Businesses in Montpelier, St. Helena Parish, Louisiana
File submitted by Mrs. Inez Bridges Tate and prepared by D.N. Pardue
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From publication "Old Montpelier, 1804, New Montpelier, 1904" 
compiled by Inez B. Tate and published by St. Helena Historical
Association, 1993.  Reprinted with permission.

     In the early days of Montpelier, businesses were mainly

located on Bookter Avenue, facing the railroad.

     An early General Mercantile business was Tillery's.  Mr.

Percy Tillery owned and operated his business for several years

but was obliged to sell due to poor health.  He sold to Mr. Jack

Morgan and Mr. Sam Morgan before going to Arizona for his health.

     The Morgan business known as J.H. Morgan & Brothers was a

successful business from the time of purchase in 1914 until the

death of Mr. Sam Morgan in 1958.  Sam had bought the interest of

his brother Jack many years prior.  This business was located on

Bookter Ave. until moved to the red brick building on Hwy. 16.

They stocked and sold all kinds of merchandise, including coffins.

Feed and fertilizer was also sold.

     Mrs. Lindsey (Aunt Hut) operated a restaurant and boarding

house for the convenience of workers cutting the timber in the

area.  The small building which Luther Hayden had built as an

office handling the business of the lumber company, was moved near

the home and used as a small restaurant dubbed "Little Casino"

for the slot machine installed there.  The restaurant was in the

"added-on" side room.  The other building was a store.  The build-

ing was used as a doctor's office before the store.

     Mr. Joe Spence operated a store which was later bought by

Sam Morgan.  He sold dry goods and Edward Tate said he never

liked to go to "Spence's Store" for thread or another item for

his mama because "all the workers were women".  He felt out of

place as a small boy.

     Thomas Green Davidson operated a store here, too.  This was

a grocery, located on Bookter Ave.  He was also associated with

Mr. W.I. Thompson in "Montpelier Fruit Growers Association" that

bought strawberries locally.

     Several persons reputedly owned and operated bars here prior
 
to the time the voters approved an ordinance banning the sale of

alcoholic beverages.  This was in the late 1930's.  Among those

remembered were Chapman's Bar, Ira George's Bar and Hugh Yawn

Ard's Bar.

     At various times different persons operated restaurants.

Ruth Ard, Mrs. Luvenia King, and Myrth Davis all operated restuar-

ants here at different times.  These met a real need and provided

a service to the residents.

     Beauty shops have long been on the scene.  Billy June Ard,

Nellie Tate, Bonnie Bell Bennett Rohner, Loretta "Tootie" Bennett,

Bobbie Lynn Morgan and Sue Miller Crouch have operated beauty

shops here at different times.  Bobbie Lynn Morgan and Sue Crouch

continue to operate their shops today.

     Montpelier has had various barbers.  Frank Lewis, Edwin

Young, Albert and Wilmer Davis, Jerry Williams and Mr. Angele have

operated barber shops here at different times.  There is no barber

today.

     Hez Quin operated a blacksmith shop that provided a real

service to the community from sharpening plow points to the making

of carts, etc.

     Grist mills were operated by Ira George, Jim Williams and Hez

Quin.  Corn was ground into corn meal for a toll (a specified a-

mount of the product).  These mills were operated by a gasoline

engine.

     Service stations were operated by Edgar Ard, Bobby Morgan,

Mr. & Mrs. Bud Morgan, and later by Mervin Carter.  These were

full service where the attendant pumped the gasoline, checked

"under the hood" and various other amenities no longer available

at self-service.  They also fixed flat tires.

     Mr. Bud and Mrs. Annie Morgan operated a grocery from the

small building located near their home.  With the addition of the

"shed" on the side, a surprising number of items were stocked.

With declining health, they closed to enjoy retirement for a time.

     H.E. (Pet) and Mable Watson operated a grocery store and

service station in the Sam Morgan building on Hwy. 16.  They car-

ried a full line of groceries plus some household and hardware

items.  Pet also operated the Post Office in the same building.

Gasoline was sold, too.  Pet had operated a store in two other

locations - across from Dyke's and across from Morgan's, both

on Hwy. 16.

     After World War II, several men banded together and formed a

Co-op.  They constructed a building behind Dykes' business and

operated a dehydration plant for a few years.

ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

December 6, 1946

     Robert LaGroue, Newman Williams, Hilary E. Watson, Chas. D.

Bond, W.T. Foster, Glenn Webb, E.R. Tate and Sam F. Morgan, Jr. 

- Board of Directors.

     Montpelier Farmers Cooperative domiciled at Montpelier to

exist 50 years.

     Purpose of the Association shall be primarily to engage in

the business of receiving, grading, processing, marketing and

otherwise handling agricultural products.

CAPITAL

     Authorized Capital shall be $50,000 of which the sum of

$5,000 shall be common stock divided into 500 shares of par value

of $10.00 each.

     This operation shall be operated without profit.


     The Montpelier Saw Shop was owned and operated by Lamon

Ard.  Located next door to his home, he opened the business fol-

lowing his retirement due to poor health.  He sold and serviced

lawn mowers, chain saws, and weed eaters.  He closed the business

in 1990, due to declining health.

     Lathan Johnson operated a malt shop in Montpelier for a few

years.  This made "custard ice cream" available for the first time

to the delight of many.
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     "Pet" and Mabel Watson and a number of other people have

operated a business in the Sam Morgan Store Building on Hwy. 16.

Charlie "Buck" and Lena Granthan, W.B. King, Gerald Addison,

Delmar Bennett and a Mr. White operated a grocery and hardware

business at various times.  In more recent years it has been

operated as an auto repair by Charlie Sibley, Bill Frances,

Floyd Earls and currently by Joe White.

     Mervin Carter has had various and sundry businesses at his

locale including a service station, sandwich shop, and fruit

stand.

     Speedy's was built by Robert King who later sold to Joe

Guzzardo.  This is a "quick stop" with a few food items in stock,

plus beer.  Gasoline is sold, too.  Mrs. Tena Goynes is manager.

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