GALLIANO - Down the Bayou History and Culture

Описание: Stop and stock up your ice chest at the IGA (Galliano Food Store) on your way to Grand Isle, or admire the trawl boats as they pass by along the bayou in Galliano, LA!

Host: Kyle Crosby
Camera/Editor: Michael Malley
Coordinator: Samantha Rohr

Transcript:
Galliano is the next town you come across on your trip down the Cajun bayou, and it can arguably be called the heart of DTB. With the central location among the down the bayou communities, Galliano hosts a number of businesses from healthcare services to shopping, automotive repair, and restaurants.

In similar fashion to Cote Blanche, Galliano was originally known as Cote Cheramie, or Friendly Coast, until the 1900s. The Cheramie family had been living in the area since at least the 1830’s with most of them being buried here at the Cheramie cemetery, in Galliano.

The area was given the name of Galliano by the postmaster Alzec Autin, who chose the name in honor of an original settler in the area. Salvador Galliano settled in the vicinity in the late 1700s and had a large farm and a citrus tree orchard. He came from Naples, Italy, where he was in the service of the King of Spain. The Spanish were in control of the area and it was known as the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. This leads most people to assume he was of Spanish descent, when in actuality, he was Italian and Galliano was spelled with 1 ‘L’. The area having much more Spanish and French residents, the second ‘L’ was adopted.

Eventually, there were enough settlers to request a chapel to be built for the community, and in 1887 a palmetto chapel was constructed and dedicated to St. Jacob. Unfortunately, not long after, it was destroyed in the 1893 Cheniere Hurricane. In 1902, another chapel was built, this time dedicated to St. Joseph, and still stands today next to the Galliano pontoon bridge. Many locations in Galliano hold historical significance, but can be easily overlooked. The Centroplex once hosted concerts, world famous wrestling events, and much more.

Of course, down the bayou is never short of fantastical stories including the origins of Galliano. An old legend says a man named Antoine Galliano was appointed to the Spanish King’s Guard. He fell in love with a Spanish woman of noble birth. Just lovely, except for the fact that Antoine was already married to a woman named Julia. Julia was also closely related to the King of Spain. Because he was such a macqueaux (google that), the Spanish King sent he and Julia to settle this area of Bayou Lafourche, and their descendants still live here today. So anyone with the last name of Galliano that lives here, you might be of royal blood. Let me be in your court, that’s all I ask.

In 1909, Salvador’s brother, Julian Galiano, held classes in the attic of his store, but it wasn’t until 1916 that Galliano had their first public school. An important event would occur in 1966, when Golden Meadow and Larose-Cut Off High Schools merged to form South Lafourche High School. Both former high schools would become junior high schools and then currently middle schools by 2002. Black students attended Cordelia Matthews Washington School in Thibodaux during segregation. After racial integration, black students in the DTB region would attend South Lafourche. With many notable alumni like the Cajun Cannon Bobby Herbert and former Coach Ed Orgeron, South Lafourche continues a program of excellence in sports and academics. The school motto is “Tant Que Je Peux” meaning “All That I Can” and it rings true to this day with the community giving all that they can when disaster strikes. From the wrath of Mother Nature to economic turmoil, the residents continue to keep the culture and traditions alive.

Stop in at Tobacco Plus or go hit a couple of swings at the Tidelands Golf Course on your next trip down Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou in Galliano. Just a little ways ahead, you’ll reach Golden Meadow.

These communities that make up the South Lafourche and Grand Isle regions are unique and iconically a mixture of Cajun and Creole. Hard work, unrelenting resilience, and an intense sense of family run through the veins of the locals.

Venture out to South Lafourche on your next Louisiana road trip. Stop in the small businesses and grab a bite to eat or admire the trawl boats on the banks of the bayou. Grab some fresh shrimp, oysters, and crabs from the local fishermen.