industrial profile 2010

BY KARMA CHAMPAGNE

SPECIAL TO THE DAILY IBERIAN

JEANERETTE — Moderntechnology has gradual-ly made its waythrough the doors of A.Moresi Foundry Inc.,but its colorful historystill remains a vibrantpart of the small com-

munity of Jeanerette.It’s difficult to imagine a foundry

established in 1852 that once producedmetal castings for cannons used by theConfederate forces during the Civil Waris still in existence, much less now serv-ing as a leader in the world of technolo-gy for the sugar industry.

Currently owned by family membersof the late Pierre Larroque, the 158-yearold business still serves as a top supplierof all types of parts and services in theU.S. sugar industry — only in a differentcapacity.

The original red brick walls and solidred cypress beams of the old foundrystand as reminder of the years gone by,but in the midst of the work area is a bitof modern technology that has helped toplace the Jeanerette company at the topof competition in terms of quality, pro-ductivity and efficiency.

To survive in a changing industry, sixyears ago the company introduced itsfirst robotic welder to its work force.Now, nine robotic welders work alongthe side of Moresi’s employees to meetthe ever demanding needs of the sugarindustry, playing an important part inthe reconditioning and resurfacing ofrollers used in the industry to crushsugar cane and extract juices.

“As the industry changed and therewas a need for larger equipment, we

knew we had to diversify and it would beto our advantage to expand our productline and services,” said Jimmy Farmer,general manager of Moresi Foundry.“We’ve gathered techniques from allover the world and brought them back toLouisiana industry.”

Founded in 1852 by 23-year-old AntonieMoresi and established as the A. MoresiCompan Ltd., the business started as asmall blacksmith shop originally located

in Sorrell. It was one of the first to servesoutheast Louisiana in the metal castingof machinery parts and for the produc-tion of rollers used in the sugar indus-try. In 1890 Moresi made the decision tomove his small company to Jeanerette.Using bricks from his own brick factoryhe established in 1879, he constructedthe red brick foundry where it stillstands today at its Main Street location.

Farmer said the company stayed with

tradition and continued to melt andpour its own metal for castings of vari-ous machine parts until 1997 when itbecame no longer profitable. The marketprice of casting had gone up two andthree fold, environmental requirementsbecame tougher, mills began to consoli-date and the North American FreeTrade Agreement had brought about

centers of industryProfile 2010

CelebratingOur Community

a special section of The Daily Iberian / Thursday, February 25, 2010

TigerBulletsLocal man developsproduct used to cleanup oil drilling sites.The recycled oilcans, old waterbottles, etc.,preventspollution and aloss of product.

page 8

a look at some of the industrial work that goes on in the teche area

In the past People have achance to sleep inthe past and spendtime inside some ofthe area’s 18th and19th century homesthat open their doorsas bed and breakfastestablishments.

page 6

Patrick and Lisa Norrisstarted a manufacturingbusiness five yearsago — with tubularthreading itsspecialty — that hasgrown into aworldwide player inthe oilfield industry.

page 5

UsingUsingrobotrobotpopowwererFoundry, 158 years old,stays abreastof technology

LEE BALL / THE DAILY IBERIANA robotic welder, pictured above, works alongside Moresi foundry employees at the plant’s Jeanerette location on Main Street.

SEE POWER, PAGE 10

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Modern technologyThe 158-year-old Moresi Foun-dation has changed with thetimes, adding robot welding, tostay atop the industry. . . .page 1

Many museumsMuseums around the Teche Areabring a unique focus on theregion’s rich social, cultural andpolitical past. . . . . . . . . . . .page 3

Industry ‘Authority’The Iberia Economic Develop-ment Authority was created in2008 to promote and encourageindustrial growth. . . . . . . .page 4

No more mom-and-popPatrick and Lisa Norris startedtheir manufacturing company in2005. Since then it has grown toaround 75 employees.. . . .page 5

Bed and breakfastPeople get a chance to experienceCajun and Creole history atnumerous bed and breakfastlocations in the area.................page 6

Holding its ownThe home building industryaround here has come throughthe demanding economic timesrelatively unscathed. . . . . .page 7

TigerBulletsTom and JoAnn Parker’s venture,aided by the LSU AgCenter of Re-newable Resources, prevents po-llution and product loss. . .page 8

Publisher . . . . . . . . . . . .Will Chapman

Managing Editor . . . . . . . .Jeff Zeringue

Advertising Manager . . . . . . .Alan Rini

Production Manager . . . .Jerry Sexton

Business Manager . . . .Amanda Seneca

Circulation Manager . . . . .“J.P.” Poirier

Profile 2010: Celebrating Our Community

is a supplemental publication of

, P.O. Box 9290,

New Iberia, LA 70562.

Sun-powered success story

BY HEATHER MILLER

THE DAILY IBERIAN

Although solarpower has beenused in offshore

oil and gas technology fordecades, training for thesun-powered tools hasfound a home at threeLouisiana TechnicalCollege campuses inAcadiana — includingthe Teche Area campus.

The training is thanksto a grant for more than$1 million from the U.S.

Department of Labor for“high-growth job train-ing,” said LouisianaTechnical College Region4 Associate Dean AnnetteFaulk.

The grant allowed theschool to begin trainingits teachers in solar edu-cation about a year-and-a-half ago, and the pro-gram began its first sixmonths with a consumereducation class aboutsolar power.

Because the grantmoney aims to place stu-dents in the workforce,the school has since start-ed teaching for-creditcourses at three campus-es, each one focusing on adifferent form of solartechnology.

At the Teche Area cam-pus, students are learn-ing about solar thermalsystems, which collectheat to be used in hotwater heating systems.

After fundamentalsclasses are complete, theTeche Area students areable to use a training roofon campus to get hands-on training with intallingsolar hot water systemsonto roofs.

The Gulf Area campusin Abbeville focuses onoff-the-grid solar technol-ogy, which can be appliedto offshore platforms topower batteries.

In Lafayette, Louisiana

Technical College stu-dents are learning how touse solar energy in resi-dential settings, likeinstalling solar panels onthe roofs of homes.

The Department ofLabor grant madeLouisiana TechnicalCollege the only technicalschool in the state with asolar energy curriculum,which allowed the schoolto partner with a commu-nity college in Houston

for an additional grantworth more than $3 mil-lion. Louisiana TechnicalCollege has been able toexpand its solar programbecause of its share ofthe $3 million grant thatwas divided among fivestates, Faulk said.

The school offers thesolar courses as electives,but if students completeall solar courses offered,they are eligible to take atest for national certifica-tion in solar installation.

The first group of stu-dents to complete thesolar courses are going toNew Orleans in Marchfor a week-long “refresh-er” training session,Faulk said, and will thenbe able to take the test tobecome the school’s firstnationally certified solarstudents.

“Overall it gives our

Carroll White, from left, Jodrick Allen, Charles Kibbe Sr.,Kalen Bonin and Kevin Moore learn how to install solar

panels for oil platforms and residential homes inKibbe’s LTC Teche Area Campus class.

LTCstudentslearningsolar use

SEE STORY, PAGE 9

Because the grant money aims toplace students in the workforce, theschool has since started teaching

for-credit courses at three campuses, each one focusing on a different form of solar technology.

LEE BALL / THE DAILY IBERIAN

centers of industry Profile 2010 / Celebrating Our Community The Daily Iberian / Thursday, February 25, 2010 / page 3

Larry DelcambreA/C & Heating, Inc.

1303 Jane St., New Iberia • 369-6880 • 369-6910

CUSTOMERS, FRIENDS, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC:To put to rest any confusion that may arise regarding the future of Larry

Delcambre A/C & Heating, Inc.: Larry Delcambre has been Semi-Retired for the lastfive years and fully retired in October of 2009. I, Troy Delcambre, have been thePresident of, and managing, Larry Delcambre A/C & Heating, Inc. since the year 2000.I, Troy Delcambre, have recently taken over ownership of Larry Delcambre A/C &Heating, Inc. as of January 01, 2010. Now that the facts are out there, I would like tothank each and every one of our customers for their loyalty and support throughoutthe years. I would also like to assure everyone that Larry Delcambre’s legacy will liveon through his thriving business. Larry Delcambre A/C & Heating, Inc. will NOT beclosing its doors. There will be no changes to the management or staff, everythingwill continue as it has been for many years to come. We will continue to serviceeveryone on a daily basis, same day service. We will continue to have technicians on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at the office at 337-369-6880. We look forward to continuingdoing business with our existing and potential customers.

Thank You for everything.

Troy DelcambreOwner/President

BY PATRICK FLANAGAN

THE DAILY IBERIAN

With a multitude ofmuseums, thehistory of the

Teche Area can be experi-enced through a variety oflenses, each with a uniquefocus that highlights theregion’s social, culturaland political past.

Among the numerousmuseums of the TecheArea, residents may findthe Rip Van WinkleGardens on JeffersonIsland, the Young-SandersCenter in Franklin and thesoon-to-be opened BayouTeche Museum in NewIberia as destinations ofparticular interest.

The museum at Rip VanWinkle Gardens is locatedinside the 19th centuryhome of the Philadelphia-born Joseph Jefferson,who gained worldwidefame in the 1860s for hison-stage rendition ofWashington Irving’s book,“Rip Van Winkle.” Whileperforming in NewOrleans in 1870, Jeffersonheard word of a 3,600-acrepiece of property for saleat Orange Island. Desiring

a winter home and a placeto hunt, fish and relax forthree months out of theyear, Jefferson purchasedthe property for $28,000and commissioned the con-struction of a cypresswood home on the proper-ty.

One-hundred-and-thirtyyears after Jefferson builthis vacation home atOrange Island — nowcalled Jefferson Island —the property has under-gone several changes ofownership and is nowcalled Rip Van WinkleGardens in commemora-tion of the home’s firstowner.

After Jefferson died frompneumonia in 1905, thehome exchanged handsand finally came into thepossession of Jack LyleBayless Sr., who began asalt mining operation onthe property in 1919. Theproperty was then inherit-ed by Bayless’ son, JackLyle Bayless Jr., who wasresponsible for first plant-ing the gardens and open-ing the property up as atourist destination.

With Jefferson’s home asthe central attraction, Rip

Van Winkle Gardens con-tinues to function as a des-tination for tourists andTeche Area residents witha curiosity for the past.Inside the home, visitorswill find past remnants ofJefferson and the Baylessfamily, includingJefferson’s original art-work, photographs ofJefferson with HelenKeller, several gold coinsfound on the property thatreportedly belonged to theinfamous pirate JeanLaffite and many pieces of19th- and early-20th-centu-ry furniture that belongedto Jefferson and theBayless family.

Rip Van Winkle tourguide Isabelle Bourquesaid in her five years ofgiving tours at the man-sion, spring is traditional-ly the busiest season of theyear.

“For most of the year, I’llgive about five tours a day,but during the spring I typ-ically give one tour on thehour, every hour,”Bourque said.

While Jefferson’s homeprovides an opportunityto catch a culturalglimpse of the 19th centu-

ry, the Franklin-basedYoung-Sanders Centeroffers residents a differ-ent lens for viewing thehistory of the Teche Areathrough its extensivearchival library of CivilWar documents, whichprimarily focuses on thebattles that transpiredalong the banks of theBayou Teche.

Although the Young-Sanders Center is not amuseum in the traditionalsense, its value is found onthe pages of its numerousCivil War-era documents,which extensively detailLouisiana’s experiencewith the war.

While the center doesdisplay donations of CivilWar paraphernalia, suchas Confederate money andweaponry, the focus is onthe archive and a lectureseries, which the centersponsors.

“Instead of the CivilWar, we prefer calling itthe War Between theStates,” said OrlandoStansbury, the center’sdirector.

“People don’t realize thatsoutherners fought for theUnion, while Northerners

fought for the Confederacy.It’s a very complicated warthat people find fascinat-ing and continue to study.It never ends.”

In addition to the YoungSanders Center and theRip Van Winkle Gardens,Teche Area residents willsoon be able to experiencea more generalized displayof the region’s historywhen the Bayou TecheMuseum finally opens forbusiness.

Located next to theSliman Theater on MainStreet in New Iberia, theBayou Teche Museum willincorporate a multi-facetedapproach to detailing thepolitical, social, industrialand cultural — bothFrench and Spanish — his-tory of the region.

Paul Schexnayder, alongwith his sister BeckySchexnayder-Owens, havebeen the driving force formaking the Bayou TecheMuseum a reality.

“It’s been a long 17 years,and I expect to have anoverwhelming joy at ourgala when we finally doopen,” Paul Schexnaydersaid.

When leaks warranted

repairs to the 130-year-oldbuilding’s roof, the initialopen date for the museum— last year — was delayed.Currently, Schexnayderanticipates being ready toopen the museum to thepublic by May.

“The museum will defi-nitely highlight theSpanish influence sinceNew Iberia is the only cityfounded by the Spanish inAcadiana,” Schexnaydersaid.

The museum will fea-ture a 10-minute film onNew Iberia’s history andutilize rotating exhibits tomaintain an element ofchange, and in effect, con-tinually provide newmethods for teaching theregion’s history to TecheArea residents and visi-tors.

Although HurricaneKatrina led to a statewidedecrease in Louisiana’stourism industry,Schexnayder hopes thenew museum will not onlybe of interest to travelingvisitors, but also providelocal people with an oppor-tunity to enhance theirknowledge of their ownheritage.

Museum’s window to past keeps newcomers comingPATRICK FLANAGAN / THE DAILY IBERIAN

Bayou Teche Museum co-founder Paul Schexnayder gestures near a display that should be open to the public soon.

PATRICK FLANAGAN / THE DAILY IBERIANIsabelle Bourque, left, gives a recent tour of the Rip VanWinkle dining room.


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BY HOLLY LELEUX-THUBRON

THE DAILY IBERIAN

The Iberia EconomicDevelopmentAuthority was cre-

ated during the 2008Legislative session byHouse Bill 1023, authoredby state Rep. TaylorBarras, D-New Iberia,“(F)or the purpose of pro-moting, encouraging andparticipating in industrialdevelopment to stimulatethe economy through com-merce, industry andresearch and for the uti-lization and developmentof natural, physical andhuman resources of thearea by providing jobopportunities.”

It has the power to levytaxes and to accept stateand federal appropriationsthat other semi-privateeconomic developmentorganizations in the areado not, according to thebill’s wording.

The Authority “(W)as cre-ated as a progressive arm ofgovernment that strives tomake projects happen ‘atthe speed of business,’ ”according to its Web sitewww.iberiaeda.org.

It will serve as “(A) cen-tral hub for developmentactivities within theparish, including collec-tion and maintenance ofvital stats and demograph-ics, coordination betweenlocal government andpotential relocating busi-nesses, as well as estab-lishing a plan to ensureprogressive businessdevelopment in the future.It’s a place where bothnew and existing business-

es that want to grow andexpand can plug in and bea part of growing ourcommunity.”

The authority is madeup of five membersappointed by the IberiaParish Council who wererecommended in late 2008by the executive board ofthe Iberia IndustrialDevelopment Foundation,including chairman CecilHymel, vice chairwomanFran Henderson, secre-tary/ treasurer JimWiggins, Liz Bodin andDamon Migues.

The Authority enteredinto a cooperative endeav-or agreement with IDF inearly 2009, enabling IDFPresident and CEO MikeTarantino and other IDFstaff to provide initialclerical needs at no cost.

The group has had aslow start, confined by alimited budget, $50,000,initially appropriated bythe state.

It spent the first fewmonths of 2009 taking careof housekeeping needssuch as formulating a mis-sion statement, selectingmarketing materials andselecting a financial insti-tution, legal representationand an official journal.

It was forced to spendthe initial appropriationin a short period of time,before the end of thestate’s fiscal year June 30.Board members voted toenter into a cooperativeendeavor agreement withIberia Parish Governmentto contribute more than$33,000 to parish infra-structure projects alreadyin the works near the newPark Elementary Schoolon Admiral Doyle Drive inNew Iberia.

Hymel said the group’sparticipation in the proj-ect was its first strongstatement of its commit-ment to economic develop-ment and getting thingsdone since the infrastruc-ture completed would“open up the entire corri-dor for future growth.”

The money was spent toconnect sewerage linesfrom Park Elementary tothe boundaries ofAcadiana RegionalAirport. The agreementwas made at that time withthe understanding IberiaParish Government wouldcommit to at least thesame amount of money onfuture economic develop-ment projects spearheadedby the Authority.

During the 2009Legislative session, theAuthority received morethan $230,000 in appropria-tions. State Sen. TroyHebert, D-Jeanerette, whoAuthority members saidworked hard for themoney, said he thinks theAuthority is well on itsway to getting things done.

“We, as legislators, needto give them as many toolsas possible to try and spureconomic development inthe parish,” Hebert said.

Board members havespent the last severalmonths identifying themost effective ways to usethose funds.

Initial discussionbetween members identi-fied the need to solicit thehelp of a consultant to for-mulate a strategic econom-ic development planand parish-wide projectpriority list with the ideait could be handed to theTeche Area delegation intime for this year’sLegislative session, whichbegins March 29.

It hired a consultant, EdBee with Taimerica, to for-mulate that plan.

In recent weeks, Bee hasmet with city and parishofficials, legislators and

business leaders acrossIberia Parish. The idea,Tarantino said, is to geteveryone’s needs on thetable to be able to priori-tize those needs based onwhich ones will have thelargest economic impactfor the entire parish.

“We really want to havea game plan for theupcoming (legislative) ses-sion,” Tarantino said. “Weneed to give our legislatorsan idea of what we wantto do, especially in a tightbudget year.”

Authority members,with an aggressive andenthusiastic chairman atthe helm, have maintainedthey want to have “themost bang for their buck,”Hymel said

“We have a lot going onwith the authority and somany good ideas,” he said.“We are just trying at thispoint to prioritize whatprojects will be the mostimpactful and what wewill tackle first.”

The Authority’s prioritylist and strategic develop-ment plan are due out inthe coming weeks.

Slow treading so far in focused IEDA developmentIberia Economic

DevelopmentAuthority hopes to

have priority list andstrategic development

plan out in the coming weeks.

‘We, as legislators,

need to give them as many

tools as possible to try

and spur economic

development in the parish.’

Troy Hebert

State Sen. D-Jeanerette

Hymel

Henderson

Wiggins

Bodin

Migues

SUBMITTEDChristened in the legislative session of 2008, IEDA will soon have a development plan

BY JESSICA GOFF

THE DAILY IBERIAN

It only took New Iberianatives Patrick and LisaNorris five years to trans-

form their small local businessinto an international endeavor.

Patrick Norris has been inthe manufacturing industryfor 30 years. His wife Lisaworked in the district attor-ney’s office for 10 years beforethey created NorrisInternational Services.

The company manufacturesequipment used for on and off-shore drilling for gas and oilindustries and for road boringmachinery. Their specialty istubular threading, which isthe process of manufacturingfitting connectors to piping.

Patrick and Lisa Norris seetheir employees as family,maybe because a few of themare. Their three sons —Jonathan, Brad and Bryant —are all employees with thebusiness.

“We started off as the mom-and-pop deal and began in 2005with three pieces of equip-ment and 10 employees,” co-owner Patrick Norris said.“And right now we have 26pieces of equipment andaround 75 employees.”

Before starting, Lisa Norrisagreed to work for their newcompany its first year. Fiveyears later, she is devoted full-time to the company, handlingthe administrative work such asinvoices and payroll.

“When I get cross with her,she threatens to want to quiton me,” her husband of 30years said laughing. “She isnot only a partner, she is 100percent involved on a dailybasis. She is just not a nameonly. In fact, when they (the

company’s clients) call, theyprefer to talk to her instead ofme. They keep telling me sheis the pretty one.”

“It’s because I’m much easi-er to deal with,” joked LisaNorris.

On average, the companyhas 10 to 15 clients and has noneed to advertise, said PatrickNorris. It has created its ownmanufacturing niche and itsSouth Louisiana locationmakes it appealing to both onand offshore industries.

Norris International Serviceshas plans for possible regionalexpansion in the future. Thecompany’s East Admiral Doylelocation has made major addi-tions every year with the excep-tion of 2009 due to a economicpull-back in the industry,Patrick Norris said.

“We feel it’s important to goback to private industry, backto being a hands-on family-type company and local busi-ness,” Patrick Norris said.

Both Patrick and Lisa saidthe entire family’s involve-ment in the company is “test-ing at times,” but they do theirbest to keep the peace throughday-to-day stresses.

All three sons are supervisorsin different specialized depart-ments of the company, makingit easy to keep a professionalsetting under a family name.

“We still get together afterhours, we still visit eachother,” Patrick Norris said.

“I don’t see any issues in thefuture.”


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Patrick Norris

Norris International Services

JESSICA GOFF / THE DAILY IBERIANPatrick Norris examines the threads on tubing that his family-owned company Norris International makes.

Lisa Norris works on the company’s payroll at thefamily-owned Norris International. She and her hus-

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JESSICA GOFF / THE DAILY IBERIAN

BY PATRICK FLANAGAN

THE DAILY IBERIAN

The saying “if thesewalls could talk”adequately explains

the lure of Louisiana’sBed & Breakfast industryto tourists worldwide whoflock to the state in largenumbers for a chance tometaphorically sleep inthe past, or at best, spendseveral days inside one ofthe Teche Area’s numer-ous 18th and 19th centuryhomes. Here they cannotonly catch a glimpse ofCreole and Cajun history,but more hauntingly havea chance-encounter withone of the Victorian-eracast members who report-edly continue to live in thehomes, despite being near-ly 300 years old.

“We just get so manyinquiries from people whowant to come here becauseof the history, food, musicand culture, and a B&B is away to have a more inti-mate experience,” saidIberia Parish Conventionand Visitors BureauExecutive Director FranThibodeaux about thenumerous B&Bs scatteredthroughout the Teche Area.

While travelers have theoption to stay in one of

many hotels, Thibodeauxsaid staying at a bed andbreakfast can make you,“feel like you can reallyinteract with a culturethrough the help of theinn keepers, who go out oftheir way to please theguests by sharing culturaltraditions.”

With numerous B&Bsspread throughout Iberia,St. Martin and St. Maryparishes, one populartourist destination is theOld Castillo Hotel, whichwas built in 1829 bySpanish and French set-tlers on the banks of theBayou Teche in present-day St. Martinville.Overlooking the famedEvangeline Oak, the OldCastillo Hotel had between15 and 20 owners duringits first 50 years of opera-tion before becomingMercy High School in 1885— an all-girls Catholicschool that graduated itslast class in 1986.

When Peggy Hulinbecame owner of the OldCastillo Hotel after theschool’s closing, little didshe know that the now 181-year-old home once housedand belonged to her great-great-great-grandfather,Don Louis Broussard II.

Hulin said she learned

Broussard had owned andlived in the home througha relative who was con-ducting genealogicalresearch about the timeshe bought the home andwas preparing it to func-tion as a restaurant.

Although Hulin initiallyworried the Mercy Highalumni would not accepttheir former school’stransfer into the La Placed’Evangeline Restaurant,her opinion was quicklychanged, as former stu-dents returned and gaveher pictures of their grad-uating classes.

While making repairs,Hulin first discovered themysteries of the OldCastillo Hotel after remov-ing one of the many chalk-boards that adorned thewalls and found a signmade by the sisters ofMercy High that said, “Thiswas the Old Castillo Hotel

Built By Spaniards andFrench Settlers in 1829.”

“When we found thesign, I knew these wallshad some stories to tell,”Hulin said.

Yet, the discovery of thesign did not stop thesecrets of the home fromsharing themselves withthe many guests thatbegan to arrive after Hulinopened the B&B in 1988.

“When I first opened theB&B, I knew the real ques-tion was do I have ghosts,”Hulin said.

Although Hulin has yetto visually experience theparanormal, she admits tohearing the sound of move-ment coming from upstairswhenever she walks downthe hallway near the down-stairs staircase.

Aside from the upstairscreaking, which might be

just the natural sounds of a180-year-old building, Hulinsaid she has received sever-al reports from guestsclaiming to have had anencounter with a ghost.

The first sighting camefrom a photo journalistwho spent the night in aroom on the second floorcalled Chambre de PetitParis. During breakfast,the photographer said toHulin, “ ‘Did you knowyou have ghosts? Well youdo.’ ” Hulin said.

The reporter told Hulinhe awoke that morning to alady dressed in Victorian-era clothing peeringthrough the window in hisroom, but the lady had van-ished after he had reachedfor his camera.

Hulin received a secondreport several years laterfrom a couple that spentthe night in the sameroom. During the night,both the husband and wifekept feeling the sensationof their toes being tickled.Both the husband andwife thought the ticklingcame from their spouse,but in the morning eachrealized that neither hadbeen the culprit.

“I realized that they were

in the same room as theother guy from yearsbefore. This made me ques-tion if there was a presencein the house,” Hulin said.

Another popular B&Bfor Teche Area visitors isthe Prevost House inFranklin, built in 1897.While free of ghosts, theart-adorned walls of thePrevost House tell a differ-ent tale — one ofLouisiana culture. Thehome’s owner, Dr. DonnaTesi, began preparing thehome as a B&B just beforeHurricane Katrina.

“When I bought thehouse there had been onehorrible renter afteranother,” Tesi said. Yet, inthe five years sinceKatrina, Tesi has maderemarkable improvementsto the business, includingthe addition of St. Joseph’sCottage, built in the 1830s,which she moved fromCenterville to the PrevostHouse property.

Tesi has decorated theinside of the PrevostHouse with paintings bythe New Orleans artistGene Rogas, ColleenShannon from Morgan

B&Bs offer glimpse of culture, history


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PATRICK FLANAGAN / THE DAILY IBERIANDonna Tesi, owner of Prevost Home in Franklin, shows offsome of the artwork that adorns the walls of the 113-year-old home. The art makes this B&B special, she said.

PATRICK FLANAGAN / THE DAILY IBERIANPeggy Hulin, left, and her grandson Colin Hulin, 9, lookthrough the same window a guest once reported seeingthe apparition of woman dressed in Victorian-era clothing.

PATRICK FLANAGAN / THE DAILY IBERIANCharles Norton, co-owner of Estorge-Norton B&B in NewIberia, talks about a white ghost cat that some guestshave reported seeing in this room.

‘When we found the sign, I knew thesewalls had some stories to tell.’

Peggy Hulin

Owner of Old Castillo Hotel B&B in St. Martinville

SEE B&B, PAGE 9


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BY JUSTIN HALL

THE DAILY IBERIAN

Despite the economicdownturn that has beenaffecting the entire coun-

try over the past year, one areaof the local Bayou Teche regionthat has come through relativelyunscathed is the home buildingindustry, which has seen inter-est remain stable during toughtimes.

“We just had a home show anda lot of people were interestedin building and remodelinghere,” Dana Dugas, of the NewIberia Home BuildersAssociation, said, referring to

the recent Iberia Home andTrade Show at the Cyr-GatesRecreation Center on Saturday.

Much construction going onnow is in remodeling, Dugassaid; however, there are develop-ments that are under construc-tion.

Real estate agents such as PatCaffery of Caffery Real EstateInc. have said he is impressedthe market has remainedstrong despite the economicproblems.

“We have done reasonablywell, all things considered,”Caffery said. “We have sold sev-eral lots in the Timberstonedevelopment (off of Old

Jeanerette Road) to specifichome builders.”

One area of concern for thoseworking in the industry is thelack of banking loans now avail-able to prospective homebuyers.

Homebuyers have to deal withmore difficult regulations to getloans, Caffery said, making theprocess take more time and isdiscouraging some people fromjumping into the market.

Joey DeRouen, an appraiser inNew Iberia, said it is because ofa lack of confidence in the gov-ernment that people are havinga hard time getting the financ-ing they need to secure a newpurchase.

“Unfortunately, the best wayto describe the situation rightnow is stable, with no growth,”DeRouen said. “No one has con-fidence in the government. Aslong as the president is operat-

ing under an air of uncertainty,I don’t know what is going tohappen.”

Dugas says he sees similarthings happening on his end,with people unable to get theloans they need to build afteryears of prosperity.

“The feds are making it reallyhard to get people loans,” Dugassaid. “Regulators went from anopen valve to a closed valve.”

Dugas added the industry

needs to get back to the waybusiness used to be, with peoplegetting the loans they neededbased on their credit and theirjob situation.

“People want to build, theyjust cant get the loans to buildthem yet,” Dugas said.

Dugas expects this year to beabout the same as the past cou-ple of years, with more peoplelooking to remodel than to buildnew homes.

Local building industry holds ownBuilding association officialsays many looking to remodel

‘Unfortunately, the best way to describe the situation right now is stable, with no growth.’

Joey DeRouen

Appraiser

JUSTIN HALL / THE DAILY IBERIANThis Timberstone Estates home is almost complete. It is located just east of New Iberia.


BY JUSTIN HALL

THE DAILY IBERIAN

Drilling for oil may be amessy business but forNew Iberia’s Tom and

JoAnn Parker, owners of a smalloil supply company called HolePluggers LLC, the use of a newand environmentally friendlyproduct called TigerBullets is away to help clean up the excava-tion process.

“It is a totally recycled productmade out of recycled oil cans,old water bottles, etc.,” JoAnnParker said. “Tom has beenworking on lost circulationproducts for a long time now.”

In the oil industry, lost circula-tion refers to the waste that iscreated when drilling material isinserted into the well and forcedback up to the surface. Becauseof the different layers in theEarth, this material often seepsinto the ground, causing both aloss of product and pollution.TigerBullets are a way to solvethis problem, Tom Parker said.

“It’s like a better mousetrap,”he said. “It helps us prevent theloss of materials in the frac-tures in the ground.”

TigerBullets were created inconjunction with Qinglin Wu, aprofessor at LSU’s AgCenterSchool of Renewable NaturalResources.

JoAnn Parker said Tom went

to Wu after reading about theuse of recycled materials inother industries and wonderingif it could be applied to the oilindustry.

“Dr. Wu really worked with usand took our ideas and experi-ences into his lab,” JoAnnParker said. “To me, this wholeprocess is a great example ofpublic education and privatebusiness coming together.”

Tom Parker said the firstprocess for creating

TigerBullets is collecting recy-cled plastic material from ARCof Iberia. This material is thencombined with natural fibers tocreate the bullets, which Tomsaid are some of the strongestproducts on the market today.

“It’s kind of like an M&M, youknow with the hard outer shelland the chocolate in the center,”Tom Parker said. “Only thistime it’s fiber in the middle andplastic as the shell.”

Tom Parker said that the bul-

lets are environmentally friend-ly for two reasons.

One, they last longer thanother loss circulation products,leading to a decrease in theamount of product used on aproject and a savings in costs tothe oil companies.

Secondly, and more important-ly, Tom said, is the bullets aremade out of recycled plastic,leading to a “circular motion” inthe oil production process.

“Petroleum leads to plastics,

which leads to refuse, which thengoes back to the drilling for newpetroleum,” Tom Parker said.

Tom Parker said the materialis still in the testing process,with LSU taking it to oil fieldsin Colorado and Arkansas, withresults being positive so far. Hehopes to have it eventuallyapproved for use by the U.S.Environmental ProtectionAgency, not only nationally butglobally.

“One of our biggest support-ers is BP (British Petroleum).We have also given the productto Chevron for them to use intheir labs, as well,” Tom Parkersaid.

At the end of the day, theParkers are thrilled a majorstate university like LSU pickedtheir small company to be thebusiness to market TigerBulletsacross the country.

“They really helped us, and wewere very fortunate to partnerwith them,” JoAnn Parker said.

LSU, recycled plastics help oilfield‘Petroleum leads to

plastics, which leads torefuse, which then goesback to the drilling for

new petroleum.’

Tom Parker

Co-owner Hole Pluggers LLC

Local couple developing wayto help get more oil out ofground and stave offunderground pollution.

Tom and JoAnn Parker show off their productTigerBullets, which is made from recycled products

and helps clean up the excavation process in oiland gas exploration.

JUSTIN HALL / THE DAILY IBERIAN

JUSTIN HALL / THE DAILY IBERIANNatural plant fibers are used as an absorbent agent inmaking the TigerBullets.

JUSTIN HALL / THE DAILY IBERIANOld, plastic oil drums are ground up to help make a coat-ing for the TigerBullets.

JUSTIN HALL / THE DAILY IBERIANPellets from recycled plastic water bottles are mixed withthe other plastic recycled material to make the product.


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students a leg up over other students,”Faulk said. “The solar courses are incor-porated into existing curricula, so ifyou’re in the electrical program and youtake a solar course or two, when you goto get a job they not only know electri-cal, but solar as well.”

Although the majority of LouisianaTechnical College students find work inthe oil and gas industry after complet-ing their degrees, the school offers nocourses in oil and gas technology, Faulksaid.

The school, however, has contractedwith a company that will design a “virtu-al platform” for students to train with, inwhich students will be able to use a gam-ing environment with modules that willgive them an idea of what it would be liketo work on an offshore platform, Faulksaid. The modules will be completed byFebruary or March of next year, she said.

The school’s first donation for thesolar program came from TidelandSignal Corporation, an offshore naviga-tional aid company that gave the schoola navigational aid system and a fewsolar panels for the students to use in

their training, Faulk said.Carson Louviere, office manager for

Tideland’s Lafayette office, said solarenergy has been used in navigationalaids since he started his work in the fieldin the 1980s, but training for the tools hasalways had to be done through the com-pany.

“I think it’s great they’ve begun train-ing for solar,” Louviere said. “That’ssomething used a lot in other applica-tions in the industry besides just naviga-tional aids. Younger people need to learnthose kinds of things.”

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STORY: Company has contracted with school to design ‘virtual platform’ to trainFROM PAGE 2

‘That’s something used a lotin other applications in the

industry besides just navigational aids.’

Carson Louviere

Tideland officer manager in Lafayette

LEE BALL / THE DAILY IBERIANLTC students in Charle Kibbe Sr.’s class here learn how to install solar panels.

City and Linda TrappeyDautreil from New Iberia.

“Your house never fullybecomes your house untilyou leave it,” said Tesi,which runs true for thecurrent owners of theEstorge-Norton B&B onMain Street in New Iberia,which was built in 1906.

Although Charles and JoNorton have ownedEstorge-Norton since 1971,the home did not become aB&B until 1989, upon thecouple’s retirement. Asworld-travelers, theNorton’s have fashionedtheir B&B business basedon travels in Europe wherethey frequented B&B’s.

Like the Old CastilloHotel, the walls of theEstorge-Norton homereportedly continue to con-tain several century-oldresidents, namely, a younggirls, an old lady — possi-

bly Nel Estorge — and awhite cat that was once thepet of Nel Estorge.

“The house is supposedto be very haunted, we’vehad many people ask us ifanyone ever told us thatthis house was haunted,”Jo Norton said.

A psychic researchingcompany has done workinside the home and con-firmed a paranormal pres-ence and numerous guestsalso have had experienceswith home’s spirits, theNortons said. While eatingbreakfast one morning, avisitor told of an encounterwith a little girl in the mid-dle of the night who wasknocking on the door of anadjacent room. Wearing along white nightgown, thegirl said “Mommy, Mommy,Mommy,” and then ran intothe room where the guest’schildren were sleeping.Upon re-entering the room,the guest reported the little

girl had vanished.Other guests have

reported similar experi-ences, including an olderlady, who the Norton’sbelieve to be Nel Estorge.Perhaps the most commonsighting, though, is of NelEstorge’s cat, who will runfrom out of a wall andthen vanish by runningthrough an adjacent wall.

“Whatever is here, it’sdefinitely friendly. We’venever had bad vibes,” JoeNorton said.

The excitement of catch-ing a glimpse of a ghostcertaintly attracts someguests, the Nortons said,but so do the services theyprovide as inn-keepers,which includes an exten-sive knowledge of theregion and an extensivebreakfast menu thatincludes pain perdu, eggsbenedict, apple turnoversand Cajun polenta, toname a few.

B&B: Ghosts, service bring them inFROM PAGE A1


POWER: ‘Necessity is the mother of invention but to us it is just another day at work’

changes making it difficultto compete.

One of the oldest exist-ing companies of its kindin the United States wasready to close its doors ascompany officials pub-licly announced thefoundry would no longeroperate.

Farmer, a son-in-law ofLarrqoue, said it was for-tunate company officialshad second thoughts andmade a wise decision tokeep the machine shopportion of the foundryoperating. As the sugarmills started doing lessand less of their ownrepair work and started togrind more sugar cane perday, it became apparentthere was a need to devel-op a process to get longerproductivity out of therollers.

The foundry’s uniqueprocess of hard surfacingthe rollers has served thesugar industry well,Farmer said, as he pointsto an 88,000-pound roller,one of the largest in theWestern hemisphere, thathas made its way to theJeanerette foundry to behard-surfaced automatical-ly by one of the roboticwelders.

Farmer speaks proudlyof the new process usingmodern technology, espe-cially since at least two-thirds of the roboticwelders have been con-structed at the foundryfrom scratch.

The castings are nowpurchased from Brazil andthe final assembly andhard-surfacing are done atthe Jeanerette foundry, hesaid.

Farmer is always ready toshare the history of thefoundry, but keeps the newtechniques that has putthem ahead of countriessuch as Mexico, Brazil andPakistan a well-guardedsecret.

“Automation hasn’tresulted in the loss of jobsat the foundry. It’s createdmore jobs and even a betterquality of jobs for employ-

ees who operate the roboticwelders. It is not only timeeffective, but it provides abetter quality of welding,”he said.

For the Larroque family,it is still all about maintain-ing the history of thefoundry while still operat-ing efficiently.

Scattered across thefoundry walls are many ofthe original cypress moldsdating back to the mid 1800swhich were crafted byskilled laborers for use inone-of-a kind castings.Molds representing gearsfor machinery in the riceindustry, steamboat paddlesfrom years gone by, boatpropellers and even crossesfor cemeteries once filledthe shelves of MoresiFoundry.

“There were tens ofthousands of variousmolds. With a thrivingcypress industry inJeanerette, the wood wasnot only a cheap source, buta good source that lastedforever,” Farmer said.

Bits and pieces of thefoundry’s history are scat-tered throughout theTeche Area. Many of thegears, then owned by theMoresi family, were donat-ed to the JeaneretteMuseum to be sold as a

fundraiser. Others weredonated to LouisianaState University to be doc-umented as part of histo-ry.

The foundry still keepsmuch of its historical mem-orabilia on display. Acypress cross mold, onceused to cast a standardcross to mark grave sites,still remains on the wall ofMoresi’s front office. A 12-foot replica of the cross,weighing nearly 40,000pounds, stands out over thegraves at Beau PreCemetery.

An old paymaster’s sta-tion once used at thefoundry is just anothersampling of its history ondisplay at the JeaneretteMuseum.

Farmer said some of thehistorical pieces have evenbeen incorporated into thelandscape in the front ofthe building. Steel flasksonce used in the castingprocess and a huge ironladle, with the capacity tohold 40,000 pounds of liq-uid metal, now serve asplanters.

“We’ve been workinghard to clean the establish-ment and the environment,but still maintain its facadeand its history,” saidFarmer.

It was not until 1984 thatthe foundry discontinuedthe use of the wood pat-terns due to a priceincrease in the wood andbegan using polystyrenemolds.

“There’s a lot of historyhere we want to keep. Wejust recently found anauthentic cannon ball inthe foundry,” saidFarmer.

“Survival of the foundrymeant changing with thetimes. We had to look intoour crystal ball as best aswe could to see what werethe mills’ needs and thenplan ahead. Necessity is themother of invention, but tous it is just another day atwork.”

FROM PAGE 1

LEE BALL / THE DAILY IBERIANJames Sereal works at the 88,000-pound, 56-inch by 100-inch sugar mill roller in Moresi Foundry.

LEE BALL / THE DAILY IBERIANKirk Robin of Moresi Foundry holds a wooden pattern and 16- pounder cannon ball.

industrial profile 2010

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