Cajun Country: Company Town, Garryville

Garryville was built by the Chicago-based Stebbins Lumber Company. From 1903 to the1930s, ancient cypress from the nearly swamps were cut. This company town is only 3 blocks wide and 8 blocks deep: Main Street for the whites, East Street was built for the black workers, and West Street for the mainly Italians. Over 60 of these houses are still standing. Click on the photos to see more details.

Whites continue to live in these narrow, two-story houses.

Italians and blacks continue to live on separate streets.

Based on field work by Ingolf Vogeler in March 2003; created on 21 March 2003.