Legendary Locals of Eunice

Long before C.C. Duson―realtor, sheriff, and state senator―established his town  on the Louisiana prairie, Cajuns, Europeans, and Native Americans had forged  homes on the isolated site. Then in 1894, Duson's city auction enabled numerous  ethnic groups to buy lots in the new town. Railroad construction brought Anglo,  African-American, and Irish laborers, while Lebanese and Jewish merchants  saw retail opportunities in Eunice. Fearful of war rumors in Europe prior to 1914,  German families immigrated to prairie farms. In 1929, Italians arrived as the  Mississippi River's flooding disrupted their lives. By the 1930s, the Tepetate oil  field was discovered south of Eunice, creating fortunes for Anglo workers. Men  from nearby World War II military bases often settled in Eunice after marrying  local girls. Eunice saw new arrivals as petrochemical plants and pipelines began  construction in the 1950s. The diverse traditions of newcomers blended with the  dominant Cajun culture, resulting in the rich gumbo of citizens' lives. Legendary  Locals of Eunice celebrates some individuals who have contributed to the vibrant  and diverse culture of Eunice through the years. Read more