OST celebration a success

The Rayne Depot Square was the place to be on Saturday, Nov. 4, for the second annual Old Spanish Trail Day celebration.
The day-long celebration was hosted by the City of Rayne and the Rayne Chamber of Commerce.
“It was a great day,” said Dr. Eddie Palmer, chairman of the Rayne OST Day Committee and long-time OST enthusiast.
“We had a great crowd who really enjoyed the many exhibits and events held throughout the day at this historic site,” noted Palmer of the Rayne location, corner of U.S. Highway 90 and Louisiana Highway 35, one of many stops of the Old Spanish Trail from Florida to California.
The Old Spanish Trail — OST — was an auto trail that spanned the United States with almost 2,750 miles of roadway from ocean to ocean. It crossed eight states and 67 counties along the southern border of the country.
Work on the auto highway began in 1915 and, by the 1920s, the trail had linked the United States from Florida to California.
During a reception held in October of 2016, Rayne was first, not only in Louisiana, but in the United States to be declared as an “official OST City” by the Old Spanish Trail Association.
Since then, Mayor Charles “Chuck” Robichaux and the Chamber’s OST committee have been busy planning Saturday’s celebration.
The day began with an invocation by Father Christopher Cambre, parochial vicar of St. Joseph Catholic Church, followed by the reading and presentation of the official OST Day Proclamation by Robichaux.
“Today is a great day in the City of Rayne as we celebrate our history,” Robichaux said as he presented the official proclamation. “Today, we celebrate the cultural aspects of our great city, right where our city began, on this very spot.
“I would like to thank everyone who was involved with this celebration.”
The Depot Square was literally transformed “back-in-time” to yesteryear with antique and vintage automobile owners displaying their cars in a reserved area on the 200 block of East Louisiana Avenue near the original Mervine Kahn warehouse, now the present-day Warehouse Events Center.
Wagons and buggies, artists and craftspeople — including quilting, tatting, pottery, blacksmiths, painters and many others — provided demonstrations and displays at the Depot Square.
As a special treat, videos and photographs were displayed at The Bank at Mervine Kahn, site of the original Mervine Kahn Building and original Rayne State Bank “back in the day.”
Food vendors provided homemade BBQ hamburgers, jambalaya, boudin and sweet-dough pies — some made on-site. Soft drinks and bottled water were also provided by members of the Rayne High School Interact Club.
Enjoyable music of the era, including the playing of the song “The OST Special,” was provided by DJ Blaine Dupont, with dancing encouraged.
Also on hand were members of the Cajun French Music Association - Lafayette Chapter who presented a dancing demonstration for all to enjoy.
The Depot Square stage was transformed to days gone by with decorations reminiscent of Rayne’s famous “OST Nite Club”.
Old Spanish Trail signs were strategically placed at all points of entrance and at noted spots along the OST, in and out of the city.
The City of Rayne also provided official Old Spanish Trail stickers for every Rayne business to place on their doors/windows or vehicles. The stickers also are being distributed by the Chamber’s OST committee members. The Rayne Chamber of Commerce office (107 W. Oak St.) also has free stickers available.
“I really appreciate everyone’s help and enthusiasm for this special day,” noted Palmer of the OST Day celebration. “The community’s commitment to our city and its heritage has been wonderful to be a part of. I personally want to thank everyone who donated their time and energy towards this celebration of our city’s history.”
Plans are being made to make the event an annual one, complete with all areas of the downtown section participating.