William Johnson

Louisiana

The City of Carencro is joining a list of communities spotlighted by the Images of America series, and people will have a chance to meet the authors in a series of book signings.

The 128-page book, filled with hundreds of black-and-white images of the community’s history, was written and compiled by Stacey Judice, Kathy Higginbotham and Donna Latiolais.

“Higginbotham and Latiolais are both members of the St. Pierre Genealogical Society. Latiolais was born and raised in Carencro and serves as the society’s president. Judice is the founder of the Carencro publication Community Chronicles,” said Lydia Rollins with Arcadia Publishing, which has printed the book.

The authors will be on-hand for a book launch party Thursday from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in the Fricassee Café and Bakery, 3823 N. University Ave. in Carencro.

Copies of the book, which sell for $22, will be available, and the authors will be happy to autograph copies for visitors. Light refreshments will be served.

On Nov. 29, there will be a second book signing at the North Regional Library, 5101 N. University Ave., from 10 a.m. to noon.

Other book signings will be held at Guilbeau Café and Pharmacy, 208 E. St. Peter St., Carencro, from 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 3, and during the Carencro Country Christmas celebration Dec. 6.

The book tells the story of the community that dates from the earliest days of European settlement.

“The earliest date in the records of the St. Pierre Genealogical Society is 1765, when exiled Acadians settled in the Attakapas District in an area then known as the Carencro Prairie,” Rollins said. “Many arrived under a cattle agreement, but settlers also desired to farm the land of the prairie.”

The City of Carencro would be created in 1905 from three separate communities — St. Pierre in the current downtown area, Prairie Basse in the area around Beau Basin and Carencro Prairie beyond that.

“From the beginning, the area has been rich in faith, strong in personality and successful from years of surviving the trials of life,” Rollins said.

“The prairie was later called St. Pierre, the French name for St. Peter. Today, St. Peter’s Catholic Church sits in the hub of the city, as it has for decades,” Rollins said.

“As the years have passed, Carencro has stayed true to its founding fathers. It is a place that constantly grew and embraced change while staying steadfast in the faith that was brought by the first settlers,” Rollins said.

“Carencro” book launch party

When: 5 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday

Where: Fricassee Café and Bakery, 3823 N. University Ave. in Carencro

Information: 337-247-5521

• Meet authors Stacey Judice, Kathy Higginbotham and Donna Latiolais

• 128-page book sells for $22

• Light refreshments will be served