Heather Rege

Once upon a time, believe it or not, there was no such thing as Mardi Gras in Houma. Hard to imagine, right? The carnival season wasn’t celebrated in Houma until 1946, after World War II. That’s when the Krewe of Houmas, named after the Houmas Indians, was chartered.

Proud of its rich history as the oldest krewe in the area, two members of the club, current president Matt Hagen and past president Logan Babin, recently sat down to share their top reasons why Houmas is one of the city’s most cherished krewes.

WAY BACK WHEN
A member since 1973, Logan will celebrate his 40th anniversary with the krewe next year.

As the oldest krewe in the city, Houmas has come a long way from the days when the floats were not much more than decorated wagons.

“Back in those days [1946], the floats were pulled with horses and mules, and our reviewing stand was the old City Hall where the Little Theatre is now,” Logan says. “When Houmas got started having real, actual, honest-to-goodness floats, Blaine Kern was just starting his career. He worked for somebody in the Rex organization that did their floats, and he was sent to Houma.”

Interestingly, Houmas used to rent floats from krewes in New Orleans—and they didn’t come by way of the interstate.

“We used to barge the floats from New Orleans to Houma on the Intracoastal Canal, and they would unload them at the Texaco dock over in East Houma on Van Avenue, and then bring them to where the parade started, which is where the old A & P Food Store was on Grand Caillou Road,” Logan says. “Kern’s job was to come to Houma on Mardi Gras Day, and if any of the floats got torn up or banged up during the barge ride, he would fix them.

“We were always afraid it would get foggy one day and the floats wouldn’t arrive, but it never did. That was some feat! We also used to rent our krewe and court costumes from krewes in New Orleans. Eventually, it got to be too much of a burden to move these things back and forth. I guess it’s been about 20 years ago that we started building our own floats and built a den and finally decided to handle this stuff ourselves.”

The Houmas den is located off of Highway 311, and its 35,000 square feet houses all of the krewe’s floats, as well as a conference room.

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON
When it comes to the riders on these floats, Houmas boasts that almost every float in the lineup features a father standing alongside his son or a brother standing beside his brother. It’s an illustration of the importance of the family bond that defines the krewe. Logan fondly remembers how his own family became involved many decades ago.

“When I was in high school, I kept asking my dad why he didn’t join the Krewe of Houmas so we could participate, my brother and I, in the carnival functions,” he says. “My dad said if we wanted to go to any carnival functions, we should start dating the right girl, so I did that. I took his word and dated girls that I knew were going to be maids. I dated the queen in 1957, I think, and so that’s how I got involved.

“After my brother and I grew up and left Houma to go to college, then my dad joined the club. I don’t know what his reasoning was, but he wanted us to work to get involved in Houmas, even though he knew everybody in the club.”

Matt echoes Logan’s sentiment on the importance of family involvement.

“I’ve been a krewe member since 1992,” the krewe’s current president says. “As my daughters were growing up, they enjoyed Mardi Gras. Their mother enjoyed Mardi Gras and was in one of the women’s krewes, Hyacinthians. When my daughter entered high school, I ended up taking over as a captain of a float. Of course, being a captain, part of your job is to recruit new members to keep your float as full as possible because you don’t want a float riding down the street with seven guys on it.

“So I was a float captain for about six or seven years, then a vacancy came up on the board. The then president appointed me to fill that vacancy. I enjoyed working on the board, met a lot of good guys, and ended up being elected to another three-year term. Two years ago, I was nominated to be president.”

Matt recognizes that the pomp and circumstance that accompanies carnival season is not for everyone.

“There are different areas of fun for a Mardi Gras krewe,” he says. “There’s fun for the court and fun for the riders; some people just like to ride. Really, kids from a young age whose dads are in the club, they kind of grow up in this. I have fond memories when I was a kid—there was really only three clubs: Houmas, Terreanians and Hyacinthians. I can remember, believe it or not, specific things my father threw me from the float; I remember where I was standing; I remember the weather.”

Logan and Matt both have Mardi Gras family traditions they have been keeping alive for years. In the Babin family, it’s the traditional open house.

“The parade used to pass in front of our office [on Lafayette St.], and we had open house for all of the three parades at the time,” Logan says. “Then the parade route changed. My wife wanted to continue doing the open house, so I purchased a Mardi Gras lot.”

On this lot, Logan has outfitted a tented viewing stand and trailer with living, bathroom and kitchen facilities. This is where his family will be gathered year after year.

Spending time with family is also a carnival tradition for Matt.

“We generally will go downtown right near Church Street because that’s where my in-laws used to watch the parade,” he says. The extent of the tailgating still amazes him. “The week before Mardi Gras, you drive around and you can’t fit another trailer or flatbed on the route. We don’t have a trailer, but we’re generally invited to different spots.”

KEEPING TRADITION ALIVE
In an effort to keep tradition alive, the krewe still hosts its annual Presentation Dance and Tableau similar to those held by the oldest krewes in New Orleans. The private party includes the presentation of the court, traditional dances, revelry for the children and the official ball that caps off the night. Additionally, the members’ daughters age 15 and older are presented in white dresses.

“In that way, it has elements of a débutante ball,” Logan says.

The first king of Houmas, John Foolkes, was elected by a ballot placed in The Houma Daily Courier.

Times have changed.

“The king [now elected by the krewe’s members] picked his queen, all the maids and all the dukes,” Logan says. “At some point in time, the king came to the board of directors and asked for the rules to be changed. Currently, the king picks his queen and dukes, and the board picks the maids.”

Speaking of the current king, King Houmas LXVI Robert J. Hamilton shares a special connection to the krewe’s deeply rooted history. It turns out John Foolkes was Robert’s great-uncle. In keeping with the tradition of including family generations as part of the revelry, Robert will also share his reign as king with his brother, Duke Harvie D. Hamilton III; his daughter, Page Logan Hamilton; and his nephew, Page Michael Hamilton.

“It is something I’ve always wanted to do,” Robert says. “There’s such a tradition of Mardi Gras in my family. This year is special because I have one of my daughters as a page, and Mardi Gras Day is my birthday.”

Both Logan and Matt also have experience with carnival royalty. Logan was king in 1984; his daughter was queen in 1987; and his son was a page in 1980.

Matt’s daughter also had her time in the spotlight.

“My oldest daughter was a maid several years back, and she thoroughly enjoyed it,” he says. “Obviously, girls who are being presented really enjoy the experience, and it’s a lifelong experience that they remember 20, 30 and 40 years down the line. It’s something you keep with you, really, for the rest of your life.”

RIDING ON MARDI GRAS DAY
For Logan and Matt, there’s something magical about parading on Mardi Gras Day.

“Riding on Mardi Gras Day is special; it just is,” Matt says. “It’s the day. The crowds seem to be bigger—the revelry. It’s just so euphoric, the ride itself.”

Logan agrees.

“There’s no other day to ride as far as I’m concerned,” he says. “You’ve got to get out there on Mardi Gras Day when all the people are along the route.”

And for these riders, the crowds bring the magic that heightens the experience.

“Everybody should do it at least once,” Matt says. “It’s a way if you are married and have kids to do things as a family. I would tell people, whether you’re married or not, the ride in and of itself is just a fantastic experience, and you need to try it once. I think the other clubs are good clubs, but I think the ride on Mardi Gras Day stands alone. I have a lot of friends in other clubs, but I think riding in Houmas on Mardi Gras stands by itself; I really do. I think people look at Tuesday, Mardi Gras Day, as the day. Whether people can make other parades or have to miss a parade, people really try not to miss Mardi Gras Day. Historically, this is the last day before Lent. All the people I see riding on Tuesday, they’re in line to get their ashes on Wednesday.”

When asked about favorite memories from past Mardi Gras, Logan points to the only year he didn’t ride—the year his daughter was queen.

“I guess the next favorite would be the year I was king,” he says. “The weather was good. The only bad thing is you don’t get to throw anything as king.”

Matt has a slightly different take on favorites.

“I think it’s fair to say that a rider’s first year is their favorite year,” he says. “I can remember my first ride, and even people who I’ve talked to after their first ride, they’re talking about it for a month after.”

As always, the Krewe of Houmas promises not to disappoint as they roll through the streets of Houma on Mardi Gras Day.

“It’s a year-round process to put this parade and tableau on,” Matt says. “We have monthly meetings and committee meetings that go on year-round. In June, when people are off vacationing, we are doing things six, seven and eight months in advance of Mardi Gras to ensure that it will be a good ride for the krewe, but more importantly, a good show for the public. And we pride ourselves on that.”

Again this year, Houmas will also present the Battle of the Bands competition along the route. With the rise of Mardi Gras celebrations in cities across Louisiana, the krewe began experiencing difficulty when trying to book bands, both local and out-of-town, on Mardi Gras Day. The Battle of the Bands competition sparked interest and eventually boosted the band lineup in the Houmas parade. Judges are stationed throughout the parade route to judge each band’s performance and name a champion of the bands.

“Finding marching bands to participate on Mardi Gras Day had become a challenging task,” says Mark Kinnard, a Houmas board member. “So the Krewe of Houmas sought out a way to bring other entertainment to our parade. Thus, the Royal Entertainment Float was born.”

This year, the krewe welcomes national recording artist Baby Bee as its inaugural performer on the float. And because Baby Bee is rooted in Houma’s backyard, the krewe believes the addition will add that spark back to the magic of Mardi Gras Day.

“Houmas is Mardi Gras Day in Terrebonne Parish,” Mark says. “We pride ourselves on putting on a great show.” PoV