Meaux and Leroy, Louisiana

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• Meaux and Leroy, Louisiana

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What do you know about the communities of Meaux
and Leroy? How did they each get their name?
When did it begin? Read to learn a little more
about your area!
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Meaux is a community northwest of Abbeville. It
is located in Vermilion Parish.When it began
many years ago, it was called Harrington's
Island. Later it became known as Millington.
Then in 1919, Meaux got its current name.
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Cattleman Joseph Harringtons family stated that
sometime before 1847, he began driving herds
through the area in an effort to bring them from
Texas to market in New Orleans. He liked the
place and decided to build a home there. He
transported timber from the Cow Island area to
build his residence. His home was on high ground
surrounded by ponds, and was dubbed Harrington's
Island.
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In the late 1800s, the Vermilion Parish Police
Jury appointed a group of landowners to build a
public road. There was a path which the public
used to travel from Harrington's Island to
Abbeville. Each of those in the area, paid 10
for the cost of a surveyor to map the area.
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Millington M. Hartman, who owned a store in the
area, was instrumental in having a post office
established. The area was then called
Millington, in his honor. 
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Around this time, there were four one room
schools located nearby. The area grew and
eventually a new school was built. In 1919, the
community residents proposed that they be
consolidated into one central school in the
Millington area. On Feb. 24, 1919, Muriel Daisy
Meaux and his wife, Odelia Broussard donated 1½
acres for the new school. This was when the
community was named for them.
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The high school was consolidated with Maurice
High to form a new school. North Vermilion High
School was built and located in the community of
Leroy. North Vermilion houses grades 7-12. It
opened in 1980.
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In 1994, Meaux Elementary experienced a fire and
in 1995 the new school opened. 
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Leroy is also in Vermilion Parish. The community
of Leroy was first named La Butte Rouge because
the Abshire family residence there was painted
red and could be seen from a distance.
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That name was changed to Leroy when a post
office was established to remember the young son
of Dr. Theonis Abshire. Theonis Abshire was the
son of the original settlers off this area and
the first doctor to practice in the area.He had
his practice in a home. The doctor's son, Leroy,
died as a child from tuberculosis. The community
was named after the son.
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The Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help was
established in Leroy in 1922. Father Maurice
Veekmans was first pastor.North Vermilion is a
school in Leroy, Louisiana.
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Many terrible things happened through the
years. In 1917 World War 1 began. In 1941 World
War II began. The Korean War began in 1950. 
The Vietnam War began in 1965 and in 1991 men
fought in the Gulf War and many have served since
the September 11th terrorist attacks.  The
Meaux and Leroy areas had many floods, fires and
hurricanes too.
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• Both Meaux and Leroy both have interesting
  facts about their communities. Can you remember
  some of the facts?

The End