St. Francisville revisited

[Deleted]

I really love the picture of the roof framed by Spanish moss, and also the bandstand.

I also like the concept of "Have Barbecue, Will Travel."

[Deleted]

Some of the houses and even the layout of some of the streets (rabbit warren like and real easy to get lost in) of St. John, NF that imec posted some time back that you mentioned are incredibly similar to some small seaside towns in new England and in particular a small village where I grew up close-by, Sag Harbor.
Here's a glimpse of some of the village, taken for the 300 year anniversary of the town.
www.flickr.com/photos/jjlibrary/sets/72157602435476191/

I LOVE LOVED seeing the family pics Bixa, in particular, the one of your mother and of course, you and Son of Bixa. Just beautiful!!

[fumobici]

I had no idea you were an Abruzzese! ;D

[bixaorellana]

Thanks, Kerouac. When I was a kid, my doctor's office was in that building. I remember it as big, gloomy, & cobwebby. It's a bed & breakfast place now.

Thank you, Casimira, & thanks for that link. It pointed up what a good eye Lugg has! When I saw the Sag Harbor photo of the John Jermain house, Lugg's comments about similarity of styles really clicked. Check out this picture of Oakley Plantation house -- the two houses are essentially the same wooden box adapted for different climates.

In looking up a pic for Oakley, I came across this series. Several in it are from St.F, although not always marked as such. It fits into the architectural styles discussion.

Ah, Fumobici ~~ you've been mislead by accidental blurring on the cake icing! My maternal ancestors came from Cefalù, Palermo province.

And now to get to work on finishing this thread!
The day after the reunion, I went to Port Allen for its Sugarfest, which I'll cover in a separate thread.
But on returning that afternoon, I made sure to go back & finish photographing the loop. So let's take up where we left off there.

Another cat ~


Oak on the side of the courthouse ~


Front of the courthouse, looking across the street into Grace Church cemetery (to be covered in a separate thread) ~














Looking through that iron fence shown above into the grounds of Propinquity ~

[bixaorellana]

Barrow House ~




Sainte Reine ~










Hillcroft ~


and the other side of the street ~


You can see in the pictures approaching Hillcroft where the Royal Street loop runs back into the main street at the foot of Catholic Hill.
Right next to Hillcroft is Shadetree Inn with its beautiful views into the hollow. I didn't want to snoop too much, but got these shots from partway up its drive ~






A few last shots of this street ~

[bixaorellana]

And now it's Monday and time for us to fly out of this little paradise. But first, across the new bridge into New Roads ~






Big Cajun II power plant ~




And into the lovely town of New Roads, where my grandmother was born ~




My grandmother's high school ~


New Roads is on the banks of False River, which is actually an oxbow lake.




We went into a gift shop in an old building with a hall down to a restaurant. Loved this photo on the wall, featuring Huey Long, Richard Leche, & O.K. Allen.
Also love the 2nd sentence of this wikipedia article on Leche.


Back across the river ~




We grabbed our bags from the hotel then swung by this house, formerly of my dear godmother & now where her daughter-in-law, my sister's godmother, lives.
Quick hugs and goodbye ~


And the end of this wonderful trip, flying out of Baton Rouge ~

[htmb]

Oh, bixa, I loved seeing the beautifully restored homes. St. Francisville must be bigger than I had originally presumed. And the old trees!!! Gorgeous. I think live oaks are such wonderful trees, but I find I have a love/hate relationship with magnolias. The shiny leaves, stately white blooms and the interesting seed pods are so beautiful, but falling magnolia leaves can be such a messy pain!

[Deleted]

Oh!! I do see the similarites architecturally and find it fascinating. You would love Sag Harbor, it's unlike any of the other villages in the Hamptons and a favorite haunt of mine every time I go there. No surprise that it has been home to many artists and writers, John Steinbeck to name just one. His widow Elaine, if she's still alive, was very active in the community.

The Printer's Cottage style of architecture is one of my favorites, far surpassing the grande style homes.

I've always loved New Roads and have some friends who now live there post Katrina.
I'm not crazy about that bridge however, maybe in another setting, but not there!!!

For someone who's not crazy about cats, you sure did post alot of pics of them!!!

Thanks for the tour dear, it was fabulous and well thought out and executed.

[htmb]

Bixa, I'm wondering how many other Louisiana governors had that distinction
From what I know, Louisiana politics has been about as colorful as that of the state of Florida, if not even more so.

[Deleted]

I could practically hear the lawnmowers in a lot of the pictures, with all of the impeccably groomed lawns. I have a vivid memory of how fast the grass grows in that part of the world and how regularly you have to mow the lawn!

[bjd]

I'm surprised that the rhododendron is in bloom at this time of year -- it was September or October, wasn't it?

What are those huge spreading trees?

[Deleted]

I don't see any rhododendrons BJD. Crape Myrtle and antique roses....
Rhododendrons are a bit iffy here, maybe there are some further North but, even the ones I've seen (in the Springtime), are not nearly as glorious as the ones that you will see further up North.
The trees are Live Oaks.

[bjd]

Oops, you're right, Casi. It's a crape myrtle close up.

[bixaorellana]

I hope you all know how very much I appreciate your response to this thread. It's a subject close to my heart and I enjoyed putting it together. But it was the kindness and enthusiasm with which it was received that was truly gratifying. Thanks!

Oct 26, 2012 16:12:38 GMT htmb said:

St. Francisville must be bigger than I had originally presumed.

It's not big, Htmb -- 1,736 people as of July, 2011.

Oct 26, 2012 16:15:44 GMT casimira said:

I do see the similarites architecturally and find it fascinating.

It is fascinating & the discussion about it here has me now on the alert. I watch a tv show called Grimm, which takes place in Fumobici's Portland. I almost lost track of the plot because I was eyeing the houses in a particular scene. The main character lives in a beautiful Craftsman-style house.

Oct 26, 2012 16:15:44 GMT casimira said:

I'm not crazy about that bridge however, maybe in another setting, but not there!!!

Actually, you might like it, as it's this golden & elegant piece of sculpture rising from the trees out in the middle of nowhere. The entrance to the bridge is well south of the regular entrance to St. Francisville on Hwy 61.

Oct 27, 2012 0:16:02 GMT htmb said:

From what I know, Louisiana politics has been about as colorful as that of the state of Florida, if not even more so.

You're right there! Former La. governor Edwin Edwards recently got out of prison after a 10-year stint. My uncle could remember when names of fallen luminaries had to be chiseled off of buildings at LSU. A great-uncle who lived in Mississippi almost his whole life was always completely up on Louisiana politics. I asked him once if he followed Mississippi politics. He answered, "Why should I care about that when I have a circus next door?"

Kerouac, it's very lush in that part of the state, but not quite as much a steamy hothouse as the Mississippi Gulf area.

Bjd, one of St. Francisville's claims to fame is the magnificent azalea display every Spring -- if it's not ruined by rains. There are some huge old specimens all over town & in the surrounding countryside. Here's a picture from the web of the entrance to Afton Villa Gardens:
                                                                                

And now, for a couple more snitched pictures ~~
These were lifted from the Town of St. Francisville's facebook page.
The first one is from 1958 and the second shows more of what's on the left side in the first picture.

[Deleted]

Great vintage shots Bixa.!!

[cheerypeabrain]

What a fascinating thread...thank you Bixa! stunning images...I don't know what that beautiful white flowered plant is (post # 11)...some sort of mirabilis longiflora ?

St Francis is contemplative rather than grumpy surely

Absolutely glorious. X

PS. what's a sugar kettle? I want one.....

[bixaorellana]

Thanks, ladies!

You are such a nice person, Cheery, to see good in that statue's face. ;D

You have given me an idea about IDing that plant. One of my cousins is a Master Gardener in Baton Rouge. I'll send him the pic & ask him what it is. He & his wife left for her home in New England after the family reunion. He posted on FB tonight that they tried to get away from the storm by car & are now in Virginia -- where the weather report forecasts a blizzard for tomorrow.

If I had two sugar kettles, I'd give you one! As for what they are:
The cane was crushed using an animal-powered three-roller mill. The extracted cane juice was heated, clarified, & evaporated in a set of large open kettles (Sugar Kettles) of decreasing size which were enclosed in brickwork over a furnace. source

And Casimira, this is for you. I think you'll agree that this is in fact the middle of nowhere ~

[lola]

Bixa, I'm sorry it took me so long to stumble on this wonderful thread (having been mostly visiting relatives myself, in a far far less picturesque settlement.) What a dear and lovely town, and your affection for it shines through. I want to be from there, too.

Your cousin is more intelligent than my extended family, that insists on summertime reunions. The flowers (was that a camellia?) still abundant despite this difficult summer. I'm a cottage type, too, casimira, and I want mine to have a screened in back porch. I'll sit on the front porch and greet passersby.

Great bridge, really, a lot like the new one at Alton IL over a slightly narrower river. Those barges slide past my town all the time. We still have a few Mississippi River ferries near here, like the one at Ste. Genevieve MO. It's pretty rickety.

Your family photos are darling.

Next time detour upriver a few more hundred miles and visit me.

[Deleted]

Thanks for the bridge shot Bixa.
It so reminds me off the new bridge they built in Desterahan, the Hale Boggs Bridge where I rode my bike to one lovely day this time of year last year.
It was a great sight to see and a lovely, albeit, long ride there and back....
Thanks for the great thread once again!!

[nycgirl]

What a charming town. I especially love the trees decked with Spanish moss.

I love the family photos. What a beautiful family you have. You and your mom really resemble each other, and the photo of you and your son is so sweet.

I really like the new bridge. It does seem rather modern for its setting, but it sure is bright and cheery.

Thanks for taking us along with you on your visit.

[good2grow]

I believe I have identified the white flowered mystery shrub on the fence. Look up Clerodendrum indicum. One much wiser in all things botanical led to to the genus, I think I have the species.

[bixaorellana]

Thank you all for the lovely responses!

Lola, I guess you're referring to the those plants on the sidewalk next to the cat. I've magnified the page, but can't decide what they might be. The tag miiiight say sasanqua. The color of the leaves threw me, but I found this website that mentions purple new growth for some camellias.

I would so love to see your part of the river & of course, you!

That's a super picture, Casimira. Thanks for that & for all your encouragement throughout this thread.

Oh, NYCGirl, I do wish I resembled my mother more, but thank you just the same! Your great personal touches in all your threads were an inspiration for me.

Good2Grow ~~ welcome & huge thanks for that identification. I looked it up & the website photo here is almost identical to the picture I took. I would never, ever have guessed Clerodendrum from the flowers, although the fruit is a give-away.

[Deleted]

Nov 2, 2012 22:12:30 GMT good2grow said:

I believe I have identified the white flowered mystery shrub on the fence. Look up Clerodendrum indicum. One much wiser in all things botanical led to to the genus, I think I have the species.

Good call Good2Grow!! Thank you and the wiser one.
The clerodendrum plant family has some of the most diverse of plants, vines to shrubs, woodies and all!! I'm always amazed.

[bixaorellana]

I am updating this old thread because I found a great aerial tour of Grace Church which includes long shots of the town and surrounding area. If nothing else, it will make you want to get a drone.

The "revisited" in this thread's title is a reference to an earlier thread from the early days of Anyport. It was created entirely from family & web pictures and, thanks to V5, its formatting is messed up. Still, it tells the history of the little town: Hometown America -- St. Francisville, Louisiana

Possibly the aerial tour belongs in the Grace Church Cemetery thread, but my son's photos -- hosted on facebook -- have disappeared from the thread. At some point I'll replace them.

Anyway, the video. Set it to high definition, please ~

[Deleted]

It is a complete delight to see this thread brought to our attention again.

[lola]

That is delightful. I want St. Francisville to be my home town, too.

So that must have been done with a drone? I can see drones' potential for roofing and tuckpointing companies.

[bixaorellana]

Thank you, Kerouac!

Great minds, Lola ......... that was my immediate thought, too, when it flew over the tippy-top of the roof. To my great chagrin, I did not think of tuckpointing companies, as I do not know that term. Fear not, I will make haste to incorporate it into a sentence!

[bixaorellana]

Shamelessly bumping my own thread to brag and to make a point.

I'm bragging because I managed to snatch this thread from the jaws of the Photobucket depredation -- a pain in the neck, but worth it.

And that's my point: it was worth it to not have a picture-less picture report on anyport and it was worth it to me personally. Since I naturally had to look at the report as I replaced the pictures, I realized how much effort we all put into our presentations. Also, I saw that a big pile of pictures that would otherwise quietly reside unseen within my computer were pulled into shape with a shareable narrative that is here on anyport for anyone to see.

I hope that all of you who are discouraged by the actions of Photobucket will take a look at your threads and remember how valuable they are.

*gracefully exits soapbox*

[kerouac2]

Yes, it's a beautiful report about a beautiful place. I had forgotten about all of the cats.

[casimira]

On our way back from Tunica Hills today we detoured on the way back and took a tour through the village. There were a ton of people out and about as there seemed to be a an early Christmas Festival going on. 
I gave my friend the low down on what building was what, including the old "puppy prison" where "Shanghai" would have to be sprung from on several occasions.
I'm not much of a Christmas person and my friend was under a time constraint so we didn't stop anywhere.
I really did get nostalgic seeing the old family hardware store though, I have to say it was worth the detour to see again.