‘It housed a lot of people, did a lot of things, served a great purpose …’
It’s a sad goodbye to the building that first housed the Norco Gas and Fuel Co. opened in the 1940s, but for the man whose father built the sturdy structure it’s demolition represents progress.
“It’s nostalgia,” said Henry J. Friloux, whose father, Henry J. “Dede” Friloux Sr., built the building and started the business there in the 1940s. “We worked there. It’s been there for most of my life. I grew up next to it, worked in it a while and it was part of the family for a while.”
Friloux, who has his own business, Echo Ventures in Destrehan, also witnessed the construction of the building as a child.
The current building owner, Atmos Energy Corp., had discussed trying to save the building on River Road in the Norco community, but Friloux said they decided against the move when they determined numerous variances would be needed to keep it at the current site. It wasn’t functional anymore so they decided to take it down.
The sturdy little building had housed his father’s businesses over the years that included the gas company that served St. Charles Parish, as well as Lutcher, Gramercy and Paulina in St. James Parish. The elder Friloux later started Norco Construction for his pipeline construction work and then opened Norco Building and Supply Co. to sell building materials.
“It was a small community tied to Shell Oil Co.,” Friloux said. “I was born and raised in Norco. My parents has a house near the gas office.”
They lived on 115 Apple St., which was near his father’s business.
Lance Marino, St. Charles Parish clerk of court, fondly recalled the building as one of the fixtures of his childhood.
Marino grew up at his childhood residence at the corner of Apple and Burch streets.
“I’ve seen this building all my life,” he said. “It’s going to be a difference to the local landscape.”
According to Marino, the change is bittersweet.
“Actually, it never changed, but now the building’s going to be gone, Marino said. “It’s with some sadness about seeing the downtown change.”
Although he believes in progress, Marino said he “hates to see the old things go.”Friloux agreed.
“It housed a lot of people, did a lot of things, served a great purpose for the community and the companies that occupied it,” Friloux recalled.
His father’s businesses made life interesting, he said. They were politically connected to a lot of people in the community and parish.
“My dad knew everybody,” he said. “We got through college, got involved in a lot of civic organizations and endeavors, especially in St. Charles Parish.”
Friloux’s father sold his business in 1990’s to Louisiana Gas Co. and then it sold it to Atmos Energy.
“It was a very substantial building,” he said. “It’s coming down, but it’s giving the demolition crew a tough time because it was so well built. It survived hurricanes Betsy and Katrina, and Shell’s explosion at the plant that rattled the community around the 1990’.”
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