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The Montz Family of Louisiana 1721 - Present |
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by Monty Montz |
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Page 20 |
ONE ITEM DEILER MENTIONS IN HIS BOOK DATED 1909, IS;
"On the left bank of the German Coast, between Montz, Louisiana and LaPlace,
Louisiana, two stations of the Yazoo and Mississippi Valley Railway, such a strip of torn-up land (breaks of the
levee holding the Mississippi, or spillways), may be seen. The "breaks" describe the spillways
which were opened to escape flooding water from the Mississippi River, as described earlier.
Deiler mentions in his work the "Bonnet Carre Spillway, built April, 1874, which was 1370'
wide and 22' deep. Deiler indicates that these spillways were built naturally, and that levees
were added to control waters in certain areas. Another spillway was the "Nita Crevasse," which
was built in 1890, and was about 3000' wide. (35)
LIFE ALONG THE COAST DURING THE EIGHTEENTH, NINETEENTH, AND TWENTIETH CENTURIES:
IT IS HARD TO IMAGINE BEFORE THE DAYS OF COLOR TELEVISION and supersonic travel, but there was a time not too
long ago when traveling five miles by a horse-drawn carriage was considered distant. Looking back at the
times when this author's grandparents use to discuss their living conditions along the German Coast when
they were children, I see that our lives are extremely pleasant compared to yesteryears.
THE MONTZ FAMILIES WHO ORIGINALLY STARTED LIFE ON THE German Coast region grew up on the winding Mississippi.
The main mode of travel was along the levee road. The levee eventually became the mode of travel for person foot. Children in earlier years would walk to
school in groups, using the levee. Some families walked miles to Church on Sunday. The school. Church,
community hall, and the coming of the steamboats down the river were about the only activities outside of working.
MOST FAMILIES OF THE DAY STAYED AT HOME BECAUSE THERE WAS too much work to do. In many cases, the families
neither had the financial means nor the transportation to lead them far away. Most "outside" happenings
included the shows put on a few times a year by traveling shows, or activities enjoyed on the steamboat
which docked a few times a year. A community hall was prevalent in most areas and frequent dances on Saturday
nights made for many enjoyable evenings.
35 lbid., p. 49