Here is the "Madisonville Letter" sent in by the town's community newspaper correspondent for publication on April 1, 1922. Click on the image to make it larger and more readable.
Friday, May 23, 2025
Thursday, May 22, 2025
Business League Proposed - 1915
One of the first chamber of commerce type organizations proposed for Covington was the Business League in 1915. Many people were moving to the community after word got out about its healthful environment and thriving commercial opportunities.
Here are a couple of news articles that explained who was behind it and what they were trying to do. Click on the images to make them larger and more readable.
Editorial
Tuesday, May 20, 2025
DiCristina's Restaurant Relocates to Trailhead
DiCristina's Italian and Seafood Restaurant, formerly located on North Columbia Street in Covington just north of the Justice Center, has moved into new quarters on Lockwood Street, right across from the Covington Trailhead.
Right next to Tammany Trace
Across from Reagan Statue with the water tower nearby
The new front door and daily specials chalkboard
(Photos by Ron Barthet)
The restaurant now occupies the old Alexius Brothers Hardware site, which also formerly housed a craft brewery and later, a gift shop.Here are some photographs of the newly-renovated interior, which is much larger than their previous location a few blocks north on Columbia Street.
Click on the images to make them larger.
According to their website, Maria and Frank Pyburn, and Josie and Phillip DiCristina opened DiCristina’s on January 6, 2005. "While only 8 months before Hurricane Katrina ravished New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, DiCristina’s had already established itself as a quality restaurant serving the freshest and finest in gulf seafood and Sicilian dishes." The business celebrated its 20th anniversary earlier this year.
Above photo from the DiCristina's Facebook Page
Here are several pictures made last week, before the windows were uncovered.
Click on the images to make them larger.
The Building's History
In 1907, Guido Alexius and his sons Alfred, Cintio and John, founded Alexius Brothers and Company. Prior to 1915, the landmark building shown above was known as "The Covington Gymnasium" where dances and boxing matches took place.
In 1915 it was purchased by Alexius for use as a hardware establishment. Later Guido's grandsons operated the hardware store at this location until 1985.
The Alexius family in the old hardware store
Then, in 2008, the Alexius family helped make the Covington Trailhead improvements possible.
DiCristina's new location is now open in the historic Alexius Brothers building. DiCristina's previous location, which is now a different pizza and pasta restaurant, was on Columbia Street . It is pictured below.
I remember eating many meals at the old location, some of those with the Parish Fair Association officials on exhibit judging days. The establishment has been a favorite of many groups and especially courthouse employees over the years.
Links of Interest:
Sunday, May 18, 2025
Junior Livestock Show of 1977
The 1977 St. Tammany Parish Junior Livestock Show in Covington was a well-attended event. Click on the images below to make them larger.
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Monday, May 5, 2025
ChefSoiree in 1996
Twenty-nine years ago, in 1996, I set up a video camera at the front entrance of the Bogue Falaya Park in Covington to show the large number of people coming to the ChefSoiree event. The date was March 25, 1996.
The purpose of the video was to see how many people stopped to pick up one of my cartoon maps of the event, and then opened it up to find out where their favorite restaurant booths were located and see what they were serving.
The 1996 ChefSoiree
The rest of the video comes in two parts, and they are long. You may wish to get a cup of coffee before viewing. You can enlarge the view after starting the video by clicking on the YouTube logo at the bottom of the frame.
Chefsoiree 1996
Part One
Click on the center triangle to view the video
Chefsoiree 1996
Part Two
Click on the center triangle to view the video
Other Links of Interest:
Sunday, April 27, 2025
Health Resort Town Proposed - 1902
In 1902 the widespread reputation of Covington and Abita Springs as being healthy places to live prompted local developers to propose the building of an entirely new town southeast of Covington, this city to be billed nationwide as a major health resort...
Click on the images to make them larger and more readable.
A number of log cabins and other cottages were to be built. That new town was called "St. Tammany." The train track from Florenville to Abita Springs ran just north of it.
Special "excursion" trains were scheduled to bring people from New Orleans to see the property.
The development was to include a first class restaurant, flower gardens, vegetable gardens, and a dairy.
Six hundred and fifty people took the excursion train for teachers from New Orleans
Flowing water wells and rice growing were in the plans.
New Train Depot Built for New Community
Maps
A 1935 topographical map showing the "St. Tammany" community north of Lacombe, just south of the road that goes between Abita Springs and Hickory/Pearl River
The St. Tammany community today (Google Maps)
The St. Tammany community will soon become the southern end of the four lane highway between Bogalusa and Interstate 12. A swath of trees on its path has already been cleared at its junction where it merges with Hwy. 434.
Link of interest:
Blackwell Family Reunion
It became a family tradition for years and years: the annual reunion of the Blackwell family of St. Tammany Parish. Click on the images to make them larger and more readable.
The Covington community especially appreciated the work of Woodrow "Chink" Blackwell.
Joe Blackwell was police chief in the Village of Sun
Frank Blackwell was an alderman in the Village of Sun
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