The old hotel building was renovated for use as a meeting room for the police jury/parish council, a couple of courtrooms, and offices for a variety of parish agencies.
The Southern
Hotel 1907 - 1983
On
June 1, 1907, the Southern Hotel, a large Spanish-mission style building on the
corner of Boston and New Hampshire streets in Covington, opened its doors with
a gala banquet, entertaining guests from New Orleans, Mississippi, and various
other places,
A luxury
resort hotel, it offered forty three handsomely furnished rooms, all fully
carpeted in the following years, the 72x38 foot formal dining room was to see
many more extravagant dances and social affairs, from the vast kitchen, each
celebration brought forth a feast of locally caught game, fish, and seafood
delicacies, prepared by a chef who had, on two occasions, prepared meals for
the late United States President, William McKinley, an artesian fountain danced
in the center of the spacious lobby and expansive verandahs overlooked
abundant, lush landscaping, giving it a tropical feeling. All this was enhanced
by clean refreshing air and sparkling artesian water, both widely known for
their curative powers,
In 1912, Dr.
F.F. Young bought the hotel and used it as a sanitarium, however, several
years later, the still handsome building was once again operated as a European-style
resort hotel. It served as a communications center, housing a Western Union terminal,
bus and wagon depot, and the only post office in the area,
In 1955, the
late Governor Earl K. Long made it his headquarters for several weeks. In the
early 1960's, the stately edifice was closed to guests. The first floor held
rental shops, the upstairs was home only to the pigeons.
On January
8, 1981, the parish purchased the building from the burns family for $ 500,000 and
renovations began, $ 984,000 worth of restoration turned the old hotel into a
showcase office complex and returned an historical landmark to its former
elegance in downtown Covington.
Money for
the purchase and renovations came from a combination of several federal
agencies in the form of loans and grants. It may be the only government
building in the state - indeed the nation - housing a public bar, however, the
tavern's only entrance is from the street,
Wide and
handsome brick arches across the front give the massive building an air of
nobility as well as stability. It is separated from the St. Tammany parish
courthouse by New Hampshire Street and is now officially the St, Tammany Parish
Administrative Complex, it houses the parish administration, parish council,
district attorney, part of the 22nd Judicial District Court, and the Department
Of Development on the second floor, the Purchasing Department, Financial
Administration Office, Personnel, Insurance and Veteran's Affairs Office along
with private businesses occupy the ground floor,
Due to the
perseverance of many people and financial aid from a local benefactor, the
"Old Southern Hotel" is again a show place, more than mortar and
brick, it is a living symbol of the continuity of parish government and the
people.
End of Police Jury Statement
Here are some pictures of the 1982 renovation work from 36 years ago. Click on the images to make them larger.
See also:
The Saga of the Southern Hotel
Kent McWilliams Gets A Plaque of Appreciation
