Chargois House

This building was the home of Mr. Joseph Castille Chargois, Sr. and Mrs. Marie Louise Judice Chargois. Mr. Chargois was well known for having operated Chargois Springs, the first and only spring-fed swimming pool in Lafayette. It was located on Chargois property near the Surrey Street Vermilion River Bridge. The pool was a favorite recreation spot in Lafayette until 1927 when the spring stopped flowing. Later, this house became a recreational hub for young adults. It was the gathering place for many social and civic meetings and was the beginning of organized recreation in Lafayette. Mrs. Louise Chargois founded a boys and girls club called the Rosebuds with organized games, field trips, dances, and other civic and recreational activities scheduled throughout the summer months. She became known as the “Mother of Recreation”, because her club was the catalyst for the formation of the Lafayette Playground Association in 1929. The Association was formed with the help of Mrs. Frank Debaillon, Miss Inez Neyland, Mr. Paul Blanchet, Mr. Charles Gimmer, Dr. L. O. Clark, Mr. Maurice Heymann, Mrs. Crow Girard, Mr. Paul Krauss, Sr., Mr. J. Maxim Doucet, Mr. J. E. Davis, and others. Lafayette’s Chargois Park is named in honor of Mrs. Louise Chargois.