A torch was passed Sunday afternoon at The Gouguenheim from one generation to the next in an effort to preserve the “precious” history of New Iberia.

Cathy Indest, president of the Iberia Cultural Heritage Association, daughter of Jackie Voorhies, former president of the Association, continued her mother’s efforts of placing historical markers on significant buildings in the city as did Mayor Hilda Daigre Curry continue her father’s efforts, former mayor J. Allen Daigre, who was present at the first historical plaque dedication in 1974.

Indest and Curry were joined on stage at the dedication by Al Landry, the designer of the of the 1974 plaques, state Rep. Taylor Barras, D-New Iberia, who attend the dedication more than 30 years ago as a high school junior earning extra credits for history class, state Rep. Simone Champagne, D-Jeanerette,  and Iberia Parish President Ernest Freyou.

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The association has been working for several years to replace the original plaques, which were made of wood and could not withstand 30 years of weather in South Louisiana.

Funding for new, more permanent bronze plaques was secured through donations from several of the city’s families who also wished to preserve the memories of their loved ones.

The plaques were presented to the public Sunday, and Landry said they now boast “the shelf life of a Twinkie — roughly 100 years.”

Barras was the keynote speaker for the event and said he had been in communication with Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu about the plaques and wanted to express his support of the efforts.

“Last September there were 20 cultural districts recognized by the state of Louisiana for the first time which were developed as part of legislation passed in 2007,” Barras said.

“The Lt. Governor was quick to remind me that no community had two cultural districts on that list except for New Iberia.”

Barras said while it may not always be the most economical thing to protect historic locations, it is our responsibility to ensure children will be able to appreciate the “vanishing past.”

“It’s always amazing to me the dedication the state and our residents have to the protection and preservation of our culture,” he said.