Academy of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Lafourche Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Mike Miller
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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 shor
tly 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 fr
om  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.