The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1883-03-31
CHARTER OF opELoUsAs FIRE co. NO. 8.
United States of America.
STATE OF LOUlSiANA---PARlSH OF ST. LANDRY.

StAlt Ut lUUISlhNR---fRhISh Uf SIr LhNDhI,
DE IT KNOWN, that on this eighth day of
Id March A. ID. eighteen hundred and eighty
three and of the independence of the United
States of America the one hundred and eighth,
before me, Laurent Dupre, q Notary Public
duly qualified and commissioned, in and for
said parish and State, personally came and
appeared the persons whose names are here
unto signed, all being residents of the town Of
Opelousas, La, who severally and individually
declared: That availing themselves Of the pow
ers, rights and privileges conferred by the stat
utes of the State of louisiana relative to the
organization of corporations in this State, they
do, by these presents, form, organize consti
tute and found corporation for the objects
and purposes as shall be hereinafter enumerat
ed and set forth, and to that end they do here
by covenant and agree to bind themselves, and
all such as us may hereafter become associated
with them, and their successors, to be govern
cd by the following stipulations, obligations,
and regulations, as articles OF the charter OF
said corporation, as follows, to-wit:
Article lst. This corporation shall be estab
lished and demicliated in the town of Opelou-
sas. parish OF st. Landry, louisiana, and shall
be known and designated by the name of Fire
Company of Opelousas No. g. 1t shall com
mence its business as soon as this instrument
is approved and recorded, and shall exist and
continue during twenty-five years from date
hereof
Article ID. The objects and purposes of this
corporation to be: list, to work an engine for
the extinguishment of all fires endangering or
consuming buildings, whether caused by acci-
dent or otherwise, and to relieve the sick of
their company ID, to receive all the privileges
and benefits secured by the act of incorpora-
ton, with full powers to sue and be sued The
President or Secretary of the company or cor
poration shall be the proper persons on whom
to serve citations in suits against the company.
Article Sd. All the corporate pewers of this
company shall be exercised by eight officers;
said officers shall be elected from among the
members on the first Saturday of September OF
each year, at the usual place of meeting, III
Opelousas Elections to be by ballot, two
thirds of the members present to be necessary
to choice. The officers shall consist of one
President, one Secretary, one Treasurer, one
Foreman, one lst Assistant Foreman, one I'd
Assistant Foreman, one Steward and one AS
sistant Steward the Engineer to be appointed
by the Foreman The officers shall take their
seats on the next meeting after the election,
and shall hold the same during one year there
from or until their successors are elected, and
shall have power to adopt such bylaws as they
may deem necessary and convenient for the
proper government of the company, not con
trary to this instrument or the statutes of the
State of Louisiana relative to the organization
of corporations.
Article 4th. The officers of this company or
corporation to serve until the next regular
election, as provided herein, shall be as fol-
lows, to-WlG: IiesluehI, hoAiy Diocn, cet.o-
tary, Leon Manso; Treasurer, Leodore Skin
ner; Foreman l. j. Gordon; lst Assistant
Foreman jacques Donate; I'd Assistant Fore
man, Thomas Jones Steward, Jeffers Brooks
Assistant Steward. Sam Reed.
Thus done. passed and signed, in the town
of Opelousas, in presence of Geo. w. Hudspeth
and w. M. Johnston, competent witnesses who
have signed hereunto, together with the un-
dersigned inoorperators and me, Notary, the
day, month and year first above written, after
reading of the whole Original signed: Henry
Bloch Norah Aieek, l.. j. Manse, l. j. Gordon,
Jacques Donate, Thomas Jones, Turner San
ders, Alcide Chener, William Sanders, James
Wright, Jack M6laneon, j. b. zacharie, j. B.
Lemelle, Felix Chachere, C. w. Wilkerson,
Joseph Sarraille, L. Chachere Leodore Skin
ner, Theo Martel, Samuel Reed, IInb Lemelle
Louis Donate, A. Donate.
Witnesses: G w Hudspeth, w. M. Johnst on
LAURENT DUPRE, Notary Public.