A popular eating place in the mid-1970's in Covington was "Mississippi Float," which served ice cream sundaes, malts, sodas and banana splits, as well as hot dogs, chili sandwiches, and Cajunburgers.
Saturday, June 17, 2023
Hiring Fair Monthly
Fifty years ago, in 1973, Covington businesses held a monthly "hiring fair," giving local young people a chance to see what opportunities were available for employment in the coming summer and beyond. Click on the images to make them larger.
Tuesday, June 13, 2023
A 61st Wedding Anniversary
In 1965 Mr. and Mrs. J.C. Addison celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary, having been married in 1904. The occasion was marked with a family reunion and get together at Covington Community Center. Click on the image below to read all about it.
Wednesday, June 7, 2023
Slidell Businesses in 1972
Here is a couple of business feature articles I wrote for the Slidell Sentry News back in 1972, before it became a daily newspaper. They tell about Signs By Jason and Lake Volkswagen.
Click on the images to make them larger and more readable.
Tuesday, June 6, 2023
Col. Earl Wilson Sr.
One of Covington's most dynamic personalities over the years was Col. Earl Wilson.
After retiring from the Army in 1961, "Col. Wilson" founded the St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce, co-founded and was the first Grand Marshal of Covington's Krewe of Olympia, and served as Charter Head Master of River Forest Academy, now the site of Kehoe-France Northshore School.
He also ran an active tax service and, with his eldest son, presided over Colonel & Son's Restaurant in Covington's Old Southern Hotel.
In heroic service during WW II and the Korean Conflict, he earned 17 decorations, among them the Army's Silver Star for gallantry in action and two Bronze Stars for valor in combat. He received two Purple Hearts for wounds in France and Korea and, in WW II, was among the first American Troops to liberate the Nazi death camp at Dachau.
Wilson also saw duty in Hawaii, Panama and Taiwan. A deeply committed Christian, Col. Wilson taught numerous home Bible studies and, for years, commuted across Lake Pontchartrain to make cold calls upon New Orleans businessmen for the purpose of sharing faith. He was a member of Northshore Bible Church in Covington.
He was the father of two sons Earl Jr. and Jim and a daughter Debbie Diamond. Interment was in Theo Dendinger Cemetery in Madisonville.
Monday, June 5, 2023
Maritime Museum Update
The Lake Pontchartrain Basin Maritime Museum in Madisonville is newly renamed the Maritime Museum Louisiana, and I stopped by the facility this morning to take pictures of the new signage. I visited for a few minutes with Jim MacPherson, the executive director of the museum, and he caught me up with a few of the ongoing activities.
The new name for the maritime museum
The top of the Pass Manchac Lighthouse is now on display
A plaque identifying the Pass Manchac lighthouse enclosure will soon be installed.
The lighthouse keeper's cottage from the Tchefuncte River lighthouse is located just east of the museum on the bank of the river.
A new roof was just put on the old lighthouse keepers cottage.
The lighthouse keeper's cottage that used to be located on the point of land just west of the mouth of the Tchefuncte River (shown below with lighthouse in the back left) is a little easier to get to these days.
The view across the river of Marina del Ray
In front of the musem are flags indicating the change in the name, and an old cannon.
Friday, June 2, 2023
Rummage Sale Extraordinaire
A large annual rummage sale was held Saturday, June 3, at the First United Methodist Church in Covington, 203 North Jefferson Avenue.
Hundreds of items were available for purchase, ranging from kitchen appliances, artwork, toys, games, books and whatnots. This is the fourth year of the rummage sale event.
Proceeds from the rummage sale will help the Helping Hands Missions, a variety of community and church-based services from a children's home to the food bank. "It has always turned out to be a big success," a worker stated, "People really like it."
Here are some photographs of many of the items that were sold.
Click on the images to make them larger.
Books, binders and rugs
Appliances and electronics
Glassware
Holiday items
Sports items, toys, games and a globe on a stand
Frames and artwork
A busy table for the toddlers
For more information about the church, visit https://fumccovington.com/
See also:
The Covington Food Bank
Monday, May 29, 2023
Memorial Day Program Held - 2023
A Memorial Day Ceremony was held at the St. Tammany Parish Justice Center in Covington Monday morning, sponsored by the Robert H. Burns American Legion Post No. 16 with a number of dignitaries taking part.
Here are some photographs of that event. Click on the images to make them larger.
More than a hundred veterans, their families, and special guests attended.
The audience included Major James Robinson, a 101-year-old veteran of World War II and the Korean War, seen seated at far left.
To begin the program, the St. Tammany Veterans Honor Guard advanced the colors.
A number of veterans services groups had informational tables, Past Commander Dennis Charlesworth (center) served as master of ceremonies, and Hailey Ogden sang the national anthem.
Mike Perfinski with the Louisiana Department of Veteran Affairs spoke about his agency's many various services to veterans in the state.
A large number of honored guests were introduced, including Pam Herty of the Post 16 Auxiliary, Rachel Shaw of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and Matt Cole with the Justin McLeese Marine Corps Detachment.
According to the American Legion program booklet, Memorial Day is an American holiday, observed on the last Monday in May, honoring the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Originally known as Decoration Day, it began in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971.
Miss Poppy Madelyn Ogden and Little Miss Poppy Cecilia Ogden led the Pledge of Allegiance, Parish President Mike Cooper welcomed those present, Rachel Shaw with the DAR spoke briefly, and Covington City Councilman Larry Rolling also addressed the crowd.
Gwen and Anthony Gole told the history of Military Working Dog Roxy. A special plaque honoring Military Working Dog Roxy was unveiled. American Legion Post 16 Joseph P. Untz Jr. presented Roxy's handler Gwen Gole with a certificate and together they unveiled the plaque honoring Roxy for her service. Roxy died late last year after several years of service in explosives detection with the U.S. Marine Corps in Afghanistan and with the TSA at Louis Armstrong Airport in New Orleans. She also worked with the Love on a Leash Therapy Dog Program.
Several members of the Love on a Leash Therapy Program attended in memory of Roxy.
Joseph P. Untz Jr., Post Commander, presents certificate to Gwen Gole.
Unveiling the plaque honoring Military Working Dog Roxy
The St. Tammany Veterans Honor Guard then presented a ceremonial rifle salute, and the playing of taps.
American Legion member Richard Perl delivered the invocation and benediction for the event, which was closed by Hailey Ogden singing America The Beautiful, with a number of people in the audience joining in.
The Love on a Leash group posed for a group photo
Afterwards, members of the audience visited the Veterans Memorial Plaza and paused for a moment with the specially engraved bricks honoring their loved ones.
The Covington Fire Department flew the American flag from its ladder truck.
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