Submitted by Mike Miller
Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), p. 310. Edited by Alcée Fortier, Lit.D. Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.

Academy of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Thibodaux Lafourche parish, La.--The school was organized and erected by Father Charles Menard, who for more than 55 years had charge of this parish. Mother St. Bernard was the first Superior, and remained in charge of the institution for more than 30 years. The school first opened Oct. 2, 1857, as a day and boarding school. Unlike many other similar institutions, it continued in operation throughout the Civil war. The original bell is still in use. During the war Union soldiers on one occasion encamped near the school, and shortly following their arrival the strokes of the academy bell resounded throughout the vicinity. The officers of the Federal troops suspecting that this was done to warn the citizens of the presence of the enemy, demanded an explanation, and were told that the ringing of the bell at that hour was customary, but the Sisters were obliged to furnish a statement indicating the hours at which the bell would ring, and for what purpose. Thereafter during the stay of the Union troops the academy bell was not allowed to ring except according to the statement rendered. In those days the Sisters made their own bread, and one evening, just as they had completed this task, a regiment of Texas troops appeared, tired and hungry, on their way to the battlefield at Lafourche Crossing, and the entire day's baking was turned over to the grateful soldiers.

Throughout the days of the war the Sisters of Mount Carmel cared for the sick soldiers, and during yellow fever epidemics they have always volunteered as nurses. The new portion of the school building was erected about 1903, but a portion of the original old structure is still in use, having been added to and modernized. The academy is still conducted as a day and boarding parochial school, the attendance usually being about 350 pupils, boys and girls, with a corps of Sister teachers numbering from 12 to 15. Prof. E. Chol, a graduate of the Paris Conservatory of Music, has been the musical instructor, as well as organist in the church, since the opening of the institution in 1857.

The school has a fine auditorium, and is provided with hot air heating apparatus throughout. The institution is modern in every respect. The educational course comprises every useful and ornamental branch suitable for young ladies, and is similar to that pursued in the select female schools of Louisiana, viz.: Reading, writing, grammar, literature, history, geography, arithmetic, the elements of geometry and natural philosophy, botany, chemistry, algebra, book-keeping, and stenography. Music, singing, painting, wax flowers and fruits, paper flowers, fish-scale flowers, plain and fancy needlework, embroidery, lacemaking, crochet work, and tapestry are also taught. Differences of religious faith are not regarded in the admission of pupils who are willing to conform to the general regulations. Mother Superior Aloysia is in charge.

Lafourche County Louisiana Archives History - Schools .....Longville School September 1960
File contributed by: Sylvester Spears gab2bayou@charter.net July 26, 2021,

Archives on School in Rita Louisiana/ Longville School in 60's. This was the first all black school in Rita/Lockport La.

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