This is from my Lafayette History Archives. I originally posted this back in January of 2009.
Let's take a look back to January of 1959. It was on this day, January 3rd, that Alaska became the 49th state to join the Union. Hawaii would follow later this year. The space race between the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. was hot and heavy. The Soviets had just launched Luna 1, for a fly-by of the moon, as well as taking the first ever scientific measurements confirming the theory of the "solar wind." The number one song in the nation was "The Chipmunk Song," by Dave Seville and the Chipmunks. Number one on TV was Gunsmoke, seen each week on KLFY-TV Channel 10. Several iconic films had just been released: Imitation of Life, North By Northwest, Pillow Talk and Journey to the Center of the Earth to name a few. We'd have to wait till summer for the Shaggy Dog. Darn it.
As for me, I was just over seven months old, making gurgling noises, spitting up, and paying close attention to the announcers on television. (I would later buy all products that Frank Hosea instructed me to.)
In 1959, Jefferson Street was still the main commercial thoroughfare, and bears little resemblence to the one we know today. Although there are still quite a few vestiges to be found here and there, as we shall see, when you join me on a walk up Jefferson Street in 1959.
So what do you say we meet around noon tomorrow, on the northside of the underpass in front of Buquor's Cleaners, where the Texas and New Orleans railroad tracks cross. We'll walk past Lightning Cleaners towards Cypress St. and see what we can see.
See ya there.
