Funds, plan setting project in motion
In a single pull, Roy Lunk yanked off crumbling paneling in the 93-year-old schoolhouse and revealed still solid cypress tongue and groove paneling beneath it.
“This building has some history,” said Lunk, motioning to the entire building on 1486 WPA Road known as the old Comardelle building.
It has enough history, in fact, to justify his efforts to save it as a museum in Des Allemands.
An estimated 25 volunteers agreed with him.
They helped initiate the physical work for the project, such as removing old paneling and ceiling panels, as well as salvaging old fixtures.
The cypress paneling dates back to the 1900’s, according to Lunk. It’s part of the building’s solid construction that helped it survive being barged to its current location.
“The material probably comes from the Bowie Lumber Co. (No. 2 mill) that was located in Des Allemands at the time,” he said. “I feel confident that cypress lumber came from this company. They harvested and milled cypress wood at this company. It was less than a mile from where the school was built.”
Volunteers are aiding Lunk’s plan to restore the old schoolhouse to its historic self or two selves.
The 3,000 square-foot building is actually the combination of two schoolhouses – the Des Allemands grade school and an old grammar school building from Lucy, La.
Lunk walked through the building and pointed to where the Lucy schoolhouse was dismantled and added to the schoolhouse as a wing.
Nestled among moss-draped trees, the old cypress structure’s latest incarnation is on track through Lunk’s dedication.
Without his intervention, the schoolhouse would have likely been demolished.
Now, a strategic plan by the Des Allemands, Bayou Gauche, Paradis Museum Society is helping guide the project to fruition.
The society, a nonprofit organization formed in 2013, also has raised funds for it through grants, donations and membership dues. According to the plan, the focus is “conserving the past is an excellent investment into the community’s future.”
Opened on Nov. 5, 1923, the 40-foot by 30-foot building served as the community of Des Allemands’ school for grades 1 – 7 until 1931 when it was replaced by a brick building. The old building was barged 12 miles downstream to the Comardelle Village where it again served as a school until 1941. It was again placed on a barge and this time traveled nine miles upstream to become Bayou Gauche’s school, Lunk said. When the school bus system started busing children to the Des Allemands School, the building was yet again moved to its present location at 1486 WPA Road.
Later, this sturdy building became a meeting hall for the American Legion Post 316.
And now, the building fast approaching 100 years old, will serve the community by housing its most precious memories.“It feels good that we’re finally getting things done,” Lunk said. “It’s a process that took awhile.”
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