By LEONARD GRAY

VACHERIE – Cautious eyes peered at the inches separating the building from the utility poles on either side. It was a tight squeeze – very tight.

The old St. Philip Confectionary, which was a Vacherie landmark for a century, was on the move. It’s been acquired by Laura Plantation, a scant 2.3 miles up the river, and will be refurbished and opened as a plantation store replica.

On hand for the move were the descendants of Dr. Lionel Waguespack, who began his physician’s office and pharmacy at the site in 1900 near the present-day Cazenave Motors.

Over the years, the business was carried on by his son Claude Sr. and his wife, Eva, who continued to make it a popular stop for St. Philip Catholic Church parishioners and area children. Although it’s been closed for two years, people still know of it.

For a time, the shop also contained two bars, one for white customers, one for black. The interior still has the two bars, along with advertisements on the wall for Old Gold cigarettes and Schlitz beer.

Norman Marmillion of Laura Plantation was excited about the acquisition, and also by a discovery he made while examining the old building.

“It’s yellow!” he exclaimed enthusiastically. While that may not seem significant, the original color of Laura Plantation was a matching yellow, as befitting a Creole plantation. By restoring the original paint of the store, it will match the plantation house it now neighbors.

Originally, the building itself was two separate buildings, joined in the mid-1950s.

Joan Barre, now a Metairie resident, recalled playing in the store when she was a youngster. “Mom (now age 96) really enjoyed the people and the young folks.”

Her father started with the business around 1949, running a sweet shop until he passed away in 1984, and the business continued with her mother, Eva Waguespack, until four years ago. “I clerked there during my high school years,” she recalled.

Eva Waguespack had a rocking chair in the store, always reading her newspaper and waiting on customers until advancing years slowed her down.

While the Lutcher ferry in operation, ice cream was the mainstay, but when the Veterans Memorial Bridge opened, package liquor kept the store alive until it closed two years ago.

However, moving the building proved to be a chore for Nick Martinolich of Thibodaux.

Nick said the building, 36-feet, 6-inches in width, squeezed through two utility poles with four inches to spare. That’s two inches on either side.

After being jacked up and placed on a truck, the 1,900-square-foot store was carefully moved along River Road and onto flats laid on the sugar cane field next to Laura Plantation.

A fence segment had been taken down and the truck eased the building onto its destined site. “A perfect fit!” someone exclaimed.

Inside, Laverne Capone made a point of walking along the footrest of the white bar, just as she had done as a youngster in her grandfather’s store. “One last time!” she said with a laugh.

“He was a character,” she said of her grandfather Claude. “He’d hear someone come in whistling and make them stop. He couldn’t stand whistling!”

Iceboxes looked ready to hold cases of beer and soft drinks. Another looked like it should have been full of Dreamsicles.

“It’s wonderful that it’s not going to be torn down!” she said.