Ernest was the youngest of nine children of Pierre Olues Olivier DuClozel and Marie Eudolie Doris Simpson Olivier. His siblings were, Rev. Samuel Olues, Joseph Wilmer, Pierre Hermon, Marie/Mary Eudolie, John Halton, George Earl, Luke, and Marie/Mary Eloise Olivier. Ernest married Miss Lucena Richard on 30 Sep 1909. They had children, Joyce Elola and Rosemary "Tee" Olivier.
The following contributed by Trent Gremillion on 7-22-2021 #48319447:
Olivier was an artist in concrete, brick and oil paint. He created flower pots, bird baths, fireplaces, school mascots, customized concrete blocks and columns for colonial-style homes. His oil painting hung in home throughout Louisiana.
He made ornamental stone mascots for high schools throughout Louisiana. In this area, he created a LaGrange High alligator, a Westlake ram and a Vinton lion, hand carving the molds for each.
Ernest Joseph Olivier was born in St. Martinville on May 23, 1891, one of nine children of Pierre Olivier and Edolia Simpson Olivier.
The family moved to Lake Charles about 1900, and Pierre became a contractor doing business as P. Olivier & Sons. Ernest left school after the sixth grade, a common practice in those times, and joined Pierre's company.
P. Olivier & Sons were contractors for the original Port of Lake Charles and the old U.S. Post Office that is now the Lundy Law Firm office on the corner of East Broad and Hodges Street in Lake Charles.
Ernest was a brick layer for his father's company when he married the former Lucina Richard of Lake Charles. They had two daughters, Rosemary Olivier "Tee" Owens of Lake Charles and the late Joyce Olivier Miller of Morgan City. Their six grandchildren include Gordon Owens Sr., Marcia Owens Farber, and the late Dr. Randy Owens all of Lake Charles.
Seeking more creative outlets, Ernest started the Olivier Stone Plant, on the east side of Kirkman between 10th & 11th streets in Lake Charles.
An accomplished artist, some of Ernest's paintings were in the Cabildo in New Orleans when fire destroyed the building. A life-size oil portrait of Jesus Christ and other paintings were on display for years in St Patrick Hospital in Lake Charles. His paintings also hung on hallway walls of the old Burke-Hammer Funeral Home in Lake Charles.
In the late 1930s and early 1940s Ernest served on the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury. During that period, he painted oil portraits of each of his fellow jurors.
Ernest was chairman of the Police Jury's building committee of Lake Charles Junior College, which became John McNeese Junior College then McNeese State University. His history of the construction of the $1 million college is in a copper box in the cornerstone of one of the buildings.
Gordon "Gordy" Owens Sr. of Lake Charles recalls traveling around Louisiana with his grandfather and visiting various projects. "You also see his work around Lake Charles today," says Gordy. "He made the concrete benches under the oak trees near the Calcasieu Parish Courthouse. On Shell Beach Drive he, created columns for the W. T. Burton and Matilda Gray Stream homes. He made the columns for the old Sam Jones home on the corner of Broad Street and Louisiana Avenue.
"Across the street in the same block as the First United Methodist Church, a fountain grandfather designed is in front of the Cox Law Firm. The fountain was installed when it was a private home.
"My grandfather made the fireplace in his home at 422 Peake St. in Lake Charles. He also made molds for the concrete blocks on the front porch. My mother, Rosemary Olivier Owens, who is now 84, sold the old home. The new owner restored it.
Ernest died on June 4, 1960, at the age of 69.
His legacies in stone, concrete and oil paint may be here for centuries to come.
The following contributed by Trent Gremillion on 7-22-2021 #48319447:
Olivier was an artist in concrete, brick and oil paint. He created flower pots, bird baths, fireplaces, school mascots, customized concrete blocks and columns for colonial-style homes. His oil painting hung in home throughout Louisiana.
He made ornamental stone mascots for high schools throughout Louisiana. In this area, he created a LaGrange High alligator, a Westlake ram and a Vinton lion, hand carving the molds for each.
Ernest Joseph Olivier was born in St. Martinville on May 23, 1891, one of nine children of Pierre Olivier and Edolia Simpson Olivier.
The family moved to Lake Charles about 1900, and Pierre became a contractor doing business as P. Olivier & Sons. Ernest left school after the sixth grade, a common practice in those times, and joined Pierre's company.
P. Olivier & Sons were contractors for the original Port of Lake Charles and the old U.S. Post Office that is now the Lundy Law Firm office on the corner of East Broad and Hodges Street in Lake Charles.
Ernest was a brick layer for his father's company when he married the former Lucina Richard of Lake Charles. They had two daughters, Rosemary Olivier "Tee" Owens of Lake Charles and the late Joyce Olivier Miller of Morgan City. Their six grandchildren include Gordon Owens Sr., Marcia Owens Farber, and the late Dr. Randy Owens all of Lake Charles.
Seeking more creative outlets, Ernest started the Olivier Stone Plant, on the east side of Kirkman between 10th & 11th streets in Lake Charles.
An accomplished artist, some of Ernest's paintings were in the Cabildo in New Orleans when fire destroyed the building. A life-size oil portrait of Jesus Christ and other paintings were on display for years in St Patrick Hospital in Lake Charles. His paintings also hung on hallway walls of the old Burke-Hammer Funeral Home in Lake Charles.
In the late 1930s and early 1940s Ernest served on the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury. During that period, he painted oil portraits of each of his fellow jurors.
Ernest was chairman of the Police Jury's building committee of Lake Charles Junior College, which became John McNeese Junior College then McNeese State University. His history of the construction of the $1 million college is in a copper box in the cornerstone of one of the buildings.
Gordon "Gordy" Owens Sr. of Lake Charles recalls traveling around Louisiana with his grandfather and visiting various projects. "You also see his work around Lake Charles today," says Gordy. "He made the concrete benches under the oak trees near the Calcasieu Parish Courthouse. On Shell Beach Drive he, created columns for the W. T. Burton and Matilda Gray Stream homes. He made the columns for the old Sam Jones home on the corner of Broad Street and Louisiana Avenue.
"Across the street in the same block as the First United Methodist Church, a fountain grandfather designed is in front of the Cox Law Firm. The fountain was installed when it was a private home.
"My grandfather made the fireplace in his home at 422 Peake St. in Lake Charles. He also made molds for the concrete blocks on the front porch. My mother, Rosemary Olivier Owens, who is now 84, sold the old home. The new owner restored it.
Ernest died on June 4, 1960, at the age of 69.
His legacies in stone, concrete and oil paint may be here for centuries to come.
Ernest was the youngest of nine children of Pierre Olues Olivier DuClozel and Marie Eudolie Doris Simpson Olivier. His siblings were, Rev. Samuel Olues, Joseph Wilmer, Pierre Hermon, Marie/Mary Eudolie, John Halton, George Earl, Luke, and Marie/Mary Eloise Olivier. Ernest married Miss Lucena Richard on 30 Sep 1909. They had children, Joyce Elola and Rosemary "Tee" Olivier.
The following contributed by Trent Gremillion on 7-22-2021 #48319447:
Olivier was an artist in concrete, brick and oil paint. He created flower pots, bird baths, fireplaces, school mascots, customized concrete blocks and columns for colonial-style homes. His oil painting hung in home throughout Louisiana.
He made ornamental stone mascots for high schools throughout Louisiana. In this area, he created a LaGrange High alligator, a Westlake ram and a Vinton lion, hand carving the molds for each.
Ernest Joseph Olivier was born in St. Martinville on May 23, 1891, one of nine children of Pierre Olivier and Edolia Simpson Olivier.
The family moved to Lake Charles about 1900, and Pierre became a contractor doing business as P. Olivier & Sons. Ernest left school after the sixth grade, a common practice in those times, and joined Pierre's company.
P. Olivier & Sons were contractors for the original Port of Lake Charles and the old U.S. Post Office that is now the Lundy Law Firm office on the corner of East Broad and Hodges Street in Lake Charles.
Ernest was a brick layer for his father's company when he married the former Lucina Richard of Lake Charles. They had two daughters, Rosemary Olivier "Tee" Owens of Lake Charles and the late Joyce Olivier Miller of Morgan City. Their six grandchildren include Gordon Owens Sr., Marcia Owens Farber, and the late Dr. Randy Owens all of Lake Charles.
Seeking more creative outlets, Ernest started the Olivier Stone Plant, on the east side of Kirkman between 10th & 11th streets in Lake Charles.
An accomplished artist, some of Ernest's paintings were in the Cabildo in New Orleans when fire destroyed the building. A life-size oil portrait of Jesus Christ and other paintings were on display for years in St Patrick Hospital in Lake Charles. His paintings also hung on hallway walls of the old Burke-Hammer Funeral Home in Lake Charles.
In the late 1930s and early 1940s Ernest served on the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury. During that period, he painted oil portraits of each of his fellow jurors.
Ernest was chairman of the Police Jury's building committee of Lake Charles Junior College, which became John McNeese Junior College then McNeese State University. His history of the construction of the $1 million college is in a copper box in the cornerstone of one of the buildings.
Gordon "Gordy" Owens Sr. of Lake Charles recalls traveling around Louisiana with his grandfather and visiting various projects. "You also see his work around Lake Charles today," says Gordy. "He made the concrete benches under the oak trees near the Calcasieu Parish Courthouse. On Shell Beach Drive he, created columns for the W. T. Burton and Matilda Gray Stream homes. He made the columns for the old Sam Jones home on the corner of Broad Street and Louisiana Avenue.
"Across the street in the same block as the First United Methodist Church, a fountain grandfather designed is in front of the Cox Law Firm. The fountain was installed when it was a private home.
"My grandfather made the fireplace in his home at 422 Peake St. in Lake Charles. He also made molds for the concrete blocks on the front porch. My mother, Rosemary Olivier Owens, who is now 84, sold the old home. The new owner restored it.
Ernest died on June 4, 1960, at the age of 69.
His legacies in stone, concrete and oil paint may be here for centuries to come.
The following contributed by Trent Gremillion on 7-22-2021 #48319447:
Olivier was an artist in concrete, brick and oil paint. He created flower pots, bird baths, fireplaces, school mascots, customized concrete blocks and columns for colonial-style homes. His oil painting hung in home throughout Louisiana.
He made ornamental stone mascots for high schools throughout Louisiana. In this area, he created a LaGrange High alligator, a Westlake ram and a Vinton lion, hand carving the molds for each.
Ernest Joseph Olivier was born in St. Martinville on May 23, 1891, one of nine children of Pierre Olivier and Edolia Simpson Olivier.
The family moved to Lake Charles about 1900, and Pierre became a contractor doing business as P. Olivier & Sons. Ernest left school after the sixth grade, a common practice in those times, and joined Pierre's company.
P. Olivier & Sons were contractors for the original Port of Lake Charles and the old U.S. Post Office that is now the Lundy Law Firm office on the corner of East Broad and Hodges Street in Lake Charles.
Ernest was a brick layer for his father's company when he married the former Lucina Richard of Lake Charles. They had two daughters, Rosemary Olivier "Tee" Owens of Lake Charles and the late Joyce Olivier Miller of Morgan City. Their six grandchildren include Gordon Owens Sr., Marcia Owens Farber, and the late Dr. Randy Owens all of Lake Charles.
Seeking more creative outlets, Ernest started the Olivier Stone Plant, on the east side of Kirkman between 10th & 11th streets in Lake Charles.
An accomplished artist, some of Ernest's paintings were in the Cabildo in New Orleans when fire destroyed the building. A life-size oil portrait of Jesus Christ and other paintings were on display for years in St Patrick Hospital in Lake Charles. His paintings also hung on hallway walls of the old Burke-Hammer Funeral Home in Lake Charles.
In the late 1930s and early 1940s Ernest served on the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury. During that period, he painted oil portraits of each of his fellow jurors.
Ernest was chairman of the Police Jury's building committee of Lake Charles Junior College, which became John McNeese Junior College then McNeese State University. His history of the construction of the $1 million college is in a copper box in the cornerstone of one of the buildings.
Gordon "Gordy" Owens Sr. of Lake Charles recalls traveling around Louisiana with his grandfather and visiting various projects. "You also see his work around Lake Charles today," says Gordy. "He made the concrete benches under the oak trees near the Calcasieu Parish Courthouse. On Shell Beach Drive he, created columns for the W. T. Burton and Matilda Gray Stream homes. He made the columns for the old Sam Jones home on the corner of Broad Street and Louisiana Avenue.
"Across the street in the same block as the First United Methodist Church, a fountain grandfather designed is in front of the Cox Law Firm. The fountain was installed when it was a private home.
"My grandfather made the fireplace in his home at 422 Peake St. in Lake Charles. He also made molds for the concrete blocks on the front porch. My mother, Rosemary Olivier Owens, who is now 84, sold the old home. The new owner restored it.
Ernest died on June 4, 1960, at the age of 69.
His legacies in stone, concrete and oil paint may be here for centuries to come.
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