Rosemerry Fuhrmann Hanian

Artists of every kind have made Covington a special place in the hearts of many residents and visitors, artists ranging from sculptors and watercolorists to theatrical thespians and wood carvers. One of the most influential artists to have graced this area however, was Rosemerry Emelia Fuhrmann Hanian, a master of the art of dance. 

Not only did she provide dance performances of a sophisticated and international flavor, but she shared her experiences and expertise with many young people in the community through her outstanding dance instruction studio, the Creative Dance Center. Many of those students have gone on to excel in college and professional dance careers.

Rosemerry, at right, and her students

She opened her studio in Covington in 1967, and the article below was written six years later, in 1973.  

Where Dancing is an Art

October 1973 Tammany Touch Magazine
By Leslie Fardeau

Mrs. Rosemerry Fuhrmann, who teaches dancing in the Covington area, is nationally known for her interpretive dancing and several roles in Broadway productions. She is presently teaching modern dance, ballet, and East Indian courses to girls ranging from five to eighteen. Using dance as an element of worship has always been important to Mrs. Fuhrmann.

She first began to develop this in 1952 when she studied East Indian Dancing with Hidassah in New York City. Part of their training included choreographing the 23rd Psalm. Because Indian dancing is so often invocational and reverential, this training has been invaluable to her. In 1962 when she was a dance instructor at Marymount School in New York, she taught a group of girls to choreograph the Lord's Prayer. The Mother General of the Catholic Church was present at the time and exhibited her approval and delight about the performance. 

The residents of St. Tammany Parish are most familiar with recent performances in the Christ Episcopal Church, Presbyterian Church, St. Peter's, St. Paul's and the Priory. The programs all varied according to the wishes of the minister or priest. 

One of the most popular performances was "A Family of Trees", a touching narration by Jules Renard. The subject matter dealt with the interrelationships in a group of stately trees; and many interesting parallels may be drawn with people. "Gymno Pedie," a smoothly flowing music piece by Eric Satie, was the accompaniment for the piece.

Another well-received production is "Reverance" in which the dancers evoke a mood of devotion and invite the audience to participate. As the lead dancers call various groups to prayer the viewers are automatically involved through the music and actions of the performers. This particular dance was performed at St. Paul's Chapel this past Christmas and at St. Peter's as well.

It was originally choreographed for the St. Francis Catholic Church in New Orleans at the request of Father Putnam in 1968.

The most exciting events for Rosemerry were the occasions when the minister or priest got involved in the presentation. Using the Bach Magnificat in Das the background music, her girls choreographed the carrying in of the wine and wafers at the priest's request for St. Paul's last year. 

Father Angelo at St. Peter's originated the idea of combining scriptures about the life of Mary with the Dance of Mary, a piece of music from a Bach suite. The result was a touching and significant production.

Dancing is much more than a fun pastime for Rosemerry and her pupils: she sees it as a means of expressing her innermost being. She believes that her students should develop inwardly as well as physically. In her words, "Without true inward grace the technical knowledge is worthless; a certain sense of being, attitude, and approach toward life are essential for a truly complete dancer. Dance is a means of expression and a way of communicating with people.

What better way to worship than with the whole body and not just with your mouth. People are especially moved by the dedication of the girls and because they've chosen to use their training in a special manner. The girls are decidedly more giving, dedicated, and serious because they understand the importance of reverential dancing."

A special group of serious dancers known as the "Dance Players" has performed all over the parish and for many special events throughout the South. The group is composed of Teresa Guderian, Nora Eddy, Linda LeBlanc, Adrienne Norman, Gay Moore, and Mauer Doskey. Their current project will take place at Loyola University on November third.

Teachers and educators from five states will participate in and view sessions on "Developing the Creative Potential in the Multi-Ethnic Group". Doctor Paul Torrance from Atlanta, Georgia, who is nationally known for his work in bringing movement into reading programs, will serve as the co-ordinator.

The dance players are working on exaggerated pantomines for a variety of single words which will emphasize the effectiveness of combining dancing with reading. On November tenth Rosemerry'.' group will be part of four companies who'll be performing at a theatre in Lake Charles. They were invited by Ida Clark, who has a studio in the area, to do some various Indian techniques. The dance players are willing to perform for anyone who would appreciate serious and comprehensive dancing, Rosemerry added.

Dancing is an art as old as man, even the oldest cave paintings depict figures in typical dance movements. Early man copied his dance patterns from the animals around him; such as the courtship rituals of the cranes. The dances of primitive people are not merely expressions of the desire to jump, stamp and have fun; they often reveal important attitudes about birth, love, death, nature, and worship.

Although many of the primitive tribal dance forms have disappeared as man's sophistication has increased, the Western world still retains many forms which probably originated in the Middle Ages. Folk dancing, court dancing, wandering troubadours, and church plays of the Middle Ages included mystery, miracle, and morality plays which were elaborate with large casts and dramatic scenic effects. 

The first players and dancers were the clergy; as the casts grew larger the common people were given parts. Eventually, as dancing passed into the hands of the people, theatrical dancing became acceptable as entertainment. Although it has its roots in the past, we can see the contemporary application of dancing in very special ways, right here in St. Tammany Parish.


Click on the image for the article clipping from above.

As a child, Rosemerry learned dance from local teachers, then attended Southeastern and LSU to further perfect her skills. Her decision to focus her attention on the dance styles of India enabled her to bring a special flair to her performances and endeared her to many involved in Broadway productions. In 1955, she took part in the second national tour of "Kismet" where she played the Princess Samaris of Bangalore. 

She was a choreographer as well as on stage as an "Angel" for the production of "The King and I," in New York and was also a choreographer for "Kismet." She lived and worked in New York for two decades, achieving remarkable success in her career on the Broadway stage before returning home.

Once back in Covington, she established the Covington Dance Center. The first dance studio was located in the old Werhli Home in downtown Covington. Later, she moved it to a former church building on 23rd Avenue, just one block away from the Covington Civic Center, where the main auditorium was later named in honor of her father, well-known area businessman and showman Charles Sidney August Fuhrmann.

She became a legend in the area and across the world of Dance.  When she died in 1992, she left a "legacy of thousands of lives touched by her love of dance" as well as teaching her students the "thrill of creativity." 

 

She was featured in Dixie Roto Magazine in 1954, including a cover photo

 

 

 

Many of her dance performances were especially choreographed for certain occasions, aimed at conveying specific meanings through interpretive dances. The community  looked forward to each new creative performance, and Rosemerry's knowledge and teaching of those skills were appreciated. Each new expression of those skills through heartfelt performances was warmly anticipated.  

Her expertise in the dance styles of India even brought her to the 1984 World's Fair to take part in special performances on "Asian Day. " 

Her Creative Dance Center students were active not only in local productions, but they also took part in several Jazzfest presentations, danced with the New Orleans Symphony and Tulane University Summer Lyrics Theater, and even went to Los Angeles to tape a segment for the CBS "Young Audiences" program.

Her sister Patricia Clanton said of Rosemerry, "She felt a reverence for all life. She dedicated her life to dance, to the arts, and to creativity. She nurtured each student. She loved each student, and they loved her in return." 

As a result, her love of dance has spread outward, first through her students, then the community, and now the world. Once again the artists of Covington have made their mark on the hearts and minds of those far beyond its boundaries. For art knows no boundaries, and in the case of dance, it is indeed an international form of communication.

A newspaper article from 1994

See also: Rosemerry Hanian On The Development of Talent

Crossword Puzzle Solution

Click on the image to make it larger. This is the answer to the St. Tammany Towns crossword puzzle posted yesterday. 

St. Tammany Crossword

And now a little something for the crossword puzzle fans...

Click on the image to enlarge the view. 

Puzzle Solution Tomorrow

Vintage Memories You Can Wear

What's a retired school principal to do when she's got a large collection of vintage clothing, records and photos? In the case of Elizabeth Pfeffer Williams, she opens up a vintage costuming and memories shop in downtown Covington in a building her father owned near his attorney's office. 

"Rosemary's Closet" features just about anything one would need to jog a few memories from the 1950's and beyond, from aprons and jackets to boots and dresses. She also has on display a large number of photos, posters, and sheet music from years gone by, including several featuring Elvis, the King. 

Located on the inside curve of the downtown pocket park on Tammany Trace near the corner of New Hampshire and Gibson Streets, the shop has brought her and her friends many hours of delightful reminiscing. She's open two days a week, plus "by appointment," so the venture doesn't take away too much from her family and grandfamily activities. 

She served in the school system as a teacher and administrator for 33 years, and now she is enjoying minding the shop, meeting visitors to Covington, and interacting with the young people who have re-discovered the clothing styles of long ago, as well as the joy of listening to vinyl LP's and 45's.

"People come to me looking for clothing for themed weddings and birthday parties," she said. "And the English Tea Room has those themed teas every month, so I have a lot of people coming in and looking at hats for those events."

She has also had a number of movie costume directors visit her shop. Whenever there's a movie being shot in Covington, she can expect to be discovered by the costumer. With her low prices, they are often overwhelmed by what's available. "They've come in here with empty roll-around clothes racks and just filled them up for the movie production," she said. 

Often visitors from out of state, many of them staying at the Southern Hotel, will come by the shop to enjoy the walk down memory lane, trying on things, and asking for advice on where to eat and what to do while in Covington. "I have menus from local restaurants that I just give them," she noted. One time two visitors arrived at her door, not only from out of state staying at the Southern Hotel, but also having done their homework ahead of time seeking out vintage clothing stores in the area to visit while they were here.

"I meet a lot of interesting people," she smiled. "They come and take pictures with me."

The shop was scheduled to open on August 30, 2005, but a windstorm named Katrina had other ideas. The doors were officially opened in November of that year. The shop is named in honor of her mother Rosemary.

Keeping things interesting is her specialty, changing inventory seasonally, and making sure there is a variety of new items to keep return customers happy. Elizabeth has been honored by the Playmakers theater group for her costuming efforts, and two years ago she won the Best Actress award for her on-stage performance. 

With her many years in the school system, on theater stages, and with a solid Covingtonian background, there are many people who have come to rely on her shop, her knowledge and her expertise. She does all this to help bring a smile to people's faces, and they appreciate her efforts to help them recapture the look and feel of happier times. "I just tell them to come play dress up," she said. 

100 Years Ago This Week

What was going on 100 years ago this week? The following link is provided by the Library of Congress and its Chronicling America service. CLICK HERE for a link to the St. Tammany Farmer edition of September 23, 1916. Some of the headlines are Two Are Candidates for Covington Council, Abita Carries 3 Mill School Tax, and Association of Commerce Gives Largely-Attended Smoker.

Advertisements From The Above Edition. Click on the images for a larger view.

Scenes from the Jahncke Shipyard in Madisonville

Here's a link to a video about the Jahncke Shipyard in Madisonville. CLICK HERE to view the video put together by Rusty Burns, which features a number of old photographs and information about the large shipbuilding operation. 

The slide show presentation was prepared for the Bicentennial Celebration of Madisonville Louisiana, depicting activity surrounding the construction of the great "Jahncke Shipyard" and the Madisonville war effort. Images courtesy of the Walter F. Jahncke Collection and Steven Grant Jahncke. The show was compiled by Rusty Burns for the enjoyment of the public and to perpetuate the history of Madisonville Louisiana and the Tchefuncte River.

 

The picture below was taken of the Jahncke Shipyards in 1917. 

Click on the video play triangle to see the entire picture. 

 

According to Tim Colton over on the shipbuildinghistory.com website,  the following ships were among those built at the Jahncke Shipyard: 

Bahlabac     U. S. S. B.     Cargo Ship Hull     1918     Burnt in Port of Spain 1920
Bayou Teche      U. S. S. B.     Cargo Ship Hull    1918     Scrapped 1923
Abbeville      U. S. S. B.     Cargo Ship Hull     1919     Scrapped 1923
Pontchartrain     U. S. S. B.     Cargo Ship Hull     1919     Scrapped 1923 
Bonne Fortune  1937     To USN 1941 as YP 156, to MARAD

A Newspaper Account of A Ship Launching

"Pontchartrain" Launched at Jahncke Shipyards in Madisonville
APRIL 12,1919
Large Crowd On Hand To Witness Impressing Event.  
Miss Violet Heughan As Sponsor.

On Sunday, April 6th, the Jahncke Shipbuilding Co., Inc., launched the S. S. Pontchartrain, a 3500-ton vessel of the Ferris type. The Pontchartrain was the fourth ship of her type to he launched at the Madisonville yard.

The yard gates were thrown open to the puhlic at 11 a. m. About 11:30 a. m. the great crowd began to gather. Pedestrians, automobiles, carriages and vehicles of every description were to be seen wending their way towards the ship­yard, and the eager throng of visitors which came from all sections of St. Tammany parish and surrounding parishes, new Orleans included, were admitted to the yard, and witnessed a sight which was an event that will undoubtedly be recorded as one of the most important in the history of the parish of St. Tammany.

The Steamer Reverie arrived at 12 o'clock with her capacity of visitors from New Orleans. A band on board furnished delightful music. When she came up the river, with American flags flying fore and aft, and her bands playing (patriotic airs, it was a sight long to be remembered.

So great was the demand of visitors from New Orleans that the tug Fox was called upon to tow the schooner Proteus over with a boat load of people. The Proteus also had a brass band aboard which played lively airs. The schooner arrived it 12:15, and the ceremonies began.

Mr. E. T. Malloy, General Superintendent, was standing on the ways at the bow of the ship.   He made an excellent speech preparatory to the  presentation  of a magnificent chest of silver to Commodore Ernest Lee Jahncke.   Mr. Malloy spoke for the working force of the Jahncke Shipbuilding Company, when he said, 'The entire working force of the Jahncke Shipbuilding Company look upon Commodore Jahncke not only as an employer but a personal friend as well."  

When Mr. Malloy finished speaking he asked the crowd to give three cheers for their Commodore, and the cheers were loud and long.
In years to come the men will undoubtedly look back to their days
in the shipyard as the happiest ones of their lives, made so by the treatment received by them from Commodore Ernest Lee Jahncke, which was fair and square dealing throughout.
   
The presentation of the chest of silver was kept a secret, and Commodore Jahncke was so surprised and overwhelmed with a feeling of appreciation he was at a loss as to what words he should use in order to properly convey his feelings. To say the Commodore appreciated the gift would be to say the least.

The Madisonville yard is an institution the entire country, especially the South, can well feel proud of, for it has been pronounced to be one of the finest yards of its kind in the United States.

The officials of the yard have exercised great care in their selection of workers, and in the placing of various chiefs of the many departments therein.

The slogan of the Jahncke Yard Is a sentiment which properly expresses the spirit in which the work is carried on:"We build ships here. At a profit if we can; at a loss if we must—but always good ships."
And they were always good ships.

Miss Violet Heughan, Sponsor.

In selecting Miss Violet Heughan, the winsome daughter of Mr. E. V. Heughan, the genial yard superintendent of the Jahncke Yard, a more appropriate sponsor could not be found. Miss Heughan, of Madison­ville, was born near the shores of Lake Pontchartrain and on the banks of the beautiful Tchefuncta, and she was beyond doubt one of the sweetest of sponsors, and when she broke the bottle of champagne on the bow of the Pontchartrain and spoke the words, "I christen thee Pontchartrain," her sweet smile radiated her beautiful face, then the great ship slid gracefully from her resting place to the bosom of the Tchefuncta.

Those standing at the 'bow of the ship with Miss Heughan were Com­modore Ernest Lee Jahncke, Mr. and Mrs. E. T. Malloy, Mr. and Mrs. E. V. Heughan and Miss Kathleen Aby.

Miss Heughan's dress was a champagne colored combination of georg-; ette crepe and taffeta, handsomely embroidered in dark shades of the same color.  Her bouquet was of exquisite American Beauty buds,, tied with Uncle Sam's colors.

Officials and Workers Proud of Their Magnificent Efforts.

The officials of the Jahncke Shipbuilding Company, Inc., and the ship workers, can feel proud of the magnificent efforts they contributed to their Country's cause when the Huns,  by their atrocities, forced upon our peaceful land the necessity of sounding the bugle call "To Arms."

Let  us again  impress   that the quality of workmanship furnished by the Jahncke Shipbuilding Company  was of the highest grade. Every one of the New Orleans visitors profusely expressed their appreciation of Commodore Jahncke's furnishing them a day of enjoyment.

The music and expense of getting from New Orleans to Madisonville was furnished by Mr. Jahncke. A day of pleasure was followed by a dance at the pavilion.

THE DANCE.
If old man Grouch ever lived in Madisonville he took an off day on
April 6th, and chased the glooms away, particularly If he happened to
have his habitat in the person of an  attendant at the launching of the
good ship Pontchartiam, for that was the big day for St. Tammany, and all those attending the launching.

There was an enormous crowd of people on hand for the big event and there was no place for a grouch among them. They were light-hearted, free and gay, and everything about the launching was likewise. From the time when the first auto drove up until the last visitor left, it was interest, enjoyment and good fellowship, all combined.

And the girls—the beautiful girls! Ask them if they had a good time, and whether there ever was a better dancing floor than that at the pavilion.

No one who saw the hundreds of couples that swayed through the maze of the popular dances would dare to say the launching was not a success from the time the gates were open until the Reverie and Aunt Dianh left for New Orleans, and the only unhappy moment was when the music stopped. But that was short­-lived for eagerly did the older, as well as the younger folks ask the question, "When will the next ship be launched?"