Bourque’s Club
Status: Closed
Parish: St. Landry
Location: Lewisburg
152 Leo Lane, Lewisburg
Included in Emily Ardoin’s 2014 thesis “Fais do-do to ‘Hippy Ti-Yo’: Dance Halls of South Louisiana”: “Bourque’s is a Cajun dancehall located in the center of the Lewisburg community. The opening date is unknown, but the club closed in 2006 and is currently vacant and in poor condition. The building is of a frame construction, has a bonnet/gable and metal roof, no parapet, and has an unknown type of foundation. The dance floorand ceiling are both constructed of wood strips. The bar is located in a separate room than the dance floor. The integrity is uncertain but appears to be unaltered. Siding might have been replaced at some point.” Owner was Leon Bourque. Mrs. Bourque continued to operate it until closing: Bobby & Marella Caffey & Eldine & Ernest (Ben) Benoit: “We were there one time, sitting at a table, and it started raining. The roof was leaking so bad that we had to move to another table to stay dry. You looked around and half the tables had bucket son them- catching the rain leaking through.”
Sadly, the building that housed Bourque’s Club burned to the ground on July 24, 2019.
Gallery:
Photo Credit: John Sharp
Marc Savoy
We played there every other weekend in1967. Besides myself, the band consisted of Rodney Miller on steel guitar, Steve Melancon on rhythm guitar, Pee-Wee Broussard on fiddle and Harold Leger on drums. I think Harold and I are the only ones still “kicking ” at this time. I remember Mr. and Mrs. Bourque being very nice genteel people. I miss those old dance halls. It was such an important” social club” for the older generation.