Veteran - U.S. Navy - WWII
From Bonnes Nouvelles, 31 July 2001, page 13 ff
Dr. J.L. Holmes
Evangeline Parish Pioneer Veterinarian
by Lynn Landreneau
Dr. J.L. Holmes, the first veterinarian in Evangeline Parish, began his practice in Ville Platte on June 15, 1951, locating his office at 408 Reed Street in the vicinity of the J.B. Veillon store.
A native of Grant Parish, Dr. James L. Holmes was raised on a dairy farm near Georgetown, Louisiana. His parents were J. Leon Holmes and Mary Beall; he had 3 brothers and 3 sisters; all are now deceased.
The four Holmes boys and their friends roamed he ountry side on horse back and used thesame transportation to traverse the 2 miles to school. For entertainment high school rodeos were held. Once a buffalo was included in the animals. The lucky rider drawing the buffalo was Dr. Holmes who was rewarded with broken ribs.
Whey they were old enough to tend the fam, Dr. Holmes' father gave each child a horse and a cow. At the time of his high school graduation, Dr. Holmes owned 10 horses and 10 cows.
The late Reverend Vern K. Fletcher was Dr. Holmes high school teacher and coach at Georgetown High. Ater graduation, Dr. Holmes went to USL (University of Louisiana at Lafayette) where he obtained a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science. He credits Dr. Joel L. Fletcher, Sr. with giving him a job on campus to earn his way.
Dr. Holmes met his wife, Juanita Dennis when she was someone else's blind date at a Louisiana College event. Her father was a Baptist minister and Dr. Holmes attended services at his church. Dr. and Mrs. Holmes were married on February 19, 1943; they are the parents of 2 sons, John and Jimmy and the grandparents of six.
After obtaining his B.S. degree, Dr. Holmes taught one year at Georgetown High and then during World War II he served 3 years in the navy's amphibious forces. Using his G.I. endowment Dr. Holmes studied for his Master's degree at Mississippi State University and completed his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine at Auburn University in Alabama. Thee were 63 students in his graduating class; one was female.
The late Marvin Ortego had sent a letter to Auburn stating the need of a veterinarian in Evangeline Parish. Dr. Holmes saw the letter on a bulletin board and came to Ville Platte to talk to agriculture teachers, leadersand the cdounty agent staff. In 1951,, T.H. Vidrine was the county agent and his assistants wee W.R. Vallot and Charles Tassin.
Dr. and Mrs. Holmes came to Ville Platte on Good Friday in 1951 to take a look at their chosen community. Not many people were seen on Main Street, some were crawfishing. A large number of buggies were observed around Sacred Heart atholic Church as they entered town.
The Holmes Veterinary Hospital was located on Reed Street until 1955. Then they bought 7 acres of land and the fire damaged home of Sam Miller located just outside of town on Vidrine Road. Only the second floor of the home was destroyed by fire; the first floor was renovated to fit the taste and lifestyle of the Holmes family.
The hospital building was moved from Reed Street. "Madison Israel and Chester Sylvester, Sr. gave me the little oak trees which soon provided shade. Sometimes thee were a dozen or more livestock trailers waiting when I returned from a call. The fee was less if I treated the animal in the trailer," remarked Dr. Holmes.
"Being the only Veterinarian in the parish, my work load was tremendous. It was not uncommon for me to treat 300 head in one day for vaccinations or infections. Most of the roads were gravel, I wore out a car every year. Later I bought a pick-up truck," shared Dr. Holmes with a chuckle.
In 1951, the dairmen in the parish (if memory is correct) were: Rene Veillon, Alton Ortego, W.R. Vallot, Letiee Fusilier, Dr. C. L. Attaway (a registered guernsey herd), Nolon Briley, Orise P.Z. Fontenot, Lake Lafleur, Aswell P.Z. Fontenot, Otis Landreneau, Clifton Fontenot, Chester Sylvester Sr., Eddie Perron, Polon Manuel, David Lafleur, John Bacquet James Compton of Eola, Bertney Guillory of Pointe Blue, Levie A. and Ena Vidrine and Delma Soileau; those from the Beaver community were Wesley Dyer, Tracey Penny and Felder Brabham.
According to Dr. Holmes, the owners of exceptionally good cattle herds in the 50's and 60's wee: John LaHaye, Aubrey and Elvin LaHaye, Wilfred LaHaye, Cliff Fruge, J.B. LaHaye, Alex Gautreaux, Alcibriel Fontenot and sons, Elmer Morein, Delta A. Vidrine, Claude Rozas, Lionel Manuel, Romero and Freddie Fontenot, Dorestan Fontenot, Mayance Rider, Leonard Dardeau, Voicy Guillory, Emile Ludeau, J.B. Veillon, Joe Tate, Joe Fontenot, Garic Latour, Sr., Reinhart Bieber, Edward Bieber and Leslie Ardoin. Those raising horses were: Claude Morein, J.Y. Soileau and Louis Fontenot. When Dr. Holmes came to Ville Platte in 1951, there were 2,842 individual or family farms with animals to be treated.
Many people would try folk ures before calling a veterinarian. Some animals have an inner eyelid to keep insects out, farmers said the animal had "hooks" and would remove that eyelid - subjecting the animal to infection and insects. Others said a cow had "hollow" or "hollow tail". The tail was split and treated with salt and pepper and horns (an extension of the sinus) were cut off at the right time of the moon.
"My theory is "hollow tail = hollow or empty belly," related Dr. Holmes with an amused gleam in his eyes. "However I have observed that the cutting off of the horns at the right phase of the moon does cause a cow to bleed less."
During the 1950s, an animal zoo was located in Chicot Park. Dr. Holmes remembers being called to treat a bear. "I gave him a laxative shot and seemed to solve his problem. Not may Vets today can claim to have treated a constipated bear," laughts Dr. Holmes.
Dr. Holmes has treated animals under primitive conditions. Once he performed a caesarean in the barnyard of the owner of the cow. "There was little light and plenty mosquitoes. The farmer made a fire and put and old tire in it to smoke away the mosquitoes. The procedue used was not exactly the proper way to do a caesarean, but we did the best we could with what we had," he related. Dr. Holmes has witnessed great advancements in all fields of medicine, including veterinary.
Today, he treats only small animals, leaving the larger animals to the younger veterinarians.
In the earlier years, bartering was a form of payment for services by some farmers. In 1951, Hosea Ortego traded cow hide bottomed straight chairs and rockers for hog medicine. Today those chairs are located in Dr. Holmes' waiting room. There is still one patron who brings old farm gear or horseshoe objects to trade for veterinary services.
Today Dr. Holmes enjoys the slower pace of the business. He now takes time to enjoy a little hunting and fishing. This past January he suffered a heart attack, which he adds, "I thought I could keep up with my sons and grandsons - so much for full days of work - now I take it all a bit slower."
He and Mrs. Holmes are ative members of the First Baptist Church in Ville Platte. Be it at church or in the community, his friends refer to him as "Doc." A title he rightly earned over the years.
"Doc" provided 50 years of dedicated service to Evangeline Parish as a pioneer veterinarian. Under his guidance healthy registered herds have been developed.
Evaneline Parish thanks you Dr. and Mrs. Holmes for your contributios that have made Evangeline Parish a better place to live.
From the internet, The Town Talk, Alexandria-Pineville, LA
James L. Holmes
Mr. James L. Holmes, age 85, of Ville Platte, died Monday, October 24, 2005 in Ville Platte Medical Center.
Arrangements are under the direction of Ardoin's Funeral Home, Ville Platte.
Originally published October 26, 2005
From Bonnes Nouvelles, 31 July 2001, page 13 ff
Dr. J.L. Holmes
Evangeline Parish Pioneer Veterinarian
by Lynn Landreneau
Dr. J.L. Holmes, the first veterinarian in Evangeline Parish, began his practice in Ville Platte on June 15, 1951, locating his office at 408 Reed Street in the vicinity of the J.B. Veillon store.
A native of Grant Parish, Dr. James L. Holmes was raised on a dairy farm near Georgetown, Louisiana. His parents were J. Leon Holmes and Mary Beall; he had 3 brothers and 3 sisters; all are now deceased.
The four Holmes boys and their friends roamed he ountry side on horse back and used thesame transportation to traverse the 2 miles to school. For entertainment high school rodeos were held. Once a buffalo was included in the animals. The lucky rider drawing the buffalo was Dr. Holmes who was rewarded with broken ribs.
Whey they were old enough to tend the fam, Dr. Holmes' father gave each child a horse and a cow. At the time of his high school graduation, Dr. Holmes owned 10 horses and 10 cows.
The late Reverend Vern K. Fletcher was Dr. Holmes high school teacher and coach at Georgetown High. Ater graduation, Dr. Holmes went to USL (University of Louisiana at Lafayette) where he obtained a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science. He credits Dr. Joel L. Fletcher, Sr. with giving him a job on campus to earn his way.
Dr. Holmes met his wife, Juanita Dennis when she was someone else's blind date at a Louisiana College event. Her father was a Baptist minister and Dr. Holmes attended services at his church. Dr. and Mrs. Holmes were married on February 19, 1943; they are the parents of 2 sons, John and Jimmy and the grandparents of six.
After obtaining his B.S. degree, Dr. Holmes taught one year at Georgetown High and then during World War II he served 3 years in the navy's amphibious forces. Using his G.I. endowment Dr. Holmes studied for his Master's degree at Mississippi State University and completed his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine at Auburn University in Alabama. Thee were 63 students in his graduating class; one was female.
The late Marvin Ortego had sent a letter to Auburn stating the need of a veterinarian in Evangeline Parish. Dr. Holmes saw the letter on a bulletin board and came to Ville Platte to talk to agriculture teachers, leadersand the cdounty agent staff. In 1951,, T.H. Vidrine was the county agent and his assistants wee W.R. Vallot and Charles Tassin.
Dr. and Mrs. Holmes came to Ville Platte on Good Friday in 1951 to take a look at their chosen community. Not many people were seen on Main Street, some were crawfishing. A large number of buggies were observed around Sacred Heart atholic Church as they entered town.
The Holmes Veterinary Hospital was located on Reed Street until 1955. Then they bought 7 acres of land and the fire damaged home of Sam Miller located just outside of town on Vidrine Road. Only the second floor of the home was destroyed by fire; the first floor was renovated to fit the taste and lifestyle of the Holmes family.
The hospital building was moved from Reed Street. "Madison Israel and Chester Sylvester, Sr. gave me the little oak trees which soon provided shade. Sometimes thee were a dozen or more livestock trailers waiting when I returned from a call. The fee was less if I treated the animal in the trailer," remarked Dr. Holmes.
"Being the only Veterinarian in the parish, my work load was tremendous. It was not uncommon for me to treat 300 head in one day for vaccinations or infections. Most of the roads were gravel, I wore out a car every year. Later I bought a pick-up truck," shared Dr. Holmes with a chuckle.
In 1951, the dairmen in the parish (if memory is correct) were: Rene Veillon, Alton Ortego, W.R. Vallot, Letiee Fusilier, Dr. C. L. Attaway (a registered guernsey herd), Nolon Briley, Orise P.Z. Fontenot, Lake Lafleur, Aswell P.Z. Fontenot, Otis Landreneau, Clifton Fontenot, Chester Sylvester Sr., Eddie Perron, Polon Manuel, David Lafleur, John Bacquet James Compton of Eola, Bertney Guillory of Pointe Blue, Levie A. and Ena Vidrine and Delma Soileau; those from the Beaver community were Wesley Dyer, Tracey Penny and Felder Brabham.
According to Dr. Holmes, the owners of exceptionally good cattle herds in the 50's and 60's wee: John LaHaye, Aubrey and Elvin LaHaye, Wilfred LaHaye, Cliff Fruge, J.B. LaHaye, Alex Gautreaux, Alcibriel Fontenot and sons, Elmer Morein, Delta A. Vidrine, Claude Rozas, Lionel Manuel, Romero and Freddie Fontenot, Dorestan Fontenot, Mayance Rider, Leonard Dardeau, Voicy Guillory, Emile Ludeau, J.B. Veillon, Joe Tate, Joe Fontenot, Garic Latour, Sr., Reinhart Bieber, Edward Bieber and Leslie Ardoin. Those raising horses were: Claude Morein, J.Y. Soileau and Louis Fontenot. When Dr. Holmes came to Ville Platte in 1951, there were 2,842 individual or family farms with animals to be treated.
Many people would try folk ures before calling a veterinarian. Some animals have an inner eyelid to keep insects out, farmers said the animal had "hooks" and would remove that eyelid - subjecting the animal to infection and insects. Others said a cow had "hollow" or "hollow tail". The tail was split and treated with salt and pepper and horns (an extension of the sinus) were cut off at the right time of the moon.
"My theory is "hollow tail = hollow or empty belly," related Dr. Holmes with an amused gleam in his eyes. "However I have observed that the cutting off of the horns at the right phase of the moon does cause a cow to bleed less."
During the 1950s, an animal zoo was located in Chicot Park. Dr. Holmes remembers being called to treat a bear. "I gave him a laxative shot and seemed to solve his problem. Not may Vets today can claim to have treated a constipated bear," laughts Dr. Holmes.
Dr. Holmes has treated animals under primitive conditions. Once he performed a caesarean in the barnyard of the owner of the cow. "There was little light and plenty mosquitoes. The farmer made a fire and put and old tire in it to smoke away the mosquitoes. The procedue used was not exactly the proper way to do a caesarean, but we did the best we could with what we had," he related. Dr. Holmes has witnessed great advancements in all fields of medicine, including veterinary.
Today, he treats only small animals, leaving the larger animals to the younger veterinarians.
In the earlier years, bartering was a form of payment for services by some farmers. In 1951, Hosea Ortego traded cow hide bottomed straight chairs and rockers for hog medicine. Today those chairs are located in Dr. Holmes' waiting room. There is still one patron who brings old farm gear or horseshoe objects to trade for veterinary services.
Today Dr. Holmes enjoys the slower pace of the business. He now takes time to enjoy a little hunting and fishing. This past January he suffered a heart attack, which he adds, "I thought I could keep up with my sons and grandsons - so much for full days of work - now I take it all a bit slower."
He and Mrs. Holmes are ative members of the First Baptist Church in Ville Platte. Be it at church or in the community, his friends refer to him as "Doc." A title he rightly earned over the years.
"Doc" provided 50 years of dedicated service to Evangeline Parish as a pioneer veterinarian. Under his guidance healthy registered herds have been developed.
Evaneline Parish thanks you Dr. and Mrs. Holmes for your contributios that have made Evangeline Parish a better place to live.
From the internet, The Town Talk, Alexandria-Pineville, LA
James L. Holmes
Mr. James L. Holmes, age 85, of Ville Platte, died Monday, October 24, 2005 in Ville Platte Medical Center.
Arrangements are under the direction of Ardoin's Funeral Home, Ville Platte.
Originally published October 26, 2005
Veteran - U.S. Navy - WWII
From Bonnes Nouvelles, 31 July 2001, page 13 ff
Dr. J.L. Holmes
Evangeline Parish Pioneer Veterinarian
by Lynn Landreneau
Dr. J.L. Holmes, the first veterinarian in Evangeline Parish, began his practice in Ville Platte on June 15, 1951, locating his office at 408 Reed Street in the vicinity of the J.B. Veillon store.
A native of Grant Parish, Dr. James L. Holmes was raised on a dairy farm near Georgetown, Louisiana. His parents were J. Leon Holmes and Mary Beall; he had 3 brothers and 3 sisters; all are now deceased.
The four Holmes boys and their friends roamed he ountry side on horse back and used thesame transportation to traverse the 2 miles to school. For entertainment high school rodeos were held. Once a buffalo was included in the animals. The lucky rider drawing the buffalo was Dr. Holmes who was rewarded with broken ribs.
Whey they were old enough to tend the fam, Dr. Holmes' father gave each child a horse and a cow. At the time of his high school graduation, Dr. Holmes owned 10 horses and 10 cows.
The late Reverend Vern K. Fletcher was Dr. Holmes high school teacher and coach at Georgetown High. Ater graduation, Dr. Holmes went to USL (University of Louisiana at Lafayette) where he obtained a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science. He credits Dr. Joel L. Fletcher, Sr. with giving him a job on campus to earn his way.
Dr. Holmes met his wife, Juanita Dennis when she was someone else's blind date at a Louisiana College event. Her father was a Baptist minister and Dr. Holmes attended services at his church. Dr. and Mrs. Holmes were married on February 19, 1943; they are the parents of 2 sons, John and Jimmy and the grandparents of six.
After obtaining his B.S. degree, Dr. Holmes taught one year at Georgetown High and then during World War II he served 3 years in the navy's amphibious forces. Using his G.I. endowment Dr. Holmes studied for his Master's degree at Mississippi State University and completed his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine at Auburn University in Alabama. Thee were 63 students in his graduating class; one was female.
The late Marvin Ortego had sent a letter to Auburn stating the need of a veterinarian in Evangeline Parish. Dr. Holmes saw the letter on a bulletin board and came to Ville Platte to talk to agriculture teachers, leadersand the cdounty agent staff. In 1951,, T.H. Vidrine was the county agent and his assistants wee W.R. Vallot and Charles Tassin.
Dr. and Mrs. Holmes came to Ville Platte on Good Friday in 1951 to take a look at their chosen community. Not many people were seen on Main Street, some were crawfishing. A large number of buggies were observed around Sacred Heart atholic Church as they entered town.
The Holmes Veterinary Hospital was located on Reed Street until 1955. Then they bought 7 acres of land and the fire damaged home of Sam Miller located just outside of town on Vidrine Road. Only the second floor of the home was destroyed by fire; the first floor was renovated to fit the taste and lifestyle of the Holmes family.
The hospital building was moved from Reed Street. "Madison Israel and Chester Sylvester, Sr. gave me the little oak trees which soon provided shade. Sometimes thee were a dozen or more livestock trailers waiting when I returned from a call. The fee was less if I treated the animal in the trailer," remarked Dr. Holmes.
"Being the only Veterinarian in the parish, my work load was tremendous. It was not uncommon for me to treat 300 head in one day for vaccinations or infections. Most of the roads were gravel, I wore out a car every year. Later I bought a pick-up truck," shared Dr. Holmes with a chuckle.
In 1951, the dairmen in the parish (if memory is correct) were: Rene Veillon, Alton Ortego, W.R. Vallot, Letiee Fusilier, Dr. C. L. Attaway (a registered guernsey herd), Nolon Briley, Orise P.Z. Fontenot, Lake Lafleur, Aswell P.Z. Fontenot, Otis Landreneau, Clifton Fontenot, Chester Sylvester Sr., Eddie Perron, Polon Manuel, David Lafleur, John Bacquet James Compton of Eola, Bertney Guillory of Pointe Blue, Levie A. and Ena Vidrine and Delma Soileau; those from the Beaver community were Wesley Dyer, Tracey Penny and Felder Brabham.
According to Dr. Holmes, the owners of exceptionally good cattle herds in the 50's and 60's wee: John LaHaye, Aubrey and Elvin LaHaye, Wilfred LaHaye, Cliff Fruge, J.B. LaHaye, Alex Gautreaux, Alcibriel Fontenot and sons, Elmer Morein, Delta A. Vidrine, Claude Rozas, Lionel Manuel, Romero and Freddie Fontenot, Dorestan Fontenot, Mayance Rider, Leonard Dardeau, Voicy Guillory, Emile Ludeau, J.B. Veillon, Joe Tate, Joe Fontenot, Garic Latour, Sr., Reinhart Bieber, Edward Bieber and Leslie Ardoin. Those raising horses were: Claude Morein, J.Y. Soileau and Louis Fontenot. When Dr. Holmes came to Ville Platte in 1951, there were 2,842 individual or family farms with animals to be treated.
Many people would try folk ures before calling a veterinarian. Some animals have an inner eyelid to keep insects out, farmers said the animal had "hooks" and would remove that eyelid - subjecting the animal to infection and insects. Others said a cow had "hollow" or "hollow tail". The tail was split and treated with salt and pepper and horns (an extension of the sinus) were cut off at the right time of the moon.
"My theory is "hollow tail = hollow or empty belly," related Dr. Holmes with an amused gleam in his eyes. "However I have observed that the cutting off of the horns at the right phase of the moon does cause a cow to bleed less."
During the 1950s, an animal zoo was located in Chicot Park. Dr. Holmes remembers being called to treat a bear. "I gave him a laxative shot and seemed to solve his problem. Not may Vets today can claim to have treated a constipated bear," laughts Dr. Holmes.
Dr. Holmes has treated animals under primitive conditions. Once he performed a caesarean in the barnyard of the owner of the cow. "There was little light and plenty mosquitoes. The farmer made a fire and put and old tire in it to smoke away the mosquitoes. The procedue used was not exactly the proper way to do a caesarean, but we did the best we could with what we had," he related. Dr. Holmes has witnessed great advancements in all fields of medicine, including veterinary.
Today, he treats only small animals, leaving the larger animals to the younger veterinarians.
In the earlier years, bartering was a form of payment for services by some farmers. In 1951, Hosea Ortego traded cow hide bottomed straight chairs and rockers for hog medicine. Today those chairs are located in Dr. Holmes' waiting room. There is still one patron who brings old farm gear or horseshoe objects to trade for veterinary services.
Today Dr. Holmes enjoys the slower pace of the business. He now takes time to enjoy a little hunting and fishing. This past January he suffered a heart attack, which he adds, "I thought I could keep up with my sons and grandsons - so much for full days of work - now I take it all a bit slower."
He and Mrs. Holmes are ative members of the First Baptist Church in Ville Platte. Be it at church or in the community, his friends refer to him as "Doc." A title he rightly earned over the years.
"Doc" provided 50 years of dedicated service to Evangeline Parish as a pioneer veterinarian. Under his guidance healthy registered herds have been developed.
Evaneline Parish thanks you Dr. and Mrs. Holmes for your contributios that have made Evangeline Parish a better place to live.
From the internet, The Town Talk, Alexandria-Pineville, LA
James L. Holmes
Mr. James L. Holmes, age 85, of Ville Platte, died Monday, October 24, 2005 in Ville Platte Medical Center.
Arrangements are under the direction of Ardoin's Funeral Home, Ville Platte.
Originally published October 26, 2005
From Bonnes Nouvelles, 31 July 2001, page 13 ff
Dr. J.L. Holmes
Evangeline Parish Pioneer Veterinarian
by Lynn Landreneau
Dr. J.L. Holmes, the first veterinarian in Evangeline Parish, began his practice in Ville Platte on June 15, 1951, locating his office at 408 Reed Street in the vicinity of the J.B. Veillon store.
A native of Grant Parish, Dr. James L. Holmes was raised on a dairy farm near Georgetown, Louisiana. His parents were J. Leon Holmes and Mary Beall; he had 3 brothers and 3 sisters; all are now deceased.
The four Holmes boys and their friends roamed he ountry side on horse back and used thesame transportation to traverse the 2 miles to school. For entertainment high school rodeos were held. Once a buffalo was included in the animals. The lucky rider drawing the buffalo was Dr. Holmes who was rewarded with broken ribs.
Whey they were old enough to tend the fam, Dr. Holmes' father gave each child a horse and a cow. At the time of his high school graduation, Dr. Holmes owned 10 horses and 10 cows.
The late Reverend Vern K. Fletcher was Dr. Holmes high school teacher and coach at Georgetown High. Ater graduation, Dr. Holmes went to USL (University of Louisiana at Lafayette) where he obtained a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science. He credits Dr. Joel L. Fletcher, Sr. with giving him a job on campus to earn his way.
Dr. Holmes met his wife, Juanita Dennis when she was someone else's blind date at a Louisiana College event. Her father was a Baptist minister and Dr. Holmes attended services at his church. Dr. and Mrs. Holmes were married on February 19, 1943; they are the parents of 2 sons, John and Jimmy and the grandparents of six.
After obtaining his B.S. degree, Dr. Holmes taught one year at Georgetown High and then during World War II he served 3 years in the navy's amphibious forces. Using his G.I. endowment Dr. Holmes studied for his Master's degree at Mississippi State University and completed his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine at Auburn University in Alabama. Thee were 63 students in his graduating class; one was female.
The late Marvin Ortego had sent a letter to Auburn stating the need of a veterinarian in Evangeline Parish. Dr. Holmes saw the letter on a bulletin board and came to Ville Platte to talk to agriculture teachers, leadersand the cdounty agent staff. In 1951,, T.H. Vidrine was the county agent and his assistants wee W.R. Vallot and Charles Tassin.
Dr. and Mrs. Holmes came to Ville Platte on Good Friday in 1951 to take a look at their chosen community. Not many people were seen on Main Street, some were crawfishing. A large number of buggies were observed around Sacred Heart atholic Church as they entered town.
The Holmes Veterinary Hospital was located on Reed Street until 1955. Then they bought 7 acres of land and the fire damaged home of Sam Miller located just outside of town on Vidrine Road. Only the second floor of the home was destroyed by fire; the first floor was renovated to fit the taste and lifestyle of the Holmes family.
The hospital building was moved from Reed Street. "Madison Israel and Chester Sylvester, Sr. gave me the little oak trees which soon provided shade. Sometimes thee were a dozen or more livestock trailers waiting when I returned from a call. The fee was less if I treated the animal in the trailer," remarked Dr. Holmes.
"Being the only Veterinarian in the parish, my work load was tremendous. It was not uncommon for me to treat 300 head in one day for vaccinations or infections. Most of the roads were gravel, I wore out a car every year. Later I bought a pick-up truck," shared Dr. Holmes with a chuckle.
In 1951, the dairmen in the parish (if memory is correct) were: Rene Veillon, Alton Ortego, W.R. Vallot, Letiee Fusilier, Dr. C. L. Attaway (a registered guernsey herd), Nolon Briley, Orise P.Z. Fontenot, Lake Lafleur, Aswell P.Z. Fontenot, Otis Landreneau, Clifton Fontenot, Chester Sylvester Sr., Eddie Perron, Polon Manuel, David Lafleur, John Bacquet James Compton of Eola, Bertney Guillory of Pointe Blue, Levie A. and Ena Vidrine and Delma Soileau; those from the Beaver community were Wesley Dyer, Tracey Penny and Felder Brabham.
According to Dr. Holmes, the owners of exceptionally good cattle herds in the 50's and 60's wee: John LaHaye, Aubrey and Elvin LaHaye, Wilfred LaHaye, Cliff Fruge, J.B. LaHaye, Alex Gautreaux, Alcibriel Fontenot and sons, Elmer Morein, Delta A. Vidrine, Claude Rozas, Lionel Manuel, Romero and Freddie Fontenot, Dorestan Fontenot, Mayance Rider, Leonard Dardeau, Voicy Guillory, Emile Ludeau, J.B. Veillon, Joe Tate, Joe Fontenot, Garic Latour, Sr., Reinhart Bieber, Edward Bieber and Leslie Ardoin. Those raising horses were: Claude Morein, J.Y. Soileau and Louis Fontenot. When Dr. Holmes came to Ville Platte in 1951, there were 2,842 individual or family farms with animals to be treated.
Many people would try folk ures before calling a veterinarian. Some animals have an inner eyelid to keep insects out, farmers said the animal had "hooks" and would remove that eyelid - subjecting the animal to infection and insects. Others said a cow had "hollow" or "hollow tail". The tail was split and treated with salt and pepper and horns (an extension of the sinus) were cut off at the right time of the moon.
"My theory is "hollow tail = hollow or empty belly," related Dr. Holmes with an amused gleam in his eyes. "However I have observed that the cutting off of the horns at the right phase of the moon does cause a cow to bleed less."
During the 1950s, an animal zoo was located in Chicot Park. Dr. Holmes remembers being called to treat a bear. "I gave him a laxative shot and seemed to solve his problem. Not may Vets today can claim to have treated a constipated bear," laughts Dr. Holmes.
Dr. Holmes has treated animals under primitive conditions. Once he performed a caesarean in the barnyard of the owner of the cow. "There was little light and plenty mosquitoes. The farmer made a fire and put and old tire in it to smoke away the mosquitoes. The procedue used was not exactly the proper way to do a caesarean, but we did the best we could with what we had," he related. Dr. Holmes has witnessed great advancements in all fields of medicine, including veterinary.
Today, he treats only small animals, leaving the larger animals to the younger veterinarians.
In the earlier years, bartering was a form of payment for services by some farmers. In 1951, Hosea Ortego traded cow hide bottomed straight chairs and rockers for hog medicine. Today those chairs are located in Dr. Holmes' waiting room. There is still one patron who brings old farm gear or horseshoe objects to trade for veterinary services.
Today Dr. Holmes enjoys the slower pace of the business. He now takes time to enjoy a little hunting and fishing. This past January he suffered a heart attack, which he adds, "I thought I could keep up with my sons and grandsons - so much for full days of work - now I take it all a bit slower."
He and Mrs. Holmes are ative members of the First Baptist Church in Ville Platte. Be it at church or in the community, his friends refer to him as "Doc." A title he rightly earned over the years.
"Doc" provided 50 years of dedicated service to Evangeline Parish as a pioneer veterinarian. Under his guidance healthy registered herds have been developed.
Evaneline Parish thanks you Dr. and Mrs. Holmes for your contributios that have made Evangeline Parish a better place to live.
From the internet, The Town Talk, Alexandria-Pineville, LA
James L. Holmes
Mr. James L. Holmes, age 85, of Ville Platte, died Monday, October 24, 2005 in Ville Platte Medical Center.
Arrangements are under the direction of Ardoin's Funeral Home, Ville Platte.
Originally published October 26, 2005
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