I hope that you all have received the invitation I forwarded to you from the Office of the Lt. Governor regarding his press conference here next week. Please help us spread the word so that we can have a large turnout to show our support for all of our State Historic Sites but especially for Rosedown Plantation State Historic Site, Audubon State Historic Site and Locust Grove SHS. We should also note that both Centenary SHS and Port Hudson SHS in East Feliciana are important to the area as well since all of these sites partner on interpretive programs. Remember, it’s Tuesday, April 14 at 1:00 pm at Rosedown. Since it will be during our schools’ spring break, it might be a great idea to have our children there to show that this issue is important to them, too.
Casting Call
If you ever thought you might want to be in a movie, there will be a casting call on Thursday, April 9, for a feature film that will be filmed in the St. Francisville area. Show up at the Quality Inn on Highway 61 between 3 pm and 7 pm with a pen to fill out a casting form. Casting representatives will take your picture, and all types are needed – men, women, children, all ages! The movie is called Jonah Hex and will star Josh Brolin, John Malkovich and Megan Fox. It’s an action, drama, thriller, Western in need of extras. This is a paid job and you will have to be available during the work week.
Easter Sunrise Services
Hemingbough will again be the site of Easter Sunrise Services on Easter Sunday, April 12, at 7 am sharp. For more information, call 635-6617.
Easter Lunch
The Oxbow Restaurant is offering a special Easter Lunch on Sunday, April 12 from 11:30 am until 2 pm. To make reservations, phone 635-6276.
Rags & Riches
This consignment shop on Commerce Street is going out of business on May 31st so right now, she’s having a sale. There is a 20% off storewide sale with 50% off on all clothing, but all reasonable offers will be considered. The store will re-open on Wednesday, April 15th.
Live Music at The Mag
Every Friday the Magnolia Café features live musical performances on the porch starting at 7 pm. This month’s lineup includes: April 10 – John Lisi; April 17 – 5 D Band; and April 24 – Delta Drifters.
Livestock of Oakley Plantation
On Saturday, April 11, from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Audubon State Historic Site presents this program which will include talks about the different types of livestock on the plantation as well as the impact that these animals had on the plantation home. For more information call 888-677-2838 toll free or 635-3739 locally.
Antique Auction
The Bayou Sara Auction Depot will hold its monthly auction on Friday, April 17 at 6:30. Photos and additional information can be found on www.Bayou-Auction.com.
Spring Garden Stroll
Louisiana Master Gardeners of the LSU AgCenter invites you to experience four unique local gardens at this self-guided garden tour set for Saturday, April 18 from 9 am until 1 pm. The farms of Buddy Metz and Lloyd Lindsey will be featured as well as the gardens of Tina Reid at Coyote Creek and Michelle & Craig Roth at Avondale. Tour tickets are $10 and may be purchased on the day of the tour at the tour headquarters which happens to be St. Francisville Town Hall. All proceeds of the tour go to local 4-H scholarship and local farmer's market. Ticket holders are eligible for door prizes and admission to other local attractions. For more information call 225-635-3614 or email abrock@agcenter.lsu.edu. This event is sponsored by the Feliciana Horticultural Association, Ins-N-Outs Nursery, and The Myrtles Plantation.
Annual Spring Rodeo
The Wildest Show in the South returns on the weekend of April 18 and 19 when Angola Prison hosts its annual Spring Rodeo. Gates open from 9 am until 5 pm, and the rodeo begins at 2 pm. There will be a full day of fun for all with food, music, hobby crafts, kiddie land and photos with the Angola bloodhounds. For advanced tickets, call 655-2607 or 655-2030.
Lost Arts of the Nineteenth Century
On Saturday, April 18, visitors are invited to come to Rosedown, to learn about nineteenth-century arts and activities. Presented by Rosedown Interpretive Ranger James Smith, this series of monthly programming is intended to introduce and demonstrate various historic arts, activities and crafts that are little seen today. The "Lost Art" that will be presented this month is the shaving horse. During the program, Smith will explain to visitors the origins, history and use of the shaving horse in shaping wood pieces into tool handles, rounded chair pieces, canes, staffs and more. Also discussed will be how the craft has evolved over time. Smith will be presenting demonstrations of the shaving horse at the Old Garden Barn on the Rosedown grounds. The program will be held between 11 am and 3 pm. For more information, call 225-635-3110.
Antique Roses Seminar
Rosedown Plantation State Historic Site kicks off the Spring and Summer gardening seasons with a Horticultural Seminar held on the plantation grounds. On Saturday, April 18, Site Manager Patricia Aleshire will present a seminar on "Antique Roses." The lecture session will present a slide introduction and discussion of the historical background of numerous varieties of heirloom roses, as well as the care needed for these beautiful plants to thrive in a southern garden. Following the lecture, Aleshire will lead a walking tour through selected areas of Rosedown's historic gardens to view various antique rose varieties on site. The program will begin at 10 am in the Rosedown Conference Room. As a special "Free Day in the Park" program offered by the Office of State Parks, admission fees are waived for the day. For more information, call 635-3110.
Ecology at Audubon SHS
On Saturday, April 18 from 10 am until 4 pm, the interpretive staff at Audubon State Historic Site presents the Ecosystem of Oakley Pond. This program will discuss the different ecological life cycles found on the plantation and will be highlighted by the use of turtles, frogs, snails and fish. For more information call 888-677-2838 toll free or 635-3739 locally.
The Rosedown Wedding
Rosedown Plantation State Historic Site invites visitors to a day of music, dancing, graceful ladies in beautiful gowns, and handsome gentlemen in formal evening dress. On Saturday, April 25, love is in the air and two historic plantation houses and families are united on this day, as costumed re-enactors present the wedding of Sarah Turnbull of Rosedown to James Pirrie Bowman of Oakley. Dressed in 19th century-style costumes, Interpretive Rangers Sasha Traña and James Smith will depict the young bride and groom, Sarah Turnbull and James Bowman. Curator Polly Luttrull will portray Martha Turnbull, the bride's mother, and Manager Patricia Aleshire will serve as Maid of Honor, Rosina Benoist, the bride's cousin. Other site staff members will round out the cast as additional family and friends. The wedding service will be performed at 1 pm in the Carriage Court in front of the Main House, and will be followed by a reception. For more information, call 225-635-3110 in the St. Francisville area, or visit the Office of State Parks web site at www.lastateparks.com.
If you had any doubts that our State Historic Sites are not that important, then you didn’t read this edition of Happenings. There are interpretive programs every weekend this month at one or both of the sites, and most of them compliment the events that are already going on in our parish. They enhance the visitor experience and add to what the other historic homes offer in sharing our story with the world. Let your voice be heard . . . support our historic sites!
Have a very Happy Easter!
