According to the Lafayette Park History Page, In 1903 the Schoeffler Family moved to Lafayette, Louisiana and purchased the expansive green space now affectionately known as the “Horse Farm” for cultivation purposes. Fast-forward to the early 1920’s and the newly founded Southwestern Industrial Institute (now known as the University of Louisiana at Lafayette) purchased the 125-acre parcel of property for use as a dairy farm for the university.
For the next seventy years the farm remained under ownership by the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Long gone were the horses and deep tracks left by years of plowing, in fact the only remaining trace of cultivation activity was the red barn built by the Schoeffler family in 1903. The land was now being utilized for school field trips, ROTC, hay piling, and other university related activities.
However, in the early 2000’s a cash-strapped university and panicked governing body made the decision to sell the farm to the highest bidder. Generations of history and merit were quickly thrown out the window, it seemed as if this once surreal, almost magical place was going to become….. a strip mall.
Now, you can imagine the local public’s panic at hearing this news. Families had roots at the farm, event he oldest generations living in and around the city had memories as children running through this haven. You can also imagine the anger that it spurred in certain circles that actually had the power and determination to make a difference in the outcome.
That leads us to the introduction of our protagonist in this story, Eldred “Griff” Blakewood IV. Griff was a Baton Rouge transplant who eventually became a legendary Professor of Geosciences at ULL. Through sheer will power alone he became a main figurehead in the Lafayette environmental movement. He inspired students to believe they could achieve greatness and truly make an impact in their community by persistence and passion alone. When Griff caught wind of the future plans for the Horse farm, he quickly took action and did what he’d always done best, inspire others. He rallied behind a student- run campaign to “Save the Horse Farm” and gave legitimacy to a cause, which would have otherwise been ignored by the former powers-that-be. In the end the farm was saved and the university made the decision to sell the property to the Lafayette Consolidated Government.
Happily ever after, except for one exception. In early 2013 Griff was diagnosed with cancer. A cancer he still managed to teach classes through, (I was one of his students), and a disease that he didn’t make apparent to the university until shortly before his death in 2014 at the age of 54.
If Lafayette ever had its darkest day this was the one. Someone who encompassed our culture so fully and effortlessly was taken from us too suddenly and too quickly; it was heartbreaking. From what I heard in class I always thought it would’ve been in a showdown with a cypress logging company or serial litterer. Shocking, as it was sudden I needed to reflect on this local hero’s life, and something inside told me to go to the Horse Farm; So I went. I went and it was as beautiful a day as ever and the sun was shining, the birds were singing an all-familiar southern tune, the grass was golden green and I virtually had the park to myself. “It was strange”, I thought. “I’m alone here for a reason right now, things are too silent, too perfect, too surreal”. And then it hit me, Déjà vu.
I’ve never been a spiritual person, but that day an all too familiar breeze rolling silently, but powerfully over the gently rolling hills of the park guided my sight to an old decrepit oak leaning on it’s side in the center of the farm. Uncanny as it was timeless, I had the overpowering feeling that I’d been here before or that I was supposed to be here. That a force more powerful than myself was leading me to this tree and what I would find there would give me solace and peace for the loss of a dear friend and mentor. Thinking back to what happened next always gives me chills, but to this day I wholeheartedly believe the Earth thanks those who give their life force to it’s preservation. That, possibly, individuals are chosen at random for certain moments of realization and epiphanies that set in motion a series of events uncontrollable by mankind. Let me reiterate, I am not religious by any means, but I will stand firm in my spirituality and loving of the Earth until the day I am too taken back into my land’s embrace.
So, I began walking, practically the longest most beautiful walk I’ve ever experienced. It was quiet but loud, calm but fierce and commanding. I approached the tree from the left side so as to have a clear picture of what it actually looked like. From the front of the Horse Farm the actual body of this giant is hidden by its lopsided branches and rolling hills, making it difficult to see. The main trunk is split into two pieces to form what appears to be an eye. The branches do not grow on this side; they merely act as a shield for the shelter within. Towards the bottom split a fallen third trunk forms a natural walkway up the side of the tree into the center of focus. Taking advantage of the seemingly simple route. I took a giant step up to grab the foothold in the fallen branch and hoisted myself into the clutter of branches. Finding a comfortable resting place I finally relaxed and really took in my surroundings. To my astonishment this “eye” of the tree literally put me directly in the iris of its focus. What seems to be a naturally formed picture of an owl “the spirit animal of wisdom” lay low to my left gazing directly at my line of vision in the oak. It appeared to be drawing my gaze to the expansive field to my right. So, I listened and looked and was completely and utterly astonished at what I saw. It was breathtakingly beautiful; from my point-of-view I had a direct line of sight across one of the greenest most untouched fields I had ever seen. The sun was setting low- to my left, shedding warm rays through the tall grasses beckoning the deafening night chirp of crickets through the air. The leaves around me gently shook across the top of my shoulders, a warm embrace for an overwhelmed, tired soul. “This was Griff’s final resting place”, I thought.
Later that evening, long after leaving that magical moment at the Horse Farm, I had an epiphany. There was a reason much deeper and more important why I was led to that awe-inspiring lookout. Then I had it. I was in fact sent to that place to receive a message, sure it wasn’t in typical form, but nature has its ways. The message was one of preservation and remembrance, maybe even thankfulness for the man who gave his life for this Earth and the Horse Farm. This spot I was led to needed to be respected and loved by the community. It needed to become…
Griff’s Lookout
This article was written as an ode and as a proposition for the people of Lafayette. Let’s dedicate that spot on the Horse Farm to Griff and all that he has done. Let’s rally as a community to install a plaque of honor to this man who gave so much for so little. Together we can make a difference and remember him through a place of beauty, and turn this seemingly ordinary place into hallowed untouchable ground. Thank you
By: Damon Robert
Freetown Press 