Welsh Museum seeks past town leaders
Published 5:17 am Sunday, March 5, 2023
An exhibit recognizing Louisiana politicians and elected town officials are among the displays at the Welsh Museum. The display features old photographs, campaign posters, newspaper articles and other memorabilia. (Doris Maricle / American Press)
Photographs of some of the past town mayors are on display at the Welsh Museum, 202 East South Street. The Friends of the Welsh Museum will honor past and present town leaders and their descendants during a reception at 6 p.m. March 16 commemorating the 135th anniversary of the signing of the town’s charter. (Doris Maricle / American Press)
Old photographs and other memorabilia spotlighting the history of Welsh's government will be on display at the Welsh Museum as the town celebrates the 135th anniversary of the signing of the town's charter. A special reception will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 16 to honor past and present town leaders and their descendants. (Doris Maricle / American Press)
All past and present mayors, aldermen, city clerks and city attorneys and descendants of those town leaders are asked to join the Friends of the Welsh Museum in commemorating the 135th anniversary of the signing of the town’s charter.
The museum will host a reception at 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 16 to honor individuals who have governed, protected and maintained the town and its programs, both past and present, according to Museum President Mary Sue Lyon, who served as mayor from 1997 to 2000.
“Our town charter was signed 135 years ago in March of 1888, which makes this a very appropriate date for the event,” Lyon said.
The event is also part of the 30th anniversary celebration of the Welsh Museum, located at 202 East South Street.
According to records, the town has had 31 mayors, 129 aldermen and 29 city clerks since it became a town.
“The town celebrated its Centennial in 1988 and at that time we had a re-enactment of the signing of the town charter,” Lyon said. “At that time that’s when the town decided we needed a museum.”
“Now the museum would like to honor those people who served the town over the years, or their descendants,” she said. “This is a wonderful opportunity to have those who are still living, or surviving family members of those who are deceased, to see the museum, especially if they have never been here before. Hopefully we can get them to come back and renew an interest in the museum”
The first town meeting was held on March 15, 1888. At that time the town was incorporated and the town officials were elected.
The first mayor was Henry Welsh, who died in office after only serving nine months. The first town council members – who were initially called trustees, then aldermen – were C.D. Welsh, Jean Beauford, J.D. Kimball, Hosea Prentice and Alexander Verret.
At that time, the mayor’s annual salary was $25. Council members received $1.50 for each meeting attended.
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The Welsh Museum is open 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays. No admission. For more information, contact Mary Sue Lyon at 337-370-9857.
