Some 34 years ago, in 1992, the abandoned railroad track from Covington to Slidell was acquired by St. Tammany Parish for a bike trail project under the new "Rails to Trails" federal program.
That decision led to the development of Tammany Trace, a premiere biking trail that has since been expanded, improved, and linked to key parish locations in Covington, Abita Springs, Mandeville, Lacombe, and Slidell. There is even a connection to Pelican Park recreational facilities in Mandeville and the Camp Salmen Nature Park in Slidell.
The following video showcases the tremendous effort made by local officials as they contacted and coordinated with dozens of federal, state and parish agencies as well as a number of private organizations and citizens groups to make it all possible. The document signing took place at the northern end of the Covington train depot.
A key event in the acquisition process was the sale of the former railroad right-of-way, then owned by Railroad Land Co., with the cooperation of Richard "Dick" Blossman and the Blossman family.
Assistant District Attorney Donald Kearns, center, guides the process of document signings by Steve Stefancik, left, and Richard "Dick" Blossman, right. Standing from left in the background are Adelaide Boettner, Denis Bechac, Bart Pepperman, Floyd Glass, Bernie Willie and Keith Villere.
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The video tells about the contributions made by Kevin Davis and a large number of other parish and municipal officials, as well as the efforts by several state and federal agencies and citizen groups, among them the New Orleans bicycling clubs, the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation, and the area chambers of commerce. Bill Keller with the New Orleans biking group shared his thoughts on how important this Rails To Trails project would become.
Also spotlighted were the elected officials at the federal and state level who helped coordinate the approval of the many agencies involved.
Part of the crowd at the event
Kevin Davis and Richard Blossman
Eddie Deano thanked by Kevin Davis
Attorney Donald Kearns shakes hands with Richard Blossman
Kevin Davis thanks the Blossman family for its participation
Kevin Davis was credited with a tremendously successful effort to bring all the parties together for the proposed project.
The signing took place on the train platform at the northern end of the Covington Train Depot, before it became a restaurant seating area.
Steve Stefancik telling the crowd how historic and important securing the railroad corridor was.
Stefancik shaking hands with Blossman after signing.
Stefancik tells the audience about the possible future plans for the railroad corridor
Bill Keller, one of the last people to be recognized in the video, was a volunteer with the New Orleans Bicycle Awareness Committee, and he said his group helped bring the railroad corridor availability to the attention of parish officials three years earlier.
"For the last year we have been standing by and cheering," he said regarding the tremendous community and political interest in securing the abandoned railroad track for public purposes. He commended Kevin Davis and state officials with doing a "remarkable" job in bringing it all together. "This is the first Rails to Trails conversion in the state," he went on to say. He also noted it was one of the first times for a project to be linked to the new Transportation Enhancement Activity program of the federal government.
Keller commented that he didn't know if Kevin and all the others realized how important this action was in acquiring the corridor. "I think it will be the most important thing that Davis and Bill Oiler will ever do. You're going to see the real results of this in a few years. We appreciate seeing what St. Tammany is doing for the whole bicycling community and for anybody who likes the great outdoors."
Bill Keller
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The railroad started curtailing services to the parish in 1973
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By 1990, the track was up for abandonment
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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.
In 1934, Mayor Charles Sheffield of Covington, died after a brief illness. He was serving his third term as the town's mayor. Click on the image below for more information.
The Justices of the Peace and Constables serving throughout St. Tammany Parish have been an important part of the community for many years. Here are a few pictures of the group being sworn into office back in 1972. Click on the images to make them larger.
1968
One of the most enjoyable magazine assignments I've ever had was putting together the annual magazine for the Justices of the Peace and Constables State Association. It was a huge volume with feature stories and photographs of JP's and Constables throughout the state. I had the opportunity to attend the state conference in Lafayette to take pictures. This was the meeting where the State Attorney General meets with all the Justices of the Peace and Constables and goes over any state legislation that was passed in the preceding year that affects their offices. It was a great group, and they perform an interesting range of public services these days.
St. Tammany Parish JP's and Constables were an active group in the state.
Gordon Copeland was the father of one of my college friends, so he would often share with me the adventures he had experienced as a Justice of the Peace.
In 1909 the Governor of Louisiana, Jared Y. Sanders Sr., visited Covington to give a speech to the statewide meeting of the Louisiana Press Association. Here are a few excerpts from that speech...
St. Tammany Farmer-May 15, 1909
GOVERNOR'S ADDRESSDelivered Before Louisiana Press Association.
Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen: I see that I am down on the bill of fare to welcome the delegates of this Association to Covington. I presume that this pleasure has been extended to me for the reason that I am a quasi-resident of this Parish and of this town of Covington.
It is not necessary for me to say tnat the people of St. Tammany Parish and of the Town of Covington welcome the delegates of this Convention most heartily. I believe what we have already seen and what the good people have in store for us speaks for the hospitality of these good people better than any words of mine could express.
We are glad to have you here in Covington, because we would like to have all the people of the State of Louisiana know what this splendid parish is and has and hopes to be.
In the trip you all took to-day, you rode on the first trolley line that has ever been built through any rural community in the State of Louisiana.
You also took a trip on one of the fastest boats there ever was and over one of the most beautiful and picturesque rivers. You went up the most beautiful Tchefuncta river to one of the greatest industrial lumber mills in this section of this State. That is some of the few things that you have seen in Covington and St. Tammany Parish.
If every delegate of this meeting would devote twelve hours a day he would find when he left here that there was a great many of the beauties of this town and parish that he had not visited.
Covington is the healthiest spot in the world, so accredited and said to be by those in authority in that line. Here they have the pure water, and I am told, other things to drink, and the forests are full of ozone.
When you go back home we want you to take back with you pleasant memories of your stay in our town. While you are here everything is yours. If you want anything and you don't have it ask for it, because if Covington and Covington people are renowned for anything it is for their kindness and hospitality.
I found a stack of old black and white photographs showing ribbon cuttings throughout the area from many years ago. Here they are, with as many people identified as I could remember. Click on the images to make them larger.
Ribbon cutting of Picture This Frame Shop, with Dave Diamond in front, with Debbie Wilson Diamond, Earl Wilson and his wife Helen, center, and Mayor Ernest Cooper of Covington at center right. Emily Diamond at far left.
A Folsom ribbon cutting with Mayor Vera Faye Forbes in the doorway
Slidell Ribbon Cutting with Mayor Frank Cusimano (I think), Larry Breland at the right and Webb Hart in back of Cusimano with head turned to the side
Ribbon cutting for Hutch’s Honda in 1975. Pizzie Romano, Gene Dodd, Fred Seal, Marvin “Hutch” Hutchinson and Donald Primes.
Pete Fitzmorris (at right) cuts the ribbon for Folsom area project with Billy Graham, Floyd Rogers and Angus Rogers
Mayor Bernard Smith cuts the ribbon for a Mandeville area First National Bank branch, along with Ernest Prieto, Pat Monroe, and Fred Blossman.
Mayor Ernest Cooper of Covington cuts the ribbon for the Beef N Bun hamburger place at Tyler and Eighth Street. The curved brick archway was a great architectural feature.
The crowd mills around at some grand opening somewhere. On the back was written "L'Image Celebrated"
Police Juror Dutz Baudot (Mandeville) cuts the ribbon
Mayor Bernard Smith of Mandeville cuts the ribbon. Dan Smith is on the back row, far right. Written on the back was "The Live Lobster"
Spring Crest Draperies ribbon is cut by Vic Johnson
1976
Ribbon Cutting for the Annadele's Plantation Restaurant
