Roberts Cove, Louisiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Roberts Cove
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 Roberts Cove
Location in Louisiana
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| Country | United States |
| State | Louisiana |
| Parish | Acadia |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.5 sq mi (9 km2) |
| • Land | 3.5 sq mi (9 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0 km2) |
| Elevation | 36 ft (11 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 337 |
Roberts Cove is a small community in Louisiana, United States. It used to be called German Cove. In French, its name is Anse-Robert.
Roberts Cove is not a town. It is a spread-out rural area. The St. Leo's Catholic Church is the main gathering place. This church is about three miles northwest of Rayne. It is located in Acadia Parish. This area is part of the Crowley Micropolitan Statistical Area.
History of Roberts Cove
In 1867, a priest named Rev. Peter Leonard Thevis came to New Orleans. He was from Germany. Archbishop Jean-Marie Odin asked him to come. Many German immigrants lived in New Orleans at that time.
On January 13, 1880, Father Thevis visited the area. He came with his brother, his nephew, and Herman Grein. They traveled by train to Rayne. Then they went to the open land three miles north of Rayne. They wanted to find a good spot for a new community. The place they chose was called "Roberts Cove." It was named after Benjamin Roberts. He was the first owner of this land.
Thirteen families joined them in 1881. These German Catholics came from Germany. They were leaving their home country to avoid being forced into the army. They also wanted to practice their religion freely.
In the spring of 1883, Father Hennemann bought some land. It had a house that was used as both a home for the priest and a church. There was also another building that served as a school. The Benedictine monks helped to start the St. Leo IV church in 1885.
Roberts Cove stayed very German until World War I. During the war, new laws made it hard to be German. It became illegal to speak German or show German culture in Louisiana. Because of this, fewer people speak German there now. But Roberts Cove is still known as a German community.
Culture and Traditions
Roberts Cove is famous for its yearly Germanfest. This fun event happens on the first weekend of October. It takes place at St. Leo's Catholic Church.
Visitors can enjoy delicious local German food. They can also learn about German heritage and their family history. A special part of the festival is the German singing and folk dancing. People from 8 to 80 years old, who are descendants of the original settlers, perform these dances. The Roberts Cove German Heritage Museum is also open for visitors.
