Shop Class Equipment at Covington High

This picture shows new equipment being installed at the Covington High School Shop Class, with Bill Pitcher and Henry Mayfield looking on. No year is given, but Pitcher was Superintendent between 1911 and 1937. Click on the image to make it larger.

Covington Grammar School 7th Grade - 1929

This student group is the seventh grade at Covington Grammar School, year 1929. Click on the image to make the image appear larger. 

Ninety years ago...

100 Years Ago This Week

What was going on 100 years ago this week? CLICK HERE for a link to the St. Tammany Farmer of April 19, 1919. The link is provided by the Library of Congress and its Chronicling America service.

Click on the sample images below to see larger versions.

Covington Grammar School First Grade - 1934

Here are the youngsters in the first grade class at Covington Grammar School in 1934, some 85 years ago. Click on the image to make it larger. 

1st Avenue Park: Now Known As "Nose"

Down at the end of Jahncke Avenue in Covington, just before it turns into Old Landing Road, is a roadside park with some extra special features.

 

Click on the images to make them larger. 

It has a circular paved walking trail, a variety of playground equipment, picnic tables both in open sun and tree-shaded, plus a great covered pavilion overlooking the tranquil Tchefuncte River. Oh, and a giant nose.

It's official name is "First Avenue Park," and it was a project promoted by Covington City Councilman, Matt Faust in the mid-1990's. After four years of site clean up and landscaping efforts, it opened officially with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on December 17, 1996, although it had already been open for public use and enjoyment for months before.

 

Click on the images to make them larger.

That five-acre park has become known as "Nose Park,"  because of the big nose that sticks out of the ground near the front of the park. It even has its own Google Maps label, and positive reviews as well. 

 

The Nose

 

 

The Riverside Covered Pavilion

 

 

A river observation deck

 

A boardwalk goes down to the level of the river for a closer look.

 

The riverside pavilion was built by Randy Aultman

 

According to former Mayor Keith Villere the plans for the park included more docks and the clearing of the lower brush to make some nature trails. "We were designing a whole playground full of art components, swings, climbing things, etc.," he said. 

The covered pavilion at the river is wheelchair accessible, giving everyone a chance to look at the water and enjoy the peaceful bend in the river. Birds and butterflies frequent the site.

 

 

Benches to sit and enjoy the outdoors

The park occupies the land which was once the city’s sewage processing plant. That meant it had large circular tanks filled with sewage. "It's not everyday you turn a sewer plant into a park and greenery," said Councilman Faust at the ribbon cutting ceremony.

The sewage treatment plant was no longer used after a new sewerage system was put in, and the city first tried to demolish the old facility with their own work crews. When that wasn't going fast enough, officials were able to get some grant money to hire a contractor to take on the job. It was not an easy task, given its solid reinforced concrete construction.

The sewerage treatment plant at the end of Jahncke Avenue, 1962

Some people used the site as a garbage dump for a while, and that caused a problem, not only for the nearby river, but because of all the broken glass mixed in with the garbage. Turning the area into a park required a great deal of effort to remove the layer upon layer of broken glass. 

 

City officials and workers prevailed, however, and after spending an initial $60,000 (half of which was paid by a federal Land & Conservation grant), the area was successfully cleaned up, transformed into a park, and is now regularly visited by children and parents for their recreational needs. "Making the old sewer plant into a park also helped property values in the area," Faust said.

The Tchefuncte River at 1st Avenue Park (Nose Park)

 

The Nose at Nose Park

The sculpture was done by Al Ormsby. He recalled the day he finished the work and had it transported down Jahncke Avenue to the park site using a tow truck. As it went slowly down Jahncke,  kids on bicycles saw it and started following it. Pretty soon there was a parade of kids on bicycles following along behind the tow truck carrying the giant nose sculpture in a sling. It was quite a memorable event, he said. 

 

A nearby resident built a small garden next to the sculpture, and it was called "The Nose Garden." 

  

See also:

Sunset at Nose Park

Restaurant Leadership 1984

In 1984, some 35 years ago, these were the leading restaurant owners/operators in the St. Tammany Parish area. Click on the image to make it larger and more readable. 

Junior Class Portrait of Lyon High 1932

Junior class members of Lyon High School took time out from their studies to pose for this picture back in 1932, eighty seven years ago. 

Click on the image to make it larger. 

Spring For Art 2019

Amid brisk breezes and a threatening sky, hundreds of art lovers visited downtown Covington Saturday night to take part in the 2019 "Spring For Art," a coordinated art exhibit event hosted by numerous galleries.

Situated around the St. Tammany Art Association building on Columbia Street, the event included art, music, and dancing. The high winds prevented tents from being set up in the street, and some artists found refuge in nearby businesses.

 

 Scheduled Artists, Exhibits and Events (some cancelled due to weather)

COLUMBIA STREET
 
 1.    Paradise On Columbia Med Spa
200 N Columbia St | 985-892-8876 Artwork by Colette Norvell Martin

 2.    Heritage Bank of St. Tammany
205 N Columbia St | 985-892-4565
Artwork by Students of St. Scholastica Academy

 3.    Olive Patch
222 N Columbia St | 985-327-5772 Artwork by Rhonda Alleman

 4.    Shoeffle / deCoeur
228 N Columbia St | 985-898-6465 Join us for wine, cheese, and shopping

 5.    Columbia Street Mercantile
231 N Columbia St & 236 N Columbia St
985-809-1789
Music by Hunter Morse

 6.    HJ. Smith's Son
308 N Columbia St | 985-892-0460 Free Museum & Music by Randy Herbert

 7.    Mo's Art Supply & Framing
315 N Columbia St | 985-809-6854

 8.    Arthouse
320 N Columbia St | 985-892-8650
Opening Reception for Pushing Boundaries: Exhibition featuring artwork by Babette Beaullieu, Maggie McConnell, and Luba Zygarewicz in the Miriam Barranger Gallery and artwork by STAA member artists in the
Severson and Williamson Galleries.

 9.    Tripolo Gallery
323 N Columbia St | 985-789-4073
Artwork by Robert Cook, Donna Landry Duffy, Carolyn Busenlener, Robert LaBranche

10.    Dependable Glass
334 N Columbia St. | (985) 892-0999

 11.    Gulf Coast Lanterns
401 N Columbia St | 800-910-3275 Artwork by Muriel Dauterive & Lori Sperier

 12.    Retro Music Co.
424 N Columbia St | 985-888-9890 Music by J. Rees

 13.    Abby Sembera Art Studio & Gallery
434 N Columbia St, Suite A Artwork by Abby Sembera

 14.    Columbia Street Taproom & Seiler Bar 
434 N Columbia St | 985-898-0899  Music by Yum Yum

 15.    Junior League of Greater Covington
529 N Columbia St | 504-495-9994

 16.    Armbruster Artworks
502    N Columbia St | 985-630-6295
Artwork by Numerous Artists

17.    Lucy's Artisian Apothecary
503    N Columbia St | 985-276-4058
Artwork by Amber Damare

LOCKWOOD STREET
 
18.    Stella Ink Collective
326 Lockwood St | 985-888-1888 Art by Nefro, Sussky, Adam Stogner Live Painting Exhibition


EAST KIRKLAND STREET
 
19.MSH Architects, LLC
229 E Kirkland St I 985-898-0303

EAST BOSTON STREET
 
 20.    Saladino Gallery
409 E Boston St | 504-236-8827 "An Evening with Jim & Laura Graham" Music by Louque

 21.    The Southern Hotel
428 E Boston St | 985-400-5657 Drop by the Cypress Bar for cocktails

 22.    Kids Area in Gulf Coast Bank Parking Lot
423 E Boston St | 985-646-6536

 23.    Del Porto
501 E Boston St | 985-875-1006 Artwork by Inga Clough Falterman

 24.    Vazquez Seafood & Poboy Restaurant
515 E Boston St | 985-893-9336 Collection of artwork by local artists

 25.    Wharton's Green Room 
521 E Boston St | 985-249-6424 Music by King Kreole at 7pm Baby & the Brasshearts at 9pm

 26.    Bezou Law Firm
534 E Boston St  Artwork by Karla Cloutier Bezou

 27.    Autonomy
705 E Boston St | 985 888-1669

RUTLAND STREET

28. The English Tea Room
734 E Rutland St | 985-898-3988