Society News from 1893

 Here's the local community society news from the July 29, 1893, issue of the St. Tammany Farmer. Click on the image below to enlarge it.

100 Years Ago This October 23

What was going on 100 years ago this week? CLICK HERE for a link to the St. Tammany Farmer Issue of  October 23, 1920. 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 Police Department 1976

 In 1976 the St. Tammany News Banner ran full page feature stories on the police departments of several parish towns. Here is the article about the Covington Police, which ran on May 30, 1976. Click on the images to make them larger. 

Hattie Keen Parker Helped Those In Need

 This stirring account of a community-minded Talisheek resident was published in a 1976 issue of the St. Tammany News Banner. It is the inspiring story of Hattie Keen Parker, her love of flowers, her church work, and her caring for the sick and needy in her community.

Aunt Hattie Parker Known To All
(St. Tammany News Banner)

Hattie Keen Parker was born in Slidell, Louisiana, on July 9, 1869, the daughter of the late W. N. Keen and Eleanor Jay Keen. The latter's mother was from England and belonged to the Aristocracy.

Hattie Keen married Walter Parker of Taliheek, Louisiana, on May 11, 1896. Her husband for many years was identified with the lumber business and was one of the largest landowners In St. Tammany Parish. Three children were born of this union, two daughters, Mrs. E. J. Frederick, Jr and Mrs. T. 0. Creel, and a son, A. D. "Bo" Parker.

Her two daughters, with their husbands, resided for a time in the old family home on West 19th Avenue. Covington, Louisiana.

Hattie Keen Parker, or "Aunt Hattie" as she was called by many of her friends, was not only a devoted and loving wife and mother, but always found time for other worthwhile activities In the community.

She was very active in her Church, worked conscientiously for the Red Cross during World War I, was involved in many different projects connected with the St. Tammany Parish Fair, assisted in all outside school activities, was always interested in young people and worked with and for them, and last, but not least, Mrs Parker always found time to help the ill and the needy.

 Hattie Parker, since her early childhood, was an active  member of the Methodist Church. She organized the Sunday School at Talisheek and was Superintendent of the Sunday School there for years. She was President of the Ladles' Aid Society, and organizer of the Wednesday night prayer meeting group while residing to Talisheek.

After moving to Covington in 1919, she continued her active work to the Methodist Church here. She taught a Sunday School Class of young people every Sunday and worked with the Ladles' Aid Society.

Until her death, the was a member of the Stewards of the Methodist Church.

The Methodist Church on Gibson Street was completely destroyed by fire In the early 1920's. Mrs Parker was most influential a few years later in starting a drive for funds to build a new church, which church was built on Jefferson Avenue.

She was also instrumental in having a new parsonage built on 22nd Avenue. Although a great portion of the cost of these two buildings was financed by her husband, Hattie Parker worked hard with other members of the Church to raise funds and liquidate the balance of the cost. These funds were raised by having cake sales, chicken dinners, Ice-cream parties, etc. Donations were also solicited.

This Sanctuary served Its congregation for fifty years. These two buildings were  demolished about nine years ago (1967) to make room for the construction of the beautiful present Sanctuary.

Charity Work

Mrs. Parker loved people and is best remembered for the charity work that she did so unselfishly. She always seemed to search for the needy in the community to help them in any way that she could. She gave financial assistance, served and made clothes for them, gave food and provided medicine too when needed, defraying even doctors' bills when their services were needed.

This kind of unselfish love for others was continued throughout her life.

The sick were never neglected if Mrs. Parker knew about them. She visited them, always taking something with her to show her love and concern for them. Her gift to them might only be a bouquet of flowers from her garden, a cake for the family, or a tray of sandwiches, but there was always something. On many occasions she was known to spend day after day with the sick helping to nurse them back to health.

Hattie Parker brought joy and happiness to all who knew her and her wonderful "sense of humor" showed others the brighter side of life.

Mrs. Parker enjoyed young people and entertained them when time permitted The family's lovely country home In Talisheek or their large houseboat on the Tchefuncta  River was the scene of many fun filled parties. Sometimes there were as many as twenty or more high school or college students invited to attend these outings. She was always ready to chaperon parties for the young people such as dances, boat. rides, watermelon parties, beach parties, swimming parties, etc.

Flower Garden

She loved her flower garden which was always one of beauty. She worked with her pot plants and flowers diligently. How Hattie Parker enjoyed sharing them with others! Whenever plants and flowers were needed for special occasions such as bridal showers.. weddings, high school and grammar school graduations or what have you, everyone in the community knew Mrs. Parker would give them as many as they needed.

Many wonderful things were said of this remarkable woman during her lifetime, a truly wonderful woman so full of love for mankind. Her daily guide for living can best be described as one who helped someone in some way everyday of her life. This was truly exemplified to the life that she lived.

Hattie Keen Parker died on January 6, 1941, leaving a great heritage not only for family, but for the entire community as well.

 

Flo Morgan Honored For Her Service To Abita

When Flo Morgan moved with her husband Will to Abita Springs in 1920,  the town gained an energetic and productive promoter of civic duty and beautification. Not only did their picnic grounds and swimming pool gain a regional reputation for corporate picnics and gatherings, but she served on the town council.

Here's an article from 1976 telling about Flo Morgan and her contributions to the town of Abita Springs.

Flo Morgan Contributes To Abita Springs
by Naomi Rausch

"As soon as public service ceases to be the chief business of the citizens... the State is not far from its fall." Jean Jacques Rousseau wrote this in The Social Contract in 1762.

Perhaps Mrs. Will J. "Flo" Morgan of Abita Springs believed in this philosophy; for she contributed much of her time and energy to the joy, life and improvement of the small community, Abita Springs.

"Flo" Morgan was born in 1886 in New Orleans. Her father, John Donnelly, of Ireland and her mother Mary Jane Hinds, of New Orleans had seven children; John Charles, Teace, Rose, Alice, Lola and Helen.

Helen was married to the late Senator Allen Ellender of Houma, LA., and Washington, D.C. Flo married Will J. Morgan in 1920 in New Orleans. She and her husband moved to Abita Springs that same year.

Though they had no children they were surrounded by youth who enjoyed their spacious and beautiful grounds with picnics and swimming.

When Flo Morgan first came to Abita Springs, the population numbered about 300 people. There was much need for improvements and laws. Cattle roamed the streets. She was instrumental in having a stock law passed for what she thought was best for Abita and attended the Town Council meetings regularly up to the time of her death.

She was a member of the Council between 1928-30. She and her husband donated the land for the cemetery which was first given to the Lutheran Church. It was later taken over by the town.

Fame of Beauty

Through the fame of their beautiful picnic grounds and one of the largest outdoor swimming pools in the country, many people from New Orleans came to visit and grew to love the quaint little community. Annually, large organizations such as Steamship Lines and Religious Organizations held their picnics at the Morgans.

Flo was a member of several garden clubs in this area for many years. She loved flowers and trees and spent all of her declining energy in trying to maintain her beautiful grounds.

Flo loved Abita Springs and its citizens, and she showed this love through her work and gifts to the town.

On July 25, 1975, after a dinner party with friends, she returned to her home. Flo died that night; but her deeds shall live on in the small community.

A few months later, on Arbor Day, citizens of Abita paid tribute to Arbor Day and Flo. A redbud tree was planted and called the Flo Morgan tree. And as Flo gave joy and beauty to a community and to two generations, may this redbud tree give joy and beauty to another generation.

Photos from 1963 seen below

See also:

Annie Pennington Koepp

Pioneer Woman Angele de la Vallette Planche 

Mathilde Johnson - Lacombe Choctaw 

Miss Lucy Perkins - Madisonville Schoolteacher 

Mrs. James Clifton Burns Biography 

Basketball Players -1952

 Found on the Madisonville Louisiana Historical Photos Facebook page, a picture posted by Iris Lulu-Simoneaux Vacante of several members of the Covington High School girls basketball team from 68 years ago. Click on the image to make it larger.

Slidell Methodist Church

 In 1977 the Slidell United Methodist Church celebrated its 90th anniversary, after having been established in 1887. Here is the article that appeared in the Slidell Times announcing that anniversary and its program of activities. 

Click on the images to make them larger. 

 

 

 

Click on text to enlarge.

According to the church's website,

First United Methodist Church began on September 26, 1887, as a result of a brush arbor revival held by the Reverend James Tucker, pastor of the West Pearl Charge, Seashore District of the Mississippi Conference, Methodist Episcopal Church, South.  Twelve members, a significant number in New Testament history, formed the “Slidell Methodist Church.”  Eleven were received by profession of faith:  Mr. J. F. Luther, Mr. W. A. Lutcher, Mrs. T. Lutcher, Mrs. Iola Lutcher, Miss C. J. Lutcher, Miss Janie Dunham, Miss Iola Gray, Mrs. C. S. Ward, Mrs. A. Joiner, Mrs. Allen, and Mrs. J. A. Cherry.  The twelfth member, Mrs. T. C. Provost, was received by transfer of membership.

The fledgling church met in a community building, used as both a school and church meeting house, erected near the railroad tracks by the Salmen Brick and Lumber Company.  The original Methodist Church and a parsonage were built at Second and Guzman Streets.  

A graveyard, now Greenwood Cemetery, was situated directly behind the church.  The congregation was subsequently separated from the West Pearl Charge and added to the Talisheek Charge.  By 1905, continued growth constituted the need for relocation to First Street, with the later addition of an education building and new parsonage.  The church remained a part of the Mandeville Charge until 1908 when the Slidell Charge was organized.

In 1957, an entire city block across from the city park was purchased and is the location of the present church complex.  The first structure, now known as Fellowship Hall, was begun in 1960, followed by the sanctuary which was dedicated in 1969.  The Mears Building that once stood behind the sanctuary was constructed by a group of adult and youth volunteers and dedicated in 1974.  As our church family grew, construction of the Family Life Center was completed in 1982 and a new parking lot was constructed on Fourth Street in 2002 to help accommodate our membership.

On August 29, 2005 Hurricane Katrina came to shore and devastated the community of Slidell, New Orleans, and surrounding parishes.  Packing 145mph winds, this storm brought close to 5 feet of water onto or church campus which destroyed 95% of all contents.  Former classrooms have been converted into administrative office space along with a refurbished Fellowship Hall that was once the original Sanctuary in the late 1950’s.

 

 

Slidell United Methodist Church (Google Street View)

Holmesville Road Opens Trade To Madisonville

 On November 24, 1846, the New Orleans Picayune newspaper contained this news item about the town of Madisonville...

The mention of the new road being built from Holmesville, Mississippi, is important, since it opened up a large section of southwest Mississippi to trade. The town is located between Tylertown and McComb, and at one time was a hub of commerce. The distance to Covington was 65 miles. Holmesville was a thriving community in the 1850's, and home to several notable politicians.

  

Roads radiated out from Holmesville in all directions 

In a SLU term paper on the history of Folsom written by Gary B. Jenkins, it was noted that, "The vast area north of Covington, to the Mississippi state line, was one of virgin forests, practically untouched by the effects of civilization. The only road of any kind that penetrated the area was the Holmesville Road." 

According to Allan Thomas, The Holmesville Road ran along the west side of the Bogue Chitto River. A portion of the Holmesville Road stretches north to south near Mount Hermon, LA, on its way to Covington.

"It was the most important and by far the best maintained road in this area. It was, however, a dirt road. The road ran from Covington, LA to Holmesville, Mississippi," Thomas wrote. Apparently in 1846 it was being extended to Madisonville to take advantage of the shipping port on the Tchefuncte River.

In the first half of the 1800’s, as the population grew, so did the traffic on the Holmesville Road. Cattle were driven to the Madisonville Boat yards to be sold in New Orleans, even herds of turkey’s were driven to market. 

"While the farmers would camp along the road the turkeys would roost in trees along the road Holmesville was located on the west bank of the Bogue Chitto River about 15 miles north of the state line. It was the first county seat of Pike County, and its greatest period of prosperity was between 1830 and the Civil War. At that time it was a popular resort for folks from New Orleans. 

The Railroad Passes It By

"The construction of the New Orleans, Jackson, and Great Northern Railroad bypassed the town and brought about the decline of Holmesville. The county seat was moved to Magnolia on the railroad in 1875."

The road between Holmesville and Madisonville thus became an important supply route for the city of New Orleans.  Not only that, but when Holmesville became a great resort, the road from Madisonville through the summer months was often crowded with people seeking rest and relief from the unhealthful atmosphere of New Orleans. Its healthfulness, picturesque scenery, pure water, facilities for outdoor sports and quiet pleasures, made it a desirable place for a summer vacation, as did Mandeville, Abita Springs and Covington.

 

 

 

The town is located near the confluence of the Bogue Chitto River and Topisaw Creek

 

 

Jack Terry has done extensive research into the original landowners in Covington, and he notes that several of the names he has come across as early purchasers match the names of people known to live in the Holmesville area around the same time.

Holmesville and the history of Pike County seems to offer several direct connections to Covington and Madisonville, in addition to the trade coming down the Holmesville road from throughout south Mississippi. 

See also:

Holmesville - Wikipedia

Holmesville: A Forgotten Town

Frances Joseph-Gaudet

 

100 Years Ago This October 16

What was going on 100 years ago this week? CLICK HERE for a link to the St. Tammany Farmer Issue of  October 16, 1920. The link is provided by the Library of Congress and its Chronicling America service.

Click on the sample images below to see larger versions. 

The Area That Became Tchefuncte State Park

 In 1938 the Louisiana Conservation Review magazine began a lengthy five-part series of articles exploring the property that eventually became Tchefuncte State Park east of Mandeville. That's the area where Bernard de Marigny's family started the Fontainebleau Plantation. A hundred years later, the state changed the name of Tchefuncte State Park to Fontainebleau State Park.

The article traces the coming of the DeMarigny family from France to Louisiana, their ups and downs, their connections and family fortunes (and misfortunes.)

Here is a scan of the article's first part, leading the reader on a historical journey of the explorers and landowners between 1700 and 1800. Click on the image below to make it larger and more readable.