Historic Sardine Point chapel gets official town backing as fundraising continues

BRUSLY — The town council unanimously approved a resolution Monday night supporting preservation of Saint Francis Hall, giving official backing to a fundraising effort that has raised $177,000 toward saving one of the last remaining structures from the abandoned town of Sardine Point.

The historic building, formerly the Chapel of Saint Francis of Assisi, was relocated to Brusly in the early 1930s when Sardine Point was abandoned to the Mississippi River. It currently sits on the campus of Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church.

The Landmark and Heritage Commission recommended the resolution after designating the building as a landmark in honor of its unique cultural heritage and as one of the few, if not the only, remaining structures from the Sardine Point community.

The commission honored the building with a landmark plaque several years ago.

All-Private Fundraising Effort

The preservation project relies entirely on private donations from parishioners, Sardine Point descendants, and community members, with no money coming from the church parish itself.

"It's all fundraising," Brian Falcon of the Landmark and Heritage Commission told the council. "Everything is being provided by the parishioners without taking any money from the church parish."

The resolution comes at a critical time. The old classroom building on the church campus was recently demolished, and without the preservation effort, Saint Francis Hall could have faced the same fate.

"It's especially meaningful to come at this time," Falcon said. "Were it not for all the hard work and financial support of so many hands, St. Francis would be only a memory, today."

The project is divided into two phases. Phase one focuses on a concrete foundation, estimated at $20,000 to $25,000. The complete project budget, including the foundation, is projected at $120,000 to $140,000.

The building will be moved to the former Bourgeois property.

Honorary Support Only

Falcon clarified the resolution's legal status before the council voted.

"That resolution is just an honorary motion of support," he explained. "It doesn't bind the owner or the town or the landmark commission to anything financially, legally, or regarding zoning. It's just support."

The non-binding nature addresses potential confusion about whether the town would bear any financial responsibility for the preservation work.

Historical Significance

Sardine Point was a small community along the Mississippi River that residents abandoned in the early 1930s as the river threatened to consume the land. Few structures from the community survive.

The Chapel of Saint Francis of Assisi was moved to Brusly during that abandonment, where it has served the community for nearly a century as Saint Francis Hall on the campus of Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church.

Timeline

Organizers plan to begin foundation work soon, with the goal of completing the move and initial stabilization by mid-December. The full restoration will extend beyond the foundation phase as fundraising continues.

How to Help

Friends of St. Francis continues accepting donations care of:

LJ and Debbie Dupuy

PO Box 43

Addis, LA 70710

Checks should be made payable to “St. John the Baptist Catholic Church.” The memo line must include “St. Francis Hall.” Donations are tax-deductible.

For more information, contact LJ Dupuy at lynndupuy@att.net.

WBR Independent has followed the Saint Francis Hall story since breaking the preservation threat in June, with initial coverage including the building's endangerment, the history of Sardine Point, the 1930s relocation, and parishioners' rally. Follow-up coverage tracked the $150,000 campaign launch, the September deadline, the space crisis, and successful fundraising that raised $177,000.

The next Landmark and Heritage Commission meeting will be announced by the town. For information on the Saint Francis Hall preservation project, contact Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church.