Laurel Valley Plantation is the largest surviving 19th and 29th century sugar plantation complex left in the United States. There are over 60 structures still standing, compared to 1905 when there were about 105. Sugar cultivation has been the major agricultural activity since the 1830's. Other crops include cotton, rice, and truck crops.
In 1978 the Friends of Laurel Valley Village was created. It was incorporated as a non-profit public group charged with the express purpose of directing the restoration and rehabilitation of the plantations support structures. The country store (1906) represents the first project, and since 1984, other structures including the school house (1910) and five quarter dwellings ranging in age from c.1815 to c.1877 were repaired. Funds for these activities come from yearly membership, gourmet suppers, and sales in our country store. We do not have a paid staff and ALL FUNDS GO INTO RESTORATION AND UPKEEP OF OUR COMPLEX. From the beginning, the Louisiana State Department of Labor through CETA and JTPA programs have supported our activities with summer youth employment grants. Items sold in the store come from the Bayou Lafourche area and are made by local residents. Our staff includes nearly 80 volunteers who donate one day a month to the village so the store can remain open. At present we are open from 10-4 on weekdays, closed Monday, and 11-5 on weekends. Your help, whether financial or through the donation of time would be greatly appreciated.
Laurel Valley was settled around 1790 by Etienne Boudreaux who farmed the front. In 1832, the Boudreaux family sold their land to Joseph W. Tucker who expanded the plantation to include 3200 acres. Tucker built the mill, introduced sugar and slave labor. After the Civil War, the plantation passed into the hands of Burch Wormald of New Orleans who expanded the mill, and introduced a dummy railroad system to assist with the cane harvest. The Golden Age occurred from 1893 to 1926 when Frank Barker, Sr. and J. Wilson Lepine, Sr. purchased the plantation and expanded its operation to include the processing of nearly 4 million pounds of sugar. At one time there were over 300 workers living in the Quarters Section.
A walk through the site, generally referred to as "the quarter" reveals many other aspects of farm life at the turn of the century.
•The remains
of the giant sugar mill, the oldest surviving structure built of plantation-made
bricks in 1845, it was severely during two hurricanes through the years.
•The one room school house which served, not only the plantation children,
but other throughout the Lafourche area for miles around. It still boast chalkboards
on the once white washed walls.
•The two-story boarding house which was home to migrant workers during
the hectic grinding season each Fall. Chevron pattern windows in the gables
are an interesting feature.
•The cavernous barn containing narrow-gauge railway cars in its loft.
To promote our activities, we have a Fall Heritage Festival and Reunion on the second Sunday of October, Christmas Open House on the first Sunday of December, and a Spring Heritage Festival on the last Sunday in April. We also have country gourmet suppers featuring local chefs, whose culinary imaginations always exceed expectations.