Blog is Suspended

This blog is suspended! I am no longer motivated and have lost interest.

I will still post comments and answer Emails and Message Form.

Reflections of Baton Rouge

Reflections of Baton Rouge Louisiana
 

I can’t think of any place better than Baton Rouge to grow up in. In the late 40’s and early 50’s it was a small town who’s claim to fame was that it was the capital of Louisiana and it was just 70 miles from New Orleans. We were on the edge of Cajun Country, our western parish line was the Mississippi River, we were in the center of  the state and the brand new Interstate 10 was being built directly through our town. My mother owned a locally famous Donut shop and it felt good to be popular.

My earliest culinary memories were the afternoons we would take a family ride in our gray 46 Plymouth station wagon to Park Boulevard and buy hot tamales from Muffuelatto’s tamale cart located on the grass median at Government Street. Other favorite trips included hot and salty curly cue burgers from Alessi’s Drive Inn and the delicious crispy chicken box from Bernard's Chicken Shack . The Fleur de leis made their square Roman style pizza considered by most to be the best in town and the creamy Coke floats from Hopper’s drive in was one of my favorite sweet treats.

Like most people, I suppose, life changed towards adulthood and so did my town. My industrial sales job let me experience martini lunches at Leon’s Italian kitchen and white tablecloth food and service at Mike and Tony’s Restaurant.  Sammy’s lounge, The Star Mist and Rip’s Huddle were my choices for night life and for dinning it was  Dajonel’s for continental cuisine, Jubans for New Orleans Creole and Mike Anderson’s for the fried seafood. After that period of life, Baton Rouge grew beyond the plant worker’s town I had known all my life and the chain restaurants and night clubs more or less set the pace for entertainment and dining...

[Used by permission.]

Mr. Lynn Anselmo

Tony's Donuts

Tony's Restaurant

Tony’s Donut Shop Chippewa Street at Plank Road

Served Baton Rouge from 1946 to 2004 and was considered by most to be the Best Donut in Town. The shop was created by my father, Anthony Anselmo (TONY). After his death in 1950, my mother, Grace, was in charge until we took over in 1974.

 An interview with Mr. Anselmo

Fleur de lis Roman Style Pizza, began in 1946

The an artist depiction of the Fleur de lis when it was a Cocktail Lounge,it is rumored that it was a Speakeasy* during prohibition under a previous ownership.

*a place where alcoholic drink was sold illicitly during Prohibition. Prohibition was from 1920 to 1933.

From a very good source: This was a service station, then grocery, the cocktail lounge, and now pizzeria. Also, from same source: There used to be a motel behind the cocktail lounge.

Fleur de lis, as it is today, very little has changed.

Fleur de lis Roman Style Pizza,
a family restaurant since 1946

5655 Government St. at Lovers Lane

Quote: "We try to keep everything the same as it always has been. Most importantly the recipe, style and quality of the pizza. We also try to maintain the traditional look of the building both inside and out." -Fleur de lis

"The Fleur De leis made their square Roman style pizza considered by most to be the best in town..." 

Mr. Lynn Anselmo, formerly owner of Tony's Restaurant

I love the fact that the neon on the front is exactly the way it was from the cocktail lounge time, except for the addition of "Roman Pizza". The top neon say "Air Conditioning" which was "new" technology in the day. Even the Jax Beer sign hanging off a poll to the right is still there, but broke out.

Many thanks for putting up with me hanging around taking pictures and asking questions. Tell them "Historical Baton Rouge" sent you.

Other reviews:

Fleur de lis Pizza Homepage
 

The Fleur de lis story

Fleur de lis Roman Style Pizza

5655 Government St.

Drive-thru window and take out

Call Fleur de lis at (225) 924-2904

[My blog is non-commercial, that is, business' who let me post their history data I try to help them out a little, it a favor for a favor, I do not benefit from those favors I give.]

Baton Rouge Department Stores, now defunct

Department Stores mentioned in this post are: Reymond's, Dalton's, Rosenfield's, Rubensteins [and Son]


Originally opened in 1915 as Reymond's Department Store but in 1929, it changed hands and became the Dalton Co. In 1955, it housed a branch of D.H. Holmes where it remained until they closed the 3rd Street location in February 1963. The building became the new home of I.H. Rubenstein's in 1965, the fourth department store firm to operate in the structure. in 1965, the fourth department store firm to operate in the structure. Source

RUBENSTEINS

The store, I.H. Rubenstein & Son, was a part of the musical chairs which affected Baton Rouge retailing throughout the last century. Mr. Rubenstein had been a manager of Rosenfield's, which dates back to 1853. Rosenfield's was the first store in Louisiana to be completely air conditioned, have elevators and eventually, moving stairs. In 1964, his son, I.H. Rubenstein Jr., left Rosenfield's to found the I.H. Rubenstein & Son store in the Broadmoor Shopping Center. Soon after, Rubenstein took over space on 3rd St. downtown that was first occupied by Reymond's, then Dalton's and finally a former downtown branch of New Orleans-based DH Holmes. Holmes had left downtown in 1963. I.H. Rubenstein was not a complete department store but carried medium-to-better clothing and accesories for the home. When I.H. Rubenstein, Jr. passed away in 1975, Rubenstein's locations included Broadmoor, Westmoreland, the Corporate Mall and a store in Hammond, LA. The downtown Rubenstein store closed in 1973. In April 1979, I.H. Rubenstein's filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and the Corporate Mall store on College Dr. was immediately closed. However, after changing its format to that of 'value-pricing', Rubenstein would announce the closure of its business in November 1979.

Source: Unknown, I came across this in a thread  on a message board.

[I am having font problems, the finished post text looked small so I enlarged it, I don't know how it look to you.]

Sons of Confederate Veterans formed 1896

The "Sons of Confederate Veterans" are direct decedents of Confederate Veterans, one has to be a decedent to join the SCV. The SCV, as an organization is the direct heir to the Civil War Veterans organization called, the United Confederate Veterans.

The "when and where" of the SCV founding and charge given to them by Lt. General Stephen Dill Lee in SCV words, I have be given permission by the local SCV camp to print on Historical Baton Rouge, I thought the charge from a Civil War Veteran was interesting and significant enough to post here..

[begin quote]

The Sons of Confederate Veterans formed in 1896 in Richmond Virginia is the direct heir to the United Confederate and is a historical, patriotic and non-political organization dedicated to ensuring that a true history of the 1861-1865 period is preserved.

Charge to the Sons of Confederate Veterans:

"To you, Sons of Confederate Veterans, we will commit the vindication of the Cause for which we fought.

To your strength will be given the defense of the Confederate soldier's good name, the guardianship of his history, the emulation of his virtues, the perpetuation of those principles which he loved and which you love also, and those ideals which made him glorious and which you also cherish. Remember, it is your duty to see that the true history of the South is presented to future generations."

Lt. General Stephen Dill Lee
Commander-General
United Confederate Veterans
New Orleans, April 25, 1906

[end quote]

General Dill was the youngest Confederate general.


Local SCV Camp:

Henry Watkins Allen Camp 133
Sons of Confederate Veterans
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
www.scvcamp133.webs.com
Randy Jarreau, Commander

St. Vincent's Academy

 I will post a link to the photo of the St. Vincent's Academy when I find one. I have a reproduction of a postcard with the old school, but due to copyright, I assume that I can't post it here.

Here is a link to St. Vincent's Academy, but it is not the original school, this photo was taken in 1916: Click here

 Plaque: 

ST. VINCENT'S ACADEMY

CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL

The Brothers of the Sacred Heart founded St. Vincent's Academy of this site in 1894. In 1929 the school for boys was replaced by a larger facility and renamed Catholic High School. In 1957 the school was moved to its present site on Hearthstone Drive. This marker commemorates the Centennial of the Brothers work in Baton Rouge.

Catholic High School was founded in 1894 as St. Vincent's Academy. The school was so named in recognition of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, who helped organize and establish the school. The original site of the school was an old frame building in downtown Baton Rouge, and the enrollment was 106 students. By the 1920s, the enrollment had grown to approximately 300 students, and in 1928, the Brothers of the Sacred Heart built a new school, gym, and brother's residence at the corner of North Street and Fourth Street.

The name of the Academy was changed to Catholic High School, in 1929, after the move into another facility.

Catholic High School History

The Iberville building, a Louisiana State building, is built on the site.

[Disclaimer: The "Religion" of this site is "History", as is the ethic race also "History" (unbiased on all points.)]

St. Joseph Cemetery - Est.1824

 THE FIRST CEMETERY IN BATON ROUGE WAS THE

CEMETERY OF LA YGLESIA DE LOS DOLORES DE LA

VIRGIN, OUR LADY OF SORROWS, ESTABLISHED IN

1792 BY ORDER OF KING CARLOS OF SPAIN. THIS

PRESENT CEMETERY WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1824 AND

THE REMAINS OF BATON ROUGES FIRST SETTLERS

WERE MOVED HERE FROM THE ORIGINAL

SPANISH CEMETERY.

This cemetery is between North and Main Streets across Main street from the old Godchaux's building.

Internment List 

ST. JOSEPH

CATHOLIC

CEMETERY

______________________

In 1825 St. Joseph Church

purchased the property for

a graveyard. Remains of some

of Baton Rouge's first settlers

were moved here from the

old Spanish Cemetery, or

cemetery of the Church of

Our Lady of Sorrows, which

became St. Joseph's. Philip 

Hicky, Adrien Persac, and

Theophile Allain are among

prominent Louisianians buried

here. The Catholic Diocese

of Baton Rouge owns

the cemetery.

Notes on the names mentioned on plaque:

Colonel Philip Hickey, owned a Sugar Plantation named Hope Estate five miles below Baton Rouge on the left bank of the Mississippi.

Marie Adrien Persac, a Louisiana Artist

Theophile Allain, born a mulatto* slave, after emancipation he helped start Southern University.

Planter, Francois Allain...is remembered principally by the remarkable reputation achieved by one of his slaves; the bright, intelligent, good-looking mulatto born on his place, who was named Theophile, but called by his master "Soulouque," after the Haitian hero. He was his master's factotum (a general servant or a person having many diverse activities or responsibilities.), accompanying him everywhere (even to Europe). After emancipation, Soulouque, as his talents demanded, quit menial service and entered the brilliant arena of politics, at that tune opened to the negro. He rose easily above his contemporaries, whom he dominated by his intellect and fine address. He was elected State Senator; and, at Baton Rouge, further distinguished himself as a parliamentarian and a speaker.

* a person having one Black and one White parent. 

Historical Baton Rouge Hotels

[FYI: If you are looking to book a hotel room you have come to the wrong place.] 

Data on the following hotels are sparse to me, I will chronological these hotels in order when I can put a date on them.
Only two building exist today (to my knowledge) and are used as hotel's, the Hilton and the Indigo.

BATON ROUGE HOTELS [Historic Hotels (all destroyed but the last two)]

Madame Legendre's Hotel (hear Legendre pronounced) In 1825 she owned the town's largest inn. Source.

City Hotel (on Lafayette St., circa 1861)

Harney House Hotel, (Lafayette and Main streets, built in the 1840s, lost by fire in the 20th century).

Grand Capitol Hotel, renamed the Grouchy Hotel

Grouchy Hotel, (grew-SHAY), renamed the Louisian Hotel.

Louisian Hotel, renamed from Grouchy Hotel, it existed until the mid-20th century.

Istrouma Hotel, built at Third and Florida Streets in 1904, managed by Alex Grouchy and Son. It had 5 floors and contained 90 rooms. An annex built in 1924 also contained 90 rooms.

Mayfield Hotel, (Third St.)

Union Hotel, (opposite the old Court House, possibly 4th St.).

Verandah Hotel, c1830s, Third & Laurel Streets; operated by the Lorente family  Source

Wax Hotel, (unsubstantiated).

Heidelberg Hotel, now Hilton Hotel, About link

King Hotel, now Indigo Hotel, 

[More to come if when ever I learn more.]

Confederate statue taken down

Statue of the "East and West Baton Rouge Parishes Confederate Soldiers" Memorial. Remained on the medium of North Blvd. at 3rd Street for 125 years.

Recently, this old statue of a Confederate Soldier was taken down. It use to sit atop a cement base with steps until the base began to crumble and they replaced the statue on this unworthy base. It was taken down for the construction of the new "Baton Rouge Town Square" and It will eventually be installed onto the Old State Capitol grounds beside the "Merci Railroad Boxcar" (additional link). For now it is at DPW on Chippewa St.

The original base with statue was erected in honor of the veterans of the Civil War from East and West Baton Rouge Parishes. It was dedicated by Governor John McEnery (Jan. 13,1873-May 22, 1873).

[Note: McEnery was not allowed to finish his term as it was illegal for Democrat's in Louisiana to be elected under Federal reconstruction edicts until the Federal troops left Louisiana in 1877. Reason being Democrats was made up in part by White supremous (old South); Republicans being the anti-slavery party.] 

See main post on statue and close-up photos of statue: 

Antagonists of the truth of history

There are mounting attacks from antagonists of the truth of history, especially Civil War history, today history has been revised and rewritten. Those antagonist wish to obliterate the Southern version of the war. There are three sides of the matter, side A, side B, and then there is the truth, one side will have more truth than the other. I am not interested in side A or side B, I am interested in the truth.

These antagonist don't want an honest and objective look at evidence, they are driven by a venomous hatred of the truth because a lie promotes their agenda and cause. Yes, slavery is a heinous crime against humanity, but if you make it the "cause" of the Civil War you would be in error, it was about States Rights and Northern aggression. If in reading this you come away thinking that I am a Southern racist then you don't know who I am.

Those antagonist with act to remove Confederate statues and flags and any reference to the Confederacy in way of remembrance or celebratory nature or that cast a different light on the Confederacy or the South than fits their agenda.

This blog was contacted by what I believe to be an antagonist of the truth, his ploy and scheme didn't have its way with me because I am a purist where history is concerned. I will post about history as I find it - irrelevant of Political Correctness.

My hopes is that my viewers will appreciate my stand.

Is there anyone out there who view this blog? I fear not!