Carriage Rides Around Downtown Covington

 The newest way to see downtown Covington's landmarks and scenic sights is the carriage ride.

 
From their website: "Royal Carriages is thrilled to announce expansion into St. Tammany Parish, bringing their generations-long New Orleans carriage tour to the Northshore of Lake Pontchartrain.

Rides depart from the Marsolan Feed and Seed Store in Covington, Louisiana, right next to the area’s Trailhead Museum. Tours run every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

“We are excited to partner with the St. Tammany Parish Tourist and Convention Commission to bring a favorite New Orleans tradition to the charming town of Covington,” said Royal Carriages Director of Marketing Kimmie Carlos. “As the oldest carriage company in the country at 79-years strong, we want all of Louisiana’s Northshore to experience history with us as we move into the holiday season and create new family traditions.”

Visitors will have the option for a half hour or full hour carriage tour of Old Covington which includes an expert guide to narrate the history of the area. The nationally recognized attraction also has plans for private tours, weddings, and private events.

 

 

Click on the "play triangle" above to see a video showing a carriage ride featuring Mayor Mark Johnson 

(or click here for a direct YouTube link)

CLICK HERE for more information.

 

 

The "Once in A While" Gift & Coffee Shop

 A big new gift shop full of artistic items, seasonal decorations, and a cozy coffee corner has opened up in downtown Covington, occupying the old Alexius Brothers Hardware building behind the train station. It opened in late February, with a grand opening on the Fourth of July weekend.

The "Once in A While" shop, combined with Green Eyed Goddess Gifts, offers a vast array of interesting items for home decor, wearable art ( clothing and jewelry,)  balloons, and many other unique items.

 

 

Click on the images to make them larger. 

Dawn Miley Galloway manages the shop and mentioned its collection of religious decorative items, as well as wedding and baby merchandise. One area showcases Christmas trees and ornaments.

"There's something for everyone," she said. She pointed at the chandeliers overhead and noted there were outdoor living items as well.

The large back section of the building has been turned into a meeting space/reception hall and is available for group get-togethers. A corner of the store's interior space has been converted to a comfortable coffee shop.

Much of the jewelry is designed and made by Belinda Miley, a local artist who attended the Art Institute of Houston.

Dawn previously worked for her mother at a day care center, and also worked in retail sales.  Her mother, Pam Miley, owns the Little Red Schoolhouse on Lee Road and has operated that business for going on 48 years. 

"My dad also had Miley's Glass Shop way back when," Dawn added. 

 

 

Here are some photos of some of the objects on display.

 

 

Click here for Google Maps directions. 

See also:

www.greeneyedgoddess.com

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/greeneyedgoddessgifts

Alexius Brothers Hardware

Downtown Drugs

 A new pharmacy has opened in downtown Covington, La., at the corner of N. Vermont St. and Gibson St. It's more than just a pharmacy, though, since it contains a wide variety of merchandise that people have come to expect in the full-service one stop combination drug store and convenience store.

 The signage has been going up on the front windows and on the side of the building, announcing the coming of a new drug store to the downtown area, which at one time had several pharmacies at the center of the growing community.

Harold Dill puts the finishing touches on the Gibson St. side "Downtown Drugs" sign. 

 Matthew Morvant, the pharmacist in charge, said the venture had always been a goal of his, particularly since his whole career had been based on the advice of Jerry Braswell, another longtime Covington area pharmacist. "I even wrote my entrance paper into pharmacy school about him," Morvant stated.

From Braswell Morvant learned that in Covington, the pharmacist was more than just a pharmacist, he was also a leader in the community.  "And to be in the downtown area was significant," he concluded. The address is 338 North Vermont St.

Downtown Covington has a rich legacy in community drugstores: Schonberg's, Hebert's, Bulloch, Tyler Downtown Drugs and City Drugs.

The new Downtown Drugs is located in what he calls "the perfect location," since many people are familiar with the corner, which in the past was home to Western Auto, an artist gallery, and more recently, a yoga studio. The business is located in the northwest corner of the block where the Southern Hotel occupies the entire south half of the block. A few doors down on Gibson is the Bogue Falaya Fitness gym and across the street is Marsolan's Feed & Seed. So while it's not on one of the main streets, the new drug store still sees lots of traffic of people going to and from the school board office and parish courthouse.

Jerry Braswell, the advisor to the business, says that since its a "destination" business, they didn't worry too much about traffic passing by. People will come to the drug store to buy what they need, to visit, to shop for other items, and to just be a part of downtown Covington activity. Braswell may also serve as a relief pharmacist when things get busy.

 

 
The crew at the new business includes, from left, Matthew Morvant (PharmD), Jerry Braswell, Whitney Braswell (CPht), and Jennifer Gaines.

 

 "There's nothing else like it downtown," Braswell went on to say. 

 

Whitney Braswell, Jerry's daughter, is a co-owner in the new venture, and she decorated some of the walls with pictures of previous drug stores in the downtown area.

 

 Morvant feels that with Tyler St., Collins Blvd., and Claiborne Hill getting more congested all the time, people will welcome a drug store in the center of town. He also pointed out that with the thousands of people visiting the courthouse each week, not to mention the visitors at the Southern Hotel who may need a prescription filled from time to time, a nearby drug store would come in handy. 

"We have something for the whole family in here," Morvant commented. 

 

 

 

 October 10, 2020, Grand Opening

 

 

 

Mayor Mark Johnson (at left) stopped by to help cut the ribbon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 A previous occupant of the location

 

See also:

Small Town Drug Store - Oliver Hebert

City Drug Store

Claverie Drug Store

 

Covington Downtown

Here is a cartoon map of downtown Covington. Click on the image to make it larger. 

A message from the Southern Hotel

To view other Southern Hotel Downtown Covington Delivered videos,

CLICK HERE

The History of the Southern Hotel

     Perhaps no other building in St. Tammany Parish has had as many ups and downs in its history as the two story Southern Hotel in downtown Covington. Presently, it is in peak condition, proudly serving as an award-winning boutique hotel after extensive renovations a few years ago.

    That wasn't always the case, however. Here's an account I found in my files of the saga of the Southern Hotel between 1907, when it was first opened, and 1983, when it became offices for the parish government and the 22nd Judicial District. Here's the narrative:
     "On June 1, 1907, the Southern Hotel, a large Spanish-Mission style building on the corner of Boston and New Hampshire Streets in Covington, opened its doors with a gala banquet, entertaining guests from New Orleans, Mississippi, and various other areas.

 

An article about the opening of the Southern Hotel

Two Sanborn city maps, one from 1904 before the hotel was built and the other from 1909 after it was built. 

     A luxury resort hotel, it offered 43 handsomely furnished rooms, all fully carpeted. In the following years, the 72 foot by 38 foot formal dining room was to see many more extravagant dances and social affairs. From the vast kitchen, each celebration brought forth a feast of locally caught game, fish, and seafood delicacies, prepared by a chef who had, on two occasions, prepared meals for the late United States President William McKinley. 

     An artesian fountain danced in the center of the spacious lobby and expansive verandahs overlooked abundant, lush landscaping, giving it a tropical feeling. All this was enhanced by clean refreshing air and sparkling artesian water, both widely known for their curative powers.
    In 1912, Dr. F. F. Young bought the hotel and used it as a sanitarium. 

     However, several years later, the still handsome building was once again operated as a European-style resort hotel. It served as a communications center, housing a Western Union terminal, bus and wagon depot, and the only Post Office in the area.

    In 1917, the Southern Hotel filed its Articles of Incorporation for its charter. Click on the image below to enlarge the view. 

And from a 1935 visit by a New Orleans newspaper food critic:

 

     In 1959, Governor Earl K. Long made it his headquarters for several hours following his lunacy hearing at the old Covington High School gymnasium. 

In the 1960's, the stately edifice was closed to guests. The first floor held rental shops. The upstairs was home only to the pigeons.

     On January 8, 1981, the Parish of St. Tammany purchased the building from the Burns family for $500,000 and renovations began. Some $984,000 worth of restoration turned the old hotel into a showcase office complex and returned an historical landmark to its former elegance in downtown Covington.
     Money for the purchase and renovations came from a combination of several federal agencies in the form of loans and grants. It may be the only government building in the state, indeed the nation, housing a public bar. However, the tavern's only entrance is from the street.

    Wide and handsome brick arches across the front give the massive building an air of nobility as well as stability. It is separated from the St. Tammany Parish Courthouse by New Hampshire St., and is now officially the St. Tammany Parish Administrative Complex. It houses the Parish Administration, Parish Council, District Attorney, Part of the 22nd Judicial District Court, and the Department of Development on the second floor. The purchasing department, financial administration office, personnel, insurance and Veteran's Affairs Office along with private businesses occupy the ground floor.
     Due to the perseverance of many people and financial aid from a local benefactor, the "Old Southern Hotel" is again a showplace. More than mortar and  brick, it is a living symbol of the continuity of parish government and the people."
      And that's the end of the 1983 account. So the Southern Hotel has always played a key part in Covington's history over the past 100 or so years, and it continues to attract admiration for its newly restored 2016 splendor. Here's a link to some pictures from the past.  
      And here is a link to the new Southern Hotel website.

Here's an account of the Southern Hotel history by Les Landon.

Click on the image to view a larger, more readable version.

 

Click here to view a video produced by Dale Smith about the Southern Hotel. 

To download a book-length PDF book about the Southern Hotel, CLICK HERE.

Ownership List

     Over the past 110 years, the Southern Hotel property has had several owners. The building and grounds are located on Lots 12,13,14,15,and 16 in Square 9 of the Division of St John, the historic district of Covington. In the center of the block was a 50 by 38 foot parcel making up Ox Lot No. 9. The following list of owners was compiled from a variety of courthouse records. 

    In July of 1905, Harvey E. Ellis acquired the property from Hardy H. Smith. Late that same month, St. Tammany Bank acquired the piece from Harvey Ellis. On May 22, 1907, a new corporation, Southern Hotel Co. Limited (Inc) acquired the property from St. Tammany Banking and Savings Bank.

    The Southern Hotel opened its doors on June 1, 1907.

    Four years later, on April 29, 1911, records indicate that a new company called New Southern Hotel Co. took over the St. Tammany Banking Co. and Savings Bank mortgage on the building from the Southern Hotel Co. Limited.

    Six years after that, on March 12, 1917, there was an agreement signed between St. Tammany Bank and the New Southern Hotel Co. that transferred all property they acquired to the bank.

    The following year, on October 14, 1918, St. Tammany Bank and Trust acquired the property from the Southern Hotel Inc. in "settlement of mortgage debt."

     Eight years later, on May 14, 1926, Edward J. Frederick acquired the property from St. Tammany Bank and Trust and then sold three-quarters interests to several individuals. They were William E. Rau, Edward J. Frederick, Clarence E. Schonberg, and P.M. Planche.

    Two years after that, in March of 1928, those individuals formed "Covington Investments" and transferred ownership of the Southern Hotel property to that business entity.

    Twenty years passed before the next acquisition. On February 6 of 1948 Bryan D. Burns and Philip Burns acquired the hotel property from Covington Investments, which was in liquidation.

    Another 15 years passed, and the dissolved partnership of Philip Burns and Frank M. Burns resulted in Lois E. Burns (the widow of Bryan D. Burns) acquiring 52 percent of the property, Bryan D. Burns Jr. acquiring 9.6 percent, Dorothy V. Burns Stroble, acquiring 9.6 percent, Lois Jacqueline Burns 9.6 percent, and Karen Orr Burns 9.6 percent.

    Two years later, in 1965, Dorothy V. Burns, Lois Jacqueline Burns, Carol E. Burns, Bryan D. Burns Jr., and Karen Orr Burns acquired the 52 percent property ownership share from Lois E. Burns.

    On October 31, 1980, 15 years after the previous transaction, William J. Jones and Janita Schulz Jones acquired the hotel property from Dorothy V. Burns, Lois Jacqueline Burns, Carol E. Burns, Bryan D. Burns Jr., and Karen Orr Burns.

    Two months later, on January 8, 1981, St. Tammany Parish acquired the propery from William J. Jones.

    In early December of 2003, some 22 years after the previous transfer, Ozone Properties acquired the hotel building and grounds from St. Tammany Parish.

    Ozone Properties, a privately held Covington corporation, had Michael N. Pittman listed as a contact person.

    In June of 2005, Southern Hotel LLC acquired the property from Ozone Properties LLC. Southern Hotel LLC principals included Michael N. Pittman, Amy Schultz Pittman, Megan Pittman Laborde, Melisa Lane Pittman, Michael N. Pittman Jr., and Mathew S. Pittman.

    Six years later, on Nov. 17, 2011, Condrey Southern LLC acquired the property from Southern Hotel LLC.

    The current owners are listed as Condrey Southern Hotel LLC.

   

   

See also:

Mr. and Mrs. W. Kent McWilliams

Planning for the Causeway

Businesses Located Inside the Southern Hotel