THE HISTORY OF CROWLEY
CROWLEY IN PICTURES |
 Rice fields of Crowley |
 William Duson |
 C.C. Duson |
 Patrick Crowley |
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 Leon O. Fremaux after July 4th Parade, 1921 |
 Rice fields in 1894 |
 Parkerson Avenue, 1904 |
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 Rice mills in Crowley |
Simple blades of grass waltzed delicately to the rhythm of a summer’s breeze. Ghostly prairie lands of virgin soil displayed only a desolate and parched canvas of barren lands.
The year was 1881, and the Louisiana Western Railroad had successfully developed and delivered their promise of freight and passenger transport via its railways stretching from Houston to New Orleans.
With an occasional train’s whistle, the hallow drone of silence would be broken and southern Louisiana would never be separated from the outside world again.
Founded by brothers, C. C. and W. W. Duson, Crowley Switch began to manifest from a dream into reality with the financial backing of a group of St. Landry parish businessmen in 1886. Willed to life by the determination of W.W. Duson; Crowley Switch was also designed and drafted by parish surveyor, Leon V. Fremaux from a grid plan measuring one square mile in size. The unforgiving heat of a summers horizon hovered over the necks and backs of more than one hundred men as they worked feverishly with machetes and cane knives to clear overgrown brush from the undeveloped land.
Soon the evidence of avenues, boulevards, and streets emerged from the depths of soil and dust, as four paired oxen graded a path into the future of Crowley Switch. A season of growth and development lay ahead with challenge and experimentation. Uncertainty was faced with courage; disappointment with confidence, and with perseverance; growth.
It’s first courthouse stood two stories high and was surrounded by beautiful oaks along the city’s square.
Crowley’s masterpiece of refine culture, known as the Grand Opera House estimated a seating capacity of one thousand people and offered a diverse variety of fine entertainment and culture throughout the community’s early years.
CROWLEY GETS A NAME
Originally named Crowley Switch, the community was named for Pat Crowley, the Irish contractor who graded the roadbed for the Southern Pacific Railroad through Acadia Parish.
Patrick Crowley was born in Brandon, County Cork, Ireland, on March 16. 1850. He came to America when he was 19. He came to Louisiana with the Morgan Railroad and was the section foreman who supervised the laying of the railroad from Lafayette to the Sabine River. At its completion in 1880, he became roadmaster for that section of the Southern Pacific Railroad.
Patrick Crowley never actually lived in the town that was named for him. He lived in Lafayette and Welsh before retiring from the railroad in February 1889.THE ROLE OF RICE
A tremendous growth in the rice industry took place between 1890 and 1900 and peaked around 1905 when improvements in irrigation, harvesting and the construction of rice mills were established throughout Crowley.
The shallow ponds and leveled prairie lands of Crowley Switch became a birthing ground for the delicacy Crowley became known for; providence rice. Storing natural rainwater for irrigation was accomplished by elevating levees around ponds and marshy places.
One mans vision and determination highlighted the path of success for rice contravention in the small village of Crowley Switch.
Salmon (Sol) Lusk Wrights path of trial and error was no different than Columbus and the countless other human benefactors of American history. Sol Wright’s prize winning rice, Blue Rose was hailed as the salvation of Louisiana’s rice industry, eliminating Japan from Acadia, while golden fields of grain reflected the manifestation of American dreams.
Rice fields are commonly found along the highways and byways of Acadia Parish today. Most celebrated for its harvest of rice, Crowley sponsors the annual International Rice Festival, the Rice Interpretive Center, and the Rice Theatre. For a history on how the International Rice Festival began, click here.
SALMON LUSK "SOL" WRIGHT
The shallow ponds and leveled prairie lands of Crowley Switch became a birthing ground for the delicacy Crowley became known for; providence rice. Storing natural rainwater for irrigation was accomplished by elevating levees around ponds and marshy places.
A tremendous growth in the rice industry took place between 1890 and 1900 and peaked around 1905 when improvements in irrigation, harvesting and the construction of rice mills were established throughout Crowley.
One mans determination and another’s vision highlighted the path of success for rice contravention in the small village of Crowley Switch. It was the life work of these two men that drove the precocious agricultural giant to the prairie lands of Crowley.
Rice farmer and scientist, Salmon Lusk Wright achieved fame as the developer of domestic rice seeds which quickly revolutionized the industry. Wright’s contribution to rice farming dominated the entire history of the rice industry. With farming techniques clearly ahead of his time, Wright had scientifically sound ideas and was recognized as one of the leading farmers and authority on seed rice.
Arriving to Crowley Switch in 1890, Wright had spent ten years farming wheat in Albany, Oregon. His venture into farming rice was an immediate success. His 320 acre farm delivered its first harvest with profits exceeding the value of the land in which it was planted.
Seen daily, walking the streets of Crowley Switch, Wright carried a small bouquet of rice in his hand; the symbol of a vision that absorbed his daily life and promised a prosperous future.
As northern settler’s flocked into the village of Crowley Switch, the need for education in rice cultivation increased and Wright quickly stood up to the plate to assist those interested in his advice. Through newspaper and other forms of agricultural publications, Wright offered detailed instruction on preparing the land for planting, selecting the best seed, and the quantity of seed to use per acre. His articles were uncluttered of scientific data and terminology , therefore making it easily understandable to literate farmers of his day.
His expertise was valuable to other farmers in regards to a rapid growing rice known as red rice. This wild rice with red grains spread amazingly quick while devaluating the quantity of the crop.
Years of testing the best methods of running levees and controlling red rice, Wright’s strong opinion concerning the need for domestic variety led him to yet another experimental quest; to develop a pure bred American rice.
In 1909, Wright held the grain for which he had striven for many months to lay. Glistening like jewels in the palm of his hand, the fully formed, tiny speck was destined to become the ancestor to a species known without the defects and drawbacks of those that had prevailed.
Blue Rose obtained its name while during a visit by Wright’s beloved mother in law. Evenings spent carefully observing the magical grains beneath the southern moonlight or by the light of a kerosene lamp opened a venue that set the stage for the given name; Blue Rose.
A story of determination and devotion led to the celebration of obtaining the unattainable for Wright. While listening to the story of a priest who assiduously applied himself to the cultivation of roses, and had produced most rare and fragrant treasures, the perfect grain revealed itself within the clutches of his hand, and so Blue Rose was born.
Wrights path of trial and error was no different than Columbus and the countless other human benefactors of American history. Pegged a crank and hazard to agricultural cultivation, Wright nearly impoverished himself during his quest to introduce his latest discovery. Recognition came the following season with less waste, more product, and the highest yield per acre. Blue Rose was hailed as the salvation of Louisiana’s rice industry, eliminating Japan from Acadia, while golden fields of grain reflected the manifestation of American dreams. Had Wright been able to patent his varieties of rice, he would have been an instant millionaire. Although never wealthy, his success provided comfortably for his family.
Hours spent huddled closely beside the light of a kerosene lamp while dressed in night clothes and a robe, Wright hulled each grain by hand, measuring and noting every result by his own method. Although crowned with phenomenal success, Wright continued throughout his life to strive for better rice.
In 1907, Wright was awarded a gold metal for exhibiting a sheaf of Japanese rice at the Jamestown Tercentennial.
Wright traveled often to rice producing states to advise, recommend and educate other farmers at his own expense. Intriguing concepts such as cross pollination opened the floor of debate and curiosity. Two hundred hives of fine Italian bees were kept in close proximity of carefully selected, superior grains of rice. Careful observation revealed the bees dancing from one bloom to another, and it is believed that the cross cultivation of bee pollination contributed to the diverse variety of rice.
On February 9, 1929, Wright passed away quietly at his home; he was 77 years of age. His contribution to the agricultural industry of rice was applauded by the Crowley newspaper on the day of his funeral.
“To attempt to set a value upon Sol Wright’s contribution to the rice industry and southwest Louisiana would be like putting a price on the soil, the sunshine or the elements that go into each crop,” was written within the pages of the newspaper that day. “His monument is renewed each year when the fields turn green, then bend to the harvest.”
Today, as rice farmers prepare their fields for planting, reap the crops that they have sown, and celebrate the harvest of their labor (with the International Rice Festival), the ghostly reflection of the ‘gentle genius’ continues to walk the streets of Crowley with a small bouquet of rice in hand; the symbol of a vision that absorbed his daily life and promised a prosperous future.
FLOOD OF 1940
A gentle cascade of sunlight spilled across the tables of Keller’s Café as locals gathered for lunch, lively conversation and laughter. The sweet aroma of menu favorites drifted from the kitchen as waitresses delivered orders to customers, eagerly waiting. Another charmingly quaint afternoon in Crowley, but soon the chapters of an eventful year would soon unfold.
On August 5, 1940, a meteorological disturbance was reported by the U.S. Weather Bureau, and was located just off the Louisiana Coastline, near the Sabine River in the Gulf of Mexico. Unpredictable in nature, this hurricane delivered inland tidal waters during landfall, and a torrential downpour for four days, resulting in elevated water tables and rapid flooding.
The aftermath held Crowley’s 9,523 residents hostage to eight foot flood water elevations, lack of communication to the outside world, and railroad transportation dilemma’s. Eighty percent of homes experienced detrimental flood damage, and many were shifted off of their foundations. Sanitary issues such as no sewer became a serious concern. Neighbors moved in with neighbors as the community began to open theirs doors to one another. Local businesses opened their second floors for shelter to employees and their families.
The evacuation process begin as the National Guard and Coast Guard arrived to assist. An estimated six thousand were sent to refugee camps in Lafayette and Baton Rouge. The town stayed under water for six days with no reports of drowning.
An exchange of Red Cross food and supplies for exhausted refugee’s took place by rail to Calcasieu Mercantile Co. Wash tubs became grocery carts as residents waded beside the floating tubs of groceries through stagnated flood waters. Surrounding towns, such as Jennings, Eunice, Lake Charles and Welsh also assisted in the shipment of food and supplies.
With electricity down for thirty six hours, the city of Eunice generated electricity to run water pumps. Flooded power plants had to be pumped in order to get the big engines running again and to refill the stand pipe with drinking water and household use. An increase of chorine was added for killing germs.
Western Union and Postal Telegraph utilized the ticker and key on the dot-dash system to communicate with the outside world for food, supplies and emergency assistance. Mail was ferried back and forth from the depot to the post office in wash tubs and work continued by lantern and candlelight.
Many vehicles were completely submerged in flood waters, while others were moved to higher ground before flood waters got dangerously high, regardless cars submerged in flood waters for any length of time never lost their odor. As flood waters decreased, transportation options changed from boats to horse and buggy’s until vehicles could travel the roads again.
Although fashion became swimming suits and shorts, the towns current display was far from resembling a resort of any sort. Some 50,000 animals died as a resort of drowning, illness or starvation during the disaster, therefore corrupting the flood waters with dead animal corpses and sewage. Typhoid Fever Immunizations were distributed to all residents.
Once flood waters disappeared, lime was distributed to reduce the odors of dead plants and animals. The recovery process unveiled buckle wood floorings and mildew. While death was confined to only plant life and animals, the flood brought life into Crowley with a total of seven births.
JOSEPH FALCON
"The First to Record Cajun Music" - Joseph and Cleoma Falcon issued the first recording of a Cajun French song, Allons à Lafayette, which appeared under the Columbia label. Both were from Acadia Parish, he from Roberts Cove in 1900, and Cleoma, born Cleoma Breaux in 1906, from Crowley.
CROWLEY TODAY
As the seat of Acadia Parish, Crowley is the largest city in the Parish, and is located in the heart of southwest Louisiana.
Today, a trace of southern charm and hospitality remains on the faces of over two hundred historic architectural structures dating back to the 1800’s. Crowley’s Historic District spans over a thirty two block radius, with a grandeur display of both residential and commercial properties.