Sheriff's Group Photo 1968

 This group photo of the deputies of the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office was published on July 5, 1968, in the Mandeville Bantam Newspaper. Click on the image to make it larger. 

Knights of Columbus Overview from 1961

 In 1961 Fred Darraugh of the Tammany Tribune newspaper wrote a lengthy account of the history of the Knights of Columbus Covington Council 3061. Here it is. Click on the article below to make it larger and more readable. 

Text from the above article:

St. Tammany Tribune June 3, 1961

Covington Knights of Columbus 3061 By Fred C. Darragh

June is the month of brides -- and also the month for the election of officers of most of the civic and fraternal organizations of this, and surrounding communities. While sorely tempted to draw a parallel between our blushing brides and the eager club leaders of both genders I shall refrain -- not because the brides would suffer -- but because the other innocents, leaping nimbly forward, have yet to experience their brief moment of glory when district brass shall install them in office via the fried chicken or cold steak route.

Seriously though, I would very much like to salute, from time to time, the various active organizations in this vicinity with a review of their past activities, particularly as they relate to community advancement and welfare, and offhand I can think of no better organization to start the ball rolling than the 130 Knights of Columbus in Covington Council 3061.

Organized in the spring of 1947 at the instigation of the Rev. Canisius Blumel, O.S.B., Assistant Pastor of St. Peter's Church, the charter class of Knights, recruited from Covington, Madisonville. Mandeville, and Abita Springs, were initiated into the order at Gretna, La., Sunday. June 1, 1947.

It is significant that the infant council's first big activity was dedicated to the welfare of the community, and that it met its first test with flying colors when, in the face of a torrential downpour on the night of December 11, St. Peter's Auditorium witnessed one of the largest crowds in its history to turn out for a benefit to raise funds to finance a non-sectarian community Christmas tree party for kiddies whom St. Nick might otherwise overlook.

This was the beginning of a decade of highly colorful and entertaining community Christmas celebrations which Mayor Emile Menetre recognized by official proclamation as the Knights paraded Santa Claus, enthroned on a variety of ingenious floats, through the streets to Covington Hi gymnasium to the gay music of the Covington High School Band, and caroling groups from St. Paul's, St. Scholastica's and St. Peter's. Two parties were held each year to introduce Santa Claus -- first at the high school for white children who packed the gymnasium to near capacity -and again at night for all Negro youngsters, at the Holy Family Mission.

In the beginning the Knights introduced Santa on the Sunday before Christmas, while the Covington Lions Club bade him God-speed on Christmas Eve at a party on the courthouse lawn. After the first few years, however, everybody, from church organizations to a variety of "well-heeled" individuals grasping at a chance for some publicity, began to get in on the act, until Santa Claus threatened to out-number the children. This, plus the ever-increasing cost, as well as other factors, decided the Knights to abandon this program in favor of donations to St. Vincent de Paul, and other charitable activities.

Going back to the early years of the organization, the Knights continued their civic activities by sponsoring an Annual Graduates' Gift Dance, at which graduates of all public and private high schools were invited (with their dates) to dance to the music of such bands as Russ Papalia, in the Covington High School gymnasium.

During this time too, Covington Council turned to the problem of salvaging the Civil Air Patrol. Sponsoring this organization the Council conducted an unprecedented publicity drive which served to spur recruitment, and further aided by sponsoring a dance to raise funds that would enable the C.A..P. to procure much needed government equipment.

With the pattern set, the Knights of Covington Council really shifted into high gear. In addition to the activities already discussed, they sponsored a boy to Pelican Boys State, sponsored a Boy Scout troop, were granted the first charter for the Columbian Squires in the State of Louisiana, raised funds to fill in the parochial school playground, and were hosts to the K.C. State Basketball Tournament, winning the State Title, and sponsored a team in the local soft ball league.

These activities were accorded state-wide recognition with the presentation of the State Deputy, Achievement Award, proclaiming Covington "The Outstanding Council in Louisiana" at the 1949 convention in Alexandria.

A full report covering the Council's activities in the nearly fifteen years of its existence would be impossible to compile here. Let it suffice that we cover a few of its more unusual activities such as sponsorship of the first three ring circus to successfully operate in Covington; The Festival of Music a musical evening with the Gregorian choir of St. Joseph's Abbey, the Covington High School Band, and soloists from St. Paul's and St. Scholastica's; a repeat sponsorship of the State Basketball Tournament, and host to the Notre Dame School of Youth Leadership in the Southeastern United States.

A brief run-down of activities in this rapidly expiring fiscal year prove the Knights capable of shifting their programs to meet the changing times. In this past year they sponsored a soft ball team in the Covington League; furnished much needed athletic equipment to the Holy Family Mission; donated an undisclosed sum to the St. Vincent de Paul Society; won Team Award at the State K.C. Golf Tournament in Shreveport; sponsored soft ball tournament at Community Center; sponsored a bowling team locally, and basketball team in the State Tournament; sponsored Boy Scout Troop 325, and presented a 50 star flag to troop; host to State Officers Meet at the K. C. Youth Camp at St. Joseph's Abbey; sponsor active blood bank; co-sponsor of St. Peter's Horse Show, August 26-27; sponsored annual barbecue at community center, and will sponsor the State Golf Tournament at the Covington Country Club September 8-9.

Officers for this year have been Rev. Stephen Mueller, Chaplain; P.J. Swett, Grand Knight; Dan Berlin, Dep. Grand Knight; Carl Helmers, Chancellor; Eugene Cassanova, Jr., Recorder; Russell Sharp, Financial Secretary; Adam J. Seiler, Treasurer; Warren Troxclair, Lecturer; John Fielding, Advocate; Melvin Griffin, Warden; Bob Bottner and Arthur Scheck, Inside Guards; Geo. Blow, Outside Guard; Manning Henry, Hubie Gallagher, and Frank Sheuermann, Trustees.

End of article

Link Of Interest:

KC Abbey Summer Camp Fishing

Four-legged Chicken

 Every so often you come across an anomaly in farming that gets written up in the local newspaper. Here's one from 1968: a four-legged chicken.

This was apparently not picked up by the Associated Press and run nationally. 

Spotting the Sports 1968

 My very first newspaper job where I actually got paid was in 1968. It involved writing various sports stories and the "Spotting the Sports" column for the St. Tammany Farmer newspaper in Covington. 

Here are some of the articles that were part of that summer between my high school graduation and starting college at Southeastern. Bob Landry, the editor of the Farmer, usually wrote the Spotting the Sports column but he was on vacation. 

Click on the articles to make them larger and more readable.

The Covington Community Center Story

 

50th Wedding Anniversary

 In June of 1961 Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Ernst Blattner celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary. 

They lived in the house between Blossman Oil and Lee Lane. That's where my newspaper office was for a while in 1973.  Dr. M.A. Breen, the chiropractor, was in the eastern most potion of the house at that time.