Work of the Pioneer Women

I had a friend loan me this neat little book. It is basically an early scrapbook from the years 1894 – 1931, it’s a history of the Presbyterian Church here in Alexandria Louisiana. It was written by Mrs. B. L. Price, the pastor’s wife in the early years of the church’s history.

What makes this little work so neat, is Mrs. B. L. Price gathered photographs of all the major contributors to the First Presbyterian Church here in Alexandria. She took pictures of the Sunday school teachers, church members, deacons, etc. in front of their homes. She also gave a little snippet about their personality, interests and church involvement.

There are only two of these small leather bound, scrapbooks and existence. One, my friend has, and the other one is owned by the family of a long time past member of the church. Here are a few examples of the pages. Enjoy!

Armour: Another Building Gone

I was driving along Third Street today, as I often do, and I noticed that the Armour building is being demolished. The Armour building was placed on the Louisiana Trust’s Ten Most Endangered list (For some reason WordPress is acting funny and won’t let me link it.  Here is the link: https://perpetualrenovator.wordpress.com/2009/09/01/2-local-buildings-make-the-louisiana-trusts-10-most-endangered-list/). Along with the Hargis house (https://perpetualrenovator.wordpress.com/2012/09/10/rip-thompson-hargis-mansion/), this is yet another piece of history gone forever.

However, unlike the Hargis house, the Armour building had been dilapidated for many years and rain water was destroying the building from the inside out. Although I am quite sad that it could not have been preserved, I understand that the Olivet house shared a common wall and the deterioration of the Armour building started to affect their building. Taking the building down was probably the most cost-effective since no one was able to step forward and preserve it.

I hope that, in the future, interested persons, area preservationists and historical groups, will step forward and help identify and save Alexandria’s historical buildings before they come to such a state that they cannot be preserved. I know that the Historical Association of Central Louisiana, of which I am a board member, did everything they could to advocate and save the Armour building. Unfortunately, not enough funds were available to help secure the roof of the building, and no one stepped forward to purchase it. Thus, one of the main problems of historic preservation: money.

On a positive note, work has commenced at my house. At the end of October, a new roof is going up. I picked out the shingles today. I am very excited! When all of the work is finished, I will post before and after pictures of our house. Feel free to drive-by and view our progress!

RIP Thompson-Hargis Mansion

Last night was very sad for Preservationists in Cenla. The Thompson-Hargis home was irreparably destroyed by fire. At this time we know that it started in the back of the house and according to KALB, the cause was arson perpetuated by a 13 year old girl.  An arrest has been made.

A security guard has been posted at the house remains to deter vandalism until a future disposition of the house can be determined by the family. Built in 1907 (some documents I have say 1902) without the benefit of a house plan by B.F. Thompson, a Canadian, the Thompson-Hargis mansion survived a total of 105 years until its historic reign was brought to an untimely end on September 9, 2012. Rivaling the beautiful and well preserved mansions on St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans, this mansion was the last one of its kind in Alexandria.

Mansion Row, as it is locally named, will not be the same. RIP grand lady.

The above pictures were taken via iPhone as it was unfolding.  For pictures taken this morning, click here to be redirected to the WeSawThat blog.

P.S. I wrote a short post spotlighting this property in 2008 and made the comment that it would not last much longer in the state that it was presently in.  It has been a top post for the past two days, understandably so.  I am sad that this was a fulfilled prophecy. 😦

Cenla Focus – About Town

About Town Andrea and Donna

I am off for the summer, but I came in to work while Vivian is at Grandma’s house, to help out my employer.   I was flipping through the Cenla Focus and saw my picture…hahaha.  This totally cracked me up.  I knew the photographer was buzzing around but I didn’t know who he was or the picture was going to go.  This cracks me up on several different levels.  Firstly, because people are probably wondering “Who is this chick?”….secondly, because I lend a whole new definition to the term “white”; and thirdly because right under me is my beloved friend, R. R. Sr.  The man who called me up, cussed me out and slammed the phone down in my ear.  Shame, shame.  Let’s just say I was new to town, I had no idea who this family was and I was not trying to make their life miserable, I was just concerned about my neighborhood.

Anyway…it was my laugh for the day.

Andrea

Spring is in the air!

Oh my….this is usually the time of year that I dust my blog off and then tackle about 10 projects at the same time.  🙂  This year is no exception.  I have accepted the nomination of Vice President of the Historical Association of Central Louisiana.  Thank you for your faith in me.  Among some of my duties, I will be writing a couple National Register nominations this year and working with property owners regarding tax incentives and rehabilitation of their properties.  I also have my property to work on and submission of a NR nomination is forthcoming in that area.  I finally have everything straight with the SHPO (State Historic Preservation Office) regarding what they need from me and what I need to do.

My laundry room and kitchen are being “finished” by a carpenter as we speak.  Steven and I just ran out of steam labor wise and have been too involved in other things to get it finished.  So, we hired a good friend and excellent carpenter to come and finish what we started.

In adoption news, our home study was finalized yesterday.  All of the paperwork that our social worker needed from Mississippi came in and we can finally move forward with completing our dossier and sending our documents to China.  Within the next thirty days I hope!  National Register nominations pale in comparison with submitting a dossier to the Chinese Government!  Wow!

Many good things are in the works!!!  It is spring!  My favorite time of year.  I am ready to rock Cenla!

Andrea

Antique Show in CENLA!!! April 8 and 9!

There will also be a showing of our local vendors with their goods for perusal and sale.  Please support this event!

Andrea

2401 Monroe Street

I have passed the Coldwell Banker sign on numerous occasions.  Ok, I’ll bite.  I looked up the information for this lot:

Status	Active Listing
Type	Vacant Land (0-10 Acres) RESID
Price	$30,000
Location	2401 Monroe St Alexandria , LA 71301
Country	USA

But the kicker is:

Nearly one acre of land, suitable for construction of single family homes.

WHAT A JOKE! 

 If you are confused, click here to read about the house that used to be there and click here.

Andrea

Hotel Bentley Records Discovered

I thought this was neat.  This was sent to me this morning.  Thought I would repost.  It is neat to visit the museum.  Anyone who has not visited, it would be well worth your while and best of all — it’s free!  My favorite time to go is when relatives come in.  We make a round to the Kent House and the Museum, as well as other cool things.

“The photograph you are looking at is part of the core history of the Hotel Bentley. It is the Hotel Bentley Corporation Stock book. It has surfaced  after spending almost 60 years in a box in the back of a closet,  in Houston, Texas. It records the investors in the Hotel Bentley from 1919 to 1936. The names of the local businessmen who thought enough about Alexandria to invest their hard earned money in the Bentley.

 

It paid off for them. All their names are displayed and the amount of stock they purchased and date of purchase are on display along with this book. A piece of Central Louisiana History, at the Louisiana History Museum. Come view the expanded Bentley Hotel exhibit. It’s free.”

       

Andrea              

Genius Antiques

My friend, Dale Genius, has created a website to sell some of the antiques he and his wife have amassed over the last thirty plus years.  They previously owned an antique store and have lots of inventory still stored that they have now organized and are trying to sell.  If you are interested in checking out what he has for sale, be sure to visit:   www.genius-antiques.com

Happy shopping!!!! 

Andrea

P.S. If you purchase something, be sure to come back here and tell us what you bought! 

CLSH Dairy Barn, Pineville, Louisiana

Along with other preservationists, I had the privilege of touring this barn today.  It is a pretty lady.  Here are the pictures from the tour.  If I did not have midterms and a host of other pressing things to do, I would give a narrative of the tour.  Maybe another time.  Here are the beautiful pictures.

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