Site of the Fort Sumter Saloon, at corner of Third and Laurel Street's, so-named the day after the firing on Fort Sumter near Charleston, S. Carolina.
READS: According to local tradition Charles Weick (sic) named the newly purchased saloon the day after Fort Sumter was fired on, 1861, and put the cannon out front for atmosphere. It was one of the city's most popular saloons until prohibition. [end]
FROM A CORP OF ENGINEERS PUBLICATION: Tradition says that a new tavern opened on the corner of Third and Main streets in Baton Rouge the day after the Civil War began. Known as the Fort Sumter Saloon (for the first military engagement of the war), it eventually moved to Third and Laurel, where it remained a popular local institution until National Prohibition (of alcoholic beverages) began in 1918. Source
Born August 9th, 1866,
Mr. Wiech was a native of Baton Rouge.
He was of German decent, 1st generation American.
Master of St. James Lodge No. 47 in 1896
Mr. Wiech was a native of Baton Rouge.
He was of German decent, 1st generation American.
Master of St. James Lodge No. 47 in 1896
Of Mr. Charles Wieck's Father:
He was a staunch supporter of the cause of the democratic party, and his civic loyalty was shown in a service of several years as a member of the City Council. He and his wife were zealous members of the First Presbyterian Church, and he was prominently identified with the Masonic fraternity... Source
He was a staunch supporter of the cause of the democratic party, and his civic loyalty was shown in a service of several years as a member of the City Council. He and his wife were zealous members of the First Presbyterian Church, and he was prominently identified with the Masonic fraternity... Source
On Third and Laurel Street's, I found this cannon that may have been the one that was placed outside of the Fort Sumter Saloon (as decor) in 1861 (refer to sign above), beside the cannon is, what I believe to be, a "grapeshot" cannonball.
It has been supposed that the canon was from the old Spanish fort originally, the City Fathers placed the cannon there to keep vehicles off one of the few adequate sidewalks in the town. In 1969, street repairs required the reburying of the cannon, muzzle down, at the same corner. Source
Cannon ends had a protruding object ending with a ball on the end (as below pic), called a "cascabel knob" or "button", the cannon embedded in the sidewalk downtown had the button cut off possibly for safety reason.
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