(The St. Romain Oak is located at 109 Myrtle Drive in Raceland, about 1/2 mile north of downtown Raceland. Myrtle Drive is and on the west side of LA Hwy. 1. The old oak is just a hundred feet or so down the street and on your left.)
The St. Romain Oak is named after Martin St. Romain, Sr. and was an early registrant with the Live Oak Society – # 505. When registered, the oak was 25 ft. 3 in. When measured in late 2016, it was 27 ft. 2 in. making it approximately 250 – 300 years old. The property where the oak grows has been in the St. Romain family for at least two generations.
Martin St. Romain, Sr. was born in 1895 on a cotton farm near Plaucheville, LA. He studied telegraphy as a boy and worked with the LR&N and the Southern Pacific Railroads as a telegrapher, or telegraph operator. During World War I, he served with the 113th field signal battalion and the 32nd Division in France.
After the war, he returned to his job with Southern Pacific Railroad and was transferred to Raceland in 1920 where he made significant contributions to the growing community. He worked with or organized several local businesses including the Automotive Life Insurance Co. and South Coast Gas Company. He also served with a range of civic organizations including the Lions Club, the Boy Scouts, the Francis T. Nicholls Colonel’s Club, and the Knights of Columbus.
The Lafourche Live Oak Tour was created through the generous support of Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou Tourism. For more information on Lafourche Parish events and activities, visit their website at LACajunBayou.com.
I came upon this site while searching for ideas for a painting of an oak tree. I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw the Martin St. Romain tree. My name is Donna St. Romain. My dad O’Neil St. Romain was from Plaucheville. His father was Authur St. Romain. I feel sure we are related to Martin’s family in some way., and look forward to visiting the area soon.