Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser was the guest speaker Friday, June 25, during the ribbon cutting for the grand opening of the Allen Parish Cultural Center.
In Nungesser’s message to approximately 140 guests at the ceremony, focused on the community coming together to make the cultural center a reality for the residents and visitors to Allen Parish. He said rural tourism was strong and growing.
Adagria Hancock, Allen Parish Tourist Commission, thanked the public for its support and for attending the event Friday. “Thanks to everyone who came out to support us. It was a great turnout,” she said. “Hopefully it will be a great attraction for Allen Parish.”
Well Hancock and other members of the tourist commission have been working hard to focus on preserving the parish’s history and focusing on its culture. At the new cultural center, a display of the area’s veterans (wall of honor and other military artifacts), history of the parish’s musical talent, a tribute to the Coushatta tribe and a swamp scene will educate and entertain visitors.
Leroy Thomas, JoJo Reed and Bernie Alan performed for the guests.
Four musical lifetime achievement awards were given to family members of Willis Prudhomme (September 22, 1931 – August 31, 2020), Beau Jocque (November 1, 1953 – September 10, 1999), Delmer Sonnier (September 9, 1925 – September 26, 2019) and Samuel “Sam” Acuff (March 24, 1927 – April 18, 2019), all with ties to Allen Parish.
Hancock said there are lots of plans in development. She said guests to the cultural center may see a pollinator garden developed of the northside of the building in Kinder. In Oakdale, the Leatherwood Museum will be renovated. She said probably in the spring.
Hancock said there has been interest in a reporter from the The Local Palate: Food Culture Magazine of the South (https://thelocalpalate.com) is scheduled to visit the parish to complete an article expected to be published in the fall.
Be sure to keep supporting these sites in the parish as the ideas continue to grow and develop.
(To learn more about the sites of Louisiana, visit Nungesser’s page, https://www.sos.la.gov/HistoricalResources/VisitMuseums/Pages/default.aspx, to learn about programs like the Museum Trail.)
