It took three parish presidents and one Barbara Ourso for the renovations to move forward on our Ascension Parish Courthouse. Meetings began in 1999 at the Chamber office when the idea occurred to return the Courthouse to its single courtroom.

Chamber director, Barbara Ourso, agreed to chair the Governmental Committee to bring all the parties involved in the renovation of the Courthouse.

Thursday, October 5th, state, parish, and local dignitaries gathered to commemorate the completion of the renovation project. A reception was hosted by the parish government and the Donaldsonville Chamber of Commerce.

Chamber president, Malcolm Dugas, served as master of ceremonies. Plaques of appreciation were handed out to Henry Chauvin, architect on the project and to Charles Cassard, project supervisor for Stafford Construction.

The Nicholls Bar and Billiard Hall was located on the 400 block of Mississippi Street owned by Fred Rogge. Rogge was the owner and operator of the renowned Nicholls Hotel which was named after Civil War hero, governor, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and Donaldsonville native Francis T. Nicholls. The hotel was consumed by fire on February 22, 1911, along with a major portion of the downtown area. Rogge rebuilt the Nicholls Bar in its place. Today the building houses Jay’s pharmacy.

Pictured at the economic development summit held in June are WBR Parish President Riley Berthelot, Marc Barker, WBR Chamber, Rick Ward, Associaiton of Louisiana Electrical Cooperatives, Debbie Peltier, Jay Garner, Atlanta based Competitive Stragegies Group, and Becky Katz.

Regional cooperation was the theme of the economic development conference the Donaldsonville Chamber of Commerce was invited to attend in June at the Manship Theatre. The summit was organized by the Baton Rouge Area Chamber of Commerce.

When companies are looking for a location that allows them to succeed in business it is likely no one will know about their arrival into our area. That is why it is so important for us to be ready.

Having curve appeal at our entrances to our city is vital to an interested party. The gateways to our city serve as an introduction of our community. That can entice them to enter or possibly turn them around. It is important to build a positive image along with maintaining our unique Historic District.

Enticing companies to expand or relocate to our community is a continuous process. This secures new jobs and investments along with creating jobs which in turn enhances our tax base. New businesses encourage likely spin-offs by boosting our reputation as a pro-business community.

To insure success in attracting new business, we must recognize our unique assets and invest in the infrastructure while paying attention to the existing businesses. We must create a business friendly environment.

By being prepared we never stop investing in the quality of life in our community. We must play on our strengths.

The Sotile Home

Tucked in the arc of Crescent Park the home of Jason and Sara Sotile will be open for the ASHA Tour of Homes Christmas on the Bayou, Sunday December 3rd.

The home located at 106 Crescent Park was built in the early 1900’s by Joe Mason. It is one of the few homes in our Historic District with the Victorian camelback style of architecture.

Renovations were done in 2000 to the 1950 square foot home. The home has three bedrooms and one bath with thirteen foot alcove ceilings. Three original gas fireplaces are located throughout the home.

The floors in the kitchen and hall area are the original cypress. The stainless steel kitchen island was once used in the former Lafitte’s Landing restaurant.

It has been said that the property was once used as a storage yard for the ice company.

About a block away is the home of Dianne Dugas at 202 Chetimatches Street. This lovely Louisiana raised cottage was built by Dr. Beauville Claverie in the early 1870’s during the city’s postbellum reconstruction period. During its approximate 130 year history this house was home to only the families and descendents of Dr. Claverie, Louis Maurin, and Felix Moreau. The home was acquired in 1999 by Dianne Dugas.

Originally the home was a two and one-half story simple structure to which was later added a front and side gallery and three small rooms. The galleries are adorned with unusual and distinctively patterned late 19th century hand railings. As occurred frequently in Creole floor plans, the rear range of rooms on the second floor consists of an open loggia with a small room at each end.

The Dugas Home

Except for the home’s pine flooring, only indigenous cypress, red clay, and other local materials were used in construction. The basic structure of the house is heavy timber frame filled with brick between posts. Although some of the brick walls were allowed to remain exposed after renovation, most of the brick infill is plastered over or covered with lap siding.

Of particular architectural interest is the design’s accommodation to comfortable living in the hot humid climate of the lower Mississippi River delta. The house is raised one story above the ground on a basement of masonry construction in order to protect it from the flood waters of the Mississippi River and to allow circulation of air currents under the living quarters. The ground floor was used mainly for storage. Unique to the home, the entrance hall on the main floor encompasses an oculus which is an elliptical opening in the hall’s high ceiling. It is designed so that heat moving up to it can move through to the upper floor and then the roof’s shingles/shakes to be replaced by cooler air.

This Louisiana raised cottage is a fine example of the adaptation of rural French architecture to the Louisiana climate.

Tickets for this event will be on sale at the Chamber office.