Sue Wilkening
Site of Two Buildings Lost in the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake
Saint Peter Roman Catholic Church
Saint Peter Catholic Church sits on land donated in 1837 by Frédéric Henri Duperier and his wife, Hortense Berard. The original church was completed in 1837 with bricks made on the site of the...
- louisiana
- church
- iberia parish
- new iberia
How Bunkie Got Its Name
In 1878 Captain Alexander Haas (not his brother, Samuel) purchased much of the land in this part of Avoyelles Parish, which was then called Irion. In 1882 the Texas and Pacific Railway sought...
- louisiana
- town
- avoyelles parish
- bunkie
Bailey Hotel
Built by Josephine Ernest between 1907 and 1909 and originally known as the Hostel Ernest, R. Lee Bailey purchased the hotel and renamed it in 1918. It was listed on the National Register of...
- louisiana
- avoyelles parish
- bunkie
- nrhp
Bunkie Wood Products
The 20-year-old Louisiana Hoop Company relocated to Bunkie in 1930. It had a priority status to supply highly demanded barrels during WWII. In 1952 the business transitioned to...
- louisiana
- avoyelles parish
- bunkie
- industry
Bunkie Coca-Cola Company
A "state of the art" Bottling facility began its operation in 1936, repeatedly winning awards for highest per capita sales. It was one of two independent Coca-Cola bottlers in Louisiana and one of...
- louisiana
- avoyelles parish
- bunkie
- coke
- industry
Merchants and Planters Bank
Constructed in 1900, the oldest bank building in Bunkie was in existence from 1900 until 1934 when the bank dissolved from financial hardships of the Great Depression. Damaged by fire in 1910,...
- louisiana
- avoyelles parish
- bunkie
- bank
Egg Pocking ⎯⎯⎯ Pâquer Les Œufs
A regional Easter tradition, competitors knock decorated hard-boiled eggs together & cracked egg loses. Name from "Pâques", French for Easter. Jeu traditionnel de Pâques. Les joueurs "Pâquent”...
- louisiana
- avoyelles parish
- legends & lore
- pomeroy
The Jefferson Highway -- Avoyelles
What part does Avoyelles play in the Jefferson Highway corridor? Highway 71 passing through Bunkie is on the Jefferson Highway. Originally, it entered into Avoyelles from Rapides Parish on...
- louisiana
- jefferson highway
- avoyelles parish
Griffins Antiques
Built in 1904 in the heart of Bunkie first as R.H. Lester Department Store, then as an antique store, Griffins Antiques continues to be a hub for local and visitor shopping experiences and comfort...
- louisiana
- avoyelles parish
- bunkie
- industry
Iry LeJeune
Eminent Cajun artist who helped return accordion to prominence in the music of Louisiana. Born near Church Point in 1928. Musicien Cadien célèbre, né près de Pointe-de-L'église en 1928. Il a...
- louisiana
- acadia parish
- cajun music
- legends & lore
- pomeroy