Welcome to Berwick

Welcome to Berwick. . , Bayou Teche officially ends in Patterson, but its flow continues down into the Lower Atchafalaya to Berwick. Historical maps show the bayou flowing into Berwick Bay, but a 2014 proclamation by the city of Patterson declares that the waterway between Patterson and Berwick "shall forever be referred to in the official records of the City of Patterson as the Lower Atchafalaya River." The Lower Atchafalaya is a much wider extension of the Teche that runs through the Berwick Lock, about two miles north of town. Continue on, and you'll eventually reach Atchafalaya Bay. It's this water-based location that made Berwick the site of the first settlement in St. Mary Parish and supported industries from sugarcane to seafood., Flood Protection , The Atchafalaya Basin Floodway is lined on both sides by 449 miles of levees and floodwall, including the Berwick Floodwall. It was built as part of the Mississippi River and Tributaries Federal Flood Control Project, a result of the devastating 1927 flood. Berwick's wall is about one mile in length and 18 feet high, running across Front Street from Gus to First streets. The wall took two years to build and was completed in 1985 at a cost of $9.6 million. Gates in the floodwall normally remain open to traffic but can be closed when floods threaten the area. Berwick's wall has a special finish to make it appear corrugated and is decorated with a nautical theme featuring boats, ducks, gulls and cypress., Guiding Light , Relocated to Everett S. Berry Lighthouse Park in 1990, Southwest Reef Lighthouse was one of four lighthouses guiding mariners to and from Berwick Bay. It was built in 1856 at the end of Southwest Reef in Atchafalaya Bay, and its red light helped vessels to reach the Atchafalaya River for 130 years. A new lighthouse named Point Au Fer Reef Lighthouse became operational in 1916, making Southwest Reef obsolete. The old lighthouse rusted away in the bay for over 70 years, before local and state forces joined together to save it and bring it ashore in 1987. Southwest Reef is now owned by the town of Berwick and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Every November, a Lighthouse Festival is held on Front Street along the river to coincide with the finish of the annual Tour du Teche paddle race., "Thomas Berwick is believed to have been the earliest settler in St. Mary Parish. Berwick's Bay is a wide, deep spot in the Atchafalaya River, and the town of Berwick is on the west side of the bay that bears his name." - Louisiana Place Names, Clare D'Artois Leeper, 2012, Rentrop's Ferry , In 1811, a family business connected what was called the "Lower Teche" with Bayou Lafourche and present-day Napoleonville. Henry Rentrop was the ferry operator, along with his wife and three children. The state-sanctioned ferry consisted of two canoes 3 or 4 feet apart connected by a raised platform that could carry horses or cattle. Rentrop's was located on the Teche and took people and animals across lakes Plat, Palourde de Jonc and Verret to a landing in the Lafourche Canal. The price of a 30-mile ride was $4. a person and an extra $8 for a horse, according to an 1819 journal entry in Southern Louisiana and Southern Alabama by James Leander Cathcart. In present day, the ferry would have crossed from the location of Morgan City to Berwick and cost about $80. Henry Rentrop died in 1831, but his son Frederick carried on the business until 1833., Berwick Beef Bourguignon , 3 lbs. cubed stew beef , 1 1/2 cups brandy , 2 1/2 cups red wine , 1/2 cup butter , 1/2 lb. pearl onions , 1/2 lb. whole mushrooms , 4 Tbsp. tomato paste , 2 cloves chopped garlic , 1/2 tsp. thyme , 1 bay leaf , 1- 10.5-oz. can beef stock , 1/4 cup flour , Marinate beef in 1/3 of brandy and wine for at least 1 hour. Turn occasionally. In large heavy skillet heat half the butter until foamy. Mix flour with salt and pepper to taste. Roll beef cubes in four, place in hot butter and brown. In separate skillet, heat remaining butter, add onions, stir, cover and simmer over low heat for 2 minutes. Add mushrooms, turn up heat and saute for 3 minutes. Remove from heat; add tomato paste, garlic and 1 Tbsp. flour. Mix until smooth. Add remaining brandy, red wine, beef stock, bay leaf, thyme and salt and pepper to taste. Boil, reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Add beef and simmer for 1 1/2 hours., Bayou Teche Waltz , Most Cajun musicians have played the Bayou Teche Waltz or La Valse de Bayou Teche at some point in their career. Traditionally sung in French, this classic is about a man living alone on Bayou Teche because his wife's family didn't like him. He says he shouted and cried to have her one more time in the house and invites her family to join him before they all die on Bayou Teche. Nathan Abshire has a version of the waltz dating to 1969, and more contemporary versions have been done by Jo-El Sonnier, Yvette Landry, Lee Benoit and David Greely , Find a complete Bayou Teche music playlist at techeproject.org!, The TECHE Project recognizes Shane Bernard, Patti Holland, Tami St. Germain, Chloé St. Germain-Vermillion and Erin Bass for their contributions to the content of this panel. , For more information, visit: , Town of Berwick | townofberwick.org Cajun Coast VCB | cajuncoast.com The TECHE Project | techeproject.org