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Culture Connection April 22-23 2014 LA Annual Preservation ConferenceCulture Connection Office of Cultural Development: Celebrating 20 years of Decentralized Arts Funding, 25 years of

Archaeology Week/Month and 30 years of Louisiana Main Street.

Main Street Award: St. Claude Main Street, New Orleans (left) Michael Echols, Jonathan Rhodes and Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne.

Preservationist of the Year: Jean Sayres, Shreveport (left) Michael Echols, Jean Sayres and Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne.

Preservation Education Award: Randy Harelson, New Roads (left) Michael Echols, Randy Harelson, and Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne.

George Rodrigue Lifetime Cultural Achievement Award: Sue Turner, Baton Rouge (left) Jacques Rodrigue, Sue Turner, Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne.

Preservation Leadership Award: A.C. Bourdier, Lake Charles (left) Phil Boggan, A. C. Bourdier, Michael Echols and Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne.

Preservation Heritage Award: Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans, Patty Gay Accepting (left)Michael Echols, Patty Gay and Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne

VIP Preservation Reception with LT. Governor Jay Dardenne

Presented by the Louisiana Trust for Historic Preservation co-sponsored by Foundation Historical Louisiana , Louisiana Archaeological Society, Preservation Resource Center

awarding “champions” for their support of archaeology and historic preservation

The Honorees of the 2014 Louisiana Culture Awards for Historic Preservation:

Louisiana Trust for Historic PreservationCelebrates 35th Anniversary

HONOREES: Representative James “Jim” Farrin Jonesboro, LARepresentative Walt Leger, Speaker Pro Tempore New Orleans, LASenator Sharon Westin Broome Baton Rouge, LASenator Neil Riser Columbia, Caldwell ParishSenator Francis Thomas Delhi, LASenator Mike Walsworth Monroe, LA

This year marks the Tri-Centennial of Natchitoches, the oldest town in Louisiana where the first annual meeting

of the LA Preservation Alliance ( LA Trust ) was held with a repeat visit on its twenty- fifth anniversary and then

again on its thirty-fifth. The Louisiana Trust for Historic Preservation

2013 Success Stories was announced by Michael Echols, President

on June 26 at the annual conference which was co-hosted by the LA

State Division of Historic Preservation and the National Center for

Preservation Training and Technology. The keynote speaker at this two

day event was LA Lieutenant Governor Jay Dardenne. The guest speaker

Stephanie Meeks, CEO, and National Trust for Historic Preservation

President spoke at the conference luncheon.

Dan Seymour (left), Chairman, Natchitoches; Phil Boggan, DCRT, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Cultural Development, Baton Rouge; Michael Echols, LTHP President, Monroe

LTHP Board Members Sand Marmillion, Vacherie; Richard Gibbs, New Roads

Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne, Keynote Speaker

Nicole Hobson-Morris ED, LA Div. of Historic Preservation, DCRT, Office of Cultural Development

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2013 Preservation Success Stories within Louisiana By Lane Callaway, LTHP Board Member, Shreveport

2013 Most Endangered

Louisiana Trust for Historic Preservation

The Preservation Success Stories for 2013 ranged from a 1920 humble former residence of a sawmill worker in the town of DeRidder to a massive art-deco style auditorium built in 1929 in Shreveport that hosted First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt in March 1937. The Preservation Success Stories for 2013 listed alphabetically by parish included:

Michael Echols from Monroe and President of Louisiana Trust summed up the organization’s effort from 1999 to 2013 at identifying over 100 structures in Louisiana as Most Endangered. And since 2011, he identified over 50 Preservation Success Stories the Louisiana Trust has identified state-wide. The 2013 nomination application also gathered data on use of federal and state history tax credits as well as further identified if the nominated historic structure was listed on any historic register. Nominations for the Louisiana Trust’s Most Endangered and Preservation Success Stories are submitted from a variety of sources state-wide. The nominations are submitted by citizens of Louisiana and from the LA Trust’s board directors; community managers of the Louisiana Main Street Program; elected and appointed local officials; historic property owners; preservation architects; developers; and local historic organizations.

The nomination applications to identify the Most Endangered and Preservation Success Stories for calendar year 2014 is planned to be distributed in January. These structures are to be announced at the 2015 LA Annual Preservation Conference hosted by the LA Trust for Historic Preservation and the LA Division of Historic Preservation to be held in Lake Charles. The 2014 nomination application for Most Endangered is being expanded to clarify potential to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

COMMUNITY STRUCTURE BUILT ORIGINAL REPURPOSEDeRidder (Beauregard) First Street School

downtown 1939 Public elementary school Work-force development

DeRidder(Beauregard)

Company-provided housing 1920 Residence for

sawmill worker Timber museum

Hosston(Caddo) Hosston School 1931 Public school

(all grades)Recreation & public event

center

Shreveport (Caddo) Municipal Auditoriumdowntown 1929 Entertainment venue,

veteran’s memorialMulti-purpose

entertainment center

Shreveport (Caddo) 1200 Marshall Streetdowntown 1908 Printing business Complex of executive

offices

Shreveport (Caddo) Oakland Cemeterydowntown 1842 Oldest existing cemetery

in CityRecreate walking garden

cemetery

Shreveport (Caddo) 712 Texas Streetdowntown 1937 Paint retailer Architectural firm

Lake Charles(Calcasieu)

104 West Pujo Streetdowntown 1929 Hotel auto parking garage Restaurant, bar,

entertainment venueNatchitoches

(Natchitoches)Caspari Hall

(Northwestern State) 1939 College dormitoryfor male athletes

Executive offices for college officials

New Orleans(Orleans)

Saenger Theatredowntown 1927 3,400 seat movie

palace / stageMulti-purpose

entertainment center

Poverty Point Inscribed As World Heritage SitePoverty Point

UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee voted to inscribe Poverty Point State Historic Site as a World Heritage Site yesterday

at its annual meeting in Doha, Qatar. Poverty Point is only the 22nd World Heritage Site in the U.S. and joins the ranks of

others worldwide including the Great Wall of China, Stonehenge in England and the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt.

Poverty Point was the U.S. Department of the Interior’s lone nomination for world heritage status—adding to the site’s

accolades as a National Historic Landmark, National Monument and Smithsonian Affiliate. The 3,400-year-old site is

considered one of the most culturally significant American Indian sites in the U.S. Programs and tours at the site are offered

daily and show visitors how life might have been for the prehistoric inhabitants of the area.

“This is a huge win for Louisiana. I don’t think people realize how impactful this will be to northeast Louisiana’s economy,”

Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne said. “The World Heritage designation solidifies Poverty Point as one of the world’s greatest

archaeological treasures, and we will work with surrounding parishes to provide early promotion of the inscription.”

Poverty Point is the largest, most complex U.S. archaeological site of its age. No other site in the country matched its size

until at least 2,000 years later. In addition to its impressive size and design, the site is outstanding because of its widespread

trade network. The site’s design is unlike any other site in the world, including a massive earthen complex, with six mounds,

six concentric, C-shaped ridges and a large, flat plaza. Archaeologists believe Native Americans moved 25-million cubic

feet of dirt to build the earthworks.

Courtesy of Culture Recreation and Tourism Department

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Protect the Historic Tax CreditHistoric Tax Credit

Today, the federal historic tax credit (HTC) is at risk as never before. A tax reform discussion draft released by House Ways & Means Chairman Dave Camp (R-Mich.) contained language to repeal the credit. This is an unprecedented threat to the government’s most significant investment in preserving our historic buildings and we need your help to save it.

The National Trust, in collaboration with the Historic Tax Credit Coalition, has launched in a multi-year initiative to preserve and enhance the federal historic tax credit. The centerpiece of this campaign is the Creating American Prosperity through Preservation (CAPP) Act, bipartisan legislation that would increase the HTC’s ability to revitalize smaller Main Street projects and enable energy-efficient projects.

New research commissioned by the National Trust proves for the first time that the economic benefits of historic rehab go far beyond one building. Historic tax credit projects spur an increase in property values, draw new businesses, attract new residents and enlarge the tax base. Projects in Maryland, Georgia and Utah are profiled.

Take Action to Protect the Federal Historic Tax Credit!

The federal historic tax credit (HTC) is facing an unprecedented threat. The U.S. House of Representatives’ tax writing committee is considering repeal of the HTC as part of a broader proposal to comprehensively reform the tax code and we need your help to protect it.

Since being signed into law by President Reagan, the HTC has attracted $109 billion in private investment toward the rehabilitation of nearly 40,000 historic commercial buildings in the U.S., creating 2.4 million jobs and sparking downtown revitalization nationwide. By providing developers with an incentive to reuse historic buildings in exchange for retaining their historic character, the credit has made possible the reuse of vacant historic mills, warehouses, theaters and office buildings. The result is new life for our nation’s historic resources and a host of other benefits, including population growth, new businesses, an increased tax base and a boost in property values.

In recognition of the tremendous importance of the credit and the growing threat to it, the National Trust has assigned “Watch Status” to the federal historic tax credit as part of its 2014 list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places. Watch Status means that a specific site, resource, policy or program faces a growing but still avoidable threat.

Please join us in making a strong statement to Congress that the historic tax credit is an essential tool for preserving our heritage and fueling our economy. Ask your senators to cosponsor bipartisan legislation, the Creating American Prosperity through Preservation Act (“CAPP”) Act (S.1141), introduced by Sen. Cardin (D-Md.) and Sen. Collins (R-Me.) that will enhance the HTC’s ability to preserve historic buildings and revitalize our communities. We’ve prepared a sample message that you may customize to reach your senator.

Please refer to the National Trust for Preservation website www.preservationnation.org for this message plus more information from which this article was taken.

NEWS BRIEFS

Free and Open to the Public

Monday, September 29 at 1:00 PM 1504 Oretha C. Haley

Boulevard, New Orleans. The existing building at 1504 O.C.

Haley Blvd.- the

former Dryades

Market – will be

converted into

the home of the

Southern Food

and Beverage Museum. The museum, known as SoFAB, is

the award winning, unique museum of culinary culture and

history. Plans for the building include the Museum of the

American Cocktail the Leah Chase Louisiana Gallery, the

Gallery of the States, and La Galerie d’Absinthe. The Gallery

of the States will feature exhibits which transport visitors on

a culinary journey to the other states of the South and the

District of Columbia. Photo Courtesy of SoFAB.

Historic Preservation In Mandeville, LA

In early February 2013, the Mandeville City Council

unanimously passed an ordinance to establish a historic

district in Old Mandeville. The ordinance, which has

been in the works for years, is designed to protect

the unique character of Old Mandeville with tighter

regulations on historic structures and new construction.

In early 2011, Mayor Donald Villere, established the

Mandeville Historic Preservation Study Committee

consisting of five members appointed by the Mayor.

The purpose of the Study Committee was to investigate

the preservation and protection of historic and

architecturally worthy buildings, structures, sites,

monuments, streetscapes, and neighborhoods and to

recommend a specific area as a Historic Preservation

District for ordinance consideration by the City Council.

The Study Committee proposed ordinance to impose

tighter regulations on historic structures and new

developments in Old Mandeville was presented and

accepted by the Mandeville City Council in early

February 2013. At that Council Meeting, Mayor Pro-

Tem Rick Danielson said, “This (ordinance) is to protect

and preserve everything we love about Mandeville. With

this, we are protecting our history and shaping our city’s

future.”

The ordinance establishes a historic district for

Old Mandeville to be overseen by a five-member

preservation commission responsible for maintaining

and enhancing the area’s character. The boundaries of the

District are Lake Pontchartrain to the south, U.S. 190 to

the north, Galvez Street to the west and Jackson Street to

the east.

by Scott Chotin

Noble Building Placed on the National Register

The Noble Building, 324 Pujo Street, downtown Lake Charles,

has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Architect Lauren Harrell of Randall Broussard Architects

of Sulphur, Louisiana, researched, wrote the application,

and presented to the State Review Board in April this year.

Department of Interior notified the owners of the listing in

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NEWS BRIEFS

Register of Historic Places, as determined by the United

States Department of the Interior and the National Park

Service. The area represents an expansion of the Normal

Hill Historic District, which contains the oldest portion of

the university’s

campus,

set around

the three

monumental

Greek Revival

columns that

survive the

original Bullard

mansion.

The creation

of the new

district, called the Northwestern State University Historic

District, will include the original Normal Hill and other

structures built between 1884 and 1955. The LSMSA gym,

which was built by Louisiana State Normal, later (used by

Natchitoches High School and is currently used by LSMSA,

was selected because of historic interest: a recessed section

above the gym’s main door is the only place on campus the

designation “Louisiana State Normal College” still appears.

The Northwestern State University Historic District

includes examples of Beaux Arts, Colonial Revival, Tudor

Revival, Jacobean and Collegiate Gothic architectural

styles of the late 19th century as well as Early 20th

Century American, Commercial Style, Modern, Campus

Modern and Art Deco of the 20th century. The properties

included are associated with events that made significant

contribution to the history of the university.

Six Louisiana Plantations Named in Top Ten Southern Plantations by USA TODAY

1. Melrose Plantation, Natchitoches - courtesy of Natchitoches Convention and Visitors Bureau

2. San Francisco Plantation, Garyville - courtesy of Oak Alley

3. Oak Alley, Vacherie - courtesy of Oak Alley

4. Houmas House, Darrow - courtesy of Oak Alley

5. Laura Plantation, Vacherie - courtesy of Laura Plantation

6. Destrehan Plantation, Destrehan - courtesy of Destrehan Plantation

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NEWS BRIEFS

June this year.

The owners, Rick and Donna Richard, hired Ms. Harrell

for her preservation expertise and also for the actual

architectural work to adapt the building for apartments and

retail use.

The building is described as a “two-story masonry

commercial edifice divided into three bays by brick

pilasters. It is typical of late 18th and early 19th century

American Style commercial buildings.”

The Noble Building was constructed in 1919, and according

to city directories and Sanborn maps, the building has been

used for a cabinet shop, fruit warehouse, mortgage firm,

accounting

offices,

engineering

offices, and

Yellow Cab

Co. The

most recent

owner was

the Noble

Oil and Gas company from the 1930’s until the sale in 2012.

One of the tenants in the early years was the Shutts and

Sons Engineering firm. One of the sons, Elmer Shutts, is

credited with being the first engineer for the Port of Lake

Charles from 1925 to 1964. According to Harrell’s research,

Lake Charles has the only port put into operation without

federal funds.

The ceiling on the first floor is pressed tin tiles. The

entryway floor is honeycomb marble tile, and the stairs

are made of solid marble, virtually unblemished. The

hallway has original subway tile wainscoting on the walls.

Although there was substantial termite damage to the

floors, the building has been deemed structurally sound by

a structural engineer. The wood floors have been removed,

disposing of the damaged floor boards, but saving almost

half to re-install. Much of the window glass is original and

most of the interior doorways have transoms. Industrial

glass is on some of the rear windows, a feature which the

Richards plan to preserve.

Some of the above was taken from an article written by Rita

LeBleu in the Lake Charles American Press (August 10,

2014)

St.James Culture and Heritage Museum

The St. James Parish Historical Society is faced with

the challenge of re-locating their St. James Culture and

Heritage Museum, established some 30 years ago on the

River Road at Lutcher. Preservationists including several

LA Trust board members and staff met recently at the site.

The group also met with the St. James Parish officials to

discuss possible options to develop future plans for this

important museum.

Historic District Certificate

NATCHITOCHES – Historic portions of Northwestern

State University’s campus will be included in the National

From left are Kirk Cordell, executive director of the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training; NSU President Dr. Randall J. Webb, Sharon Gahagan, chairman of the Historic District Commission, Dr. Patrick Widhalm, executive director of the Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts, and project coordinator Tom Whitehead.

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Noble Building

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

LOUISIANA LEGACY SOCIETY:

Preservationist $250.00

Landmark Donor $500.00

Heritage Contributor $1,000.00

Presidential Circle $3,000.00

Presidential Trust $5,000.00

GENERAL MEMBERSHIP:

Individual $35.00

Family/Double $50.00

Supporting $100.00

Non-Profit $25.00

Name:______________________________________________

Address:____________________________________________ City:_______________________State:______Zip:___________ Phone:_____________________Fax:_____________________

Email:______________________________________________

Membership Category:__________________@$____________

___Check* ___AmEx ___Mastercard ___Visa

I authorize the LTHP to charge the above card for the indicated amount for annual membership dues.

Card #:______________________________________________

Exp. Date:__________________Verification ID:_____________

____________________________________________________

Print Cardholder Name ____________________________________________________

Cardholder Signature For Estate Gifts, Property Donations, Trusts and

Endowments, call the LTHP office at 504-256-0912

For all credit card charges, please complete and sign below.

Payment Method:

*Make checks payable to the LA Trust for Historic Preservation and mail to P.O. Box 1587 - Baton Rouge, LA 70821