My town, Mandeville, Louisiana Google Maps link was founded by Jean-Bernard Xavier Philippe de Marigny de Mandeville. He was a French-Creole American nobleman, whose family once entertained the future king of France, King Louis Philippe. Local stories say that they had gold dinnerware made just for the visit, and after threw it in all in the Mississippi River, because nobody else would be good enough to eat off it again! At first there was just a sugar plantation, which is now a State park, Fontainebleau State Park, but the town of Mandeville was incorporated in 1840 as a summer holiday spot for wealthy New Orleans Creoles.
We have many historic spots here in Mandeville. Instead of tearing down old homes, many businesses are inside them. Sure modern buildings have been built also, but our small town has kept it’s charm. And some of those homes predate the town, they are from the late 1700s! The thing I am most proud of is that most of these centuries old homes turned businesses have installed ramps for the disabled. The creole style of home has wide doorways and open porches, but is raised with many stairs. So even though these homes would be exempt due to their age, many of these small business owners still install ramps to be inclusive to all.
The POI I would like to highlight today started as Dew Drop Social and Benevolent Association. You can find it here on Google Maps! At the end of the Civil War, on May 5, 1885, a group of African American residents of Mandeville, created the Dew Drop Social and Benevolent Association. At first they provided things like caring for the ill, providing food, helping with funerals, and housing. Ten years later they built a small wooden building on Lamarque Street, laid a cornerstone, both which still stand today!
According to the Hall’s official website "The hall on Lamarque Street, unpainted and nestled in a grove of ancient live oaks, is now considered the world’s oldest virtually unaltered rural jazz dance hall. It was built the same year that scholars agree was the year of the birth of traditional jazz in New Orleans.” Jazz legend Louis Armstrong played at the Dew Drop before taking jazz around the world!
Today the Dew Drop Jazz And Social Club, now owned by the City of Mandeville, still holds about 12 concerts a year, with the little building jam packed, people sitting on the antique church pews inside, and spilling out onto the grounds outside!
I hope you enjoyed hearing about one of the historic buildings I have had the pleasure of reviewing and taking photos for #localguides for #googlemaps! #letsguide !
