Small Southern towns take great pride in their locals'
skilled craftsmanship. From the steady handiwork that goes into the carving of
duck decoys to the art of hand building and refurbishing boats that go out on
the Gulf Coast, craftspeople in the South are hard at work maintaining these Southern
traditions.
One town with a particular knack for this kind of work is
Houma, Louisiana. Houma is home to many local, family-owned boat repair and
building shops. Arlen "Benny" Cenac Jr.
is a third-generation Louisiana native who now owns and operates Cenac Marine Services, located in Houma, which
has been passed down to him from his father and grandfather and takes pride in
local craftsmanship.
Cenac Marine operates companies such as Houma Machine & Propeller and Main Iron Works. The workers at Houma Machine & Propeller specialize in repairing and refurbishing ship propellers, something that requires a great deal of handwork and is quite time-consuming. The process of repairing a propeller is something that can only be learned by watching and doing, in order to perfect the craft, and cannot easily be learned outside of a shop itself.
Similarly, Benny Cenac's Main Iron Works' services include
marine vessel construction, ship building, refurbishes, rebuilds, dry docking,
and more. Despite being a family-owned business in a small town, the company is
a leader in tugboat services in both the Gulf Coast and the country at large.
Local craftsmanship in the Houma area is so important that
there is even a boat museum just down the road in Lockport: The Center for Traditional
Louisiana Boat Building. The museum has been a treasure to the community
for years, showcasing traditional handmade boats through the years, some of
which are centuries old.
Although the founder and longtime director of the center
sadly passed away earlier this year, the community is committed to maintaining
and expanding the center for years to come. Preserving traditional boat-building
culture is a key component of Cajun culture, something treasured by many local
Southerners.
Another special craft in Louisiana is carving duck decoys. While
their original purpose was, as the name suggests, to be used as decoys while
hunting ducks, the art of creating duck decoys has turned into a hobby itself,
and many use the decoys as a form of décor rather than taking them out hunting.
Duck decoy collecting has also become a hobby, with some decoys getting
auctioned off for more than a million dollars.
The traditional way to carve a duck decoy is to use only
hand tools, such as a basic knife, chisel, and rasp. Then, carvers must figure
out where they want to remove wood to resemble the duck they want. The last
step is painting the decoy.
While carving a duck decoy and refurbishing or building a
boat are clearly vastly different activities, they have several key
similarities: attention to detail, extensive knowledge of the craft, and
precise handwork. These are key to many treasured traditions in Cajun culture.
Benny Cenac, Houma Native, on the Art of Craftsmanship in
Louisiana
According to Benny Cenac, many of these crafts are rooted in
history, tradition, and even family values. He remembers learning everything he
knows today about boat building and refurbishing from his father and
grandfather, beginning when he was a young boy.
"I'd go into the shop with my dad and see the employees hard
at work on repairs or builds and see them really pour their heart and soul into
what they do," Cenac said. "And I learned everything I know by watching and
doing it with my dad and grandfather in the shops."
Cenac also noted that no machine in a factory could fully
mimic the handwork that goes into shipbuilding and refurbishing. "It requires a
skill that can't really be copied by a machine," Cenac said. "The care and
detail that goes into it are so unique."
Benny Cenac, like most native Louisianans, finds a great
deal of pride in these Cajun traditions. To him, these crafts show how people
learn from each other, work hard, and care deeply about what they do.
"That's what I think defines a true craftsman," Cenac said.
"It's not so much about what they do but about how they do it. They pour their
heart into what they do, paying close attention to every detail to make the
best creation possible, whether it's a boat, a propeller, and yes, even a decoy
duck."
Benny Cenac is also grateful that museums such as the Center
for Traditional Louisiana Boat Building exist, so that people from all around
can come and see for themselves the beautiful work that has been and is
continuing to be created by many Southerners for generations.
Cover Image: Hand carving duck decoys is a hobby
enjoyed by many Southerners, including Benny Cenac.
Originally intended to use while duck hunting, carving duck decoys has now become a hobby and craft in and of itself, with many people displaying or even auctioning off their decoys.
