History figures prominently in Lighthouse Festival

Promoting and preserving the history of Berwick will be one of the highlights of the Lighthouse Festival. Beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday, a historical program will take place under the bridge at the stage area.
Last year’s program featured the musings of Thomas Berwick, the first settler to the area. Parker Felterman, then a student at Berwick High and now a student at the Louisiana School of Math, Science and the Arts in Natchitoches, portrayed found Thomas Berwick.
While last year’s performance mostly featured the beginnings of the town of Berwick, this year’s program will fast-forward to the history of the Volunteer Fire Department. Once again, Felterman will play the part of Thomas Berwick as he reminisces about the town in the earlier days and the need for a fire department.
Felterman will segue into the introduction of this year’s guest speaker, V.J. Bella, who served as Berwick Fire Chief for many years. Bella later went on to become the Louisiana state fire marshal.
Following the 10 a.m. historical program will be a “Take A Walk With V.J.” narrated tour of the old downtown Berwick. Committee members have prepared and printed a pictorial historical pamphlet of the once thriving area.
Bella has delightful stories of Berwick history.
The historical program will also recognize St. John Baptist Church, which recently celebrated its 150th anniversary.
The church began with a worship service conducted on a barge in the Atchafalaya River and later raised enough money to purchase property and build a church.
That church was destroyed by fire, but the faithful congregation once again persevered and built yet another church where worship is held today.
A slideshow of Berwick historical photographs will be played before and after the historical program.
The Berwick Historical Committee plans to host a history program each year during the month of October, which has been proclaimed by town leaders as Celebrate Berwick month.