Masonic Officers - 1977

Some 47 years ago, in 1977, these gentlemen were the new officers for the Masonic Lodge in Covington. 

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Abita Springs Commission 1976

 Here is a picture of the Abita Springs Planning and Zoning Commission back in 1976.

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Santa Claus Visits the Mall

 In December of 1972, some 52 years ago, Santa Claus made a stop at the Bogue Falaya Plaza shopping mall in Covington. Click on the image to make it larger. 

For more information, see these links:

Santa Claus Is Coming

Santa Claus Comes To Town

A Career As Santa's Helper

Madisonville's Community Center

 In early 1973, town officials in Madisonville began drawing up plans for a new community center and town hall. Click on the image to make it larger. 

The old community hall being torn down

The new town hall that was built

Animals In Art Exhibit

 The annual "Animals In Art" Exhibit was held at the FAR Horizons Art Gallery in Folsom Friday night. Here are some photographs. Click on the images to make them larger. 

It was also "Blue Denim Night" and that meant a music concert in the Paddock behind Giddy Up Coffee House. 

In the vendor area, several booths filled with artistic selections were selling a wide variety of items. 

Library-Museum Plaque Unveiled

A plaque recognizing Aunt Decie's library in Folsom (the original one room library that many remember from their childhood) was unveiled Friday night behind the Giddy Up Coffee House in Folsom. The Old Folsom Branch Library and Museum plaque was unveiled during the 4th Annual “Animals in Art Festival” at the FAR Horizons Art Gallery.

The one-room building is now a museum on the National Register of Historic Places. In the past few years, the small building has been totally renovated and repurposed as a "museum/library" for the community, dedicated to ‘Aunt Decie’, Folsom’s first Librarian.

Here are some photographs. Click on the images to make them larger.

Frank Richerand and Jerry Laiche conducted the ceremony that unveiled the plaque.

Jerry Laiche, library/museum manager

Everyone in attendance posed for a group picture. 

The text on the plaque reads:

The Old Folsom Branch St. Tammany Parish Library is listed on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior. Built during WWII as a utility work shed, it was converted to a Branch Library in 1950. It served the Village of Folsom until 1987 as its "Window To The World."

Dedicated to the memory of Folsom's first librarian, Mrs. Odetha (Aunt Decie) Pittman (Served 1950 through 1971).

Richerand owns the Giddy Up, Paddock and FAR Horizons Art Gallery and was instrumental in spearheading the preservation of the building. He thanked Laiche and his wife Beth for arranging for the plaque and working hard to staff the library/museum during its hours from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Richerand invited those present to take a tour of the library, which can be completed in under a minute. "We endeavored to make it look exactly like it did when it was the only library, even down to the curtains on the windows and the color of the paint on the walls."

He hopes that longtime Folsom residents who visit will stir up memories of when they, as children, visited the building and borrowed books they would read and treasure for years. "Jerry and Beth have done the lion's share of the work making it look as it does," he went on to say."

According to Laiche, the plaque was paid for with donations from the community and proceeds from the sale of books donated to the library.

Laiche noted that the renovated library building was first opened to the public exactly three years ago. It took two years to design the plaque and have it custom manufactured. It took three months to cast the bronze.

"So we are now celebrating our third anniversary," he said. 

The books on the shelves inside were all published prior to 1985, and any books donated after that year are sold to raise funds to operate the facility. 

The building is also used for second Saturday monthly meetings of the Northshore Writer's Group, as well as educational sessions for a regular gathering of young writers ten to twelve years ago who want to learn how to write, and it also hosts book signings by local authors. 

See also these links:

First Folsom Library Building Renovated

Old Folsom Library Building Celebrated

Local Authors Sign Books in Folsom

Folsom Giddy Up Book Fair 2024

John Stire, Community Minded Citizen

 Many contributions were made to the town of Abita Springs by John Stire. Here is his obituary from 1949. Click on the image to make it larger. 

Green Webb, His Life Story

 Webb Green was the subject of a news feature article in the St. Tammany Farmer in 1955. It told about his life, his old age, and his "old gray mare." Click on the images to make them larger. 

As a bricklayer, he helped build the Frederick Building and the Southern Hotel in downtown Covington as well as many other brick buildings around town.