The late Casablanca actor Claude Rains would have commented about the gathering at Wednesday night’s 50th anniversary celebration, “Round up the usual suspects.” However, Rains died two years before the founding of Iberia Cultural Resources Association. Almost everyone who actively participates, coordinates, celebrates or attends the many cultural events in Iberia Parish were at The Sliman Theater to enjoy the recollections and humorous anecdotes of Albert Landry.

Moderated by Beau Beaullieu, who serves on the ICRA board, Landry began his talk reading a genealogical lineage of his family, which in part, makes up the Iberia Parish culture. He acknowledged that the result was most people in the room were somehow related. When he finally stopped reading the list, it was clear most people could recognize the family names if they weren’t part of the heritage. Landry had one final comment before moving onto the memories of the community.

“They did a lot of begatting back then,” Landry said.

Speaking of his own family heritage and the time they lived in Broussard, Landry said even the dog barked in French. In 1918 the language was as prominent in the households as the Landry family extensions.

Golden oldies are some of the best memories to be shared when recounting the history of an organization, its members or the community it serves. For the 50th Anniversary of the Iberia Cultural Resources Association, only one man remains from the founding group who can tell of the history of the preservation organization that serves as a catalyst for so many cultural and historic events held in the Parish.

With Beaullieu’s prompting, Landry spoke of Main and St. Peter Streets both being two-way traffic. The arts have always been a major component to the culture of New Iberia and Landry spoke of the Shadows-on-the-Teche family member, Weeks Hall who was considered a fine artist. He also mentioned the late Robert “Bob” Gordy from New Iberia whose unique style hangs in museums and galleries around the world.

Among the gifts ICRA has given the community are the trilingual bronze historic markers in the city. Four times a year, due to fundraising predominantly mastered by board president Cathy Indest, daughter of past-president Jacqueline Kofler Voorhies, the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra provides free concerts for the public. The next one will be Stars and Stripes at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Sugar Cane Festival Building. Indest chose to celebrate the 50th anniversary on the very date of its incorporation, June 26.

At the heart of the organization is the preservation of the history and culture that has richly blessed residents of New Iberia and the surrounding area. One of the most popular of the historic talks presented by ICRA was the Homefront discussion by women who remained in the Teche Area battling with rations, finding work that traditionally belonged to the men and what it was like living in Acadiana during those war years. Mrs. Joyce Indest, was the comedian that evening along with Ann Patout, both were in the audience Wednesday.

Landry pulled stories of artistry through the years to include the late George Rodrigue. Internationally known for the Blue Dog series, more often local collectors treasure his dark oaks and light Acadian figure storytelling style. Modern artists in the audience included Paul Schexnayder, Jerome Weber and Mayor Freddie DeCourt, none could escape the joyful commentaries by Landry.

Books and book festivals, singing in the streets, architectural tours are all a result of 50 years of cultivating Iberia’s resources to make life a little richer for natives and transplants who enjoy the Spanish and Acadian cultures that make New Iberia home. Many excuses emerge to bring culturally gifted patrons and residents together for parties in a city growing rich every year in its artistic ambiance. Partnered with the Bayou Teche Museum and the Shadows-on-the-Teche historical site, great opportunities await those who dare venture into the culture of Iberia Parish.

Jeanette Ackal

Werner Ammann

Maurine Bergerie

Mrs. D.L. Bonnette

Elizabeth Miller Broussard

Mrs. L.J. Broussard

Mary Sandoz Brown

Onesta Champeaux

Mrs. Nathan Davis

Donald L Delcambre

Mrs. Lambert Duhé

Mrs. James L. Helm

Virginia Kyle Hine

Miss Nina Gates

Mrs. A.E. Hughes

Mary Ingrid Nelson Jones

Nancy Griffis Jordan

Jacob S Landry

John Albert Landry

Ruth Lefkovits

Julie Wartelle Louviere

Jane Bonnette Moore

Marjorie Pullen Munson

Mrs. Robert Pesson

Mrs Henry Porter

Pat Spiess Robinson

Mrs Andrew Romero

Mrs. Blanche Sagrera

Yvonne Arnandez Southwell

Mrs. Seneca Trahan

P. Armand Viator

Lilly Brupbacher Weeks

Carrie Poisson Wolford

M.A. Wolcott

Cathy Indest – President

Pat Kahle – Secretary

Claudia Morgan – Co-Treasurer

Pam Forrest- Symphony Treasurer & Iberia Preservation Alliance Treasurer

State Rep. Taylor Barras

Beau Beaullieu

Bo Belanger

Jane Braud

Becky Collins

Mayor Freddie DeCourt

Bryan Gautreaux

Dawn Hebert

Nelwyn Hebert

Al Landry

Bob Morgan

Ann Patout

Charlie Robertson

Wess Robison

Sylvia Romero.