6 Historical Guidebook of the Evangeline Region

Somewhat apart from the village, and nearer the Basin of Minas,

Benedict Bellefontaine, the wealthiest farmer of Grand-Pré, _Dwelt on his goodly acres; and with him, directing his household,

Gentle Evangeline lived, his child, and the pride of the village.

From Evangeline, A Tale of Acadie by Henry Wadsworth Longellow

Lucia Arsenault and Orella Gallant, teachers from St. Chrysostome dressed as Evangeline for a parade in 1955. In 1955 and 1958, numerous events were held in Acadian villages to commemorate the bicentenary of the Deporta- tion. The organizers of these festivities on the Island, and elsewhere, encouraged Acadian girls and women to dress as Evangeline. This custom which began in Louisiana in 1928, reinforced the myth of Evangeline throughout the Acadian community. The name of this legendary heroine had become part of everyday life. She had given her name to the principal Acadian newspaper, L’Evangéline (1887-1982), and to a popular patriotic song composed by Father A.-T. Bourque in 1910. (Lucia Arsenault Collection)