invitation to Lt. Gov. Billy Nunguesser to meet more than 20 cultural leaders as they presented information about what is happening all year long throughout the parish.

“Lt. Gov. Nunguesser cares so deeply about the cities in Louisiana but especially about those who are interested in history, culture and preservation. We felt he would appreciate what we are about in this unique city, and he certainly was,” Indest said.

It was important for the Teche Area to have the attention of Nunguesser and his staff because as a governmental entity, the lieutenant governor’s office is key to funding many Main Street, preservation, tourism, business, cultural and arts grants. Through the years these funds have changed the facades of buildings in Iberia Parish. Coming on board to promote the Robicheaux festival and other parish events through the “Pick Your Passion” website and promotional campaign, gives added exposure. The result can mean growth in the local economy.

“He actually said after coming to New Iberia that he hoped to have the same type of ‘show and tell’ in other parts of the state,” said Fran Thibodeaux, executive director of Iberia Parish Convention and Visitors Bureau. “You could see how he listened to everyone including the last presentation by Stephanie Lee. He was amazed at all the activities happening at the library.”

More to the Story

Nunguesser not only listened, he talked about funding and grants that would be available in the future to any and all of the organizations at the gathering. Although Indest is responsible for initiating and overseeing a lot of the cultural activities in Iberia Parish, she was quick to point out that it is not about those organizations alone. In fact, it was at her insistence that 20 community presenters were part of Nunguesser’s visit.

“The Iberia Preservation Alliance could have decided to just meet with the lieutenant governor by ourselves, but the alliance felt there are so many cultural leaders that would offer interesting presentations,” Indest said. “We knew he could get a complete picture of our community. We decided to invite others to participate.”

Even business owners and merchants who have taken an active financial role in growing the community were part of the city’s “before and after” slide presentation. Business owners with projects in development had a voice as well.

Without residents participating in the activities sponsored by all of these groups, the designation of a cultural center would not be bringing newcomers of all ages into the community.

“We are so thankful to Lt. Gov. Nunguesser, his staff and Iberia Parish President Larry Richard for helping to secure the date. We also thank Mayor Freddie DeCourt and Louisiana Rep. Blake Miguez for giving of their time to listen,” Indest said.

Building the Future

As part of this week’s cultural extravaganza, award-winning journalist and author Theresa Harvard Johnson will have a thing or two to say about the destiny in a writer’s hand during her free workshop from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Friday at The Sliman Theater.

Academics, historical archives, genealogies, records of all kinds including storybooks, musical lyrics as well as mathematics and even legal documents have an eternal value that carry knowledge from the past into the future.

Cajun music with dancing, culinary arts with tastings, literature discussions and author signings, visual arts, symphony performance, dramatic readings, historic tours, card games and movie going — what more could describe the “Queen City of Culture” than what’s happening this week at Dave Robicheaux’s Hometown Literary Festival?

Guess that 1899 reporter did the Teche Area a favor when he coined the phrase. All that’s left to be done is to live up to the name that now describes the heart of New Iberia.