By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

DESTREHAN – Students from across the region gathered at Destrehan Plantation for an afternoon of learning about what it was like to live on the sprawling home at its prime. Volunteers from the plantation and other organizations demonstrated carpentry, wood carving, candle making, sewing, blacksmithing and other valuable skills of a bygone era during the plantation’s annual Heritage Day program.

A passing rainstorm dampened things earlier in the morning, but once the clouds cleared the activities continued on the plantation’s back lawn.

“Our goal is to keep it as close to what would have been used on the plantation during its 19th century operation,” said volunteer Charles Licciardi. “The students get a good understanding of just how difficult it was and how much work was involved in everyday tasks that now can take just minutes or seconds.”

Students, who came from school as close as Destrehan and as far away as Baton Rouge, also got a glimpse of how residents of a plantation might have spent their free time. Visitors got to take part in some Cajun dancing and also had the chance to listen to vintage music by local musicians. There were also displays inside the plantation’s mule barn that featured antique toys and games from the 1800s and earlier. Local artists also demonstrated painting and calligraphy.

“It is one of those opportunities to get students interested in the history of the region where they are now growing up,” Licciardi said. “I think they come away with more of an appreciation for what it took to grow this region into what it is today.”

In the past, the day also featured a civil war encampment where large weapons of the past were demonstrated, but volunteer Norris Yarbrough said the larger artillery had already been booked for a Louisiana bicentennial event the same day.

“The students have the chance today to get a close look at some of the smaller revolvers used in the war, but no cannon fire today,” said Yarbrough, who dressed the part of a Union soldier. “They are still getting a kick out of hearing the small guns pop.”