The Natchitoches Historic Foundation (NHF) met Tuesday, Aug. 9 at the Cunningham Law Office for its monthly meeting. Members are preparing for the upcoming Characters, Customs, and Crypts Tour.
The club started the year in June with its best foot forward by being awarded the 2016 Louisiana Culture Awards for Preservation Education from the Office of Lt. Governor, Billy Nungesser. The NHF received the award for its work to heighten the historical significance of the American Cemetery, one of Louisiana’s oldest burial sites. The club did this by developing and implementing the Characters, Customs, and Crypts Tour and Mourning Memorabilia Display and presenting it for the public, and then again for 8th grade students last October.
NHF members and students from the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts reenacted vignettes depicting the lives of historically significant people interred in the American Cemetery. Mourning artifacts connected to present and past traditions of death and dying during the 19th and 20th centuries were also shared. Last year over 500 people attended the tours. This year’s tours are scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 1 for the public and Wednesday, Oct. 5 for school groups.
The NHF is also making repairs to the Mildred Bailey Park and looking at ways to improve and prepare the Cunningham Law Office for rental purposes.
The flooding of the Downtown Riverbank took a toll on the Roque House and the NHF has stayed in contact with FEMA for funding to repair and restore the historic building.
The Mildred Park needs more lighting. At night and late evening you’ll break your neck, a libillity to the city. The neighborhood residents will then enjoy the use of it with get togethers in the evening in different activities instance of just being “Curb Appeal”.