Echoes From The Attic and Poems, Casa de Fresa., Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana
Submitted to the USGenWeb Archives by Don Johnson, Mar. 2001
Typed by Belford Carver
Written by by Edna F. Campbell
Copyrighted by Edna F. Campbell
With special thanks to her family for permission to use her works.

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HOTEL'S FATE CLOUDY

Hammond's landmark hotel, the Casa de Fresa, a headliner in news since its 
establishment in 1893, was gutted by flames Saturday, April 22, around 9:30 a.m., 
the third fire of its history.  Again, dismayed voices were asking the age old 
question, "What now, Casa de Fresa, can the building be salvaged?"

The three fires were reiterated by area persons.  Mrs. James M. Fourmy, a nearby 
resident, reflected on the first fire in 1905.  "It was a terrific fire, and one 
long remembered. The second fire in 1929 did not cause so much consternation as 
Hammond had now grown beyond the village stage and fires were prevalent; however, 
it was lamented.  The framework was salvaged and the building completely 
remodeled, with the name changed from The Oaks to Casa de Fresa."

After the first fire of the historic hotel, now listed on the National register of 
Historic Places, it was immediately rebuilt by owner Colonel H. W. Robinson, who 
followed the original lines of architecture using more grandeur in the designing 
and sturdier building materials.  It was the named "The Oaks."

The stately three-story structure was in a setting in a background of oak trees 
and land purchased from the C. E. Cate estate.

The proprietor, Col. And Madame Robinson entertained royally for their guests and 
the hotel became famous as a social center for the areaís elite.  Madame Robinson, 
the matriarch of the early select circle, issued invitations frequently to the 
local women for her teas and afternoon card parties.  The Robinsons held formal 
balls at the hotel and bands were imported from New Orleans to provide music.

Wealthy people from the north and east used the hotel for their winter home.

Yearly, the hotel grew more famous.  High-ranking railroad officials used the 
hotel exclusively as their lodging place.  It was headquarters for strawberry 
salesmen and other sin the strawberry industry.  The slogan, "It's the Berries", 
was used on printing matters for publicity and promotion.

Misfortune dealt another blow in 1929 when the building was destroyed by fire 
again.  However, the framework was salvaged and a complete renovation and 
facelifting transformed the building back to its noted grandeur.  The owners 
decided a new name was needed and a contest was staged.  According to an article 
in the Hammond Vindicator, 300 entries were submitted and Maria Mhoon, a newcomer 
from Honduras, won the prize of $5 for her entry, "Casa de Fresa", meaning in 
Spanish, House of Berries.  Unfortunately, the new name and facelifting did not 
chase away its history of ill fortune.

March 25, 1931 the land and hotel was seized by court order in the lawsuit of 
Hammond State Bank and Trust Company versus Mrs. Henrietta Robinson and her sons, 
Joseph W. Robinson and John Robinson.  On May 9, the Strawberry and Vegetable 
Auction Inc., bought the entire block with all buildings and improvements for 
$18,902.09 at a sheriff's sale.

The managers were Ted Carfiel of Exlaivns, France, and Malcolm B. Wright, then 
vice president of the company. Wright later bought out the other members of the 
corporation and for a number of years, the hotel carried on in its usual grand 
style.  But gradually the status shifted as strawberry shipments changed from 
rail to air and highways and tourist traffic bypassed the town in its new 
interstates.

In 1966 Wright closed the doors of the hotel to the public.

There have been several glimmers of hope for use and restoration of Casa de 
Fresa.  In October, 1975, the Hammond Chamber of Commerce Development and 
Improvement Committee was alerted to the possibility of a Bicentennial Grant in 
the special project division with an eye toward use of the hotel as a museum.

In September 1976, the Hammond City Council was receptive to a request to use the 
building as a center for senior citizens.  But again, this plan did not become a 
reality.

Hopes were dashed in September 1977 when the hotel did not meet the environmental 
guidelines of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for use as an 
apartment complex.  Approval had been given by the Hammond City Council for the 
project.

September 1978, a reviewing committee for the Louisiana Historical Preservation 
Office nominated the Hotel Casa de Fresa for inclusion in the National Register 
of Historic Places.  Laurie Moon, a graduate of Louisiana State University as a 
landscape architect, presented this application.  Mayor Tom Anderson was present 
to assist.  Also present was Edna Campbell who had provided most of the material 
for the historical research.

February 6, announcement was made that the hotel had been placed on the national 
register.  Optimism was in high gear..

(From ECHOES FROM THE ATTIC, X, 1979, by Edna Campbell)

(See also Vols. I, III, and VII for other articles about the hotel.)

(The AmSouth Bank, formerly Citizens National Bank, stands on this site.  
3/3/2001 bec)