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August 7, 2002
Norco museum brings parish history alive By Allen Lottinger, Jr. Driving down River Road in Norco, most passers-by would not suspect that an important piece of parish history lies behind the beefed up security checkpoint at Shell/Motiva Refinery. That unlikely location is just where residents would need to go to reach the River Road Museum, located on refinery property. The museum offers patrons the opportunity to take a trip back in time to the earliest days of the parish up through the colonial settlement, the antebellum period, reconstruction, and finally the industrial revolution. "A museum is a history of a certain people," said Curator Don Didier last week. "When residents can come and see what their ancestors have been through, it gives them a proud feeling and a piece of ownership of the culture of St. Charles Parish." An interactive map of the Mississippi River greets patrons as they walk into the museum's front door. Visitors can begin their journey by highlighting the colonial settlements, plantations, sugar mills and petrochemical facilities which are located between New Roads and Venice to get an overview of the development of areas along the river banks since the 1700's. "If the river were not here there would be nothing," said Didier. "It has served as the center of all the agricultural, social, and now industrial developments that have taken place." After the map, patrons are led on an historical journey beginning with the area's earliest residents, the Indians. Pictures, artifacts, and timelines accompany the displays that highlight some of the prominent places and events in St. Charles. One of the displays features the history of Trepagnier Plantation, where the Shell refinery now sits, the site of the "largest" slave revolt in American history, according to Didier. It was at the plantation in 1811 that his enslaved citizens killed Jean Francois Trepagnier, the plantation’s owner. Seventeen of the perpetrators were subsequently beheaded at Destrehan Plantation and their bodies were elevated on poles along the riverbank to warn against future revolts. "A lot of people romanticize that period but there were a lot of injustices going on," noted Didier. The Colonial Period, which saw the agricultural development of the land along the river, eventually gave way to the industrial revolution around the turn of the century when machinery became more widespread across the war-torn south. Museum visitors will learn how the Norco plant was a catalyst behind bringing the revolution to this area by producing asphalt, which was used to build roads as automobiles replaced steamboats and rail as the preferred means of travel. "Whereas the plantation used to be the provider for residents in the area, the industrial facilities took on a similar role by providing workers with housing and other amenities," said Didier. "It was like a real community for plant workers." Clarisse “Sis” Webb, who chairs the museum's board of trustees, has fond memories of being raised in Norco. Webb was born at the refinery hospital. Among the memories of the early years of the century, Webb recalled that during the 1920's refinery workers paid one dollar a month in rent for housing. "Eventually they raised the price to $15 but even that was a nice perk," said Webb. "We had everything right here, a movie theater, dance hall, pharmacy, golf, tennis. There was a unique relationship between the plant and workers which changed somewhat during the strike in 1962-63 when the unions became independent." Today the refinery has expanded operations to include the production of several petrochemicals and has been joined by several others along the river. Visitors to the museum will see many of the products that are made with the help of petrochemicals. "Most of the everyday products we take for granted contain something from the refinery," said Webb. Next year, the museum will take part in the Bi-Centennial celebration of Louisiana by offering a special exhibit on the German Coast around the year 1803. The special exhibit will feature a short video on the history of St. Charles Parish, a bust of Napoleon, furnishings, drawings, and maps, among other artifacts. The museum is open Mondays and Wednesdays from 1 to 5 p.m. and by appointment. School groups, clubs, and tour groups are welcomed. For more information call 465-6333.
Allen Lottinger, Jr. can be reached at AllenL@heraldguide.com or at 758-2795, ext. 217.
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