Ceremony unveils trilingual historical markers

Published 11:00 am Saturday, February 3, 2024

The Iberia Cultural Resources Association unveiled a project years in the making as 11 new trilingual historical markers were displayed at the Sugar Cane Festival Building Saturday morning. 

The markers, which have information written in English, Spanish and French, will be displayed in prominent historical locations in Iberia Parish thanks to the hard work of organizers and volunteers in the community who made the project happen. 

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Organizer Cathy Indest said the project was a personal one after her mother, Al Landry and Glenn Conrad created a committee in 1974 that led to the installation of bilingual plaques in French and English. 

“They dedicated them in 1974 and put them up all over New Iberia,” Indest said. “Only two remain out of those nine.”

The project was continued with the generosity of the local community, Indest said, who funded markers in memory of their loved ones. 

The 11 dedicated markers depict information about Allain’s Jewelry Store; the Office of Rene Broussard; Old City Hall; the DeValcourt Buildings; the Essanee Theater; Hotel Frederic; the Iberia Parish Courthouse; the Koch Home; the Satterfield Building; St. Peter’s Catholic Church and Taylor’s Drug Store. 

Each of the markers were donated by patrons who dedicated them in honor of a loved one, Indest said. 

The event included special speaker Taylor Barras, as well as State Sen. Blake Miguez and Mayor Freddie DeCourt as well as other dignitaries.