The unveiling of a new artistic mural of "Aunt Decie's Library" in Folsom was held this morning, Sept. 27, 2025, behind the Giddy Up Coffee House. A crowd of area residents gathered for the historic occasion, to recognize the work of Ella "Aunt Decie" Pittman who founded and ran the first community library. Artist Ben Bensen painted the mural, taking a year to get the faces correct and make sure to get the clothing styles of years ago were just right.
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The Mural
Artist Ben Bensen, at left, is congratulated by Frank Richerand of the Giddy Up Coffee Gathering Place and other nearby enterprises in Folsom.
Richerand spoke highly of the mural, saying it is a beautiful addition to the other many works of art in the Paddock area of the Giddy Up grounds. He commended the skill of Artist Ben Bensen, who later commented that doing a work of this size was a new experience for him. "I haven't done anything this big," he said. "In my commercial artwork I'm usually working on something 11 inches by 14 inches."
Richerand noted that everyone had high praise for Aunt Decie throughout the community, so the mural illustrates a scene that is in the memories of many Folsom areas who used the library as a child.
Bensen was applauded for capturing a likeness for Aunt Decie and several of the children who were pictured in an old photograph of the library during its heyday. He explained how the one-room library building was saved from ruin and completely re-built. It was even nominated and accepted for a plaque designating it as on the National Register of Historic Places.
The artist did a lot of research of the "story" of the library and the clothing styles of the children depicted in the artwork, and said it took about a year to finish the piece. One local child who was crutches when he visited the library was also included in the depiction. "Children would line up outside to wait to go in because only two at a time would be allowed inside," Bensen said. "There was just enough room for two."
To help celebrate the occasion of the mural unveiling, Bensen joked that he brought along a bottle of champagne, but he declined to take the advice of a friend who suggested that he smash it against the mural to "christen" it.
Billy Nungesser, Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana, shown above with Richerand and Bensen, was on hand for the occasion, as were several Pittman family members. Jerry Laiche, the museum/library coordinator was also in attendance.
The mural tells the story of Aunt Decie Pittman and her work in providing a library for the village of Folsom, beginning in the 1940's. She continued serving in that capacity for many years. Her residence was located where the Giddy Up Coffee Shop is today.
Richerand has plans for additional murals in the area. One has already been open for public view in the community garden "Giddy Up and Grow," and another one was unveiled later Saturday showing a number of vegetables growing in the garden.
The museum/library is open on weekends and sells used books to help support the operation of the museum. Jerry Laiche, the museum/library coordinator, is shown helping a customer make her selection.
The interior of the library museum features many volumes published in the years prior to the library closing.
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