History of Donaldsonville, Louisisna Submitted by William Bringier ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ TIPS FOR SEARCHING RECORDS ON THE INTERNET Netscape & Ms Explorer users: If searching for a particular surname, locality or date while going through the records in the archives or anywhere....try these few steps: 1. Go to the top of the report you are searching. 2. Click on EDIT at the top of your screen. 3. Next click on FIND in the edit menu. 4. When the square pops up, enter what you are looking for in the FIND WHAT ___________blank. 5. Click on DIRECTION __DOWN. 6. And last click on FIND NEXT and continue to click on FIND NEXT until you reach the end of the report. This should highlight the item that you indicated in "find what" every place it appears in the report. You must continue to click on FIND NEXT till you reach the end of the report to see all of the locations of the item indicated. Located 30 miles south of Baton Rouge and 50 miles west of New Orleans on the west bank of the Mississippi River, Donaldsonville is one of the oldest towns in Louisiana. Known as the "Second Acadian Coast," the very earliest settlers were the Chitimacha Indians. The location at the junction of the Mississippi River and Bayou Lafourche was quite strategic during a time when waterways were the major mode of travel. Bayou Lafourche which flows south all the way to Grand Isle on the Gulf of Mexico, was rightfully called "The longest main street in America". When little more than a trading post occupied Donaldsonville, the church established it's presence in 1772. The current church is 100 years old and is an imposing structure that was extensively renovated in 1996 and 1997. Much of this work, including the impressive new steeple, was the result of grants from E.J. Ourso and his Family Foundation. The Catholic Cemetery dates from 1800 and is a trove of early Louisiana and Civil War history. Many of the historic tombs in the cemetery are being renovated by the related families with support from friends and groups interested in historic preservation. One such organization is the Bringier Tomb Association. Ante-Bellum Plantation Homes From before 1800 the Donaldsonville area was the center of extensive plantations on both sides of the river. A trip from Baton Rouge to New Orleans along the river road offers a student of history dozens of ante-bellum homes, many restored over numerous years. Some homes were lost due to neglect, economic conditions after the Civil War, and most commonly the constant movement of the river that engulfed some of the homes. These homes, over the years, have been chronicled by Life Magazine, major newspapers, as well as numerous books. (The author of this page is constantly looking for new information on the area. Click here to e-mail William Bringier). Some of the homes were featured in major motion pictures. A few of the homes are open for tours and some have bed-and-breakfast facilities. Ante-Bellum Plantation Homes: L'Hermitage, 1814. Built by Michel Doradou Bringier for his bride AglaŠ DuBourg, niece of the Archbishop of Louisiana. Michel served with General Andrew Jackson in 1815 at the Battle of New Orleans and Jackson visited the new home. Michel named the Hermitage for Jackson's home in Tennessee. The home fell into disrepair by the 1950's and was purchased by Dr. and Mrs. Robert Judice of New Orleans in 1959. Over a 20-year period they have completely restored the home. Thanks to their loving and tedious care the home is now a showplace. It is furnished in pre-Civil War style, reflecting the period during which the house and plantation were in their prime. Tezcuco Plantation, 1860. Tezcuco was built in 1860 by Benjamin Tureaud, who maried his cousin Elizabeth AglaŠ Bringier, the daughter of Michel Doradou Bringier. TEZCUCO is open to the public and offers overnight bread-and-breakfast facilities. Tezcuco, sometimes known as "Bringier" is completely restored to the finest detail, including the surrounding property and out buildings. Bocage Plantation, was built in 1801 by Marius Pons Bringier (father of Michel Doradou, owner of the Hermitage) for his eldest daughter Francoise, who married Christophe Colomb. Colomb, a native of Corbeille, France, claimed to be a direct descendent of Christopher Columbus. Their son Christophe Colomb, Jr. became master of Colomb House, built in 1835, now situated in Convent, LA. Ashland Plantation was built by Duncan Kenner who married Nanine Bringier, a daughter of Michel Doradou Bringier. Kenner was a prominent member of the Confederate government. Kenner urged President Jefferson Davis early in the war to free the slaves, but his advice was not heeded. Near the end of the war Kenner went to England and France to try to enlist aid from those governments, but that effort came to an end as the fortunes of the southern armies deteriorated. ASHLAND is now owned by Shell Oil Company and they have plans to completely restore the property. Bagatelle Plantation was built by the father of Stella Tureaud who married Louis Amadee Bringier, a son of Michel Doradou Bringier. Louis Amadee was a colonel in Scott's Cavalry during the Civil War. Following the war they operated the Hermitage Plantation until 1881 when the Hermitage was sold to Duncan Kenner, the owner of Ashland and husband of Amadee's sister, Nanine. Bagatelle is now the residence of Dr. and Mrs. Trent James of Baton Rouge.