Shortly after the end of World War I, a group of concerned New Iberia residents were talking about acquiring Henshaw’s Woods for a city park. The project became a reality in 1921 when Dr. Dodson, a local dairy farmer, donated part of his farm to the City of New Iberia. Henshaw’s Woods was just across Bayou Teche from St. Peter’s College. Today, the old grounds of St. Peter’s College is occupied by the library, City Hall and the sheriff’s office. Henshaw’s Woods was bordered by the bayou on the south side and the Old Jeanerette Road on the north side.

A pavilion was built in the City Park which had two rows of benches on three sides and a bandstand in one corner. The sides were made of chicken wire with the roof being supported by the oak tree trunks from trees that had been cut down. John Holbrook Jr. was in the ninth grade at St. Peter’s College when the pavilion was deliberately set on fire in 1933. John said he watched as the pavilion was set on fire three times before it burned to the ground. The pavilion was replaced by a green painted wood community center which was built by the CCC. The CCC, or Civilian Conservation Corps, was part of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s “New Deal” of putting unemployed men to work revitalizing natural resources during The Great Depression. Although the CCC was only in existence from March 31, 1933 to June 30, 1942, it accomplished numerous worthwhile projects throughout the United States. Another part of President Roosevelt’s “New Deal” was the Federal Works Administration, which funded the art deco style Iberia Parish Courthouse. The courthouse was completed in 1939 with the statue of “Lady Justice” at the entrance.

The entrance to the park was at the end of Marie Street and as one entered the park, they were met by a large oak tree in the middle of the road. The large oak tree is now gone and only a small garden of flowers marks the spot where the tree stood. The road was made of small white Rangia cuneata clam shells that made the road appear as white as snow against the green grass of the park. The road was made for two-way traffic and went around the park returning to the large oak tree at the entrance.

By the 1940’s, the park was well established with Fire Station No. 2, (now a Senior Center), located a short distance behind the large oak tree at the entrance to the park. Across the road from the fire station were two pavilions and a short road that led to a boat launch, which was directly across the bayou from St. Peter’s College. Just past the present day Grumman F9F-6 “Cougar” jet fighter of Fighter Squadron 96, were two grass tennis courts. Leon Minvielle Jr. played tennis on these grass tennis courts when he was attending Southwestern in the 1930’s. On the left across the road from the tennis courts was the baseball diamond. The swimming pool, which was built just before World War II and managed by Fred Broussard, was located just behind the baseball diamond. There were numerous picnic tables scattered throughout the park.

The other entrance to the park was from Parkview Drive with the road going by the children’s swings on the left and between the green wood Community Center and the swimming pool. The road continued across the park and ended as it intersected the road near the goldfish pond behind the fire station. The portion of the road between the Community Center and the goldfish pond was closed about 1952, probably due to safety reasons.

The park became a popular place with Boy Scout camp outs, picnics, swimming, baseball games and Easter egg hunts. However, by 1948, the park was beginning to expand. The National Guard Armory was built at the end of Parkview Drive, where the pavement ended and the dusty gravel covered “Old Jeanerette Road” began. Also in 1948, a flagpole, dedicated to the veterans of World War II, was constructed between the present day Sugar Cane Festival Building and the baseball diamond. Over the years, the flagpole and plaque were moved to the front of the Cyr-Gates Community Center, which was built in 1958. The old cement base of the flagpole can still be seen between these two points.

In 1949, the Veterans Memorial Building was built. Construction of the Sugar Cane Festival Building was completed in 1951, and the property to the end of Parkview Drive and along the fence to Bayou Teche, the area known as “Devil’s Pond”, became part of the New Iberia City Park. This was about the time the new National Guard Armory was built and the tennis courts on the northwest corner of the park were constructed.

There was a sidewalk that went from the southwest corner of the old green wood community center to the goldfish pond behind the fire station. Mary Ann Cormier Crisman and I, along with a few other people, used to skate on this sidewalk, that is, if I could find my skate key. Today the sidewalk is gone and the goldfish pond has been filled in. However, the outline of the goldfish pond along with the little circular cement walk that went around it can still be seen.

During the Sugar Cane Festival, the “street fair” was held in the city park in a small area that ran from Parkview Drive, along the fence on the side of the Sugar Cane Festival Building, around the Veterans of World War II flagpole to the city park road and back to Parkview Drive. Although this area was small, people flocked to the fair. At that time, there was even a shooting gallery in a truck which used .22 caliber rifles.

The old green wooden Community Center Building was the hub of activity during the 1950’s. Marie Gates ran the concession stand and hired Donald “Duck” Sonnier to help with the concessions. “Duck” also helped Jim Ledbetter, the Park and Recreation Superintendent, hand out equipment, such as ping pong paddles and balls, checkers and basketballs. On Wednesday night, Saturday night and Sunday afternoon there was skating and on Friday nights there was a very popular teenage dance. A band stand was located between the Community Center and the fire station. People like Donald Sonnier, Paul Gulotta, Guy Martin, Herman Gesser Jr. and Rex Hauser were among the musicians playing in the band.

There was even a New Iberia swim team coached by Mr. J. C. McDaniel. There you could find people like Penny Quereau, Lynette Nicholson, Carrie David, Cecil Broussard, Barbara Broussard and Joy Ann Romero, to name a few.

The open area behind the National Guard Armory was where we used to fly U-control gasoline powered model airplanes. It was always exciting to watch Jan Morel and his father, Pat, fly their models because they really put on a show.

There were many changes in the New Iberia City Park during the 1940’s and 50’s, and it was a fun place with many things to do. Romances blossomed from meetings at the Friday night teenage dances or skating at the Community Center. Going “steady” was an often heard word which meant that the girls would wear their boyfriend’s senior ring, sweater or jacket with the New Iberia High School or St. Peter’s College school letter. Guys would get together in the park on Saturday to wax their cars and discuss their favorite subjects, cars and girls, not necessarily in that order.

By the end of the 1950’s, young men like John Ray Herring, Acey Fruge, James Crisman and I left New Iberia to see the world through the courtesy of the United States Navy. For me, the pleasant surroundings of the New Iberia City Park was just a memory when I was ordered to Fighter Squadron 213 for WestPac deployments aboard the aircraft carriers Lexington and Hancock in support of U. S. military advisors in a place called Vietnam.