Bayou Gauche Church

Across the tranquil waters, the Bayou Gauche Church has witnessed the ebb and flow of life in this unique community. Bayou Gauche is a peculiar place, a remote town largely surrounded by water. Much of the island is owned by the heirs of Sidney Simoneaux, who lease the land to residents. The church, originally the Des Allemands School, has journeyed through time and across the water. From 1923 to 1931, it served the children of Des Allemands. Then, it was barged down to Comardelle Village, where Zoe Petit of Ama became the first teacher in its new location. Other teachers like Martha Berthelot, Mae Moore, and Lutie Sammis guided young minds within its walls. Students and teachers alike arrived at the school by boat, a testament to the area’s unique geography. In 1941, the building embarked on another voyage, this time to Bayou Gauche. It continued its educational mission until 1958 before eventually becoming the American Legion Hall on WPA Road. Before its life as a school, the building housed multiple congregations under a single roof. The Sanctified Church, believed to have started in the 1870s, shared the space with the Assembly of God and the Pentecostal Church. This shared sanctuary existed down the bayou, nestled between the homes of John “Buddy” Frickey and Willie Dufrene. The Assembly of God, initially holding services in private homes, formally organized in 1924. It remained in the shared building until 1941 when it too was barged to Bayou Gauche, following the school’s watery path. The Bayou Gauche Church stands as a symbol of the community’s resilience and adaptability. It reflects a history interwoven with the waterways that define this unique corner of Louisiana.