Legend of the Creole Cat
It all started in 1879, in a small town called Dekattrois, Louisiana. The myth of the Creole Cat transformed from legend to actuality. By the early 1900s, word spread all over Louisiana about a wild creature that put Dekattrois on the map.
Legend has
it that a large cat would stalk the Dekattrois neighborhoods after the
heat of summer would subside, and before the chill of winter would set
in. Residents would swear that they were sober when they saw a cat, over
six feet high they claim, walking up on its two hind legs, terrorizing
children and dogs in its path. Later a crazed resident of Dekattrois
caught the Creole Cat and put it up on a pole for all to see. When
neighbors saw this huge cat mounted on a pole, they would come out and
pet it. This gathering which happened a long time ago was later named
Pole Cat day. Who knew at the time, but an annual tradition started in
Dekattrois which led to the modern times Creole Cat Festival, held every
October on the even year." —Rudy Truax, Lafayette Historian,
THE CREOLE CAT FESTIVAL
In 1922, the Creole Cat Festival became
so popular that it was moved from Choctaw Park to Dekattrois Commons
where a record setting 125,000 people attended in one day. On the third
day of the festival a hurricane blew through and forced organizers to
shut down. Dekattrois was hit with winds over 100 mph and severe
flooding. Dekattrois Commons was totally devastated. We Will Rebuild was
the towns response to nature. Dekattrois was never rebuilt, and
eventually reclaimed by nature.
DEKATTROIS, "THE CITY OF COMMERCE"
Dekattrois was founded as a stopping point for pioneers of the west. For decades the only commercial properties were a hotel, three bars and a blacksmith shoppe.
WHERE IS DEKATTROIS, LOUISIANA
If you draw a straight line between
Breaux Bridge and Mamou, you will see five lakes which appears as a paw
print. Now follow these lakes due east twelve miles and you've found
Dekattrois!
