The Power of Paint

This handsome reverse Eichler on Pershing Avenue was rejuvenated in 2018 with fresh paint, white with grey trim.   It is truly an example of the power of paint in preservation.

2018

2016

Fred Barksdale Architecture

One of the great local architects, Fred Barksdale, designed two homes in the Post-War Suburbs, the exceptional contemporary house at 2829 Elliott and the quite unusual house at 3016 Elliott, with its great curving wall.


 

2829 Elliott

3016 Elliott

You may want to be a part of a very special function being sponsored by the Historical Association of Central Louisiana on 4/9/2016 for a one time only tour of the notable home of Harold Poole in Forest Hill. This nationally acclaimed home is the final work of the late Fred Barksdale.  Click here for more information.

For more information



Beyond the Bayou - January 2015

Here’s a little history about the development of the neighborhoods that are included in the Alexandria Post-War Suburbs.  Most of the following has been extracted from the narrative of the registration form resulting in the 2013 listing of the district on the National Register of Historic Places.

As is typical of post-World War II subdivisions, any given house is located roughly in the middle of the lot with a broad expanse of lawn in the front. The large lots with ample front lawns epitomize the escape-from-the-crowded-city concept that was much a part of the suburban rationale. In terms of designed landscape features, there are a notable number of period low planter boxes built of the same brick as the house.

City directories reveal the pace of construction in the district. In the immediate post-war years, twenty-three houses were built. Clearly the period of intense construction was 1951-56, when half of the district's houses were built. Roughly one-fourth were built in the late 1950s/early 60's.

If your home is in the Post-War Suburbs and you have a story to share, please email me at info@midcenturyalex.org 

Beyond the Bayou - October 2014

In our Post-War Suburbs National Register Historic District we find many homes with interesting architectural elements.  Lacey ornamental iron posts are sometimes found on more traditional looking ranch houses, while more modern-looking ranch houses might feature posts with striking geometrical forms.

On a cool Fall day, take a walk through the district and you will find much beauty in these historic homes.   Download walking tour brochures.

Beyond the Bayou - September 2014

In a historic district are historic homes, many with interesting architectural elements, and some with interesting stories.  The original owner, Dr. Malcolm Denley, still lives in this ranch house at 3015 Stimson Ave.

Description
The National Register listing describes this home which was built in 1955 as “brick veneer ranch house with multiple low hip roofs; overhanging eaves; horizontal pane windows; and a decorative concrete block screen providing privacy for a front courtyard and entrance.”  Dr. Denley indicates that the original carport was enclosed as a rec room.

Dr. Denley’s stories
Malcolm and his late wife, Dee, moved to Alexandria in 1954 when he was 30 years old.  They raised three sons and three daughters in this house which was built in 1955.  He recalls that there were 5 or 6 other houses on the block when his house was built by Lloyd and Leon Desselle whose father bought part of the Petrus Plantation to develop the cotton fields.  Texas Ave. was a gravel road.

There were many children in the neighborhood, and they would be outside playing “kick the can” in the street or in the back yard playing basketball.  People stayed outside socializing in those days; there wasn’t that much TV, and the street was safe for the kids.  A neighbor, Mr. Wertz, would hail down any cars that would speed by.   Neighbors socialized and there were many dinner parties.

The Denleys stayed in this home over the years; one of the big reasons was “location, location, location.”  Being a pediatrician, Dr. Denley was close to both hospitals and his office on Jackson Extension.  For the children, Huddle Elementary School and Alexandria Junior High School were just a block or two away.  When Wayne Denley was in junior high, some of his friends (“Jock” Scott, Brenner Sadler, and Billy May) would ride their bikes  to the Denleys’, park the bikes and then walk to school together.  “They didn’t want the girls to see them on their bikes.  It was an image thing.” relates Dr. Denley.   “We always enjoyed living here.”

Beyond the Bayou - August 2014

In a historic district are historic homes, many with interesting architectural elements, and some with interesting stories.  The attractive ranch style home at 3011 Madonna Drive on the corner of Hunter Street has both.

Description (from the National Register listing)
Built between 1951 and 1956. Brick veneer “rambler” ranch house with multiple low hip roofs and overhanging eaves. Located on a corner lot, the house rambles to the rear at a roughly 45 degree angle from the main block, ending in a carport set at a 90 degree angle. Other features include lacey iron posts at the porch; a three-part picture window; numerous horizontal pane window units, grouped in twos and threes; and what appears to be an original door. The door features various molded vertical panels.
(Note:  The house was significantly damaged by the Christmas Day tornado of 2012.  During the restoration, the carport was replaced by a garage.)

A story about the house
Versions of this story were told to me by both the home owner and a neighbor, each of whom were provided with information by former neighbors.  Considering the sources, I believe the story to be true.
I was told that the house was built for former three time Governor Earl K. Long who lived in it with his wife, Blanche.  He suffered a fatal heart attack in 1960 while in the Baptist Hospital (later Rapides General Hospital) in Alexandria.  Some artifacts from the Governor’s mansion (or some other building) in Baton Rouge were found in the attic after the present owner purchased the house in 1986. There is more to the story than I have shared; let that be “the rest of the story”.

1st Year Anniversary on National Register

It's been a year since our mid-century modern neighborhood was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  Our district was the first mid-century modern district in Louisiana to be listed.  Happy anniversary!

Historic House Fair on White Street

On a beautiful Spring morning, the Alexandria Historic Preservation Commission sponsored the Historic House Fair in the 1900 block of White Street in the National Register Garden District.  Booths along the street provided information about old homes, preservation, antique wood, historic Bolton High School, several non-profits, researching your old home, open houses, tax credits, and other topics. Hundreds of neighbors attended and enjoyed the festive occasion accompanied by jazz and period music and guided trolley tours of the historic Garden District.

View videos of a trolley tour guided by Jackson Sleet, member of the Historical Association of Central Louisiana:

• Part 1 (14:02)
• Part 2 (14:05)
• Part 3 (4:39)

and a quick tour along the block (1:04).

 

Visit AHPC on Facebook for many photos.

Celebration Photos and News

We celebrated in style with a great block party!  So many people from within the district and from the community enjoyed the morning.  We had great tours of the district on the A-Town trolley led by Paul Smith, preservation consultant; approximately 150 people had the opportunity to enjoy the guided tour, seeing the historic houses and learning of the architectural elements of the houses.   Self-guided walking tours were also available.  

Taking It 2 the Street provided outstanding entertainment by highly talented local artists

Young entrepreneurs provided lemonade and popcorn

Photos of the event - album
Article from The Town Talk - .pdf
Mayor Roy kicking off the celebration - video
Michelle Willis - Taking It to the Streets - video
Ashleigh Klein - Taking it to the Streets - video
Mackenzie Lynn - Taking it to the Streets - video

We thank the City of Alexandria, the Alexandria Historic Preservation Commission, Taking It 2 the Street and the talented performers, and all who helped make this celebration an event to remember!  We thank the residents of the historic district for preserving these very special homes.  We thank all who attended the event. 

The Celebration is History

What a special day it was as we celebrated the historic district.  If you were there, you  were a part of history.  Neighbors throughout the district came together, and we were joined by friends throughout the community and other parts of CENLA.  Thanks to all for being a part of it!  And special thanks to Megan Lord and the Alexandria Historic Preservation Commission for making it happen!

Watch for photos and videos of the celebration.

Post-War Suburbs Celebration presented by the Alexandria Historic Preservation Commission

The celebration will recognize the listing of the Alexandria Post-War Suburbs Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places. Residents of the district and the Alexandria community will be celebrating Louisiana’s first mid-century modern National Register historic district.  Be a part of it!

When:            Saturday, 7/13, 10 a.m. to noon
Where:          In the district gathering on Kimball Ave. near the corner of Madonna Dr.
Activities: 

• Welcome Remarks – The Honorable Jacques Roy, Mayor of the City of Alexandria
• Guided tours on the trolley bus departing about every 30 minutes (approx. 25 passengers). The route starts on Kimball near Madonna, then west on Madonna, south on Pierson, west on Elliott, north on Maryland, east on Pershing, and south on Kimball.
• Walking tours available – Self-guided throughout the district; brochures will be available or you may download.  For detailed descriptions of the houses on the tour, view or download here.   Use caution on streets.  Homes are not open; please do not go on properties.
• Entertainment – Taking It 2 the Street will host a ‘block party’ 
• News coverage - TV, radio, and newspaper

Coming to the celebration from outside the district?  To avoid congestion, consider parking outside the district as there will be trolley tours and self-guided walking tours within the district.  If driving into the district, consider turning from Texas Ave. on to Stimson Ave.


We expect to have traffic blocked (except to residents) in these areas:

• on Kimball from the corner of Pershing to around the corner of Madonna and Pierson
• on Elliott from Pierson to Maryland

View TV coverage from KALB-TV from July 5.

A-Town trolley

Banners in the District

 Today the city completed hanging ten banners around the district.  A few were hung on Friday, and it was pleasing to hear so many people comment about how nice they look and how meaningful it is to have this district listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Thanks to the Alexandria Historic Preservation Commission and the City of Alexandria for supporting the district in so many ways including these fine banners!

Stand by for an announcement in coming days about an upcoming celebration.

The Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places!

Today the Director of the National Park Service announced for the National Register of Historic Places that the Alexandria Post-War Suburbs Historic District was listed on June 6, 2013.  Read the announcement.

More information is available about the listing on National Register of Historic Places website. 

Let's celebrate Louisiana's first mid-century modern historic district!
(Mark the tentative date of July 13 on your calendar.  More to come.)

Photo credit:  Alexandria Historic Preservation Commission

Historic District Meeting - Monday, 4/22, 6 p.m.

Please join us for a neighborhood meeting to discuss the proposed historic district.
When:  Monday, 4/22, 6 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Where:  Emmanuel Baptist Church, Fellowship Hall, 430 Jackson St.
               (Enter through door under covered parking)
Objectives:

• Update residents of the proposed historic district on progress and future opportunities
• Inform about tax credits and mid-century modern architecture
• Receive input from neighbors on historic district topics

Agenda:

•  Welcome, introductions, and meeting objectives
  Joe Betty Sterkx, Chair, AHPC 
• Historic District proposal – progress and expectations
  Megan Lord, Director, AHPC
• Tax Credits and Preservation
  Paul Smith, Historic Preservation Consulting
• Mid-Century Modern Architecture
  Paul Smith and Megan Lord
• Communications and resources
  Dave Curry, communicator for the proposed district    
• Potential activities, community input, Q&A           
  Bubba Jones and Dave Curry

This meeting is open to the public.

Historic District featured on KALB News

KALB Channel 5 discussed the proposed historic district on news at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. View these videos:

 

News at 5 including interview with homeowner Dave Curry

News at 6 including interview with homeowner James Brocato

Also today, Megan Lord, Director of the Alexandria Historic Preservation Commission, shared that the newly renovated home at 2822 Madonna Ave. has been honored with this month's Preservation in Progress Award.

Nomination approved by State Review Committee

Alexandria supporters with Committee Chairman, Mayor Lynn Lewis

The National Register Review Committee for Louisiana approved the nomination in Baton Rouge on 3/21/2013, so the Alexandria Post War Suburbs Historic District NR nomination is on its way to Washington, D.C. for approval by the Secretary of the Interior.  The national review is expected to occur in the next few months.

Delores Brewer, Director of Planning for the City of Alexandria, read a proclamation by Mayor Roy declaring March 21, 2013 as "Alexandria Post-War Suburbs Historic District Day".

Donna Fricker, as a preparer of the nomination, presented the nomination to the committee. 
(View an 11 minute video of the presentation.)

AHPC Preservation in Progress Award for March

The Alexandria Historic Preservation Commission presents their March 2013 Preservation in Progress award not to a single homeowner, but to an entire neighborhood, the area encompassing the proposed historic district!  This is a great honor for the residents of the proposed district.

Read about this in the March issue of the CENLA Focus.  It's on p. 76 of the issue. 
          

Follow AHPC on Facebook for updates

Letter from Office of the Lieutenant Governor

2/19/2013

Read this letter to Mayor Roy from Pat Duncan, Assistant Secretary and State Historic Preservation Officer, formally notifying him of the state review panel's consideration of the nomination and a map showing the location of the visitors' center where the review will take place.  Similar letters were sent to state and federal legislative representatives.

Attached to the letter are:

• instructions to comment on, support, or object to listing on the National Register
• directions and map to Capitol Park Welcome Center

Neighborhood Development

(extracted from the draft proposal)

Map

The district includes all or part of five small contiguous subdivisions of land: Petrus Heights (the largest), Mattie O. Ball, Mimosa Place, Kent Addition-East of MacArthur, and DeSelle (the smallest, with only five lots). Their plats date from between 1937 and 1942, although they did not develop until the post-war years. Because it would be inaccurate and misleading to name the district for any of the subdivisions, the name Alexandria Post-War Suburbs Historic District was chosen.

All of the subdivisions are examples of land subdivided by private landowners (known as “subdividers” in modern subdivision history terminology). Individuals then purchased a lot and built whatever they wished. This is in sharp contrast to the look of subdivisions developed by “merchant builders,” wherein a developer purchased the land and built the houses to various models. The “subdivider” development pattern is responsible for the greater variety (and greater architectural interest) found in the nominated district.

It also appears that some of the houses (a minority) may have been speculatively built – i.e., a contractor bought a few lots, built some houses, and sold them.

The layouts of the five subdivisions noted above follow a traditional city grid pattern, although the blocks are typically larger and the lots much wider. There is a notable absence of the curving streets and cul-de-sacs so typical of subdivisions laid out in the post-war years.  Blocks are square, rectangular, and irregular in shape (the latter due to three angled streets (Kimball, Hunter and Pierson – see map). Kimball Avenue takes its orientation from Bayou Hynson.

Elliott Street is a continuation of the same named street that begins in an early twentieth century suburb of the city. Otherwise, the district’s streets were cut when the subdivisions were platted.

As is typical of post-WWII subdivisions, any given house is located roughly in the middle of the lot with a broad expanse of lawn in the front. The large lots with ample front lawns epitomize the escape-from-the-crowded-city concept that was much a part of the suburban rationale. In terms of designed landscape features, there are a notable number of period low planter boxes built of the same brick as the house.

City directories reveal the pace of construction in the district. In the immediate post-war years, twenty-three houses were built. Clearly the period of intense construction was 1951-56, when half of the district’s houses were built. Roughly one-fourth were built in the late 1950s/early 60’s.

Contributing and Non-contributing Elements

(extracted from the draft proposal)

CONTRIBUTING ELEMENTS
The period of significance for the district is 1945-1963 (see explanation in Part 8). Contributing elements include ranch houses and contemporary houses. Per consultation with NPS, two houses outside this period are being counted as contributing because they are close in age and are similar in architectural character to 50-plus year old buildings in the district. One is a ranch house built in 1964 (#109). The other is the home of local architect Thilo Steinschulte, built in 1968 (#85). It reflects the design ethos of an important component of the district – contemporary houses.

NON-CONTRIBUTING ELEMENTS
There are only 14 non-contributing buildings in the district. They are either (1) fifty-plus year old houses that do not contribute to the dominant architectural character of the district (i.e., not ranch houses or contemporary houses); (2) a severely altered contemporary house with an Eichler roof; and (3) houses that are less than 50 years old (and not close enough to the 50 year cutoff and reflective of the district’s architectural character to count as contributing).