This is crazy stuff! I am kind of shocked because I really did not believe the predictions of snow.
Here is my neighbors’ house:
We probably won’t see snow like this again for many years to come.
****update: 1/28/14. ^^^Apparently I was wrong. It wasn’t years but only a couple days before we got it again! Lol.
So, I have nothing cute or smart to say. After four months (August-December) worth of Louisiana Tax Credit Rehabilitation projects, here are the before and after pictures of what we accomplished.
Landscaping and other minor fix ups and remodeling were not eligible for credits, so we move on to work on those things this Spring/Summer.
I know I’ve mentioned this a few times, but what we did accomplish through the Louisiana tax credit program was: update HVAC units, plumbing, electrical, roof, exterior carpentry, porch, bathroom addition, some exterior paint, foundation repair and some termite remediation.
Without further ado…..
It has been too rainy to take the “ta-da!” After pics….so here are a few older pics I neglected to post earlier. We finished most of the work before Christmas and did the finishing right before New Year’s Day! Whoo! Talk about busy!
Anyway, I am waiting for the rain to clear, then I will clean the trash out of the yard and post some good pictures! I am going to put them in before/after collages.
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!
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. 😦
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
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
I am sitting here at work, on a very cold day, surrounded by several space and gas heaters and what comes in the mail? The City of Alexandria’s three month event calendar. I was considerably cheered when I read the events which will commence from now through March. My favorite picks (the ones I circled and plan on going to) are as follows:
January 8th – Second Saturday Market at the Museum
February 12th- Second Saturday Market at the Museum
Alexandria Museum of Art. 10am to 1pm. Local art, food, music and children’s activities. Call 443-3458 for more information
January 30th, Sunday – Tea and Puppets
Coughlin-Saunders Performing Arts Center. 3pm. Talented Ventriliquist/Comedian Lynn Trefzger will be there and a tea and puppet crafts will conspire in the lobby. The admission is $5 a person, or $20 for groups. Call 443-4718 for more information.
March 19, Saturday – Spring Artwalk in the Main Street District of Leesville
6-9pm. Features knwn and new art and artists. Live music, contemporary and traditional art on display. Admission is free.
March 18-19 – Friday and Saturday – Que’in on the Red
North Levee Park, Fri 5-10pm and Saturday 12-10pm, Sponsored by the City of Alexandria. Championship barbecue, music and a carnival. Admission is $10. Call 449-5225 for more information.
March 19th, Saturday, Corley’s Miniature Petting Zoo
Well, even though this is bad timing for this event, I am including it because I think it is a cool idea and that Vivian would really dig it. TREE House and the Martin Foundation is sponsoring a petting zoo for children 1-3pm. Cost is $4 per person, children under 2 are free. Call Kara for more information: 619-9394.
Great things are going on in Cenla! Hope to see you at one of these events.
Andrea
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
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.
Perpetual Renovator 