December 7th • FHL Press Release

Wampold, Polito, Historical Foundation come out for new Downtown Library

Developer Mike Wampold and Mike Polito, co-founder of MAPP Construction, have come out in favor of building a new downtown library. In a letter sent to Metro Council members, Wampold says the existing River Center branch library is antiquated and should be torn down. “A well-planned, new library environment will be a huge draw for the downtown area. I honestly believe that if developed with vision and creativity this library will draw citizens and students from the entire parish and beyond,” says Wampold. “As the northern part of the parish continues to develop, as it will, downtown becomes more of a central venue for employment, entertainment and education.”

Polito urged downtown leaders to continue the push for the new branch, saying it fits in with efforts for Baton Rouge to think bigger. “We can do as some suggest and JUST renovate the library and end up with just a renovated library or we can invest in a vision of excellence and differentiation,” Polito wrote in an e-mail. “And something we can be proud of instead of JUST happy to be done with it. I am tired of JUST being average.”

Meanwhile, the Foundation for Historical Louisiana is also endorsing the demolition of the River Center branch. In a letter, Mark Upton, chair of the FHL board of directors, compares the situation to the city’s decision to tear down the Baton Rouge planetarium in 1999. “Technology and information had dramatically advanced well past the original building’s capability,” says Upton.

The Metro Council is set to vote Wednesday on the city-parish operating budget, which includes $19 million for a new downtown library.

Feasibility Study

 

December 3rd • Community Invited to Holiday Open House

Old Governor’s Mansion to Host Mr. and Mrs. Claus

The Foundation for Historical Louisiana (FHL) will sponsor a community open house during the holiday festivities planned in downtown Baton Rouge in early December. The public is invited to visit the Old Governor's Mansion at 502 North Boulevard for a free Holiday Open House on Friday, December 3, from 5 to 9 p.m. A donation of canned goods for the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank will be collected at the event.

The landmark mansion will be decorated for the holidays through underwriting by LUBA Workers' Compensation. Of special interest to parents and grandparents will be a visit from the Mansion’s own Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus. Children may relay their wishes and have a color photo taken with Mr. and Mrs. Claus against the back drop of the East Room fireplace for a cost of $10. The photos will be printed and families may pick them up within minutes.

In addition, small children are invited to take a ride on the “Mansion Snowball Express for an excursion to Galvez Plaza, which will be a pick up and drop off point for mansion visitors. Children are encouraged to come in their pajama's! A donation is requested for the train ride to help defray costs.

As is tradition, FHL will offer visitors a unique and distinctive selection of heritage and holiday gifts for early gift buying. The lovely formal dining room of the 1930s mansion will be turned into a Museum Shop with a range of items—jewelry, Christmas collectibles, books, and Louisiana specialties, many with fleur-de-lis motifs. Persons may wish to join FHL and receive a 10% discount on all purchases.

Entertainment will be provided by the St. Aloysius School Choir during the open house. For more information, call 387-2464. Membership may be purchased on-line. FHL’s mission is to preserve the architectural and cultural heritage of Louisiana.

 

November 9th • Nationally Renowned Author, Jeff Benedict, to Speak in Baton Rouge

Little Pink House:  A True Story of Defiance and Courage
“One Woman’s Historic Battle Against Eminent Domain”

Sponsored by the Foundation for Historical Louisiana

Jeff Benedict, noted author and lawyer, published his first book – Public Heroes, Private Felons: Athletes and Crimes Against Women – during his first year of law school in 1997.  By the time he earned his law degree, he had published three advocacy books. By then he’d decided to be a writer instead of a lawyer.  

In 2009, Benedict released Little Pink House: A True Story of Defiance and Courage (Grand Central Publishing), the highly acclaimed book and topic for the Foundation for Historical Louisiana’s next Heritage Lecture on Tuesday, November 9, 2010 at 7:00 p.m.  Doors open at 6:30 p.m.  This program is sponsored in part by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and an Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge Project Assistance Grant.

The lecture and book signing will be held in the House Chamber of the Old State Capitol on North Boulevard to allow for greater community participation,” says FHL Board Member for Programming Jill Rehn.  Benedict spent three years chronicling the eminent domain battle in Kelo v. New London, considered the most controversial Supreme Court decision since Roe v. Wade.  The book received universal praise: “a fascinating narrative” (New York Times Book Review); “an absorbing read” (Wall Street Journal); and “a mind-blowing story” (NPR’s Diane Rehm).  Following the book’s release, Benedict spent a year travelling the country with plaintiff Susette Kelo, talking to Americans about property rights.  The controversy can best be summed up in a statement by USA Today on the book’s jacket, “Seizures of one person’s property to benefit another should be rare and a last resort.” 

“This topic is of major importance to communities who are experiencing eminent domain and property rights issues and the loss of historic structures, especially when homes or buildings are expropriated BEFORE funding is adequately secured,” said FHL Director Carolyn Bennett. “This is the case of The Little Pink House.”  

Today Benedict is a regular contributor for the on-line edition of Sports Illustrated, SI.com,  and a Distinguished Professor of English at Southern Virginia University, where he teaches a seminar called “Writing and Mass Media,” along with a course on current affairs.  
He is a frequent public speaker on athletes and crime, Indian gaming, eminent domain, and leadership and ethics in business.  Benedict was born in 1966 in New London, Connecticut.  He has a Bachelor’s in history from Eastern Connecticut State University, a master’s in Political Science from Northeastern University, and a J.D. from the New England School of Law.  He previously practiced law in Connecticut, where he has spent most of his life.  

Admission is free for Foundation members, $10 for guests, $5 for students with a valid ID.  Further information may be obtained by calling 225-387-2464.

 

October 3rd • Save the S.W.Green House “Preserving A Piece of Black History”

A Crucial Piece of Black History Faces Wrecking Ball in Louisiana
by Kenneth Bryant, Architect

November 2009 Eighty years before President Obama moved into the White House, S.W. Green, the son of a former slave, not only moved into a huge white mansion, he had his built to order. Constructed in 1928, Mr. Green’s 17-room home at 219 South Miro Street became the envy of New Orleans’ black community. Its construction caused quite an uproar. When halfway complete it was set afire, burned reportedly by the Ku Klux Klan. Arsonists considered it an affront that a black man would build a house bigger than theirs, near their neighborhood. This malicious act demonstrated the ravages of segregation, how unreasonable and devastating. But Green did not give up; he finished the house undeterred. In a town known for Gilded Age residences, Green’s white house is the city’s best example of early 20th-century African –American residential architecture. It may be the only (remaining) Afro-American mansion in the "Crescent City" from this period. The irony is that eighty years later, despite electing a black president, an Indian Governor, and an Afro-American mayor, the city of New Orleans is gearing up to what the Klan failed to accomplish, demolish S.W. Green’s symbol of black perseverance. The house is threatened because the State wants to make way for a new VA Hospital-LSU Medical School. Yet according to a recent study by RMJM Hillier, renovating the old facility would save taxpayers $238 million, and would hold harmless many historic buildings. But LSU wants to bulldoze the neighborhood, and relocate onto this site where S.W. Green took a stand against oppression by building a house that represents hope. Urban renewal and destruction of black history have too long been synonymous. LSU is not merely tearing down the past; they are ripping up the future, one in which children can learn black history through visiting historic sites. S.W. Green faced barriers his contemporaries never endured. To amass the fortune that made possible the building of his dream house, Mr. Green overcame obstacles such as Black Codes, Jim Crowism, and racial covenants. Yet he perservered. Green was a grocer, who later became president of Liberty Independence Insurance. In 1908 he was appointed head of the "Colored Knights of Pythias". From 1908-1935 he built a "fraternal empire" worth $10,000,000, earning him the title, "richest ‘black’ man in New Orleans." Green also erected the Pythian Temple, a 7 storey office building that still stands on Loyola Avenue. Dedicated 1909, at a cost of $200,000, it was arguably the costliest building ever constructed with African - American funds. Green’s success was a team effort that included his wife "Laurenia". She assisted him in running his business; and as a member of the NAACP, she was active in the early struggle for civil rights, perhaps, because the Greens had experienced injustice firsthand. In 1915, traveling back to New Orleans from a convention in Florida, Mr. Green was attacked by a mob for purchasing a private cabin onboard a Pullman train. Missing for several days, he was feared lynched and rumored dead; he was sent to prison, charged with violating Jim Crow laws. Lesson being, "the darkness of his skin trumped the depth of his pockets." As an African-American architect and historian, I am pleading with Governor Jindal not to demolish this crucial piece of black history – because it represents the hopes and dreams of a people who just 60 years before had been enslaved. I beg the governor not to evict the residents of Mid-City from their homes. I ask that part of the $2 billion allocated to build a new VA Hospital-LSU Medical School be used to bring the neighborhood back to life by saving its historic homes and restoring the S.W. Green Mansion, thus turning it into a house museum/visitors center so that black kids – growing up in a city of turn-of-the-century mansions – will be able to see that someone who looks like them also built a grand, early 20th-century Louisiana home. Sadly, despite surviving hurricanes and arson, the one storm that the S.W.Green Mansion may be unable to overcome is "ignorance," the negligence of culture unwilling to appreciate its past. For now Green’s white house lives on, if only for a few more months. Its green-glazed Mediterranean-tile roof still glistens in the mid-day sun. The sweet sultry scent of jasmine that once filled its gardens, however, after Hurricane Katrina has been replaced by the smell of mildew familiar to all who have ever visited a vacant home.
 – KENNETH BRYANT

For additional information contact Kenneth G.H.Bryant:
Ken Bryant is an architect, artist and author of color. He holds degrees in Art and Architecture from Tulane University, plus an advanced degree from Darmouth where he wrote a dissertation on the architecture and historic preservation of African-American sites such as the S.W.Green House. Bryant operates a boutique design firm in Manhattan that focuses on high-end classical and contemporary residences. He discovered the S.W.Green House in spring of 1996 while skateboarding when he was a student at Tulane. "Finding a Neoclassical-Revival mansion in a ghetto was so unusual I thought surely it was built for an Afro- American," Bryant says. He rang the doorbell-a maid answered. The homeowner confirmed it was built by blacks, in fact, by arguably the richest black man in New Orleans in the 1920s. Kenneth Bryant has made it his lifelong goal to save historic buildings (often by early black architects) in marginalized communities. – (212)-290-5300 or kbryant@kghbarch.com

 

October 7th • Author and Historian Christina Vella to Lecture at Old Governor’s Mansion

Insights into New Orleans’ Journalist Dorothy Dix

The Foundation for Historical Louisiana will sponsor a Heritage Lecture on Thursday, October 7, featuring author Christian Vella sharing insights into the intriguing journalism career of Dorothy Dix, who was a columnist for the Times Picayune in New Orleans beginning in 1890. She was also a crime reporter Dix who became known as an investigator of macabre murders. Dix worked as a syndicated columnist until the 1950s.  The title of Vella’s lecture is “Dorothy Dix: The World Brought Her Its Secrets.”  

Vella, a noted writer and researcher, lives in New Orleans. She was recently honored by the FHL with its 2010 Preservation Award for her historical publications, particularly Intimate Enemies: The Two Worlds of the Baroness de Pontalba. In 2003, Intimate Enemies was adapted by Thea Musgrave as the opera Pontalba. She is a frequent lecturer at events sponsored by universities, literary associations, conventions, and historical preservation organizations. She has appeared on CPB, C-Span, A&E, and The History Channel.

The Heritage Lecture will be held at the Old Governor’s Mansion and is free to FHL members and $10 for guests. Refreshments will be provided by Calandro’s Select Cellars, beginning at 6 p.m.  For more information visit www.fhl.org or call Foundation headquarters in the Old Governor’s Mansion at 225.387.2464. 

Event: Thursday, October 7
6:00 p.m. (Refreshments by Calandro's Select Cellars
6:30 p.m. (Lecture)

 

August 11th • National Trust Press Release

Inmates Restore Windows of Baton Rouge Buildings

By Margaret Foster | Online Only | Aug. 11, 2010 

When the Louisiana official in charge of the state's prisons, James Le Blanc, wanted to rehabilitate two 1930s buildings in Baton Rouge, he turned to local restoration expert Andy Simon. And Simon responded with a novel proposal: Why not train inmates to help with the restoration of the buildings' historic wood windows?

"I said, 'You have labor, and restoration is a labor-burdened occupation,'" Simon remembers. "The state wins, and the community wins."

With the okay from Le Blanc, secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, Simon launched his "Restore for Good" program in January 2009, and got to...

Read the Full Story

 

August 28th & 29th • Huey Long Symposium

Saturday, Aug. 28
Panel discussions including the Long Legacy Panel, the Long Family Panel and The 75th Anniversary Panel: Assassination or Accidental Shooting? In addition to the panel discussions, Dr. Carl Weiss Jr. will make his first public appearance to discuss the shooting of Huey Long.

Tickets $50 each
Ticket includes admission to the symposium, a box lunch and admission to a reception at the Old Governor's Mansion.

Sunday, Aug. 29 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Who Killed the Kingfish
Presented by Le Petit Theatre de Terrebonne

Tickets $20 each
Ticket includes admission to one performance of the play and a reception between performances.
Call 225.342.0500 to purchase tickets. All tickets are will call.

Full Symposium Description

This program is made possible in part by a Local Project Assistance Grant from the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge, funded by the Mayor-President and Baton Rouge Metro Council.

 

August 7th • 27th Annual Commemorative Ceremony of the Battle of Baton Rouge

Battle of Baton Rouge
Louisiana seceded from the Union on January 25, 1861. On May 29, 1862, Union troops led by Brigadier General Thomas Williams began the Federal Occupation of Baton Rouge.

On August 5, 1862, at 5:00 a.m., Major General John C. Breckinridge, former Vice-President of the United States, and his approximately 2,600 troops from Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, and Kentucky attacked Union forces.

The Confederate attack forced Union troops to retreat back toward the Mississippi River and into the city. An integral part of the Confederate battle plan was the prompt arrival of the iron clad ram, the C.S.S. Arkansas. The Arkansas was needed to engage the four federal gunships led by the U.S.S. Essex. The Arkansas, however, had suffered engine trouble and had to be burned and set adrift to prevent capture. With the Union ships unimpeded, they were able to unleash a devastating artillery fire on the advancing Confederate forces. Confederate troops were forced to retire, thus ending the Battle of Baton Rouge. Among the soldiers that fell were U.S. General Williams and A.G. Todd, a confederate soldier and half-brother of Mary Todd Lincoln, President Abraham Lincoln’s wife. Also severely wounded was Confederate Colonel Henry Watkins Allen, future Governor of Louisiana.

Historic Magnolia Cemetery
On August 10, 1852, the city of Baton Rouge purchased a tract of land from John Christian Buhler, Jr., for $3,000 and Magnolia Cemetery was established. The  name “Magnolia” was given to the cemetery because of the beautiful magnolia trees located on the property. Within the wrought-iron fence, grave-markers provide a poignant “Who’s Who” of old Baton Rouge. Among the more well-known people buried in Magnolia Cemetery are Lyle Saxon, the famous Louisiana author; Judge Thomas Gibbs Morgan, father of Sarah Morgan; Andrew Lytle, the photographer; Charles Phelps Manship, Sr., publisher of the State Times and Morning Advocate; and James W. Nicholson, former President of LSU and inventor of the trigonometric circle.

Following the Civil War, due to a poor economy, Magnolia Cemetery fell into disrepair. Now listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Civil War Discovery Trail, the cemetery is in the process of being restored, thanks to the preservation efforts of the Foundation for Historical Louisiana through its Historic Magnolia Cemetery Trustees, BREC, and others.
                         
The Foundation for Historical Louisiana is a partner organization of the Community Fund for the Arts.

Special thanks to the Trustees of Historic Magnolia Cemetery. The Foundation would also like to thank the Baton Rouge Recreation and Park Commission (BREC), Rabenhorst Funeral Home, Mid-City Redevelopment Alliance, and the Mid-City Historic Cemetery Coalition.

We cordially invite attendees to become members of the Foundation for Historical Louisiana. For more information, call us at 387-2464.

Thank you for joining us today at Historic Magnolia Cemetery.
Donations to our cemetery fund are gratefully appreciated.

 

July 22nd • Heritage Awards Details

Foundation for Historical Louisiana’s Summer Night of Heritage Awards atop Historic Hilton Hotel

Underwritten by Stone Pigman Walter Wittmann LLC

The Foundation for Historical Louisiana (FHL) Board of Directors and event underwriters, Stone Pigman Walter Wittmann LLC, will host the 34th annual FHL Preservation Awards dinner, Thursday evening, July 22, at the Hilton Capitol Center in downtown Baton Rouge.  Reserved tickets may be obtained by calling Foundation headquarters at 225.387.2464. 

The festive event will feature and honor individuals and entities named as the prestigious 2010 Preservation Award recipients. FHL has bestowed these awards since 1976 and an illustrious roster of winners many be viewed at www.fhl.org. Those chosen this year by the FHL Preservation Awards Committee headed up by Mark Upton, board chairman, are:

• Lenore Feeney and Randy Walsh, visionaries and designers of the popular cemetery drama, “Magnolia’s Memories”-- Feeney and Walsh created the remarkable series of heritage dramas within Historic Magnolia Cemetery, bringing to life individuals whose struggles, hardships, and victories shaped early Baton Rouge. For the last six years, the dramatic productions provided entertainment and education of local history through dynamic and colorful interpretive mini-biographies at the true grave sites of the individuals. The productions also included unusual ballads and instrumentals from area musicians chosen and choreographed by Walsh. In the six productions, the lives of over 35 characters featuring more than 150 local award-winning performers ad actors were shared with the community. Additionally, Feeney was chair of the FHL Board of Directors 2007-2009 after many years of positions within the organization.

• Christina Vella of New Orleans, teacher, author and scholar--Christina Vella is a writer, historian, and adjunct professor at Tulane University in New Orleans. Her first book, Intimate Enemies: The Two Worlds of the Baroness de Pontalba, was published by Louisiana State University Press in 1997 and has received numerous awards. It chronicles the life and career of Micaela Almonester, the woman responsible for building the Embassy of the United States in Paris and the Pontalba Buildings in New Orleans. When Intimate Enemies: The Two Worlds of the Baroness de Pontalba was chosen for the cover of the New York Times Book Review, Vella began receiving lecture invitations which increased as the biography was selected by Publishers Weekly, the New York Times, and Times-Picayune for their "Best Books of 1997" lists. A professor of history for over twenty years, Vella now devotes most of her time to writing and lecturing, including presenting to FHL audiences over the years. She frequently serves as a consultant and writer for the U.S. Department of State.

• Davis Rhorer, Executive Director of the Downtown Development District, and Van Mayhall, Jr. Commission Chairman, the DDD Commissioners along with the DDD staff for their efforts and advocacy to create a Third Street Historic District, listed in 2010 on the National Register of Historic Places. This new historic district includes 43 downtown properties, and creates creative tax incentives for the properties to be developed, preserved, and saved for future generations. FHL applauds the DDD for recognizing the economic power of preservation over its many years of existence.

• James LeBlanc, Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections and Andy Simon, Baton Rouge restoration contractor, for the original wood window restoration project of the current DPS&C building, formerly the Louisiana Institute for the Deaf on Mayflower Street with buildings dating back to the 1930s. At LeBlanc’s request, Simon created a training program called “Project for Good” with two goals in mind: to preserve and maintain the integrity and building’s 413 wooden windows and to train offenders in a technical skilled trade. Working side by side with the trustees, Simon taught the trustees to disassemble and reassemble the cypress double hung sash windows. The windows were restored for $68,000. This was not only a significant savings to replacing the windows, but the outcome of the work completed is invaluable to the history of this site and the integrity of the buildings. With such success, LeBlanc anticipates continuing this project on the other buildings at this site and FHL hopes on other state buildings.

• LSU Press on its 75th anniversary and its record of volumes related to Louisiana’s heritage--Representing the LSU Press in receiving the award will be MaryKatherine Callaway, Editor. Since 1935, LSU Press has worked to preserve the culture and history of Louisiana by publishing books about our state that educate and enlighten readers. From Local Government in Louisiana by R. L. Carleton (1937)to George Lowry’s classic Louisiana Birds (1958) and from Marsh Mission by C. C. Lockwood and Rhea Gary (2005)to Archaeology of Louisiana, edited by Mark A. Rees (2010), the LSU Press continues to strive to publish books that matter--for readers today and for future generations. Recently the LSU Press published Danny Heitman’s book, A Summer of Birds: John James Audubon at Oakley House.

• The Roosevelt Hotel of New Orleans for restoration excellence and re-opening in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina--The revered Roosevelt Hotel is an important gem in Louisiana’s history, known for its luxury accommodations, entertainment and dining. The historic downtown New Orleans property, shuttered since Hurrican Katrina, originally opened in 1893 as the Grunewald. In 1923 it was rebranded The Roosevelt in honor of President Theodore Roosevelt and retained its distinctive moniker until the hotel changed hands in 1965 and was renamed The Fairmount. The recent renovation, which includes every detail from restored chandeliers to first class accommodations, cost $170 million, making the project one of the largest private investments in downtown New Orleans since Katrina. Key renovations are the famed Blue Room and the legendary Sazerac Bar. The restoration architect was Steven J. Finegan Architects of New Orleans and construction manager was Brice Building Company of Metairie. The hotel is in the Waldorf Astoria Collection and is a member of Hilton’s Luxury and Lifestyle Brands.

• As is tradition the Foundation for Historical Louisiana Volunteer Extraordinaire of the year award will be announced that evening as well.

The Foundation for Historical Louisiana Board wishes to gratefully acknowledge its underwriter and notes this quote:
“Stone Pigman is honored to sponsor the 2010 FHL Preservation Awards dinner. Through the years, we have worked with many real estate clients and lenders on historic renovation projects throughout Louisiana. We even conducted our own historic renovation on our New Orleans law office building. From these experiences, and the experiences of our members, such as Doug Cochran who serves on the Board of FHL, we have come to understand that historic preservation is as vital to Louisiana’s economy and Louisianans’ quality of life. Our cultural heritage and the historic charm of our cities can attract not only visitors, but can also help attract businesses. Those businesses can in turn lift our economy and help us kepp our best and brightest here at home. We salute FHL and its 2010 awards recipients for their work in the field of historic preservation,” said Scott Whittaker, Business Division, Stone Pigman Walther, Wittmann, LLC.

Reserved tickets for the event are $75 per person for FHL members and $85 for guests. A reservation for a table of ten is $750. The event will be held in the 10th floor ballroom of the Hilton Capitol Center, formerly the historic Heidelberg Hotel, a building FHL championed for many years through many Baton Rouge mayors and owners until the National Register landmark was saved by the Baton Rouge Area Foundation through its Commercial Properties Trust Division.

Social hour with a cash bar will begin at 6 p.m. Dinner and the program will follow at 7 p.m. with writer, historian, and preservationist Leo Honeycutt as Master of Ceremonies. The full menu features filet mignon and shrimp, salad, vegetable accompaniments, dessert. Wine, beer, and mixed drinks will be available throughout the evening per guests’ choice. The dress is cocktail attire.

Reservations may be made by calling FHL headquarters at 225-387-2464.The Foundation website is www.fhl.org.

 

June 20th • Summer Night of Heritage Awards

Foundation for Historical Louisiana’s Summer Night of Heritage Awards atop Historic Hilton Hotel Underwritten by Stone Pigman Walter Wittmann LLC

The Foundation for Historical Louisiana Board of Directors and Stone Pigman Walter Wittmann LLC invite you to attend its 34th annual Preservation Awards dinner, Thursday, July 22, at the Hilton Capitol Center in downtown Baton Rouge. 

The event will feature and honor individuals named as the 2010 Preservation Award recipients.  Those chosen by the FHL Preservation Awards Committee this year are:  

• Lenore Feeney and Randy Walsh, creators of the popular cemetery drama, Magnolia’s Memories
• Christina Vella of New Orleans, teacher, author and scholar.
• Davis Rhorer, Executive Director of the Downtown Development District, Van Mayhall, Jr. Commission Chairman,  Commissioners and  staff for their efforts and advocacy to create a Third Street Historic District listed on the National Register of Historic Places earlier this year  
• James LeBlanc , Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections and Andy Simon, Baton Rouge restoration contractor, for their wood window restoration project for trustees.
• The LSU Press on its 75th anniversary and its record of volumes related to Louisiana’s heritage.
• The Roosevelt Hotel of New Orleans for restoration excellence and re-opening in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. 
• FHL Volunteer of the Year.

Reserved tickets for the event are $75 per person for FHL members and $85 for guests.  A reservation for a table of ten is $750.  The event will be held in the 10th floor ballroom of the Hilton Capitol Center, formerly the historic Heidelberg Hotel, a building FHL has championed for many years.  Cocktail Hour with a cash bar will begin at 6 p.m. Dinner and the program will follow at 7 p.m. with Leo Honeycutt emcee.

Reservations may be made by calling FHL headquarters at 225-387-2464.

 

June 5th - 12th • Preservation Leadership Training

National Leadership Training in Louisiana’s Capital to Focus on Saving Two Historical Buildings: LSU’s Huey P. Long Pool and Downtown Commerce Building

The National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP) will host its highly recognized Preservation Leadership Training in Baton Rouge, bringing some of the nation’s key preservation policymakers, planners, and designers to the Capital City.

The event starts on Saturday, June 5, and culminates June 12 with a design plan rollout for two key local historic Baton Rouge buildings that are in need of saving. The plan will be presented to the community on Friday, June 11, from 3-5 in the House Chamber at the Old State Capitol.    

This is the first time the training has been held in Louisiana, according to NTHP local partner, the Foundation for Historical Louisiana, a non-profit preservation organization that is jointly sponsoring the training program.

“This is a prestigious and remarkable leadership program and we are honored that they have chosen Baton Rouge,” said Mark Upton, FHL Chair of the Board of Directors. “We will be welcoming 27 preservation leaders from 22 cities across the nation and seven key leadership trainers and policymakers of national caliber and reputation,” says FHL Executive Director Carolyn Bennett.

“The conference holds great potential and it says a great deal about the preservation advocacy going on in Baton Rouge,” said Upton. Upton says that the FHL competed against other cities to host the NTHP Preservation Leadership Training program.
The group will learn how to assess, create and implement an entire plan around two key Baton Rouge projects, the Huey P. Long Pool and Field House on the LSU Campus and the Commerce Building in downtown. Both are dormant and in dire need of preservation plans for restoration. FHL gratefully acknowledges the participation of the LSU Chancellor’s Office and Bob Dean Classic Properties. The National Trust for Historic Preservation staff coming to Baton Rouge for the week are Andrew Gorman from Trust headquarters in Washington, DC, and Joseph McGill from the Southern Regional Office in Charleston, South Carolina. Additionally, John Hildreth, Director of the Southern Regional Office and Valecia Crisafulli, Vice President of Programs for the Trust in Washington.

The goals of the leadership training are to increase the capacity of local preservation organizations and commissions training current and potential leaders to increase their leadership qualities; to empower grassroots organizations and local preservation commissions to achieve preservation successes in their communities, to create and sustain a national network of leaders of the grassroots preservation movement, and to heighten local understanding and awareness of the value of preservation and of new ideas for approaching local preservation issues in the host community.

Participants will be joined by local and national preservation trainers, who are recognized leaders with rich experiences in guiding the group through research and study, and then on to creation of a preservation plan of action. Participants will learn about strategic planning, assessment, financial resources, legal tools, economics of preservation, and hands-on design.
The program culminates with the team presentations to the public on Friday, June 11, at 3 p.m. at the Old State Capitol. The presentation is free and open to the public.

Leaders selected to participate in the training are:

• Michele P. Barker, Circuit Rider, Preservation Massachusetts
• Elizabeth Beckley, Eastern Shore Field Director, Preservation Maryland
• Jason Biggins, Historic Preservation Specialist, South Dakota State Historical Society, State Historic Preservation Office
• Susannah Bing, Project Manager, East Baton Rouge Redevelopment Authority
• Erin Michelle Brush, Partner in the Field, Foundation for Historical Louisiana in partnership with the National Trust for Historic Preservation
• Donald R. Burgess Jr., Chair, Revitalization Committee, Harpers Ferry Historic Town Foundation, West Virginia
• Norman Chenevert, Chenevert Architects, Baton Rouge
• J. Scott Chotin, Jr., Board Member, Louisiana Trust for Historic Preservation
• Sarah Whiting Cooleen, Revolving Fund Program Manager, Preservation Virginia
• Rebekah Dobrasko, Supervisor of Compliance, Tax Incentives , South Carolina State Historic Preservation Office
• W. Eric Emerson, Director and SHPO, South Carolina Department of Archives and History
• James W. Flavell, Community Activist, San Francisco, CA
• Ethiel Garlington, Director of Preservation Field Services, Knox Heritage, Knoxville, Tennessee
• Carmen Godwin, Executive Director, Riverside Avondale Preservation, Jacksonville, Florida
• Drew Hart, Realtor, William Hart Company
• Nicole Hobson-Morris, Executive Director, Division of Historic Preservation, Office of Cultural Development Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism
• Judith Kennerk, Friends of Princeton Nursery Lands/Historic Morven Museum and Garden, New Jersey
• Michelle Meche, Executive Director, Louisiana Trust for Historic Preservation
• Ann Mullins, Wjmdesign, Colorado
• Sam Newton, Consultant, Dothan Downtown Redevelopment Authority, Alabama
• Travis Ratermann, Survey Historian, Arkansas Historic Preservation Program
• Rhea Roberts, Preserve America Outreach Coordinator, Historic Preservation Alliance of Arkansas
• Anita Robeson, President Southlake, Texas, Historical Society
• Lisa Rupple, Executive Director, Claremont Heritage
• Ray Scriber, Director, Louisiana Main Street
• Leon Steele, Louisiana Main Street Design Coordinator
• W. Ryan Smith, Cultural Resource Manager, Northwestern State University Cultural Resource Office, Natchitoches
• Jeff Wagner, Project Architect , RAFI Planning Architecture Urban Design, Nevada
• Sue Weaver, Community preservationist, LTHP Board

Funding and support for Preservation Leadership Training was provided by three key partners: The Foundation for Historical Louisiana, the Baton Rouge Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Hilton Heidelberg Hotel, and several individual donors.

Editors note: Reporters interested in covering the training, attending the tour of the two Baton Rouge buildings, or meeting with key leaders for interviews may email Carolyn Bennett at carolynbennett@fhl.org.

June 3rd • Accepting Treasures in Trouble Nominations

Foundation for Historical Louisiana Seeks Endangered Historical Properties Nominations

The Foundation for Historical Louisiana (FHL) is calling for nominations of historic properties that have potential for restoration and redevelopment or are “endangered.”

The nomination deadline is Saturday, July 31st. A “Treasures in Trouble” nomination form can also be found in “Stewardship/Treasures in Trouble” on this site.

The multi-parish capital region is the focus of this effort to protect and preserve these unique "treasures," said FHL Executive Director Carolyn Bennett. The nine parish region includes East Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, West Feliciana, East Feliciana, Iberville, St. Helena, Ascension, Pointe Coupee, and Livingston.

FHL Chairman Mark Upton and the Board of Directors will announce the list later in the year after a committee reviews the submitted nominations. FHL board member Mark Drennen is chairman of the FHL Treasures in Trouble committee.

"FHL created the endangered program in 2007 and the spotlight of being named a treasure can bring a variety of benefits to the property—news stories, donations, public awareness, and intercession” said Bennett. Past treasures include the Historic Lincoln Theater (a restoration now underway), the Geodesic Dome (destroyed by Illinois Central Railroad), the LSU Huey P. Long Pool and Field House (now undergoing planning and a feasibility study), the French House (now a priority one in the State’s capital outlay budget), and historic wooden windows (now a national preservation campaign).

Drennen notes that with local leadershipmore properties can be identified and preserved for future generations especially using historic preservation tax credits and other incentives offered by local, state, and federal governments.

The FHL has assisted with preserving numerous endangered properties, including Magnolia Mound, Historic City Park Golf Course, the Old Governor's Mansion,the Hotel Heidelberg, Historic Magnolia Cemetery, historic districts, and others over its 47 year history.

To nominate a property, individuals must print out and complete the nomination form available via the internet at www.fhl.org . The information needed is the name of property, address or location, nominator's name and contact information, approximate age and description of the property, brief history, why the property is considered a treasure and/or endangered, what actions might be necessary to alleviate the threat,who are the local groups in support of the nomination, and any additional materials that make the case for inclusion as a Treasure in Trouble.  Nominations may be completed and faxed to 225-343-3989. 

For more information or assistance in making a nomination, call 387-2464.

 

March 25th • Lunch & Learn Seminar

 

March 25th • Historic Lecture

 

Section 106: An Introduction • March 17th, 2010

The National Preservation Institute, a nonprofit organization founded in 1980, educates those involved in the management, preservation, and stewardship of our cultural heritage. The 2010 National Preservation Institute seminar schedule is available online at www.npi.org. A course will be offered in May in Baton Rouge!

Added: 3/17/2010

 

Old Governor's Mansion Gala • February 21st, 2010

FHL Gala Wins 2010 Country Roads' Best Annual Event

An excerpt from CountryRoadsMag.com -

More than a thousand of you took our survey and divulged your favorite things, taking the time to explain why they're special to you with glowing descriptions that captured your enthusiasm in ways we couldn't ignore. We hope that the results found in the categories below prove more useful than your average "best of" compilation.  They reflect not only the most votes in each category ("the winners"), but also a wide variety of treasures large and small, famous and secret, well-known and off-the-beaten-path.

View Country Roads Magazine "Best Of" List

The FHL Gala won in the "Best Annual Events" category.

 

Added: 2/21/2010

 

Magnolia's Memories VII • March 12th & 13th, 2010

Historic Cemetery Drama Brings Baton Rouge History to Life
Tickets for Magnolia’s Memories VII Now on Sale

The Foundation for Historical Louisiana (FHL) will “bring back to life” notable Baton Rougeans to tell their intriguing life stories in the popular Magnolia’s Memories drama for its seventh production in Historic Magnolia Cemetery. The event is scheduled for two evenings, Friday, March 12 and Saturday, March 13.

In the upcoming March production, one of Baton Rouge’s most famous citizens, Sarah Morgan, pays a visit to her father Judge Thomas Gibbs Morgan and her brother Henry “Harry” Morgan; three post Civil War mayors, James Elam, Henry Schorten, and Leon Jastremski, engage in a spirited discussion about Baton Rouge during reconstruction and sham elections; Standard Oil General Counsel, legislator, and anti-Long political leader, Cecil Morgan will share some fascinating stories about his century long life; Chief of Police Joshua B. Hare, the first Chief of Police in Baton Rouge to die in the line of duty, will share his stories about Baton Rouge in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and William “Bill” H. Long, whose photography was inspired by Magnolia Cemetery, will share his love of life and the cemetery with you. Director Robert Wilson will again be in character as Charles Rabenhorst, the “gatekeeper.”

Baton Rouge performers will be Ray Gaspard, Drew Cothern, Michael Katchmer, Neena Kelfstrom, Jessica Wilson, Johnny Worsham, JP Delahousay, Stewart Craig, and David Tandy.

“Each year we find new and interesting individuals from our past history,” says Baton Rouge filmmaker Randy Walsh, organizer and producer of the drama. “These great citizens can tell us much about early Baton Rouge, and who better than those who have lived it in past generations. So we’re calling them back from the grave to talk to us.”

Walsh, a professional musician, also brings musicians and singers into the setting with magical effect. In the “staging area” just off 19th street between Florida and Main, FHL turns this space into an exhibit area with displays on the historical figures being portrayed and biographical sketches on the professional actors. There is also gumbo for sale, popcorn, and libations. FHL also brings its Museum Store to the staging area for purchases of special items, books, jewelry, and collectibles.

Performance dates are Friday, March 12 and Saturday, March 13 for the cemetery drama, Magnolia’s Memories VII. The outdoor drama vignettes are set in candle-lighted Historic Magnolia Cemetery on Florida Boulevard and North 22nd Streets in Baton Rouge. The drama is based on narratives from diaries, military records, logs, history books, and local legend. “Past performances have been sold out,” says FHL Executive Director Carolyn Bennett.

This dramatic production is made possible with funding assistance from the The Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge and corporate and individual sponsors. Production assistance comes from Mid City Redevelopment Alliance, Baton Rouge Recreation and Parks Commission and the Trustees of Historic Magnolia Cemetery.

At the event, ticket holders are escorted by an “angel guide” through the spell-binding cemetery to each grave side vignette. Professional actors “bring back to life” Baton Rougeans now at rest in this beloved cemetery. The wonderfully costumed performers tell the audience about their lives and loves, and what their contributions were to our city and the world.

Over 400 people, the maximum seating, attended last year’s Magnolia’s Memories drama. Tickets are limited and all seating is reserved. Tickets may be purchased by calling the Foundation at (225) 387-2464. Tours are scheduled every fifteen minutes beginning at 6:30 p.m. with the last tour beginning at 8:00 p.m. each night. The entire tour lasts approximately one hour and fifteen minutes.

For more information and tickets, contact Foundation for Historical Louisiana headquarters at 387-2464. Short audio clips of two of last year’s characters are located here.

Added: 2/8/2010

 

FHL.com • January 27th, 2010

FHL Says Use the Compensation Funds to Gut and Rebuild Charity Hospital

The Foundation for Historical Louisiana (FHL) says the announcement of the $474.7 million compensation for hurricane damage to Charity Hospital from the federal Civilian Board of Contract Appeals is a great decision for the State of Louisiana and the especially for the citizens of New Orleans.

“Let’s spend these dollars wisely. If Charity Hospital is reused and gutted to become the new teaching hospital, then few additional funds beyond this repayment would be necessary. The cost benefit analysis recommendation by the Steamlining Commission is more important now than ever. Let’s make the best economic decision for taxpayers and the citizens of New Orleans and the State,” said Sandra Stokes, FHL vice chair.  Representatives of the Foundation for Historical Louisiana, Smart Growth New Orleans, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation were at the Joint Committee on Governmental Affairs to address the Streamlining Commissions recommendations regarding Big Charity Hospital and the Historic Lower Mid-City Neighborhood.

For more information on the FHL plan to rehabilitate Charity Hospital, click here.

Also visit: www.savecharityhospital.org, www.DoctorsforCharity.com, and www.preservationnation.org  

Added: 1/27/2010

 

February 16th • Join the Lagniappe Tour to Mardi Gras in New Orleans!

On Fat Tuesday, February 16th, Foundation for Historical Louisiana members and friends will once again swing on down to the Big Easy to celebrate Mardi Gras in New Orleans! A deluxe motorcoach will travel from Baton Rouge to the Crescent City, leaving from the parking lot at the Mall of Louisiana (near Macy’s) at 7 a.m. on Tuesday.

Participants will watch the world-famous Krewes of Rex and Zulu, as well as the marching clubs and truck parades, from reserved seats. At mid-afternoon, the party moves to Le Pavillion Hotel, known as “the Belle of New Orleans,” for a Creole buffet.  Lagniappe Tours’ passengers have access to the hotel throughout the day.

“This very popular tour is truly the Big EASY way to experience Mardi Gras, especially with experienced Lagniappe Tour guides,” said FHL Executive Director Carolyn Bennett.  

The motor coach returns at 7 p.m. The cost for members of the Foundation for Historical Louisiana is $125 per person, and the guest fee is $150 per person.

For reservations or inquiries, please call the Foundation at (225) 387-2464, ext.14. Space is limited.

Lagniappe Tours is the sightseeing arm of the Foundation for Historical Louisiana, a private, non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the cultural and architectural heritage of Louisiana.

Date Added: 1/13/2010

 

January 14th • The Louisiana Old Governor's Mansion: Building Huey's House

Heritage Salon Presented by Diane Finley and Rae Williamson

Their extensive and painstaking research in archives, libraries, and through oral histories uncovered information on the craftsmen, the materials, the talent that created this landmark designed by the phenomenal architectural firm of Weiss, Dreyfous, and Seiferth.  The Foundation is excited to report that this work ultimately will result in a beautiful book on the Old Governor's Mansion.

Location: Old Governor's Mansion
Refreshments: 6pm (Provided by Calandro’s Select Cellars and Fine Wines)
Lecture: 6:30pm
Free to FHL members, $10 guests

 

Date Added: 1/5/2010