German Coast Society celebrates Oktoberfest

Members and guests of the German-Acadian Coast Historical and Genealogy Society celebrated Oktoberfest Oct. 22 with a traditional German dinner and a presentation about Cajuns and Acadians at La Maison Magnolia in Norco.

Ron Thibodeaux, bureau chief of The Times-Picayune's St. Tammany bureau, spoke about his assignment in 2001 to cover current Cajun culture and of his experiences at Nova Scotia's Congres Mondial Acadien in 2004.

Oktoberfest attendees received copies of the resulting studies.

Warren Louque of Destrehan, husband of GACHGS founder Fay Walker Louque, paid a warm and often humorous tribute to Fay, who died in September.

"Fay did so much for us from the very beginning and continued to do so until her death," said Gloria Maurin of LaPlace, president of GACHGS.

Organized in July 1979, one of the main goals of the GACHG Society is to preserve, compile, and publish records of genealogical or historical nature, with emphasis given to the records of St. James, St. Charles and St. John Parishes.

Members offer genealogical research assistance every Tuesday 1:30 to 4 p.m. at the library in LaPlace.

Members and others are welcome. Annual membership dues include a subscription to the Society's quarterly publication, Les Voyageurs.

GACHGS general meetings are on the fourth Tuesday of each month at the LaPlace library.

The next meeting will be held Nov. 25, and local historian Jay Schexnaydre, assistant manager of Laura Plantation, will speak on River Parishes cemeteries. The public is welcome. For more information visit www.gachgs.com.