In August of 1922, one of Covington's "oldtimers" shared this account of his small town, its people and its merchants. He speaks of Mrs. Tate's school in the downtown area, the raising of silk worms on mulberry bushes where the Southern Hotel is now, the residences along New Hampshire Street, the New Orleans commuters, and the costumes of the day.
Here is the article in full:
OLD COVINGTON
St. Tammany Farmer August 5, 1922
by The Oldtimer
"Once again I find myself strolling along the streets of the old town, hoping to meet some old remembered face, but none appear to give me welcome. At last I come to the corner where once stood the large and busy wheelwright shop once owned by Nathan Page. In its place I now see an up-to-date dry goods store in whose large glass windows are displayed many beautiful things so dear to the female heart.
"On the opposite corner, once familiarly known as "Heintz's Corner," from the fact that it was the lounging place of many old cronies who loved to meet there and discuss the topics of the day while enjoying the "rest" and comfort afforded by the hard but hospitable old bench.
"The store, a general merchandise store, was owned and operated by Mr. Chas. Heintz, who' was also the postmaster. Gone is the old bench, also the postmaster, and in their place appear the large department store of Frank Patecek.
"All the old buildings on what was once known as "Up Street" when we started out to do any little errand, have disappeared, and the street is now known as Columbia street.
"Passing on, at last, I come to an old familiar friend peeping out from between the Patecek building and the F. G. C. Auto Shop, and away back from the sidewalk, as if aware of its antiquity, is a little house once used as a school, and presided over by an elderly lady named Mrs. Tate.
"She was not an up-to-date teacher, as she wore her skirts long enough to hide her feet and her bearing was dignified. She won the hearts of all her pupils for she had a fund of humor, and the scholars she turned out showed the thoroughness of her training. She rests now in the cemetery in Amite.
"Passing on by the courthouse, a much finer building than the old one, and a credit to the town, I see where once was a large brick house, the home of the Italian consul, Mr. Rocchi, whose wife was said to have realized a large fortune raising silk worms. In its place I see a large and flourishing looking bank, the Commercial Bank & Trust Company, and on the opposite corner an old friend greets me—the former home of Judge Martin Penn.
"But this large family has all disappeared. Judge Penn passed away at the beginning of the Civil War. Poor Benton, who was a favorite with all who knew him, met a tragic death while espousing the cause of his cousin, Martin Penn, son of Alexander Penn.
"Across the street, where once stood the little law office of Geo. Henry Penn, son of Judge Martin Penn, is the Wehrli home. The little office has been converted into a pretty home and is owned by Mr. Louis Wehrli, who also owns the fine garage at the corner. Mr. Wehrli is the grandson of Mr. Pechon, once a well known family in Covington, some of whom I bear are still living.
"Across the street and back of the Commercial Bank is the beautiful Southern Hotel, built on the mission style. On the grounds where the hotel now stands, once was a forest of mulberry trees, on the leaves of which Mrs. Rocchi once raised her silk worms.
"And now we come to the corner where three well known families lived. First, on the corner, was the home of the Brenans, consisting in the mother, father and three sons and one daughter. The father, who was a notary, did business in Now Orleans, returning home every Saturday, as did most of the men in those days, for there was not enougn 'business in the little town in those days to support their families.
"The intercourse with New Orleans was carried on by steamboats which made the trip three times a week. The eldest son of the Brenan family, a tall, handsome fellow, measuring six feet in his stocking feet, enlisted at he age of 16 in the Civil War. He enlisted in the Crescent Regt., Co. K., Sumpter Rifles, but being so young, and raised a "home boy," he could not endure the hardships, and soon succumbed to homesickness, that most dreadful sickness of all.
"Of the mother of this family I must make special mention. A native of Philadelphia, she came to Covington in her early married life, in search of health, which she surely found, for she lived to the age of 88. Her costume, though picturesque, would be a marvel to the present day, for her skirts were full and a long underwaist was covered by a saque around the bottom of which was a ruffle. Around her neck she wore a white kerchief fastened in front with an old-fashioned brooch. Beneath her full skirts peeped two feet shod in snow white stockings incased in neat slippers.
"The crowning glory of this quaint costume was the little lace cap, from under which looked forth two merry black eyes. Full of hospitality which they dispensed liberally, she could have dined the president or peasant with equal ease. The two other sons, familiarly known as Tim and Doan, lived until a few years ago, and now the sister lives all alone, not in the old home, for where that stood is the pleasure grounds of the Southern Hotel.
"Miss Matilda Brenan, or Miss Tillie, as she is generally called, lived on the corner opposite her old home in a nice place built by her brother, Tim. She lives alone, surrounded by works of art, and with the companionship of books. Some day I will call on her."
AN OLD-TIMER
See also:
