Footnotes of a Retired “Teckie Teacher”

The true story surrounding “Rudolph the Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” has a unique legacy surrounding its birth.  Chances are that you know Rudolph’s story, but do you know his history? Think about it. What do you know about Rudolph’s origin aside that it is a song and movie?

The “true story” of Rudolph was actually born and bred in the vivid imagination of Robert May, a 35 five year old copyrighter, in the latter part of the thirties.  Isn’t it amazing that the power of one man’s imagination could actually change a part of Christmas history?

In 1939, this Christmas story/poem was written to help bring holiday traffic into a famous department store in Chicago. The character “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” was the creation of Robert May. He was an advertising writer for the Montgomery Ward Chicago Department Store.  His goal was to create a booklet to give to parents who shopped at Montgomery Ward Department Stores.

May’s story (booklet) titled “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” was a Christmas story about Santa Claus’ ninth and lead reindeer.

Of course, the story and song tells the endearing story of the most famous Christmas reindeer. His large bright red nose saves Christmas for boys and girls around the world, as he leads Santa through a foggy Christmas Eve.  However, did you know the birth of Rudolph was the brain chain of a department store chain in Chicago, not the North Pole?

The rhyme pattern was written similar to Clement Moore’s “Twas the Night Before Christmas.”  In the story, May’s character Rudolph was a young reindeer teased by the other reindeer because of his large, glowing, red nose. As the story unfolds, on one  foggy Christmas Eve, Santa (concerned about his deliveries) turns to the bright nosed reindeer to save Christmas. The story was a hit with customers and as the saying goes, “the rest is history.”

Montgomery Ward sold almost two and a half million copies of the story in 1939.  In 1946, when reissued, the book sold over three and half million copies.

In 1947, the story of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer was put to music by Johnny Marks, Robert Mays’ brother in law.

It was recorded and sung by a famous TV singing star named Gene Autry. The legacy of Rudolph now branched off into a new domain selling millions of copies of the song.

Since then, the story has been translated into twenty-five languages. In 1964, it was made into a television movie, narrated by Burl Ives.

When you think about it, in 1939 Rudolph was just an idea floating in Robert Mays head.  Born in his imagination almost 70 years ago, Santa’s lead reindeer has now become the most famous reindeer of all.

Amazing isn’t it? What would Christmas be like now with no story or song of Rudolph?  One thing is certain, without imagination, the infamous world of Christmas would have one less bright light around the world on Christmas Eve? Well at least one less bight “red” light that is….

Take the Comprehension Test here or download the story in MS Word and take the interactive quiz, by typing in the gray areas. Print and give to your teacher.

Stacy Bodin LACUE 2011

Resources from Session!

• PowerPoint (with links to actual student videos)
• PDF File (PPT but in PDF Version)

Goal and Purpose of the session
• To get away from lecturing 100% or the time or to alleviate children sitting idle, which many of us grew up with.
• To meet the needs of the students which accommodate learning for all.
• To engage the children in productive hands on experiences.

• Vermilion Parish Digital Photo/Video Help Site @ http://www.vrml.k12.la.us/curriculum/tech/digital/digit_phovid.htm
  Digital Photo Links
  Educational Uses of Digital Storytelling
  Action! Get the Cameras Rolling with Digital Storytelling
• Picnik (Free but limited and paying. For photos)
  Lunapic (Free for photo)
  Photostory 3 (Still photos) Doesn’t work on Vista or Windows 7
  Photo Story Matters! Teaching Idea
  Photo Story Tutorials
  Using Microsoft Photostory 3 (Written Directions)
  How to create a photo story using Photo Story 3
  21st Century Teaching / Photostory 3 Examples
  Photo Story Resources
  Rollip
  Masher (Photo and video)
  Animoto (Photo and video_
  One True Media (Photo and video)
  Photo Peach (Photo and video)
  Movie Maker 2 (Photo and video)
  Windows XP: Movie Maker 2.1 Download (Photo and video)
  Windows Movie Maker 2.6 (Photo and video)
  Windows Movie Maker 2 – Atomic Learning (Photo and video)
  Windows Live Movie Maker – Download (Photo and video)
  Windows Live Movie Maker 2011 (Photo and video)
  NOTE: Slide.com Awesome site but closing in March!

How can it help?
• Example: Have the students take photos of an experiment. (Water cycle) Have the take pictures when you pour the water. Take another picture when it evaporates. Take pictures of the clouds. Have the students label the process. You can do this with powerpoint or with one of the programs we just talked about.
Questions
• How can making videos help with the curriculum?
• What should I film?
• Where do I get ideas or lessons?
• Where do I get help for more digital needs?
• What kind of camera do I need?
• What do I do after I have the film clips?
• How much work is it?
• Are the students really engaged?
• Who films the segments?
• If I post it, what should I do?
How can making videos help with the curriculum?
• Creating videos that tie into curriculum topics can engage the students in an effective way. Put the project in their hands to give them responsibility. Dozier’s list of plans are http://www.vrml.k12.la.us/dozier/eye/09_10/digitwishplans/dwplans.htm
• Lori Porter @ Dozier has started a lesson plan page. http://www.vrml.k12.la.us/dozier4/loriporter.htm

How do I do all of this and remain sane?
• Management is the key.
• Start slow. Be prepared with materials before class begins. Have resources in place.
• Have a routine that students can understand.
• Before I began any lesson, I explained what our goal was and how we would pace ourselves.
• Lori Porter, now has a sheet she hands out for the entire lesson. That is given at the
beginning and she states her expectations.

What should I film?
• I would recommend you do something small first, then allow students to video. Film reports, hellos, interviews, weather casts, songs, chants, etc.

Where do I get ideas, lessons or see actual videos?

• Dozier’s Video Library
• http://www.vrml.k12.la.us/dozier/eye/2010_11/videos.htm
• Vermilion Parish Flip Camera Lessons! http://www.vrml.k12.la.us/curriculum/tech/multimedia/lessons.htm
• Dozier’s Digital Wish Site (Our Plans)
• http://www.vrml.k12.la.us/dozier/eye/09_10/digitwishplans/dwplans.htm
• Lori Porter’s Plans
• http://www.vrml.k12.la.us/dozier4/loriplans/loritechplans.htm
• Digital Wish Lesson Plan Library
• http://www.digitalwish.com/dw/digitalwish/view_lesson_plans
• Christmas Ideas
• http://www.vrml.k12.la.us/holidays/Christmas/flipcamera/flipcamlesson1.htm

How much work is it?

• It doesn’t have to be large projects. Start small. It can be reading reports, singing a special song with a message, saying “hello” to someone sick, soldiers, etc.
• Just like any lesson plan, the more you put in it however the better the results will be.
  Project Based Learning: Differentiated Learning (Many links)
• What is project-based learning? (From the Literacy Assistance Center) Project-based learning (PBL) is an approach to instruction that focuses on problem-solving and/or product development. Learners generally work collaboratively in groups to solve a problem, accomplish a task, or both. PBL helps students see how the skills and content they learn in the classroom can apply to real-life.

Are the students really engaged?
• If you monitor the students and lessons, YES! Have clear expectations set up BEFORE you begin. State the goal for them to know what is expected. Monitor groups or individually closely.

Who films the segments?
• Anyone you are comfortable with filming. It can be you or the students. I have seen children as young as Kindergarten filming their own clips.
What do I do after I have the film clips?
• You can watch it from the camera.
• You can download it on your desktop.
• If the children can be online, you can upload them on your website and embed the file.

If I post it, what should I do?
I am basically NOT a fan of YouTube in the classroom due to the comment section.
• One True Media (Free and limited or paying site)
• Animoto (Free and limited or paying site)
• Masher
• SchoolTube (Free)
• Teacher Tube (Free)
• Kids Tube
• Panraven

How to I convert video files?
• Converting media if you need to edit with Movie Maker.
• One site I really use is Hamster Video Converter.
Know your file type. Flip cameras have MP4 files. You can have .avi, .wmv, etc.
• With WIndows 7 Movie Maker Live, there is no need to convert. It takes most video files.
The reason?
• If you want to “edit” in Windows Movie Maker, you may have to convert the file from an MP4 to a .wmv.

Music Links (With limitations) These should be approved by your district before adding music even though they are within the site.
Pre-created sites/programs with music within them.
• Sites like One True Media, Animoto , Masher have music within the site, however when posting online, read the fine print.
• Flip Camera Program also have free music within the site.
• Free classroom music, but NOT online: Great site @ Freeplaymusic.com @ http://freeplaymusic.com (Can’t post online however) Classroom use only.

Sites you can use online for free but you need to credit them.
• Free Music @ http://www.seabreezecomputers.com/tips/freemusic.htm
• DanoSongs.com @ http://www.danosongs.com
• Sonnyboo.com @ http://sonnyboo.com/music/music.htm

Video doesn’t show online?
• Read this information. You can trying installing (or updating) flash player, as well as shockwave player or Adobe Air. You may also need to install or update Windows Media Player. Try updating Java. Then reboot your computer. If the video, still doesn’t show, you will to open it with Internet Explorer browser. You can “mute” the sound on the player.
•If you trying to view mp4 files directly from the Flip Camera, you may want to install Quick Time.
•Real Player

Auguste Brasseaux was the son of Joseph Brasseaux (1775 – 1803) and Théodose Gautreaux (September 3, 1775-1813). He was born in St. Gabriel on August 27, 1800. He  married Suzanne Primeaux (September 24, 1810- January 24, 1870), daughter of Francois Primeaux (1787 – 1833) and Justine Baudoin (1787–1877). Note: The list of Francois and Justine Primeaux’s children can be found on page 44.

Auguste and Suzanne Brasseaux married on October 4, 1825 at the Vermilionville Church in Lafayette Parish. By the 1840′s they had moved south to the Abbeville area in Vermilion Parish. Auguste died near Abbeville on November 12, 1862 at 62 years old.

Their children included:

1.Elmire Brasseaux   b: April 5, 1827 in Lafayette, LA

2.Aladin Brasseaux   b: May 21, 1828 in Lafayette, LA

3.Joachim Brasseaux   b: October 1829 in Lafayette, LA

4.Teleide Brasseaux   b: April 23 1832 in Lafayette, LA

5.Victorine Brasseaux   b: February 5, 1833 in Lafayette, LA

6.Aureline Brasseaux   b: March 21, 1836 in Lafayette, LA

7.Adrien Brasseaux  b: December 8, 1839 in Lafayette, LA

8.Joseph Brasseaux   b: September 23, 1845 in Abbeville, LA

9.Gustave Brasseaux   b: January 4, 1851 in Abbeville, LA

One Brasseaux son was Aladin, the father of  Ophe Brasseaux. He was born in Lafayette Parish on May 21, 1828. In March 1856, he married Belzire Broussard (b. June 26,  1836), who was the daughter of fellow Acadians, Don Louis Martin Broussard and Magadeline Beniot in the Abbeville Church.

Aladin’s children all born in Abbeville, Louisiana included: Marie Umea Brasseaux  b:  January 16, 1857; Ophe Brasseaux (b: September 25,  1863; Galbert (Albert) Brasseaux  (b: around 1861); Ophelia Brasseaux  (b: September 25, 1870);  and Joseph Edward Brasseaux (b: 13 February 1878).

Ophe Brasseaux had four children. Three with first wife Anna Sonnier (Leah, Lucia and Fenelon) and one additional daughter with Bertha Broussard Brasseaux, named Anna Brasseaux (Broussard). Ophe had five grandchildren. Two of the grandchildren were daughters of Fenelon. Those were Emily Brasseaux Bodin and Mary Mae Brasseaux. The other three were children of daughter Lucia Brasseaux and her 1st husband Whitney Butuad. Their names were Melvin, Lloyd and Norma Butuad. Ophe had two daughters who never had biological children, but each did raise a relative’s child. Leah raised Emily, Fenelon’s daughter. Anna raised Mary Mae Brasseaux’s daughter Shirley.

Ophe Brasseaux was the son of Aladin Brasseaux and Belzire Broussard. His siblings were Marie Umea, Ophelia, Galbert and Joseph Edward Brasseaux. His paternal grandparents were Auguste Brasseaux and Suzanne Primeaux. His maternal grandparents were Don Louis Martin Broussard (1804-1880) and Magadeline Beniot (born December 14, 1806).

Ophe Brassseaux married Anna Sonnier (daughter of Charles Sonnier and Elizabeth Belair) on October 3, 1885. The Brasseaux’s three children were Leah, Lucia and Fenelon Brasseaux.  The family is unsure what happened to Ophe Brasseaux’s 1st wife Anna Sonnier following Fenelon’s birth in 1890.  We haven’t found records on her death (or life for that matter) as of yet.

The oldest child of the couple was Leah Brasseaux (born on August 4, 1886). She married Osay Broussard, but the couple never had biological children. Leah (and Osay) raised her brother Fenelon’s daughter Emily after her mother (Eva Meyers Brasseaux) died at 22 years old. Emily was about 2 at the time.

Lucia Brasseaux was born in 1887 and married twice. Her first husband was Whitney Butuad. They had three children Lloyd, Melvin and Norma. Her second husband was Adam Landry.

Ophe and Anna’s only son Fenelon Brasseaux was born on March 9, 1890 and married four times:  He first married Eva Meyers on October 8, 1910, who died just four years later on May 14, 1914 of diphtheria and profound blood poisoning.  His second wife was Auneus Broussard, who died in 1940 of cancer. He then married his  third wife Claudia Vincent. His last wife was Marie Nevarre.  Fenelon had one daughter with Eve Meyers. Their daughter Emily Brasseaux Bodin was born on August 7, 1911. He had another daughter with Aenues Broussard Mary Mae Brasseaux February 24, 1917.  Fenelon was a World War I Veteran.

Ophe Brasseaux married Bertha Broussard Brasseaux on February 14, 1898. Ophe had another daughter, Anna Brasseaux circa 1899. The couple and their daughter lived in Vermilion Parish and in Port Arthur, Texas. Ophe and Bertha Brasseaux divorced on January 14, 1942. His daughter Anna (Brasseaux) married Oze Broussard and never had any biological children. They raised Mary Mae Brasseaux’s daughter, Shirley Brasseaux (Broussard). The family isn’t sure is Shirley was ever legally adopted. In school, she used Broussard as her last name.

Ophe Brasseaux died on October 24, 1943.

In 1999, while working as the historian for Erath’s Centennial celebration, an interesting church article written by the town’s foremost historian Clement Bourgeois Jr. and Mrs. Robert Segura Sr. came across my desk. A passage in the article mentioned that four Civil War veterans were buried in the Primeaux Cemetery, south of Erath. At that time, my dad (Cap Bodin) mentioned that one of the names listed, Eulcide Primeaux, was (his paternal grandmother) Eve Primeaux Bodin’s grandfather. With no additional time on my side to research it, I put on the back burner.  In all honesty though, the amateur Civil War history buff and Erath historian in me never forgot that statement.

The paragraph written by Clement Bourgeois Jr. and Mrs. Robert Segura in the “Our Lady of Lourdes” Catholic Church history book in 1973-74 stated: “The oldest map from the Surveyor General shows no land owner as of 1848 in what is now Erath. We were then part of the Attakapas Country originally governed from St. Martinville. The closest settlers then were Jean and Charles Dugas who had large land holdings in the vicinity of what we know as Gross Isle. The oldest cemetery in this area is known as the Trahan-Primeaux Cemetery-is located at Gross Isle. At least four confederate soldiers are buried there: (two brothers) Pierre Aurelien and Euclide Primeaux-both of Company B, 7th Cavalry, C.S.A.-Adrien Brasseaux, Company C. of the same regiment, and Clairville Landry of the 18th La. Infantry C.S.A.”  (Bourgeois 1973-74)

Recently, in working with the ancestry.com site, coupled with the 150th Civil War Anniversary this year, I found my interest peaked once again. In the summer of 2011, I decided to go to the Primeaux Cemetery to see if (a) Euclide really did have a Confederate grave and (b) was it still standing after two massive floods in the low line Erath area.

Tombstone of Euclide Primeaux

In all honesty, I was rather surprised to locate Euclide Primeaux’s Civil War tomb almost immediately. It  was intact and his name was undeniably on a Civil War tombstone. With no notices, nor dates engraved on his tomb however, my quest wasn’t over just yet.

Through my weeks of searching, I began finding tidbits of information about him.

Eve Primeaux Bodin’s father Euclide, was one of a dozen children born to Francois and Justine (Baudoin) Primeaux. Their twelve children included Pierre Aremlin (Aurelien) and his twin Francois, Suzanne, Joseph, Aspasie, Marie Uranie, Marie Cesaire, Marie Francoise, Emilite, Marie Valsaine, Onezide (Nizida), with the final child being Euclide Primeaux, Almost all records show Euclide’s birth to be August 10, 1829, however in his interview in applying for his Confederate pension in 1907, he states he was  born on August 9, 1829. (Note: Mixed up birth and death dates, as well as different variations of name spellings were common at that time.)

Euclide Primeaux married Remise Vincent in 1849, also of a very large family. Remise Vincent was the daughter of Joseph and Marie Louise “Lise” Landry Vincent. Euclide and Remise’s children included: Emile, Emelia, Francois, Joseph, Pierre Despreaux (Dupre), Clairfait, Emitille, Umea, Éméla and Dulva Primeaux.

The 3rd child of  Euclide and Remise, Francois Primeaux, was Eve Primeaux (Bodin’s) father. As with most of the Bodin and Primeaux families I found in the census records during that era, Euclide Primeaux was a farmer in the Vermilion Parish area.

In terms of my online search for his Civil War records however, I found that to be a much more difficult task. The entry records I searched, showed no Euclide Primeaux documents at the beginning of the war.  During that era, the Primeaux surname (and most first names) had a number of spelling variations, often stagnating my search. I did find some that could have possibly been matches, but I wanted to be as certain as possible. Also evident in my mind was the knowledge that there was a 2nd Euclide Primeaux born a decade later, so I wanted to verify that this was “our Euclide” so to say.

Finally, I stumbled across the Louisiana Secretary of State Confederate Pension Applications online index and found his name spelled correctly. In a final attempt to verify he did indeed serve, I ordered the records to see the proof once and for all.

On September 3, 2011, I received the hard copy documents.  Evidence of his participation in the war is cited in his 1907 application to receive an $8 a month Civil War pension. For me, the final leg of this journey was seeing the year of his birth “1829.”

In the records, I was able to learn a little more about him and his family. (Just a side note, this interview was conducted more than four decades after the war ended. In realizing this, I found myself thinking… “could I remember what happened 42 years ago and how accurate would the information be?”)

Documentation shows that his family was very poor, and at 77 years old, he was living between his six surviving children rotating his schedule with them on a weekly basis. He appeared to be in failing health.  Also, just as I suspected, he was illiterate. The document has his (signed) “x” at the end of the form with the Clerk’s office.

Additionally, it also shows that his wife Remise died around 1903. Apparently by that time in his life, he had lost 4 of his 10 children. When asked how many children he has, he states “six, two boys and four girls.” Most records I have found stated he had 10 children. I have found evidence of deaths for at least three of his children by 1907.

Pierre Aurelein Primeaux Tomb

On the pension interview sheet it states he was born in Lafayette Parish. At the time of his entry in the Civil War, he  would have been about 33 years old. He notes that he enlisted in the Civil War at Camp Pratt in May of 1862 and served in the Infantry, Fournet’s Battalion, Company E, he names Miles Legion and that he was a taken as a prisoner at Port Hudson. In the interview document this question was asked:  “If a prisoner, in what camp, and where were you released, and to where sent?” He responded “I was taken a prisoner at Port Hudson two days before the port surrendered.  I was released or rather ran away from the Yankees and came home. After that, I joined my regiment at Alexandria.”

I also found in the Primeaux Cemetery records online that Hortense Comeaux Primeaux was also buried in the Primeaux Cemetery.  With that information, I personally feel it may have been Euclide’s nephew who served and is buried with him, not his brother.   Note: Euclide was born in 1829 and his nephew (the younger Pierre Aurelein) in 1832. They were much closer in age that the two brothers. It is possible that both father and son served, but I haven’t found evidence to that effect as of yet. Either way however, whichever Pierre A. Primeaux  it is buried with Euclide, without a doubt, there is a  definite Bodin/Primeaux family connection to our family.

Clairville Landry's Tomb

Clairville Landry is the 3rd Civil War soldier in the Primeaux Cemetery. (He was my dad Cap’s great, great, great uncle on his mother’s Landry side of the family.)  Ironically, we found out through the process that Clairville is also my mother Gertie Hebert Bodin’s great, great, great grandfather as well! (Gertie’s great, great grandmother was Elodie Landry Suire, Clairville’s daughter.)

The 4th soldier is also family to my father on his mother’s Brasseaux side. Adrian Brasseaux is Cap’s great, great, great uncle on the (maternal) Brasseaux side and his 3rd cousin on his (paternal) Primeaux side. Adrien Brasseaux’s mom was Suzanne Primeaux and his father was Auguste Brasseaux making the family relatives with Adrian on both sides of my family.

If you are confused at this point, welcome to the club! I often laughed at myself because my brain felt like knotted yarn, however with my stubborn streak I was bound and determined to untangle at the very least, “some” of this.

Now with that said, allow me to go on record as saying that I still struggle immensely with the south’s participation in the Civil War and reasons for their fight. No matter how much I try, I can’t deny that fact, nor can I comprehend the “whys” of it. However, I was still intrigued that these men were my ancestors. I am not quite sure why it did fascinate me…  all I can say is that it did.

As an educator and historian, I know we can’t change the decisions made by past generations, nor change history. The only thing we can do is accept it and try to make sense of the many lessons learned from it.

I found this quote by Alex Haley that I felt was a great way to end the article…. “In every conceivable manner, the family is link to our past, bridge to our future.” I feel their past has become a bridge for our actions. Sometimes the best lessons learned come from decisions made by prior generations, whether it be ones that are right or wrong. Simply put, it is up to us to learn from past generations, just as future generations will learn from ours.

With a historian’s heart, I felt it was important to share this story in my dad’s book. Undoubtedly, I am glad I allowed myself to travel on this unique path because it allowed me to view my ancestors in a different light.

Ironically, in all of the hours I spent researching my family’s history, one day it dawned on me that I had truly gone beyond the mere names on my family tree or names on tombstones, I was finally seeing some of the human beings at the root of our family. So for this “historian at heart” it was a well traveled journey that I will forever treasure.

Citation 1: Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Directory 1973-74-page 5; written by Clement Bourgeois Jr. and Mrs. Robert Segura

Print story MS Word or PDF

Our Bodin Legacy

The information below is a combination of Bodin historian Larry Bodin’s information from the Bodin of Les Familles Bodin website and research done by Stacy Bodin. Thanks to Larry’s extensive family research, we have been able to preserve a small part of our family legacy, which might have been lost forever.  Also a special thanks to Travis Callahan who maintains the Bodin Family site.

French immigrant Jean Louis Bodin was born on the island of Noirmoutier, France in 1761 to parents Pierre Bodin and Jeanne Massonet. His paternal grandparents were Pierre Bodin and Jeanne Guibeaux, and his maternal grandparents were Mathurine Massonet and Claire Isacard.

Jean Louis Bodin’s documented legacy takes our family story back to 1715, the year his grandfather Pierre Bodin was born in France. However the “Louisiana-Bodin” tie basically began with Jean Louis Bodin, who Larry stated on the Les Famillies Bodin’s site was a “seaman on the sailing vessel La Bon PaPa.” The La Bon PaPa was the first and smallest of the seven ships that sailed from France to the Louisiana Territories bringing the first French immigrants.

Jean Louis Bodin (1761-1806) and Marie Francois Josèphe Doiron (1768-1818)

Both Jean Louis Bodin and Marie Francois Josèphe Doiron have citations found on the Louviere Database and Families site.  Those citations state:

Jean Louis Bodin citation:  “Birth-28 December 1761-Jean Louis Bodin was born on 28 December 1761 at Moir Moutier, France; “On Monday, twenty-eight, Jean Louis born this day at noon. Son of Pierre BODIN farmer to l’Herbaudière and Jeanne Massenet , his wife, was baptized by us, Vicar undersigned: the godfather was Pierre Issabare (not sure), Germain cousin and godmother Marie BODIN, paternal aunt of the child.”

The Marie Francois Josèphe Doiron citation states “Francoise Doiron was born circa 1768 at St. Malo, France; see census data.”

Alexis Doiron (Gregorie Bodin’s Great, Great Grandfather)

With adversity plaguing the Doiron family for several decades, the strength of the family appeared to be their strong suit along the way. More than one generation crossed oceans in an attempt to find better lives for their families. Alexis Doiron’s granddaughter, Marie Francoise-Josèphe Doiron would play undeniable role in the Bodin family’s Louisiana legacy.

The story begins with the Alexis Doiron family in the 1600’s.

Alexis Doiron’s paternal grandfather Jean Doiron was born around 1649 in France and brought his family to settle in Canada around 1670.  Jean Doiron’s grandson Alexis Doiron was born in Pisiquid, Canada (modern Windsor, Nova Scotia) on June 29, 1723, to Louis Doiron and Marguerite Barrieau.

At the age of 20, Alexis married Marguerite Thibodeau on September 12, 1743 in Canada. Alexis’ young wife Marguerite dies sometime after giving birth to three children.

Canadian census of 1752 before he reaches his 30th birthday, Alexis Doriron is mentioned as a widower. “ALEXIS DOUARON, widower, ploughman, native of I’Acadie, aged 29 years, he has been in the country two years. He has three sons: Gregoire, aged 8 years, Joseph, aged 6 years, Theodore, aged 3 years. And the following live stock: two oxen, one horse and two pigs. The land on which he is settled is situated as in the preceding case [at the farther end of Grand Anse], It was given to him verbally by Monsieurde Bonnaventure. He has made no clearing.”

On July 20, 1753, he remarries 15-year-old Madeleine-Josephe Bourg. By this time, the tumultuous years of Acadian unrest in Canada is at hand bringing  with it,  major changes to Acadian communities. As with many others during this troublesome era, the Alexis Doiron family faced deportation to France in fall of 1758.

After expulsion in 1758, the family faced immense struggle while in France. The family lost two children and hard times consumed their lives. After many years in France, the entire family eventually returned to Canada, except for his eldest son (Alexis Gregorie Doiron’s) family. One source cited that “it appears the Alexis Doiron family left France and returned to Canada without permission, making it an illegal voyage at that time.”

In the magazine article “The Saga of Alexis Doiron” it states that little is known about how or when the family returned to Canada, but there is a document found indicating that the Doiron family was settled there on June 1, 1772 showing their return to Canada.

Canadian census of 1752 before he reaches his 30th birthday, Alexis Doriron is mentioned as a widower. “ALEXIS DOUARON, widower, ploughman, native of I’Acadie, aged 29 years, he has been in the country two years. He has three sons: Gregoire, aged 8 years, Joseph, aged 6 years, Theodore, aged 3 years. And the following live stock: two oxen, one horse and two pigs. The land on which he is settled is situated as in the preceding case [at the farther end of Grand Anse], It was given to him verbally by Monsieurde Bonnaventure. He has made no clearing.”

On July 20, 1753, he remarries 15-year-old Madeleine-Josephe Bourg. By this time, the tumultuous years of Acadian unrest in Canada is at hand bringing  with it,  major changes to Acadian communities. As with many others during this troublesome era, the Alexis Doiron family faced deportation to France in fall of 1758.

Father and Daughter Legacy – Alexis “Gregorie” Doiron- Marie Francois Josèphe Doiron

After expulsion in 1758, the family faced immense struggle while in France. The family lost two children and hard times consumed their lives. After many years in France, the entire family eventually returned to Canada, except for his eldest son (Alexis Gregorie Doiron’s) family. One source cited that “it appears the Alexis Doiron family left France and returned to Canada without permission, making it an illegal voyage at that time.”

In the magazine article “The Saga of Alexis Doiron” it states that little is known about how or when the family returned to Canada, but there is a document found indicating that the Doiron family was settled there on June 1, 1772 showing their return to Canada.

How did the Our Bodin family end up in Louisiana?

During 1785, seven ships set sail from France to New Orleans. According to the Acadian–Cajun Geneology site, the fifth ship named the  L’Amitie was led by Captain Joseph Beltremieux.  Their intense voyage began in France on August 20, 1785 and traveled for 80 days. The 400 ton ship arrived in New Orleans, Louisiana on November 8, 1785 with 270 people (68 families) on board.

On the L’Amitié ship were two of Alexis Gregorie Doiron’s daughters, Doiron’s widow Helene (Aucoin) Dantin, her second husband Louis Dantin and his daughters. Those listed in the family on the L’Amitie ship were:  Louis DANTIN, house carpenter 38; Hélène AUCOIN, wife 37; Jeanne DANTIN, daughter 16; Marie DANTIN, daughter 12; Anne DANTIN, daughter 9; Julie DANTIN, daughter 7; Françoise DOIRON, Hélène’s daughter 17; Marie DOIRON, Hélène’s daughter 12.

Once in Louisiana, Marie Francoise-Josèphe Doiron married Jean-Louis Bodin, the son of French Creole Pierre Baudin (or Bodin) of Normandy, France on February 28, 1787 in St. Gabriel, Louisiana. The marriage of Jean Louis Bodin and Marie Francoise Doiron produced six children. Gregoire’ Bodin  1795–1865; Jean Charles Bodin; 1797–1822; Genevive Bodin  1800–1849; Simon Bodin  1800–1849; Clemencia Bodin;1804–unsure of death date and Marie Rose Bodin 1805–1875.  (continued on the next page).

Gregoire’ Bodin

Gregoire’ Bodin was born December 12, 1795, in Saint Gabriel, Louisiana to Jean Louis Bodin and Marie Francois Josèphe Doiron. Gregoire’ married Pelagie Rene LeBlanc, the daughter of Rene Leblanc and Marguerite Trahan on November 11, 1816.  Their children included: Joseph Bodin 1817–1839; Therence (Terrence) Bodin 1819 – 1880; Norbert Bodin 1821–1890; Emile Bodin  1823–1896; Caroline Bodin 1825 – 1876 Josephine Bodin 1827–1864; Aurelia Bodin 1829–1832; Dolze John Bodin 1832–1901; Melanie Bodin 1835–1869; and Pierre Ulix Bodin 1837–1910.

After the death of Pelagie LeBlanc Bodin in 1840, Gregoire’ remarried Natalie Bourg (Bourque) with Natalie giving birth to five additional Bodin children. Those born of the Bodin Bourg union included: Marie Asema Bodin Penn 1836–1911; Gregoire’ Bodin Jr. 1845–1852; Eugene Gabriel Bodin 1849–1929; Eleanor Felicite Bodin 1852 –1861 and an unnamed Bodin baby in 1852.

The Les Familles Bodin website also states that Gregoire’ “took over the duties of under tutor for the eight minor children of his deceased brother, Simon when he died at 48 years of age.”

Despite the fact that Gregoire’ Bodin could not read or write, he became a respected businessman in St. Mary Parish as a sugar cane plantation owner with 2000 acres of land. Gregoire Bodin’s plantation structure built in 1841 near Charenton still stands today. It was renamed Vacherie by later owners.

Due to lack of education and the ability to read or write, many family stories were chronicled verbally and passed on to the next generation. Some of those are mentioned below:

On the Bodin of Les Familles Bodin website, Bodin historian, Larry Bodin states: “Both Gregoire’ and his brother were men of large stature, and stories were told that when they were together they did not need a ladder.” Another comment about his large statue states that a “pair of Gregoire’s pants is still owned by a family member and the waist of those pants, when held up by an average sized man, reach the neck of the holder.”

Another unique tid bit of information states that his pants held a special meaning for the older descendants of Gregoire’ as the last tie to their ancestor.  One elderly family member told Larry Bodin that when the elder members of the family were near death they would call for someone to bring the pants to their bedside so that they “could see them one more time.”  Larry cited that “the family member recounting this story would cry each time he told it.”

A popular story passed down through the generations involves his death. Upon his death on the upper floor of his plantation home, Gregoire’ was too large to bring down the spiral staircase.  His servants had to cut a hole in the ceiling and lower his body to the bottom floor with ropes.  A note on the Les Famillies Bodin website says that “a recent renovation of the home covered the hole that was still visible up until that time.” 

As per the Bodin Famillies Website: Gregoire’ Bodin died in 1865 and is buried in a family tomb in Charenton. When Gregoire died he was buried in the family tomb. On August 26, 1992 Hurricane Andrew severely damaged the tomb when one of the large pieces of marble fell off and was broken. On October 25, 1993 Gregoire’s great great great grandson, Larry Bodin, undertook the task of restoring the tomb. The renovation began and lasted until April 8, 1994. The renovators stated that it would be too costly to build a tomb with marble today, and that the cost would run to more than $20,000. The cost of the renovation was over $4,000 and was paid with contributions from members of the Bodin Family. One final note states “Larry is probably one of the few people who has seen the remains of his  great great grandfather.” In Larry’s own words he stated he was ” a giant of a man, over seven feet”.

Citations:  “Saga of Alexis Doiron” magazine article (The Island Magazine, Number 39, Spring/Summer 1996) and the Bodin Les Famillies Website

Click: Focusing on the Digital Age (LACUE 2010)

• http://www.vrml.k12.la.us/smbodin/LACUE_NECC/2010_LACUE_DigitalAgeFlip/DigitalAge2010.htm

Flip Camera Links!

• http://www.vrml.k12.la.us/curriculum/tech/multimedia/mutlimedia.htm

Dozier Elementary Video Clips (Actual Student Films)

• http://www.vrml.k12.la.us/dozier/eye/2010_11/videos.htm

Dozier Elementary recently announced Lori Gunter Porter as the school’s 2011-2012 “Teacher of the Year”. With Porter’s family present, Principal Karla Toups was able to successfully surprise her with the announcement at the school wide Dozier Elementary Christmas Band Concert on December 16, 2010. Porter is currently a 4th grade teacher with thirteen years of experience. She works with a team teacher Kay Lurry, and teaches two sections of Social Studies, Science and Math at the Erath elementary school. Porter began her teaching career at Park Elementary in New Iberia. She then transferred to Vermilion Parish where she worked at Herod Elementary. In 2001, she transferred to Dozier Elementary.

Due to Hurricane Rita’s damages in 2005, the 4th grade sections at Dozier Elementary were transferred to the Erath Middle campus. Porter was one of the teachers transferred and remained there until 2009. Once Dozier Elementary’s original school plant reopened in 2009, she returned to the present campus. Without a doubt, one of Porter’s teaching strengths lies with promoting state expectations while seamlessly meshing 21st century skills for her students’ extensive work with technology projects. By utilizing her classroom computers, a Promethean Board, digital cameras and flip cameras in her classroom on a daily basis, her students are continuously engaged in lessons bringing excitement, interest and learning into her classroom. (Many of her own teacher created lesson plans, student photos and videos can be found on her website @ http://www.vrml.k12.la.us/dozier4/loriporter.htm).

Using the Comprehensive Curriculum as her ground floor, she has often adapted or created her own lesson plans to incorporate “productive” technology based units for the students to have effective lessons in a 21st century classroom. As a Science and Math teacher, her classes are often engaged in hands on activities using the Chevron Science Cart filled with resources enhancing student lessons for both core area subjects. In addition to encouraging technology in her classroom,

Porter also shares her talent as one of the school’s technology leaders where she works as the Tech Coach and 4th grade school tech rep. As the school’s Tech Coach, she shares responsibility with the school’s technology specialist to assist with technology issues, and more importantly to promote sound structured curriculum based lessons, ideas and strategies. Porter has shared information at school and parish meetings and has presented at LACUE (State Technology Association). Also notable was her experience as a member of the Vermilion Parish Teaching Team who presented at the National Science Conference in 2009. She has also worked with as a school 4H leader for several years. Porter is a 1991 Erath High Graduate. She is married to Tony Porter and has three children Kristen, Katelyn and Cameron. Porter is the daughter of Jimmy and Caroline Gunter.

Porter will now advance to the parish level in the “2011-2012 Teacher of the Year” contest.

Sparrows Helps Dozier Elementary Achieve Technology Goal

Upon finalizing their 5 year tech plan last year, the Dozier Elementary technology committee set an “Eye on Tech” campaign in motion to gain resources for teachers and students. During the first year, they were able to receive grade level digital cameras, flip cameras, a few classroom computers and some software licenses with the help of parents and community organizations.

With the beginning of a new year at hand, the committee made a decision to set their sights on adding interactive Promethean Boards classrooms which had none.

When the district had technology funding during the 2007 and 2008 years, technology courses were offered by the district for interested teachers/schools to earn Promethean Boards.  Fortunately, many Dozier Elementary educators took advantage of the offer at that time and earned interactive white boards

With a successful first year with their tech plan, the priority of the tech committee switched gears and it was decided that if donations or grants were made available this year, the school would work on purchasing more interactive white boards for the remainder of the classrooms.  As a popular resource, the interactivity of the boards provide hands-on lesson which engage students.

On Friday, January 20^th Sparrows, offered a helping hand by delivering a check to Dozier Elementary Principal Karla Toups and Assistant Principal Natalie Hebert allowing the school to purchase the final Promethean Boards needed for every classroom.

Toups stated how “excited and appreciative the school was to receive funding to complete this project in just five months.” She also added “now that we have acquired money to purchase the boards, comes the responsibility of educating our teachers in how utilize these powerful resources effectively in our classrooms.” Hebert also commented by saying “Our journey isn’t finished yet. We have the boards, now we want to see our students engaged by using them in the most productive way possible.”

To accomplish that, means arranging Professional Development opportunities for those gaining boards. The technology committee immediately set up a “phase one” Promethean Board training session for several teachers under the direction of with District Technology Specialist Mike Dartez on January 25^th at the Technology Center.

 “A smile is the light in the window of your face that tells people you’re at home” is a quote from an unknown author. More often than not, in working with School Counselors, students rely on that light in the window for guidance and direction.

Each year, schools in Vermilion Parish honor their school counselors. National School Counselor week will be celebrated district wide February 7th-11th.

Appreciative faculties at Dozier Elementary, Erath Middle and Erath High know that their counselors go above and beyond for their school, students and teachers. In fact, each of the three Erath Schools posted a special “We Appreciate Our Counselor” website message to show their appreciation.

The term “school counselor” can be quite deceiving in terms of job description. Obviously their primary goal lies with helping leaders, students, teachers and parents with an array of issues at hand. Their duties cover counseling, school registration, coordinating state testing and more. However, being a counselor often extends beyond the four walls of an office or the listed tasks on the annual job description they sign.

If you visit Dozier Elementary, you are likely to see Counselor Glenn Roy LeBlanc in meetings with administrators, parents, students or teachers. However, you can also find him assisting in the office when additional help is needed, in classrooms dressed in costumes to promote academic lessons, shaking hands with his students, assisting with an assembly, offering a constant smile to his students, faculty or visitors entering the school daily. LeBlanc recently commented how he “enjoys the constant interaction with the faculty, parents, and students.” He added “I view my job as a problem solver and I get a great deal of satisfaction doing that. I also enjoy promoting my school because of the administration, faculty, and student body.”

LeBlanc graduated with a B.A. from USL in 1962. In 1970, he earned an M.A. from Louisiana Tech and then earned +60 hours from USL and Nicholls. His educational career began in 1962 in Delcambre. He remained the classroom for 26 years, teaching at both JH Williams and at Abbeville High as well. In 2009, LeBlanc began as a Counselor in at Erath Middle. In August of 2009, he transferred to Dozier Elementary and is currently in his 3^rd year as a counselor in Vermilion Parish.

Like LeBlanc, Erath Middle Counselor Jackie Segura Puyau is active with school activities, as well as being available to support to her students and school. Like so many counselors around the parish, she gives her heart to her job and her students. She stated that she “loves being here for our kids when they need someone.” Her true goal as an educator and counselor simply stated in her own words is “I just want to be able to make a difference their lives.”

Erath native Jackie Puyau, graduated from Erath High in 1984.  In 1988 she graduated from USL with her Bachelor’s Degree and in 1994 she obtained her Master’s Degree in Guidance and Counseling. She taught 5th grade at Erath Middle for six years, then moved into a position where she worked as a Sex Ed Itinerant counselor in the parish for two years. In the mid 90’s, she accepted the counselor’s position at EMS. This year marks Puyau’s 15th year as a counselor at Erath’s middle school.

Angela LeBlanc Lange’s job at Erath High brings additional tasks at the high school level which mesh traditional duties, as well as helping students with new career journeys and higher education. Lange, who truly enjoys working at her alma mater commented, “I love working with teenagers and being involved in the everyday activities of a high school. Lange added “ I enjoy my job because it gives me an opportunity to work with the students, parents, faculty, and staff of EHS and share information about graduation requirements, college entry requirements, scholarship and financial aid opportunities, and careers.”

Lange, like Puyau is an Erath native who graduated from Erath High. Following graduation in 1982, she earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education from University of Southwestern Louisiana in 1986. Lange then earned her Master of Arts Degree in Education of the Gifted from University of Southwestern Louisiana in 1989, as well +27 graduate hours in certification in guidance and counseling from USL. She worked with the Gifted and Talented Program for two years at Herod Elementary in Abbeville. She then taught 7th grade for nine years and 8th grade for one year at Erath Middle. She has been a counselor at Erath High for thirteen years. 

Though the trio in Erath work with different age levels, the one constant linking them, lies with the true caring nature each holds with their career and students. That attitude is evident in a simple smile, kind words, advice or a needed shoulder. Each seem to internalize the meaning behind the quote “a smile is the light in the window of your face that tells people you’re at home.” Through their actions and a smile, emerges a warm glow surrounding that metaphorical candle, allowing students to know that a caring counselor is home.