TheHeritage GazetteTheHeritage Gazette

Preserve the Past, Honor the Present, Shape the FutureVOLUME IV, ISSUE 1 - SPRING 2017

History is fun. Learning about our heritage is fun.Each year, as Program Director for LeadershipSt. Tammany, I have the pleasure of sharing the richhistory and culture of Covington with a class of existingand emerging leaders. And each year class memberstell me how much they enjoy the day. In other words,they have fun. However, one should ask, “How doeslearning about the art, the history and the culture ofour community make for better leaders?” The obviousanswer is leaders educated in our history have a bettersense of what we, as a community, should work hard topreserve. The less obvious answer is “inspiration.” We have learnedthe more one knows about one’s community, about its people (pastand present) and about its places, the more one is connected to thecommunity and is “inspired” to keep Covington a wonderful place– and to make it even more better ; )

Please know that your Covington Heritage Foundationhas become an important part of sharing ourhistory and culture with our community. As such,your Covington Heritage Foundation has evolved intoan important part of preserving what should bepreserved and, hopefully, inspiring each of us to makeCovington an even better place.

I would like to thank our outgoing president and one ofour founders, Sharon Nunez as well as the late Council-man Lee Alexius, for all of their work the past few years.

They are and always will be the foundation of the Foundation. I amhonored to serve as the president, and I encourage all of you to joinus at our events. After all, it’ll be fun.

–Mark Johnson

Message from the President . . .

800+ Attend Candlelight Historic Home TourThe Covington Heritage Foundation hosted its second Historic Home Tour on Sunday, December 11, 2016, with a four-hour event thatattracted hundreds of visitors from near and far. The long-anticipated fund-raiser afforded a close-up personal view of some of theolder homes in the area, as well as a few of the newly-built homes designed to look historic.

The tour featured seven homes in the Division of St. John and the Division of Spring, along with music, caroling, and refreshments,with participants either walking from home to home along luminary illuminated streets or hopping aboard a tram that made the seven-tenths of a mile circuit.

Each home carried through with the "Then and Now" theme, ranging from residences more than a century old to some built just 10 yearsago that architectually fit the look and feel of the historic neighborhood.

The first holiday home tour was a great success last year and the Covington Heritage Foundation (CHF) moved forward with plans tomake the event an annual affair. It has become one of the most anticipated events of the year.

Homes on the tour this past December included 125 S. Vermont St. (Alice & Robert Couvillon), 100 S. Vermont St. (Mace & SusanBonnett Bourgeois), 135 N. New Hampshire St. (Jan & Gayden Robert), 116 Park Dr. (Marian & Bruce Margetson), 449 S. America St.(Lisa Condrey & Joseph Ward), 315 S. New Hampshire St. (Jill & Stephen Lyon) and 403 S. America St. (Glenda & Willard Andes).Owners were asked over the year whether they would like to participate, and they all came together for a September meeting to hear thedetails of the venture.

Also, while on the tour, participants saw several oak trees that have been recognized by state and national preservation organizations.

The holiday tour serves as the CHF’s major fundraiser. The CHF was formed in conjunction with the city of Covington’s bicentennialcelebration in 2013, and serves to preserve the city’s culture, character and community. “With the help of the Board and our manyvolunteers, we’ve accomplished the goal of creating activities that celebrate our great city’s culture and heritage,” said last year's CHFpresident Sharon Nunez.

–Contributed by Ron Barthet

“St. Joseph Abbey:Hidden Jewel of theNorthshore” PacksArt HouseOn Tuesday evening, March 14, theproverbial joint was jumping at TheArt House. The Covington HeritageFoundation’s first open meeting of2017 featuring a presentation aboutSt. Joseph’s Abbey and SeminaryCollege drew a standing-room-only crowd of members and guests.Everyone enjoyed a few minutesto catch up and visit time withfriends along with refreshments andyummy snacks prior to the featuredpresentation.

Father MatthewClark and FatherJonathan De-Frange , bothpriests of theOrder of St .Benedict, tag-teamed an oralhistory of “The Abbey,” as locals callit, tracing the concept of a newcommunity from its inception as asatellite of St. Meinrad’s Abbey inIndiana (1889) through its firstbeginning in Gassen, Louisiana (nowRosaryville), the move to theHossmer property here in1901. Mention was made ofeach of the Abbots and h isprimary goals and dreams forthe community committed tohis care. Among those wasAbbot Columban Thuis’sconcentration on institu-tional stability and refinement.Under his tenure came the commis-sioning of Dom Gregory DeWitt, aDutch Benedictine monk and artist,to paint the walls in the church andmonk’s refectory. And paint the wallshe did! Folks from all around thecountry visit primarily to see his in-credible murals and to understandthe meaning and message behindeach one.

Officers with the Covington HeritageFoundation (CHF) greet the speakers.

The Fire of 1907 was only a precursorto the Flood of 2016. Every buildingon the Abbey’s campus held waterduring this flood (the Church’sbasement was inundated but nowater entered the Church itself).Just as the community did not backto St. Meinrad’s after the Fire of 1907,you can bet your bottom dollar that

our community is workinghard to overcome thedamage of last year’s flood.Looking back at the Abbey’shistory, Archbishop Janssen’s“little seminary” is doingwell and will prevail.

Included in the presentationwere some questions for the

audience to consider, the correctanswers for which would win aluscious block of Monk Soap or adelicious loaf of Abbey RaisinBread. The other apostolates of theAbbey were mentioned, including

Pennies ForBread, The AbbeyG i f t S h o p ,A-BEE Honey,and The Chris-tian Life Cen-ter, to mentiona few.

If you have not had the opportunityto visit the Abbey yet, do so soon. Geta group together and call the office toarrange a guided tour. You will thenunderstand why donations in excessof 5 million dollars have been givenfrom private individuals to completethe restoration work necessary sincethe flood.

–Contributed by Mary Pratt Lobdell

Father Matthew Clark O.S.B. andFather Jonathan DeFrange, O.S.B.

The Covington Heritage Foundationheld its annual Gala at the SouthernHotel on Tuesday, December 6, 2016,with Mark Johnson speaking before apacked room about the connectionsand inter-connections of the people ofCovington over the past 100 years.

He accompanied his talk with a slidepresentation showing the people,businesses, and buildings of keyimportance in Covington’s history,weaving the storyline through severaldecades and winding up with the callingof the names of many of the people inattendance at the meeting. The roomwas filled with people who were thechildren, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the pioneer Covingtonfamilies being discussed.

Johnson launched his talk by focusingon the Elmer E. Lyon family, telling howthat led to Lyon High and its achieve-ments and the Covington High Lionsfielding many excellent basketball andfootball teams. Historical highlightscame one after another, punctuated byhumor, a heaping measure of memories,and a standing ovation to the late LeeAlexius, a foundation officer and CityCouncilman who died recently.

Mayor Mike Cooper gave the welcometo the event, with President SharonNunez conducting the business part ofthe meeting, including the election ofnew officers and board members. Thestanding room only crowd filled themeeting room to capacity, and musicwas provided by the Covington HighTalented Music students.

–Contributed by Ron Barthet

Heritage FoundationHolds Gala

Mark Johnson, at right, speaks to group

Third Year is a Charm for Antiques and Uniques FestFrom quaint antiques and vintage collectiblesrecalling a bygone era, to fashionably repurposeditems with a chic, retrograde style, the 3rd annual Cov-ington Antiques and Uniques Festival will offer abounty of venerable delight in downtown Covingtonon April 22 and 23.

Headquartered at the Covington Trailhead, 419 N.New Hampshire Street, the two-day juried event willfeature an eclectic mix of antique furnishings,period collectibles, architectural salvage, and vintage-inspired fine arts and crafts. Other attractions includea live auction by Auction Louisianne, and a teamof industry experts who will be stationed at tablesto offer informal appraisals to the public. Demonstra-tions, food, and live music will round out theofferings.

The City of Covington is hosting the festival inpartnership with the Covington Heritage Foundation.“We are pleased to partner once again with theCHF to produce the Antiques and Uniques Festival.After two successful years working together on thispopular event, we anticipate a stellar third year. We cordially welcome people to visit our historicdowntown, shop the festival, and enjoy our city,” said Covington Mayor Mike Cooper.

The festival is coordinated through the City’s Department of Cultural Arts and Events, which over-sees and assists with more than 40 special events annually. Department Director Aimée Faucheuxsaid as the festival grows and evolves each year, the goal remains the same: to offer a first-classjuried event that reflects the unique charm and history of Covington.

“The response from vendors and the general public has been incredible this year. We’re threeweeks out and already achieved 50 vendors from the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama,Florida, and Ohio,” said Faucheux.

As in the past, the success of the festival weekend relies heavily upon the team of dedicatedvolunteers who serve in a variety of areas such as the hospitality committee, information booth,appraisals, and more. If you have a love of Covington and want to help promote the event and

support the Covington Heritage Foundation, call EventVolunteer Coordinator Leslie Durio at 504-606-9500or email antiques@covla.com.

Festival hours are 10 am to 5 pm Saturday and Sun-day. Proceeds from booth fees will help support CHFproject.

Check out our website www.covingtonheritagefoundation.com • Like us on FACEBOOK Covington Heritage Foundation • Email us at info@covingtonheritagefoundation.com

Pat Clanton, Ralph Menetre

Eddie and Becky Fielding

Enid Poole, Karen Johnson, Kelly Swords

Don and Carol Brunies, Cindy Mendow

Covington HeritageF O U N D A T I O N

2017 OFFICERSMAYOR MIKE COOPER - EX OFFICIO

MARK JOHNSON - PRESIDENTGINA HAYES - VICE PRESIDENT

HELEN CURRAN - RECORDING SECRETARYALICE COUVILLON - CORRESPONDING SECRETARY

GINA ROWBATHAM - TREASURER

2017 BOARD MEMBERSRON BARTHET - MEMBER-AT-LARGE

MARY PRATT LOBDELL - MEMBER-AT-LARGECINDY MENDOW - MEMBER-AT-LARGE

AIMÉE FAUCHEUX - MAYORAL APPOINTEEPAM KELLER - MAYORAL APPOINTEE

C. HOWARD NICHOLS - CONSULTING HISTORIAN

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2016 Gala Pictures

“The Foot Paths of the Future are guided by the Footprints of the Past.”g Patricia Fuhrmann Clantong

–Contributed by Kelli Moore

Did you know:There are no “bayous” in France. Theyare only found where French explorers interacted withNative Americans, putting in writing the phoneticpronunciation the natives used for waterways. Thenthere is our word, "bogue," only found in Louisiana andthe Carolinas and which arguably is simply a differentspelling by the French of "bayou." . . . Falaya is long,Chitto is fast and Bogalusa is black water.

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COVINGTONHISTORY MYSTERY

Bogue Falayaand more . . .

SEND US YOUR TRIVIA AT info@covingtonheritagefoundation.com

COVINGTONHERITAGEFOUNDATION419N.NewHampshireStreetCovington,Louisiana70433

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