100 Years Ago in Amite City

Times-Picayune March 15, 1916

FLAMES MENACE IMPORTANT PART OF AMITE CITY

     Destroy Both Annexes of Hotel and Two Residences; Loss Set at $25,000.

 Amite City, La., March 14.--This place was visited by a very disastrous fire today at 10 o'clock, and for an hour or more the flames spread rapidly, entailing a property loss estimated at $25,000.

The fire originated in the right annex in the Campbell Hotel, one of the oldest hostelries in Amite City. Before being discovered the flames had gained great headway and the fire department was badly handicapped. The bucket brigade did good work, in the absence of regular fire fighting apparatus. A strong wind from the southwest fanned the fire, until at one time it looked as though the entire section visited would be destroyed.

The main building of the hotel was saved, but both of the annexes went up in smoke. Situated near, and practically adjoining the right annex, wa a residence owned by Dr. G.O. Sanders. This was destroyed. The residence owned by the Atkinson estate and occupied by Joseph Palmier, on the corner of Oak and Laurel streets, was burned. The home of Louis Lefevre was saved, also the residences across the street from the scene of the conflagration.

Dr. J.R. Johnson's residence was discovered on fire shortly after the hotel but by aid  of citizens it was saved.

Assistance was summoned from Hammond and the fire company there sent an engine and twenty-five men, the motor truck making the run of sixteen miles in less than forty minutes. Before the arrival of the Hammond firemen, the flames practically had been subdued. The Illinois Central sent a freight engine here from Hammond and the water in the tender was utilized by the bucket brigade.

Insurance carried will amount to  perhaps one-third of the total loss. Mrs. Campbell, proprietor of the hotel, lost $150 in cash, besides losing all furnishings, etc., in several rooms. Arthur Bender, manager of Campbell's Opera House, had $2,000 in currency in his room, but this was saved by Joe Ogle, who boarded at the hotel.

The question of waterworks was discussed at a meeting of the icty council Monday night and the fire today will prove a stimulant toward getting this much needed improvement here. It is understood that the council approved the plans of X.A. Kramer, of Magnolia, Miss., for the installation of a system of waterworks at an expenditure of about $50,000. The election to get the sense of the voters will be held at an early date. It is believed that the taxpayers will vote waterworks

Neola Farm

Neola Farm – A place of beauty,  of tragedy , of silent sadness.

Neola Farm 1968

Burned 4-7-2014

Percy Luzenburg McCay was a well known and progressive businessman from New Orleans. His name was well known in Louisiana and in the cotton industry around the year 1900.  Time takes its toll and now, over 100 years after his death, his name has very little recognition in Amite City.  Percy L. McCay is buried in the Amite Cemetery, but what is his story?

In 1886-1887 Percy Luzenburg McCay and George DeRussey purchased land near Amite to create a model farm which was named “Neola Farm.” The new landowners apparently had more than farming in mind because both of these men married Amite women shortly after establishing Neola.  Mr. McCay won the hand of Eleanor “Nellie” Conner and Mr. DeRussey married Miss Minnie Lotspeich. After a few years  Neola became the property of the McCays as the DeRussey’s moved to South Louisiana to work in the sugar industry.

The McCay family shared time between Neola and their home in New Orleans.  The marriage of Percy L. McCay and Nellie Conner resulted in the births of Edith Luzenberg McCay, Anna Conner McCay, Percy Luzenberg McCay, Jr. and Thompson McCay. Of note to the Amite area is that Anna Conner McCay was the first wife of Robert Stephen Ellis, Jr. She died early in their marriage.

Mr. McCay grew up in New Orleans and attended college in Virginia. McCay graduated with distinction and was valedictorian of his class at Locust Dale College. McCay began his career in the cotton brokerage  firm of W.B. Thompson and Co. He started work as an office boy and clerk but rose though the ranks. He served in just about every position at the firm until finally he became a partner were he remained until his death in 1903. 

After the death of her husband Nellie Conner McCay continued to be active in Amite activities.  One of her sisters, Lallie Conner, married Bolivar E. Kemp. 

Neola remains in the hands of the McCay family but the noted home there burned in 2014. The grounds there are still quite beautiful.

Watermelon at Neola Farm. Image located at www.nuckollswebsite.com. Pictured left to right; Lillie Lotspeich,  Mr. DeRussy, Nellie Conner, Mr. Adams, Lallie Conner, Mr. McCay, Mr. Conner, Mr. Rugely, Minnie Lotspeich.

An ad from May 1, 1887 Times Picayune

Thank you to Robert D. Vernon for the history, the research,  and guide to grave sites.

Goldsby's Drug Store

Goldsby's Drug Store

Edwin Schillng in his book “Amite Now and Then”, writes about the Northeast Corner of Square 9 which  for many years was the location of Guaranty Bank.  He says “The building on the corner was built in 1926 as a bank building and was used for that purpose for a number of years.  It has been donated to Amite.   The building that formerly occupied that corner was the residence and business location of J.J. Lautier.  The next three buildings were built at about the same time.  The building adjacent to the bank was built by Mr. Hugh Goldsby.  He utilized the North portion for his drug store and the South portion was occupied by the post office.

Mr. Goldsby in the white coat.  We suspected this may be early in the life of the drugstore, so this picture may date back to the 1920's.

Capdau's used the same soda fountain .

The Annex

The Annex

The history and information on The Annex comes from two sources.

First from an article titled “The Beginning of the End”, written by Ann Pugh Doherty for the Sunday Advocate, Baton Rouge, La April 26, 1970.  The Second source is a narrative written by Eleanor Ellis for this Amite City Living History.

Ann  Doherty states the origins are lost in obscurity , but available evidence indicates it was built in 1852 by Mr. Korn, had a number of owners until bought by J.M. Wright family who occupied it for a number of years.  In May, 1886 Thomas Cargill Warner Ellis (TCW Ellis) acquired the house and 70 acres from Mrs. Martha Warren of New Orleans. It remained in the Ellis family until 1960, when Dr James Lenoir of New Orleans bought it.

Eleanor Ellis writes: I don't know who the first occupants were. Possibly some people from New Orleans - people from New Orleans used to come to Amite in the summers to escape the disease and heat of the city. (at one point the Werleins would rent the Annex in the summer, they were around Mama's age, Lorraine Werlein was always a good friend of Mama's, and Betty Werlein, who married Hodding Carter, and I imagine their brothers and parents) At any rate, the Annex was a smaller house at the time, just the back part of the house as I understand it. After the original owners Judge TCW Ellis bought the house and lived there with his two unmarried daughters, Sarah and a daughter called Nini (real name, Martina, named after Martina Virginia Hamilton Ellis). Eventually TCW added the front part of the Annex, the rooms and porch etc.  

Doherty goes further to say (quoting Ellis family members) that TCW Ellis and his wife Martina turned the house into a show place. Martina died in 1891.  In 1908 Ellis and his two daughters had the house extensively remodeled adding the gallery and several rooms.  The Annex contained nineteen rooms, all of them downstairs.  The upstairs was never completed and the imposing stairway leads only to an attic. He called it the Annex as he liked to think of it as an annex to his father's home Ingleside, located not far away.

Eleanor continues the story:   After them, it was lived in by Uncle Bullit Grant and his wife, Aunt Ollie Ellis Grant. They at first lived at Birdwood , then moved into the Annex, I suppose TCW and the two daughters had died by then. After Aunt Ollie died, Heloise Ellis Raacke and her sons Tippy (Norbert) and Stephen lived there with Uncle Bullitt. After he died he left the house to Heloise and Martina Ellis Buck. They sold it to Jim Lenore, who indicated he wanted to repair it and fix it up and live there, and he never did that, although he owned it for a long time. By the time Graden Clemons bought it, there had been so much damage and neglect that it was too late to save the house. There is an old camellia bush in the front yard which my sister Martina once told me is over 100 years old. That seems to be most of what is left. 

Doherty closes with quotes from Mrs. Heloise Raacke (TCW Ellis’ granddaughter) that help was impossible to get, that by that time the house had obtained a reputation for being haunted.  Mrs. Heloise is quoted “You know how people are about old houses, they claim they heard a strange noise and so forth.  I never saw or heard anything unusual the whole time I lived there.”

Ann Doherty writes that neighbors will not go near the place, many swear they see flickering light through the windows at night.  A large owl which can be seen flying around the house in the moonlight is enough to keep the most adventuresome away.

Thank you to Eleanor Ellis for input and to Robert Vernon for newspaper research.

The Annex- Revisited

We went back to see the hundred year old camellia, parked in the Clemons drive and  started taking pictures.  Laura Clemons road up on her bike shortly after we arrived; after introductions and a friendly visit, we asked was there anything else left of the old place.  With super southern friendliness she offered to show us.   So instead of shooting us, she invited us in.  Gradon arrived shortly after and showed us the photos of the place when they bought it.  They showed us how they used the shutters, inside columns, and  the pocket doors they saved from the old house in their new home.   When we thanked them and bid them farewell; leaving thru the front door, they explained that they had placed the new front door in almost the exact same spot  where the old one had been.  We looked across the lawn and thought the view must be much the same, with so many of the live oaks saved.  We came away feeling that although they were unable to save the old place, they saved what they could and showed respect for where it had been.

100 Years Ago in Amite City

From The Times-Picayune March 8, 1916

ELABORATE FLOATS IN AMITE CARNIVAL

  Two Thousand Tangipahoa Residents See Pageant. Business Houses Close.

 

Amite, City, La., March 7.--The Amite Carnival, which this year was under the management and direction of the Woodmen of the World, took place here today. Ideal spring weather prevailed and the pageant, which included some fifty gorgeous floats, was witnessed by fully two thousand persons. All places of business were closed.

The parade was led by Grand Marshal H.N. Saal and the following assistant marshals: Dr. J.H. Beatty, ex-Mayor Mixon and G.M. Scarle. Then followed the Woodmen of the World brass band, the Tangipahoa Scouts, under the command of Capt. Davis and Lieutenants Burnham and Sanders, and the Boy Scouts, commanded by Scout Leader Helmich. A.S. Cartwright was king. He rode in a chariot of royal purple and gold and the keys of the city were turned over to him by Mayor Kopfler, who delivered a brief address of welcome. Miss Mina King was queen and the following were her maids: Misses Annie Sternberger, Althelea Saal, Corinne Akers, Helen Bostick, Clotilde Stanfield, Lillian Belle and Frances Turner.

The carnival concluded with a masquerade ball in the armory of the Tangipahoa Scouts with the king, the queen and their court