Killarney

Killarney

Killarney, known as the home of Attorney General and Mrs. Bolivar E. Kemp.    The house was built in 1900 by John Saul.  The house was acquired by the Kemps and occupied May 1, 1934.  Bolivar Kemp Jr born in 1904, son of Bolivar and Lallie Conner Kemp,   was married to Menette Wilson in 1932.   The Kemps raised “truck crops” and livestock on their farm.  They moved to Baton Rouge after Bolivar was elected Attorney General in 1948, but came back on weekends.  Mr. Bolivar also managed Livingston Lumber Company after his father’s death. 

Killarney was named after the white Killarney Roses that grew in abundance around the place.

The long living room walls and ceiling are paneled with Louisiana cypress and gumwood, possibly a connection to Livingston Lumber Company.  There are several posting in social media describing Mr. Bolivar’s back den and card games involving Justin Wilson.  There are also descriptions of Mrs. Harry D Wilson (Mrs. Menette’s mother) playing the grand piano in the living room for guests.

Bolivar Kemp Jr died in October, 1965.  He was survived by his widow, Menette Wilson Kemp, a sister Mrs. Robert Ellis, two nieces, a nephew and a foster son Richard Tipton.

 I do not have information who the heirs to the estate were at the time of Mrs. Menette Kemp’s death. There were comments on social media that the house is now owned by a family living in New Orleans , but nothing beyond that. Any information added to comments would be appreciated.

From a booklet:  Twenty Five Years' Growth of Tangipahoa Parish, issued in 1910 by the
Illinois Central Railroad Company

AMITE LOUISIANA Amite the parish seat of Tangipahoa Parish is beautiful for location and within the past twenty five years has grown from less than 1,000 to more than 3,000 population and pays taxes on an assessed valuation of $495,560 In the vicinity of Amite is y 4,000 acres cultivated in strawberries and vegetables This is also the home of Mr. John Saal sheriff of the parish and the owner and operator of a dairy of 125 cows the milk from which is shipped to New Orleans Mr. Saal uses one of the latest improved concrete silos and his farm is an object lesson as to the possibilities of diversified farming in Tangipahoa Parish Improved lands within a radius of five miles of Amite are selling at from $25.00 to $75.00 and unimproved at from $12.00 to $25.00 per acre

One of the dormer window looks out on what was Mr. Saul’s dairy farm.

An old silo remains

 Information for this posting is from articles in The Morning Advocate dated April 25, 1948 and October 29, 1965.   Thank you to Robert D. Vernon for newspaper research.

Greenlawn

                        Greenlawn

                                 Before 1900

In 1873 Mrs. Sarah Stewart Edwards, wife of Bolivar Edwards acquired all of Square 16 and built their home on the corner.  Later, they moved that home next door to the East, where it still stands and built Greenlawn

I spent some time here taking pictures the morning of February 12^th. Then when I got home and saw these images, I remembered my Mother and Father’s stories

They talked about living here, in a little apartment, upstairs on the left.  My Mother worked at the bank; a hurricane was coming; and Mr. Frank Patnotte wanted to keep the bank open as long as he could.   He gave in and told my mother he would give her a ride home.  My father was sitting on the porch when they got there.

Checking the records for details, the storm (no name) was in September, 1947; the eye of the storm passed over New Orleans. It must have been an experience to stay upstairs in this house as the storm passed over.

The porch at Greenlawn is in bad shape.  It appears much of the porch is original to the time they lived there.

Miss Dean (Varnado) lived downstairs, during the time my parents lived there.   They moved to Cherry Street shortly before I was born in January 1949.  I can remember them bringing me, as a small child back to see her, at Christmas time

.

This is the house the Edwards built first, that they moved to the east.  During my time, Mr and Mrs Luther lived here.   This is a dated photo .  Much repair has been done.