In 2013 in recognition of Covington’s Bicentennial being celebrated that year city officials compiled a timeline showing key events in the community. Here is that timeline:
1785 - BADON SPANISH LAND GRANT
Sisters of the Collins brothers married Robert and Henry
Badon. The boys' mother, Catherine, got 1,600 acres through a Spanish land
grant in 1785.
1800 - 1936 COLUMBIA STREET LANDING
The landing is located where Columbia Street meets the Bogue
Falaya River. This active harbor once docked schooners and steamers and brought
many early settlers to Covington. Established in the early 1800s, it was a
vital link to other river cities transporting cotton, lumber, bricks, whiskey
and mail. Oyster luggers used the port to transport fresh oysters to the
community through the 1930s.
1810 -JOHN WHARTON COLLINS COMES TO LOUISIANA
John Wharton Collins, Covington's founder, came to Louisiana
in 1810 to join his brother William, who had staked out 600 acres on the
Northshore below the Badon Plantation on the Tchefuncte River.
1810 - DRIEUX SPANISH LAND GRANT
Jacques Drieux was given a Spanish land grant of 40 arpents x
40 arpents above the confluence of the Tchefuncte and Bogue Falaya rivers. He
intended to found a town and name it St. James or St. Jacques. His town never
developed, however, perhaps because of the changing political situation prior
to the area's incorporation into the United States in 1810.
1813 - COLLINS PURCHASES PROPERTY FROM DRIEUX
John Collins purchased Dreux's property for $2,300, using
his wife's dowry of $2,000. Inscribed on the map that was presented to Parish
Judge James Tate was "The Division of St. John of Wharton, founded on July
4, 1813, is humbly dedicated to the late Thomas Jefferson." Collins named
the town Wharton after his grandfather. (The name of the town was later changed
to Covington.)
Click on links in blue letters for more information.
1814 - ANDREW JACKSON PASSES THROUGH COVINGTON
On his way to meet the British, Andrew Jackson passed
through Wharton, as Covington was then known. His overland route took him from
Mobile to Madisonville, where his troops boarded a mail packet run by William
Collins, brother of the founder of Covington.
1816 - WHARTON CHANGED TO COVINGTON
Collins approached the legislature for a charter in 1816,
and it was granted. The name of the town was changed to Covington, however, in
honor of a hero of the War of 1812.
1817 - THOMAS TATE ELECTED MAYOR
Tate was the first Mayor of Covington.
1818 - COURTHOUSE CONSTRUCTED IN CLAIBORNE
The first courthouse, built in 1818, still stands in the
Claiborne Hill area, which was the parish seat.
1819 - COVINGTON BECOMES PARISH SEAT
December 27, 1827 - JOHN WHARTON COLLINS DIES
The founder of Covington, John Wharton Collins, died at his
home in New Orleans. He was buried in Covington in accordance with his final
request. He was interred on the corner of Columbia and Kirkland streets. His
widow sold the surrounding land to the city five years later to be used as a
cemetery.
1846 - CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH DEDICATED
Bishop Leonidas Polk, who would become known as the
"Fighting Bishop," dedicated Christ Episcopal Church in 1846. The
church is considered the oldest continuously occupied, non-residential building
in the parish.
1850 - COURTHOUSE ERECTED ON BOSTON STREET
The second courthouse was erected at 510 East Boston Street
in Covington.
1850 - HOSMER FAMILY SWISS CHALET
One 1850s boarding house was the Swiss Chalet run by the
Hosmer sisters on Jahncke Street, which was named after the German family that
donated the shell for the road. A carriage called the ferry line ran down
Jahncke to Old Landing. The Hosmer family operated a sawmill on the Bogue
Falaya River.
1860 - ST. TAMMANY DELEGATES VOTE AGAINST SECESSION
St. Tammany Parish delegates voted no to secession at the
state legislature's convention.
1874 - ST. TAMMANY FARMER FOUNDED
The St. Tammany Farmer newspaper was founded in 1874 and is
believed to be the oldest continuously operating business in St. Tammany
Parish.
1875 - MAYOR W. CLALUDEL Mayor from 1875 - 1876
1875 - MAYOR GEORGE INGRAM
1875 - ST. PETER'S SCHOOL
St. Peter's School was likely founded by the Roman Catholic
nuns as early as 1875.
1876 - MAYOR CHARLES HEINTZ Mayor from 1876 - 1877
1876 - H. J. SMITH'S SONS FOUNDED
H. J. Smith's Sons General Merchandise Store on Columbia Street
in Covington and meet the fifth generation of Smiths to work in the business.
1877 - MAYOR F. B. MARTINDALE Mayor from 1877 - 1880
1880 - MAYOR E. R. RANDOLPH Mayor from 1880 - 1887
1884 - FIRST TELEPHONES INSTALLED IN TOWN
1885 - THE BANK OF COVINGTON
Covington Bank and Trust Building (circa 1885), 308 North
Columbia Street The Bank of Covington was established in these original
quarters. It is the oldest commercial building in Covington.
July 4, 1885 - ABADIE STORE AND BAKERY
Louis Abadie store and bakery (circa 1885), North Lee Lane
at Gibson Street
1887 - MAYOR WILLIAM BADON Mayor from 1887 - 1888
1888 - RAILROAD COMES TO TOWN
The East Louisiana Railroad reached Covington, heralding and
economic boom. The original depot faced New Hampshire Street with a passenger
and freight terminal facing east. During the mid-1920s, the depot was moved one
block to the present site, which is now a restaurant.
1888 - MAYOR FRANCIS A. GUYOL Mayor from 1888 - 1891
1891 - MAYOR EMILE FREDERICK Mayor from 1891 - 1892
1891 - DESIGNATED "THE MOST HEALTHY PLACE"
According to the book "St. Tammany Parish," by
Frederick S. Ellis, Covington was named "The Most Healthy Place in theUnited States" due to the low number of deaths per population recorded in
the 1890 census.
1892 - MAYOR F. B. MARTINDALE Mayor from 1892 - 1893
1893 - MAYOR CLAY ELLIOT Mayor from 1893 - 1894
1894 - MAYOR ADOLPH FREDERICK Mayor from 1894 - 1897
1896 - "NEW" COURTHOUSE CONSTRUCTED
The existing courthouse was demolished and replaced by the
third courthouse (circa 1896).
1898 - PATECEK BUILDING CONSTRUCTED
The Patecek Building, located at 301 North Columbia Street,
was built shortly after the Great Fire of 1898. The building provides a
beautiful example of turn-of-the-century commercial architecture. In the early
months of 1995, total restoration of this historic building began.
November 1, 1898 - THE GREAT FIRE OF 1898
1899 - MAYOR C. Z. WILLIAMS Mayor from 1899 - 1908
1899 - DIXON ACADEMY (ST. PAUL'S SCHOOL)
To fill the need for upper level education, there were
private schools for students whose families were able to pay for further
education. Many private schools had come and gone in the Covington area, but
today's St. Paul's School has continued since its establishment as the Dixon
Academy in 1899.
1900 - ST. JOSEPH'S COLLEGE
St. Joseph's College, a boarding school for boys, was
founded circa 1900.
1906 -FIRE STRIKES AGAIN
1907 - COVINGTON BANK & TRUST II 236 North Columbia
Street
Originally built in 1907, it served as the second Covington
Bank & Trust building. The structure also housed a drug store and attorneys'
offices on the second floor. After the bank's closure in 1934, the building
housed the first chain grocery store in Covington. During the tenure of the
latest owner, the tile facade was added and renovations were extended on the
second floor.
1907 SOUTHERN HOTEL CONSTRUCTED
This building was constructed at a cost of $100,000. There
were once 200 feet of galleries overlooking New Hampshire Street, a formal
garden and a tennis court. Tame and exotic animals resided in cages in the
central lobby surrounding an artesian fountain.
1908 -MAYOR E. V. RICHARD Mayor from 1908 - 1910
1910 – 1925 COVINGTON ICE HOUSE 322 North Florida Street
This structure was built in 1910 and served as the Covington
Ice House until the 1920s when it became home to D'Aquin's Wholesale Grain
Company. Blossman Gas Company occupied the building from 1934 until it was
renovated as Tyler Downtown Drugs.
1910 - MAYOR FRANK G. MARRERO, MD Mayor from 1910 - 1914
1913 - COVINGTON HIGH SCHOOL
In 1913, the School Board passed a resolution making the
Covington School a high school. Then, with the passage of a special tax and
bond election in 1914, there was enough money to move the old wood building and
build a new brick one.
1914 - COVINGTON GRAMMAR SCHOOL
C. J. Schoen Middle School (circa 1914), 300 North Jefferson
Avenue. Formerly Covington Grammar School, this structure is the oldest school
building in use in the parish. The school building was on this site as early as
1909. The building was recently converted to administrative offices.
1914 - MAYOR PAUL LACROIX Mayor form 1914 - 1919
July 28, 1914 - November 11, 1918 – World War I
1919 - MAYOR ROBERT J. BADON Mayor from 1919 - 1923
1919 - CHAMPAGNE GROCERY Champagne Grocery, 427 North
Columbia Street
This beautiful structure once housed the Champagne Grocery,
founded in 1919, which remained open for more than 60 years. At the time when
groceries were delivered and for many years after, Champagne's was an important
part of everyday life in Covington.
1920 - 1920 CENSUS
Covington was growing and by 1920 there were 2,942 people in
town.
1923 - MAYOR JACOB SEILER Mayor from 1923 - 1925
1924 - NEW COVINGTON HIGH SCHOOL OPENS
In 1924, a new bond issue brought in the necessary money to
purchase property on Jefferson Avenue between 17th Street and 18th Street.
By January 1925, work was well under way on the new Covington High School. In
February 1925, it was also decided to house the School Board offices in the new
building since the courthouse needed the space they had been using.
1925 -MAYOR WALLACE
M. POOLE Mayor from 1925 - 1929
1928 - CHS NAMED ELMER E. LYON HIGH SCHOOL
The year 1928 was a banner year for Covington High School.
In February, the name was changed to Elmer E. Lyon High School to honor the
highly respected superintendent of schools, and bonds totaling $150,000 were
issued to enlarge, improve and equip the Covington High School building and to
purchase additional sites if necessary.
1929 - MAYOR CHARLES H. SHEFFIELD Mayor from 1929 - 1934
October 24, 1929 - STOCK MARKET CRASH
On October 24, "Black Thursday," the stock market
lost 11% of its value at the opening bell on very heavy trading.
1930 - COVINGTON WATERWORKS Covington Waterworks (circa
1930), 414 North Theard Street Stucco Mission Style building with baroque style
shaped gable parapets and a Spanish style roof. It is the only building of this
architectural style in Covington, and it is located in the Morgan, Commerce
& Virtue.
1930 - COVINGTON FIREHOUSE - Old Covington Firehouse (circa
1930), 406 North Theard Street
This two-story wood frame structure was built in 1940.
Living quarters on the top story served as home to the family who answered the
phone and sounded the alarm for the 3rd Ward (Folsom, Covington and
Mandeville). In 1949, the Volunteer Fire Department received a new Seagraves
Fire Engine. It was housed in this building and served the community until the
early 1970s.
1934 - MAYOR F. P. MARSOLAN Mayor from 1934 - 1939
1939 - MAYOR THOMAS J. CHAMPAGNE Mayor from July 1, 1939 -
October 1, 1939
September 1, 1939 - August 15, 1945 World War Two
September 24, 1939 - June 24, 1969 HUBIE GALLAGHER AT CHS
For almost thirty years, 1939 to 1969, Coach Hubert S.
"Hubie" Gallagher was an outstanding coach and teacher. In 1983, he
was named to the Louisiana High School Hall of Fame. In 1939, he not only
coached all sports, but taught civics, social studies and physical education.
He got his first assistant coach in 1942, and in the following years some of
his assistants included Freddie Seal, Tommy Bell, Jack Salter and Allie Smith.
1939 - MAYOR HEBERT FREDERICK Mayor from 1939 - 1945
1941 - THE COW DOME CONSTRUCTED
The old stands at the athletic field were replaced by a new
stadium built by the WPA in 1941, and it became familiarly known as "the
cow dome".
1945 - OLD FREEZER PLANT 526 North New Hampshire Street
Built in 1945 as the Growers Cooperative Association and
better known as the "Old Freezer Plant," this building holds the distinction
of being the first and only community freezer plant in the area. At a time when
most families did not have their own freezers, this building once housed many a
holiday turkey or ham. Many residents still remember picking up their store of meat
from the freezer.
1945 - MAYOR EMILE MENETRE Mayor from 1945 - 1965
1945 "LYON HIGH" CHANGED BACK TO "COVINGTON
HIGH"
Again the name was changed in 1945 from Lyon High back to
Covington High since the law was that no school could be named after a person
still living.
1950 - 1950 CENSUS
In 1950 the population of Covington was 5,113.
1955 - PLAYMAKERS ORGANIZED
Playmakers Inc. was organized in 1955 as a non-profit
voluntary amateur theater and still functions as an organization for the promotion
of dramatic interests in the Covington area.
1956 - CAUSEWAY OPENED
The original causeway bridge over Lake Pontchartrain was a
two-lane span measuring 23.86 miles (38.40 km) in length. It cost $30.7 million
and opened in 1956.
1958 - ST. TAMMANY ART ASSOCIATION
The St. Tammany Art Association was founded in 1958 by a
small group of civic-minded individuals dedicated to bringing art to western
St. Tammany Parish.
1959 - EARL K. LONG SANITY HEARING
Governor Earl K. Long's sanity hearing was held in the
school gym What school? in 1959. Long had been committed to the state mental
hospital in Mandeville.
1960 - 1960 CENSUS
In 1960, the population grew to 6,754.
1961 - NEW CHS GYM BUILT
In 1961, a new gymnasium was built.
1963 – 1995 THE JACK SALTER ERA
Under the guidance of Coach Jack Salter (258 Wins from
1963-95 (258-111-8) [69.5%]) Covington High achieved multiple State
Championship appearances, including the 1976 State Championship Title. He was
inducted into the Louisiana High School Hall of Fame in 2012.
1965 ROSENWALD SCHOOL CLOSES
1965 MAYOR GILES PENNINGTON Mayor from 1965 - 1967
1966 - PINEVIEW HIGH SCHOOL
In 1966, the school board opened up Pine View High
School as a co-ed facility.
1967 - MAYOR ERNEST J. COOPER Mayor from 1967 - 1991;
Retired as Mayor
May 10, 1969 - CAUSEWAY NEW SPAN OPENED
A parallel two-lane span, 1/100th of a mile (15m) longer
than the original, opened on May 10, 1969, at a cost of $26 million.
1970 - 1970 CENSUS
In 1970, the population was 7,170, but this was just the
town. New subdivisions were being developed, and in the early 1960's when the
space program brought thousands of engineers and other workers to the Michoud
Plant and NASA installations, the influx became a flood. Between 1960 and 1968,
St. Tammany Parish grew 62.3 percent in population, increasing from 38,643 in
1960 to 71,388 in 1968.
October 13, 1974 - COVINGTON HIGH SCHOOL BURNS
On October 14, 1974, the local newspaper headline read:
"FIRE DESTOYS HIGH SCHOOL." Covington High School was destroyed byfire on Sunday morning, and the event was witnessed by hundreds of spectators
who gathered in the chilly early morning air to see the end of the longtime
education institution.
1975 - CHS NEW BUILDING
After school let out for the summer, the move was made to a
new building. Using the insurance money, already an addition of fourteen
classrooms was being added to the new school, but they weren't completed until
the following January. In the meantime, the $1.7 million new school had only 36
teaching stations to accommodate about 1,000 students. The old school had 46
classrooms.
November 1, 1967 - CHS STATE CHAMPS
1981 - NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
Covington's center was named the Division of St. John, now the historic district. The town was laid out in a unique pattern of squares (ox lots), which were accessed by alleyways. This unique layout is largely responsible for the Division of St. John's placement on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.
1984 - COVINGTON FOOD BANK FOUNDED
The Covington Food Bank was originally founded as the Food
Bank Inc. of St. Tammany and was located at 342 North Columbia Street. The idea
for a food bank was planted at a meeting of the Ministerial Alliance of
Covington by Deacon Skip Grafanini of St. Peter Catholic Church, who later went
on to become the director of the food bank in January of 1985.
1987 - COVINGTON A MAIN STREET COMMUNITY
In response to a slumping economy and decline downtown, the
city applied to become a "Main Street" community and was accepted in
1987. The National Main Street Program is a downtown revitalization program,
which is administered by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
1991 - MAYOR KEITH J. VILLERE Mayor from 1991 - 2003
1997 - THREE RIVERS ART FESTIVAL CREATED
Established in 1997, The Three Rivers Art Festival has
flooded the streets of downtown Covington with activities, music, color, and
most importantly, art. It has grown from 49 to hundreds of exhibiting artists.
The festival attracts a sophisticated buying public and a talented group of
artists and fine craftsmen from all over the country, and it draws more than
50,000 visitors each year.
2000 - 2000 CENSUS
The population was 8,483.
March 2000 FINAL FRIDAY BLOCK PARTY CREATED
This free family event features a classic car show, live and
DJ entertainment, food and drinks, and the shops and galleries are open late.
The Columbia Street Block Party is held on the last Friday of each month from
March through October.
2003 - ST. TAMMANY JUSTICE CENTER OPENS
2003 -MAYOR CANDACE WATKINS
Mayor from 2003 - 2011; First female mayor of Covington
August 29, 2005 - HURRICANE KATRINA
Hurricane Katrina was the deadliest and most destructive
Atlantic hurricane of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season. It was the costliest
natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the
history of the United States.
2010 - 2010 CENSUS
The population was 8,765.
2011 - MAYOR MICHAEL B. COOPER
JULY 4, 2013 - COVINGTON BICENTENNIAL
Covington celebrated its 200th birthday on July
4, 2013.
