Cheersleaders at CHS in 1976

 Covington High School cheerleaders from 1976...

Click on the image to make it larger

1917 Graduating Class at CHS

 Here's a photo that appeared in the St. Tammany Farmer newspaper in 1917 showing the graduating class at Covington High School. Click on the image to make it larger. 

Krewe of Bogue Falaya Names Grand Marshal

 Lisa Condrey-Ward, owner of the Southern Hotel in downtown Covington, was named Grand Marshal for the second annual Krewe of Bogue Falaya Parade to be held on Mardi Gras Day in 2025. The honor was announced at a special gathering at the hotel Tuesday evening. 

Video of announcement ceremony

Click on the "Play Triangle" to view the video

Krewe Captain Larry Rolling introduced her to the crowd of more than 100 people at the special event. He commended her for making Covington a better place with an even greater future. A lifetime resident of Louisiana, she and her family moved to Covington in 1998, and she was involved in a successful law practice. She has been a past president of the Keep Covington Beautiful organization and the La. Trust For Historic Preservation. She is also active in the Covington Public Art Fund. 

She thanked the group for the honor and praised the Krewe for growing so fast and providing Covington with an outstanding Mardi Gras Day parade. 

"My favorite old photograph of Covington shows the king of Carnival arriving by boat in 1911," she told those in attendance. Local citizens of 100 years ago were proud of their celebration of Mardi Gras, she went on to say. Last year the Krewe revived that tradition of the arrival by boat, followed by a second line parade to the Southern Hotel.

She commended the residents of Covington for continuing to weave a strong tapestry of community forward into the future. "I think Mardi Gras Day is the time for us to celebrate what we are doing for this city, and I am going to have so much fun."

Click on the images to make them larger. 

Parish President Mike Cooper welcomed those present, telling how several years ago, he had asked Larry Rolling to set about getting a new Carnival krewe for Covington on Mardi Gras Day. The Krewe of Bogue Falaya was the result, a group which now has 600 members.

The 2025 parade will have 16 floats on the theme of "Movies in Paradise."

Among those present for the meeting were Mark Johnson, the mayor of Covington, and Jean Pelloat , the mayor of Madisonville. 

Krewe officials, from left, Jody Burke, Amy Tucker, Lisa Condrey-Ward, Larry Rolling, Betty Brock, Joanne Rucker and George Schaefer

Links for additional information:

2024 Krewe of Bogue Falaya Welcomes Grand Marshal 

Covington Mardi Gras History

Mardi Gras Pageantry in 1911

Covington Mardi Gras Get Ready

Team Picture of Dixie Youth All-Stars 1969

 Here's a team photo of the Covington All-Stars Team in the Dixie Youth tournament in July of 1969, some 55 years ago... 

Click on the image to make it larger.

Family Cemetery in Chinchuba

 The last week of October family cemeteries all across St. Tammany are spiffed up and tombs painted, weeds cut down, and repairs made to gravesites. It's all in preparation for All Saints Day, November 1, when legacy family cemeteries are visited by hundreds of descendants of those loved ones buried within.

Some families turn the annual cemetery clean up efforts into gatherings of young and old, bringing picnic lunches, along with the trimmers, rakes and family history scrapbooks. 

Such was the case at one of St. Tammany's oldest family cemeteries, the Tom Spell Cemetery in Chinchuba. This past Saturday dozens of family members from throughout the area converged on the cemetery, enjoying visiting under the shades of the trees, working together to clear away the brush, level the gravesites that needed attention, and partake of a lunch while sharing memories of ancestors long gone. 

Here are some photographs of that special occasion. 

Click on the images to make them larger. 

The cemetery was established in 1795.

A genealogical chart was on display to help connect the dots of family history. 

Lunch was enjoyed by all. 

The cemetery is on the banks of Chinchuba Creek, not far from where Father Rouquette had a chapel to minister to the Choctaws in the area. 

Ed Dicks, the cemetery coordinator, said it was a family day and a work day, an effort to involve the younger generation and help them get to know one another. More than 20 people turned out for the occasion. The cemetery has gravesites for many well-known area families, among them Spell, Sharp, Strain, Goodrow, and Phillips.

Historian Don Sharp attended with his research about the cemetery, two large books filled with photographs and photocopies of legal documents down through the years. 

Don Sharp

Links for more information:

Tom Spell Memorial Cemetery

A Cemetery For The Family

Father Rouquette and the Cabin in the Oak

Cemetery Locations

Gelatt Memorial Sculpture Unveiled

 A sculpture dedicated to the late Becky Gelatt, area yoga teacher and community activist, was unveiled at the foot of Columbia Street Saturday afternoon, with former Mayor Keith Villere formally introducing the latest addition to public art in downtown Covington. 

Video of the ceremony. Click on the "play triangle" to view the video.

Gelatt, who died on October 30 of last year, was appreciated throughout the city for her work in promoting community landscaping, pursuing health and wellness goals for the citizens, and her long-established yoga studio.

Former Mayor Keith Villere and Becky Roth

Click on the images to make them larger. 

Keith Villere pulls the cover from the sculpture, at left, and artist Michael Eddy, at right, explains how he created the artwork and what it means.

Many of Gelatt's friends and students attended. Mayor Mark Johnson was present for the event. 

Several people shared their memories of Becky. She had been active in the Covington Old Town Festival, the Covington Gardens Partnership, and the Mayor's Council on Health and Fitness. She was also a promoter of the downtown "pocket parks."

People in the audience told personal stories about their work with Becky

The base of the sculpture

The sculpture is located between the gazebo and the water fountain in the Garden Club's "Healing Garden" at Columbia Landing

For more information, click on the following links:

Becky Gelatt Community Organizer

Mayor's Council on Healthy Lifestyles

Becky Gelatt

Mandeville Lakefront Music Festival

 A major music festival took place on the Mandeville lakefront today. Here are several photographs of the stages being set up and the food trucks and arts and crafts vendors getting ready for the crowds. 

It's called the Widewater Music and Arts Festival, hosted by the Old Mandeville Business Association. Click on the images to make them larger. 

There are a total of six music stages. 

It's been called a "mini" Jazz Fest.

Sponsors

Map

Vendors

For more information on the festival, click here. 

Gardens Mural Unveiled

 The "Giddy Up Community Gardens" mural was unveiled this morning, accompanied by a tour of the gardens located in Folsom in the block behind Giddy Up Coffee Shop. The mural, painted by Brian Schmidt, adorns the side of an old barn across from the community gardens. 

The mural, the barn, and those in attendance at the ceremony

The unveiling of the mural

Remarks were made by Giddy Up owner Frank Richerand, Ben Bensen III, County Agent Will Afton and Brian Schmidt, the artist. Among those present was Scott Wallace, Development Director with the Northshore Food Bank. 

Artist Brian Schmidt

Artist Ben Bensen III and Frank Richerand, Giddy Up owner

Will Afton with the LSU Cooperative Extension Service

A close up of the mural corner

The community garden, where much of the produce will make its way to the Northshore Food Bank.