Louis Edmond Forest Jr.

Born October 1st 1909 to Louis Edmond Forest Sr. and Amy Alida Arcement. The Forest family was living in Crowley when "Junior" was born. The Census of 1910 shows the family resided at 215 16th St., Crowley Ward 4, Acadia Parish, Louisiana.

Citation:
"United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MPTD-59K : accessed 26 December 2018), Lena Alexander in household of Louis Forrest, Crowley Ward 4, Acadia, Louisiana, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 11, sheet 7A, family 127, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 507; FHL microfilm 1,374,520.

The only source I have as to where the family lived before moving to New Orleans, is the birth location of the children. This information is from Louis Sr and Alida's 5th child Celia Rose Forest. On August 29th 1911 Ewell Felix Forest was born in Kaplan, Louisiana. On August 25th 1914 Sidney Joseph Forest was born in Kaplan, Louisiana. Next came Celia Rose Forest December 28 1916 she was born in Kaplan, Louisiana. April 6th 1917 Esther Ann Forest was born in Raceland, Louisiana. November 13th 1919 Clifford Ray Forest was born in Kaplan, Louisiana. The rest of the couple's children were born in New Orleans. Louis Sr and Alida had family in Kaplan and Raceland, one of Louis's sisters lived in Kaplan and Alida was from Raceland. It seems that by August 22nd 1922, when Francis William Paul Forest was born, the family had relocated to New Orleans.
The 1930 Census taken April 12th. Shows Louis Sr's family living at 1214 Baronne St., Ward 2 Block 201, New Orleans, Louisiana.
Louis Jr. was a Watchman for a Detective Agency according to the 1930 Census.

Citation:
"United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XMYY-21Z : accessed 25 March 2018), Louis V Forrest Jr. in household of Louis E Forrest Sr., New Orleans (Districts 1-250), Orleans, Louisiana, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 16, sheet 11A, line 30, family 180, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 801; FHL microfilm 2,340,536.

Marriage

of Louis Edmond Forest Jr. and Thelma Odile Chenevert
December 3rd 1930 in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana.
The union was celebrated by Reverend Father G. Frohn
and witnessed by Peter Riviere, Mae Chenevert and Louis V. Chenevert.

Family	Born	Died
Spouse
Thelma Odile Chenevert	30 Jun 1910 in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana	08 May 1993
Children
Female Forest	1930's in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana	Living
Male Forest	1930's in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana	Living
Joann Mary Forest	19 Nov 1939 in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana	30 Oct 2002
Male Forest	1940's in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana	Living

Louis Jr. and Thelma lived in New Orleans where 3 of their 4 children where born. The Census of 1940 taken April 6th shows Louis Jr and family living at 1839 Melpomene St., Ward 1, New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana. The census also shows Louis Jr as an Instrument Man in Civil Engineering.

1940 Census

April 6th 1940
1839 Melpomene St.
Ward 1, New Orleans, New Orleans City, Orleans Parish, Louisiana

Citation:
"United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/VYP8-W78 : accessed 25 March 2018), Louis Forrest, Ward 1, New Orleans, New Orleans City, Orleans, Louisiana, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 36-12, sheet 1A, line 23, family 6, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 1416

Louis Jr's Draft Registration for World War 2 shows his address the same, 1839 Melpomene St, and he was working for The "Works Progress Administration" or "W.P.A." [1]

Louis and Thelma owned and ran The "Forest Grocery" Store in New Orleans from about 1945 until about 1947. Located on the SW corner of Music St. and Urquhart St. Memories of son Ron include, Louis cooking the roast beef, for sandwiches sold in the store, all night long. The meat fell apart it was so tender. I am not sure where my grandfather learned to cook, but he was one of the best cooks whose food I have eaten. The family lived in half of the same building as the grocery.

The small corner grocery buisness changed in New Orleans when on August 23, 1946, John Schwegmann and two brothers, Anthony Schwegmann and Paul Schwegmann, opened the first Schwegmann Brothers Giant Super Market, located on St. Claude Avenue near the intersection of Elysian Fields Avenue. The small corner stores nearby, including the Forest Grocery, could not compete with the big store, and this encouraged Louis to sell.

After selling the grocery the family moved in temporarily with Louis' mother and family on Baronne St. until a home built by Louis Jr at 181 Woodlawn Ave. in Harahan, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, was completed. Louis was helped with the construction of his home by family members including Brothers, Ewell and Sidney Forest and his father in law Louis Chenevert Sr and his brother in law Louis Chenevert Jr. and Ron his Son.

Louis and Thelma's 4th child was born, and they finished raising their children, while in their Harahan Home. The four Forest children all became adults, married and gave Louis and Thelma 13 Grand-Children. The family would gather for holidays there. On Easter there would be a big Easter Egg Hunt. On Christmas Louis would be Santa. Louis and Thelma remained in their home in Harahan until the late 1980's or early 1990's.

Footnotes

[1] Wikipedia contributors, 'Works Progress Administration', Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 29 December 2018, 02:41 UTC, [accessed 11 January 2019]