Earline Portier
April 11, 2019
Suspected drug trafficker nabbed in Lafourche
April 11, 2019
A Lockport museum and craft-cradle is continuing operations following the loss of a be-loved founder, board members say, and plans are still on for a festival dedicated to Louisiana wooden boat building and history.
Founded in 1979. and headquartered at Nicholls State University, the Center for Traditional Louisiana Boat Building researches wooden boat-building and maintains photographs, oral hi story tapes and artifacts.
The center also does hands-on wooden ‘boat restoration and construction at its 202 Main Street Lockport. Location.
Co-founder John Rochelle said Tom Butler who worked tirelessly to focus attention on the centuries old craft, passed on March 19, Born in 1936 in White Castle. Butler grew up in New Roads and came to Thibodaux with his family in 1969, following undergraduate and graduate studies at Louisiana State University and later at Southern to accept a position at the Nicholls State University Library.
“He will be sorely missed,” Rochelle said. But he expressed confidence that the center’s work will continue unabated.
The center is hosting a celebration of wooden boat building Saturday, with music, food and displays of traditional Louisiana vessels, both on the water and under restoration at the museum
A new director for the center has been named by its board Ernest Savoie, first taught by his father to build and appreciate wooden Louisiana boats, is an accomplished craftsman who has done all of his building and restoration work by hand The vessels he has worked on, and which the Center displays. include Native American canoes from the region
One of those, recovered in Little Lake, is estimated to be 500 years old.
Rochelle said the center a latest addition has a history still being researched, but could be more than 200 years old.
The hand-carved wooden dugout was passed between members of the Cretini family in Dulac. Its last owner died not so long ago and the family, concerned that they could not properly care for the vessel, presented it to the museum with hopes it will be restored and serve as a source of new information about boat building of the period.
“It has got a nice, delicate shape,” Rochelle said, noting; some unique design features. “In the bottom, there is a splice tor reinforcement and iron was added. Some carved out ribs were added later in its life, we know this because we can see the gunwales built up This gave the boat more freeboard.”
The center’s board is active. Rochelle said, and will be working closely with Savoie – who chairs the board – and himself.
Other board members include Jeff Gamble. Vickie Esserman, Jim Parrott Earl Gredeur. Dana Bagala Hebert and Nelson Plaisance.
Rochelle said anyone wishing more information on Louisiana, boat building or the center itself may email Savoie at Bavoieerniecat@yahoo.com or call the center at (985) 691-1877.
