307. Viola Fontenot, part 2

307. Part 2 of our interview with Viola Fontenot about her memoir, A Cajun Girl's Sharecropping Years. Viola is a sharecropper's daughter. Spanning from 1937 to 1955, Fontenot describes her life as the daughter of a share-cropper in Church Point, Louisiana, including details of field work as well as the domestic arts and Cajun culture. The account begins with stories from early life, where the family lived off a gravel road near the woods without electricity, running water, or bathrooms, and a mule-drawn wagon was the only means of transportation.

1. This week in Louisiana history. April 7, 1682. LaSalle and Tonti reached mouth of Miss. River.
2. This week in New Orleans history. Ground was broken for Tulane stadium on April 7, 1924.  It opened on October 23, 1926 with a seating capacity of roughly 35,000. New Orleans-Item sports editor Fred Digby popularized the term "Sugar Bowl" in 1927. The first Sugar Bowl game was played there on January 1, 1935, against the Philadelphia Temple Owls.  The last was on December 31, 1974 when Nebraska beat Florida 14-10. In 1947 the stadium was expanded to accommodate 80,985 fans. Lights were installed in 1957. It was the home of the  Saints, from their first game on September 17, 1967 when John Gilliam returned the opening kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown (but they lost 27-13 loss to the Los Angeles Rams) until December 8, 1974 when they won 14-0 over the St. Louis Cardinals. On November 8, 1970, Tom Dempsey made his record-breaking 63-yard field goal there, pushing the Saints into a 19-17 win over the Detroit Lions.
   
3. This week in Louisiana.
   Baton Rouge Blues Festival
   April 13th, 2019 - April 14th, 2019
   12:00 pm - 10:00 pm
   Downtown Baton Rouge
   200 North Blvd.,
   Baton Rouge, LA 70801
   225-612-2112
   Website
   The Baton Rouge Blues Festival is one of the oldest blues festivals in America. The free-to-the-public, family-friendly festival will feature internationally-recognized performers and local blues legends alike, including Mavis Staples, Kenny Neal & the Neal.Visitors and locals alike are encouraged to further their Baton Rouge blues experience beyond the festival at hangouts like Phil Brady's (with the longest-running 21-year Thursday night blues jam around) and the inimitable Teddy's Juke Joint.
   
4. Postcards from Louisiana. Joe Shedlo on Royal St.

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