Il était une fois

The Presbytère of Prairie des Femmes

This is the Presbytère, known as the Lagrange House circa 1830. Its original location was in Prairie des Femmes, and now it is a registered historic structure located at Vermilionville in Lafayette. I was happy to be able to explore it yesterday. When I walked in to it, I felt the scale and form of the space was exactly like the old Lagrange house in the woods out here, except in miniature. I have written about here and here and most recently here. It made me hopeful that one day we can do something to save the big Lagrange House, but for now, she remains the hidden jewel of the Prairie des Femmes woods.

Red, White and Green, just like the LaGrange House.

The LaGrange Family House 1830

Inside the House

bed and candle

Our Lady and Kneeler

Up the garconiere, where the boys slept. This angle and exposed bousillage looks exactly like the big LaGrange House out here in the PDF woods.

Job's Tears in a bottle and candle

Same angles in the second room of the house as at the big Lagrange House

Red, Green and White.

The Presbytère of Prairie des Femmes

LaGrange Garden of Flowers

The house makes sure you understand it was for the workers and inhabitants who carved the curved rafters and wall-papered the walls in flowers, for the women who planted the holly and Narcissus and wisteria that bloom wildly in the dooryard. The whole place is still white, green and red. The green tar paper, the exposed whitewash, the chipping red chimney and rust. The enormous abandoned holly bush in the front has glossy green leaves and red berries. The clumps of paperwhites along where the walkway was are bright green and their white blooms leave a musky scent through the woods, even on New Year's Day. Even inside the house, flowers still bloom: 

Prairie des Femmes Girl on Horseback

If you listen hard, you can hear them talking, and then Nonc talking about paneling.

I was standing in the sunlit doorway of the old Lagrange House on a warm Sunday afternoon, the second one of the New Year, 2014. I had come to the oldest standing homestead in the Prairie des Femmes again to record her and show her to my friend Nonc, who studies these things and was reporting to me about the bousillage fibers he was finding behind the paneling.

I was listening for trouble. I have permission to be there, but it's not my place. That place belongs to another realm. On the road I was hearing voices and dogs and a 4-wheeler. Then, like a dream, I heard the gallop of a bande of horses and the sharp Creole yelps of the men. I wanted to take cover, but realized they couldn't see me, or could they? Then I thought one of the men was yelling at the others to come and see the house. I got nervous and jumped down into the overgrowth.  I heard the neighbors' dogs across the field bark loudly as a dozen riders galloped by, men, women and children, at full speed. I could see the riders through the thin winter woods and started moving toward the road. I got some pretty bad blackberry bush scratches on my arms, but I made my way out of the woods to the road where I could see them making the 3rd turn. Me and Nonc jumped in the truck and followed them to the bayou, where I knew they would corral at the new vine fence. On the ride we watched them, the Creole men and Indian boys, gallop around curves along the Bayou Bourbeux I watched the brothers I know cut across orange winter fields on horseback and carefully through tree lines, the boys, and this time, their sister on a cream colored horse, real Prairie des Femmes.

"Love Y'All"

LaGrange House Update, Red and Seafoam Green and Blue

We went to the LaGrange House down the road today, and she made me blue. She is falling down more... but she is still so beautiful, all green and red. 

There is a giant overgrown holly bush in the "front yard", with those dark spiny green leaves and round red berries. Now the front yard is actually the woods, but many other yard plants survive, such as irises, cherokee roses and chinaball trees. In early March, the whole place is covered in purple wisteria and the big bees hum in swarms.

The house has a red chimney and porch and trim, as well as old green tar paper covering the outside. Most of the doors and a few interior rooms are a sea foam green, and the wall paper that survives is white with green and red flowers.

I found a couple of old marbles under the porch, as well as an old leather shoe and a modern-ish belt. I also located the bottle dump in the back and found three beautiful small bottles, and one shaped like a grenade, so I didn't mess with it.

There is a possibility that we may be able to help restore the LaGrange House, by the grace of God.  We do not own the LaGrange house, but we do know the owners. We believe that it is of historic value. We hope to raise funds to help this place be saved. It has deteriorated much in the six years that I have lived near it, even since last year. Here's to prayin' that something can be done to save this place, because it is incredible.