When Pierre Clidamont Becnel purchased Evergreen Plantation from his grandmother Magdelaine Haydel Becnel’s estate shortly after her death in 1830, he embarked upon a daunting business venture. An architecture aficionado, Clidamont Becnel was far more interested in redesigning his grandmother’s old Creole home into one that resembled the Federal and Greek-Revival styles he had admired during his time in Philadelphia. He spent an enormous sum of money renovating the house and outbuildings and then had to invest capital in enslaved labor, machinery, and purchases necessary to plant and harvest sugar cane. A factor or agent in New Orleans handled business dealings and selling the crop once it was harvested. Planters relied upon credit until they could have a successful harvest to pay off debts. Unfortunately for Clidamont Becnel, he proved to be a poor businessman and planter. He never saw a profit, just mounting debts, and eventually sold the plantation to his cousin Lezin Becnel Jr.

In 1843, Clidamont Becnel was taken to court by his dozens of creditors. They wanted to be paid what they were owed. In addition to numerous family members, neighbors, and businessmen, Clidamont’s creditors included the Soulié brothers. Norbert, Lucien, Albin, and Bernard Soulié were among the wealthiest gens de couleur libres (free people of color) in Louisiana. The sons of Jean Soulié, a Frenchman, and Eulalie Mazange, a formerly enslaved free woman of color, the Souliés were influential builders, moneylenders, and commission merchants. Clidamont Becnel had owed them money since 1835.

Two letters in the Soulié account book were written to Lezin Becnel in 1844, around the time he was looking into purchasing Evergreen Plantation from his cousin. It appears he was trying to help settle the debts owed on the plantation, make it a viable business operation, and then purchase it as his own. Bernard Soulié and Lezin Becnel held each other in high esteem. The Becnels had free people of color in their own family, many neighbors who were free people of color, and frequently did business with free people of color, including the Souliés. This exchange captures societal norms and economic realities of New Orleans and its surrounding parishes in the 1840s. Creoles like Lezin Becnel and Bernard Soulié shared a language, religion, and culture. Their interactions reveal that racial stereotypes about the antebellum era were frequently inapplicable to southeast Louisiana.

1844 Letter from Bernard Soulié to Lezin Becnel

Letter translated from French

By the steamer Brilliant

New Orleans, Louisiana March 20, 1844

Mr. Lezin Becnel

St. John the Baptist Parish

Sir,

I hasten to let you know the results of necessary steps I have had to make with the gentlemen in the affair in question: also that I anticipate these gentlemen will be of one accord finding four years of time too long for the liquidation of an affair so unfortunate and that has lasted such a long time.

Believe sir that I am extremely pained not to be able to finish on the basis agreed between us, a matter that I would have preferred to do with you than with any other. Please let me know as soon as possible if you would be willing to do it by subtracting the fourth year of credit so that I am free to act elsewhere.

Accept, sir, my cordial salutations

B. Soulié agent

It’s that time of year, time to go on a chadron hunt! You probably know them as thistles. Thistles are thorny plants that grow in pastures and along roadsides. They have purplish pink flowers. Most people would consider them weeds and mow them down. But in South Louisiana, people actually eat them! Cutting down, peeling, and snacking on thistles is an old tradition.

For hundreds of years, most people who lived at Evergreen Plantation and the surrounding area spoke French. Some people still do. They would call a thistle a chadron. It sounds like SHAH-DRON. Chadron comes from chardon, the French word for thistle. Grandparents have passed down this tradition for generations.

Look for the younger thistles that are short and don’t have flowers yet. Those are tender and taste the best. Children in south Louisiana say thistles taste kind of like celery, only a little sweeter. They love the freedom of running through pastures in search of the spiky plants. Adults sometimes slice up the thistles and toss them in vinegar and salt and pepper.

Le Meschacébé, April 27, 1878, featuring folktales

In fact, chadron was so ubiquitous in the culture of the River Road area surrounding Evergreen Plantation that it was even referenced in Le Meschacébé, the local newspaper. Chadron is mentioned in a story involving Compair Bouki, a character in folktales that were brought to Louisiana by enslaved Africans from Senegal and were passed down for generations. Similar to the Br’er Rabbit tales, the stories of Compair Lapin and Compair Bouki—Brother Rabbit and Brother Hyena—were part of an oral storytelling tradition that took place in the cabins at Evergreen and the other plantations lining the River Road. Alcée Fortier, a Creole professor who grew up in a neighboring parish, recorded and published these stories. This particular passage translates: “Bouki [the Hyena] gathered pokeweed and thistles along the road.”

China at Evergreen Plantation featuring a thistle design

Are there any thistles growing near your house? Would you eat one? Like Bouki, we went for a walk down the road to see if we could find chadron. Watch as we harvest, peel, and try chadron for the first time!