Utilities in Montpelier, St. Helena Parish, Louisiana
File submitted by Mrs. Inez Bridges Tate and prepared by D.N. Pardue
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From publication "Old Montpelier, 1804, New Montpelier, 1904" 
compiled by Inez B. Tate and published by St. Helena Historical
Association, 1993.  Reprinted with permission.

     
     When Montpelier was settled, lights for the homes and busi-

nesses were provided by kerosene (coal oil, as it was sometimes

called).  Wood furnished fuel for heating and for cooking.  Out-

door toilets were located to the rear of every home.  Bathing

was in a tin tub "behind the stove" or in nearby Tickfaw River

where the men and boys would bathe, weather permitting.  All of

the homes were built with porches where rockers were placed.

Here the family would sit on hot summer days to "catch a breeze".

     In the days of the railroad, a private telephone was in

Montpelier, connecting depot to depot, that tied in to other re-

gular telephone systems.  In emergencies, these phones could be

used to relay messages.  It was Pet Watson's duty to deliver news

of tragedy from families away, to Montpelier relatives.  He com-

mented, years later, that every time the phone rang late at night

it brought vividly to his mind those calls he received and the

messages he delivered.

     On June 11, 1936, a Charter was issued to Greensburg Utilities

Inc.  "The objects and purposes for which this Corporation is es-

tablished and the nature of the business to be carried on by it

are specified to be:  a general public utility business including

the generation, manufacture, storage, distribution, supplying and

selling to the town of Greensburg . . . . electricity, water and

gas for lights, heat, power, and all other purposes and uses and

for telephones and telephonic communications . . . "  Board of

Directors: Wilford Eberhart, Raoul Levy, Helen Levy, and Corinne

Vernice, all of Baton Rouge. (1)

     The above was the forerunner of the telephone system that

eventually came to Montpelier.  Hilary Breed Tate relates that in

approximately 1940, the first public telephones reached Montpelier.

Walter Carruth and Mose Atkins built the line from Greensburg,

stringing the wire from a horse.  This was one line and there

were at least six subscribers on Hwy. 43 and on into Montpelier,

namely, Hardy Reeves, Julian Needham, Neil Tate, H.B. Tate, Sr.,

Sam Morgan, Sr., and Mrs. Annie Morgan.  The switchboard was lo-

cated in Greensburg manned by an operator.

     On June 28, 1956, St. Helena Telephone & Telegraph, Inc. was

incorporated as a Louisiana Corporation by the Melville Family. (2)

     Ordinance No. 12, Montpelier "granted franchize to St. Helena

Telephone & Telegraph, its successors, etc., to build, construct,

purchase, maintain, own or lease telephone and telegraph lines,

etc., for the operation of a telephone and telegraph business, ex-

change and system in the village of Montpelier." May 3, 1958 (3)

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(1) Charters in St. Helena Parish filed in Clerk of Courts Office, Greensburg
(2) Letter dated Feb. 28, 1992, from Joy B. Eppinette, Century Telephone Enterprises,
Monroe, La.
(3) Ordinance book, Montpelier Town Hall, Montpelier, Louisiana

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     On Feb. 16, 1970, St. Helena Telephone & Telegraph, Inc. was

acquired by Century Telephone Enterprises, Inc., which, at that

time, was Central Telephone & Electronics Corporation (the name

was changed to Century Telephone Enterprises, Inc. on Oct. 30, 1970).

     On Feb. 27, 1970, St. Helena Telephone & Telegraph, Inc. Mer-

ged into Century Telephone, Inc. (a wholly owned subsidiary of

Century Telephone Enterprises, Inc.)  Century Telephone was the

surviving corporation. (4)

    Both Dixie Electric Membership Corporation and Louisiana

Power & Light provide electricity to residents of Montpelier -

some have power from one company and some the other.

     Montpelier Ordinance No. 9 grants to Louisiana Power & Light

a period of 25 years from date of adoption to supply electric cur-

rent and energy throughout the village of Montpelier by Ordinance

of St. Helena Parish Police Jury, 10 Feb. 1937. (5)

     Dixie Electric was granted a franchize for 100 years to pro-

vide electricity in St. Helena Parish on May 10, 1939.

     Ordinance No. 10 - Authorizing the Mayor of Village of Mont-

pelier to enter an agreement with L.P.& L. to pay 2% of gross

receipts.  No date. (2-2-46?) (6)

    _______________

(4) Century Telephone letter.
(5)Ordinance Book, Montpelier, La.
(6)Ibid.

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     Ordinance No. 11.  Authorizing the Mayor of the Village of

Montpelier to enter into agreement with L.P. & L. for the opera-

tion of the Street Light System.  March 22, 1958 (7)

     After World War II, many residents began using butane gas

for fuel for heating and cooking.  This provided a cleaner fuel

and one easier to handle - no more wood to bring in and ashes to

take out.  Other comforts were enjoyed, too.  Electrical water

systems were installed that allowed the homeowners to add a bath-

room to their homes.  Gas or electric water heaters provided hot

water for baths, washing dishes, washing clothes, etc.  No more

heating water on a wood-burning stove to take a bath in a tin tub.

Gone were the outdoor privies.

     Ordinance No. 22.  Authorized Louisiana Plumbing & Electric

Company to install a prescribed amount of service pipe in connect-

ion with the construction of a natural gas system for Montpelier.

July 29, 1961. (8)

     Montpelier Gas was franchized January 30, 1960.

     In the beginning, when electricity was made available, each

resident had an electric pump to provide water for his home or

business.  Later a town water system was installed to provide

water which was owned first by a Mr. Simmons from Denham Springs.

The town bought it in 1963.

      ________________

(7)Ibid.
(8)Ibid.

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     The Mayor and Aldermen discussed a new water system on Sept.

25, 1979.  This was completed in 1980 and accepted by the Village.

     Each resident has his own sewer system.  There is no com-

munity system.

     Before the advent of electricity, gas, and telephone systems,

someone said, "When the light was blown out at night, the expenses

ended for that day."  This is true.  Everyone is far more comfor-

table with "modern conveniences" however.
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