By David Vitrano

L’Observateur

DESTREHAN – Ormond Plantation provided an idyllic setting for the unveiling of the book “St. Charles Parish Louisiana: A Pictorial History.”

The book is the product of more than five years of work from a core group a four lifelong residents of the parish as well as contributions from individuals and businesses across St. Charles.

The hardcover book gives a detailed history, through text and black-and-white and color photos and illustrations, of the parish from its settlement by Native American people millennia ago to recent happenings such as the dedication of the memorial for the 1976 ferry disaster.

Joan Weaver Becnel, Suzanne Friloux and Marilyn Mayhall Richoux are listed as the principal authors of the book, but the ladies all seemed to agree the work could not have been completed without the aid of Fay Walker Louque.

Louque, who passed away in 2008, founded the German-Acadian Coast Historical and Genealogical Society, and despite being quite ill during most of the process worked tirelessly with the other women to make sure all the facts contained in the book were accurate.

St. Charles Parish President V.J. St. Pierre Jr. spoke during the sponsor reception, saying, “Once you hold this book in your hands, it will be a future reference for the younger generations.”

“I hope I’m here long enough to see volume two,” he quipped.

The book became somewhat of a labor of love for those involved, who saw the tome grow from a simple pictorial to the 240-page volume it is today.

Friloux noted the process involved numerous rewrites and said, “We kept plugging away at it.”

Their perseverance apparently paid off as the publishing company has asked the group if they can use the book as an example for other parishes wishing to create records of their own histories.

The book, despite its generous size, will be sold for $20, with all funds collected going toward future reprints. An initial 2,500 books have been printed, but they will not be sold at traditional book retailers because the St. Charles Museum and Historical Association did not want any markups.

“We did want to make it affordable for everyone,” said St. Charles Museum and Historical Association President Cathy Herren.

Instead the book will be sold at locations like the German Coast Farmers’ Market, St. Charles Borromeo Church and the St. Charles Courthouse in Hahnville.

Additionally, the book will be available at special book signing events throughout October. The remaining dates and times are: today, 10 a.m.-noon, at the East Bank Regional Library in Destrehan; Tuesday, Oct. 19, 5-7 p.m. at the West Bank Regional Library in Luling; Saturday, Oct. 23, 9 a.m.-noon at the East Bank Farmers’ Market; and Wednesday, Oct. 27, 3-6:30 p.m. at the West Bank Farmers’ Market.