The following excerpt is part of an on-going historical record of what happened in Richland Parish in years gone by.

The following newspaper article was published in the August 17, 1901 issue of The Richland Beacon-News. It is titled “The Barbecue.”

The Barbecue

As was previously announced in these columns, the citizens of Union Church vicinity gave a barbecue on the grounds at the church last Thursday.

The church is situated on Boeuf River in a beautiful grove just ten miles north of Rayville and nothing was neglected that would tend to crown the enterprise with success.

The weather was delightfully cool for this season of the year and the sun was obscured by thin clouds.

A large number of people were in attendance from Rayville and also a goodly number from Oak Ridge, and by 12 o’clock about three hundred people were on the grounds.

There were even twenty carcasses on the pit and it may be said to the credit of those gentlemen in charge of this department, the meats were well cooked and well seasoned. At one o’clock dinner was announced and the 300 sharp appetites marched up to the tables that were laden with the finest barbecued beef, pork and mutton and all sorts of delicacies which were provided by the ladies who vied with each other in their efforts to make the affair a grand success.

Everything passed off quietly and everybody was sociable and happy. Capt. P.S. Graves was there and after dinner he made a photographs of the school children and the school trustees.

All in all, the barbecue was a grand success and will long be remembered with pleasant recollections by those present.