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.