St. Genevieve Catholic Church of Brouillette

Church and cemetery in Louisiana, US

United States historic place
St. Genevieve Catholic Church of Brouillette
31°12′38″N 92°01′39″W / 31.21056°N 92.02750°W / 31.21056; -92.02750
AreaBrouillette Community, Louisiana
Built1953 (1953)
Added to NRHPJanuary 1, 2024

St. Genevieve Catholic Church and Cemetery of Brouillette is a historic Catholic Church founded in the 1800s along the banks of the Red River of the South near Marksville, Louisiana, United States, serving the Brouillette community. The current structure was built in the 1950s. It is the cultural center of the area's historic Louisiana Creole people, predominantly of French descent. [1]

Location

The church is located at the intersection of Levee Road and Preston Road (LA HWY 452) in the Brouillette community of Marksville, Louisiana. It is located just off the levee of the Red River adjacent to the United States Army Corps of Engineers and Red River Waterway Commission's Brouillette Recreation Area. [2]

History

The church was founded on the banks of the Red River by French Creole families in the 1800s. Notable founding and patron families include Deville, Brevelle, Gaspard, Dupuy, Ponthier, Lacombe, Bordelon, Laborde, and Lachney, whose names appear prominently on the church's entrance. The parish church is part of the Diocese of Alexandria and includes an iconic cemetery with above-ground tombs.[3]

Notable People

  • Jean Baptiste Brevelle (1698-1754), early 18th century explorer, trader and soldier of Fort Saint Jean Baptiste des Natchitoches, the first European settlement in the area. Father of the namesake of nearby Isle Brevelle and ancestor of the founders of St. Genevieve Catholic Church. [4]
  • Anne des Cadeaux

See also

References

  1. ^ "St. Genevieve Church Brouillette". Diocese of Alexandria. Roman Catholic Church. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  2. ^ "Red River Waterway Commission begins improvements at Brouillette Recreation area". KALB 5 News. October 15, 2018. Archived from the original on January 23, 2024. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  3. ^ "Parishes". Diocese of Alexandria. Roman Catholic Church. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  4. ^ "Summary Report: Brevelle Lake". United States Geological Service. Retrieved April 10, 2024.