Fred Barksdale Mid-century Classic

A custom contemporary mid-century gem at 2829 Elliott St. is currently listed.  This historic home in the Post-War Suburbs National Register Historic District was designed by Alexandria's great 20th century architect, Fred Barksdale.

From the National Register nomination, "A spreading, flat roof, single story contemporary residence occupying the corner of Elliott and Hunter streets. The design, which borrows from the European International Style and Frank Lloyd Wright, is strongly three-dimensional. It makes frequent and marked use of the right angle, often in a dramatic way. The layout is very cross- axial. The main linear body runs parallel to Hunter Street, ending in a wide carport with an extended overhang. At ninety degrees to the main block are a carport driveway, blank carport end wall, and a wall along the driveway that extends to create a forecourt."

Partners in Preservation - LA Preservation Conference

Select here for more info

There will be big goings on downtown on May 18-19 when the Louisiana Annual Preservation Conference is hosted in Alexandria at the Hotel Bentley.  This is an annual event which brings preservationists from around the state together, and we welcome the event and all attendees to our downtown as well as to our Post-War Suburbs Historic District.

On Friday afternoon, May 19, some attendees will be taking self-guided tours of our mid-century modern National Register Historic District.  There are 149 homes in the historic district, of which all but 14 are contributing elements.  We welcome preservationists to our district and wish you all an enjoyable and safe tour.  Please exercise caution, especially on Elliott Street as it is a through street.

For tour information, select this link or the Tours tab.

For conference information, click on the image.

Golden Raintree

The golden raintree at 3016 Elliott Street adds a nice touch to this out-of-the-ordinary mid-century modern home designed by Fred Barksdale in our Alexandria Post-War Suburbs National Register Historic District.

Fall Beauty in our Historic District

Along with the architectural beauty that comes with the mid-century modern architecture of the Alexandria Post-War Suburbs National Register Historic District, there is much beauty from the plants and foliage.

On my walk this morning, this Pyracantha against the weathered white wall along Pierson Street off of Elliott Street was just stunning.  Enjoy the view.

Renaissance Ramble

The November-December 2016 issue of Louisiana Life magazine has a wonderful article about the renaissance that is occurring in downtown Alexandria, much due to the vision and ability to implement great restorations by Michael Jenkins.  While our midcentury modern historic district (Louisiana's first of its kind on the National Register of Historic Places) gracefully ages, our city's downtown is coming alive!

Save the Dairy Barn Fundraiser

It's not post-war and it's not mid-century, but the Dairy Barn on the property of the Central Louisiana State Hospital overlooking Buhlow Lake is certainly worth saving.  If you can attend this event, you are encouraged to register early as seating is limited.  Doors will open at 6 p.m. and beverages and cheese will be served as folks gather.

 

What – Save the Dairy Barn Fundraiser

When – Tuesday, August 30 at 6:30 p.m.

Where - BrainSurge, 1260-G Texas Avenue, Alexandria 
(between Wildwood Pizza and Sylvan Learning Center)

Registration encouraged – seating is limited - www.brainsurge.biz/register

Cost - $12 (proceeds to Save the Dairy Barn Fund at Central Louisiana Community Foundation)

 

Dave Curry and Nathan Martin of the Save the Dairy Barn at Buhlow Lake Committee will provide an informative program you don’t want to miss.  Most everyone in CENLA is aware of the old Dairy Barn, an historic icon atop the hill on the property of the Central Louisiana State Hospital overlooking Buhlow Lake in Pineville.  But do you know the history of the barn, its current condition, progress, plans, and challenges to preserve it?  What may be the future of the barn?  Learn some answers and share dreams and ideas of what it could become.

Saturday, 4/9-Tour of Harold Poole Home

Tour this beautiful mid-century modern home, the last home designed by architect Fred Barksdale.

Purchase Tickets

Selling your mid-century house?

You should read this great blog on the subject.

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