Echoes From The Attic and Poems, Casa de Fresa, Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana
Submitted to the USGenWeb Archives by Don Johnson, Feb. 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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OLD BEAUTY UNKNOWN FUTURE

For years she was the red-bricked, tree-guarded centerpiece of Hammond.  Elegant 
balls, dinners and bridge parties of the area's finest people complemented her old 
world charm.  And businessmen from over the nation crowded her rooms during the 
heyday of the strawberry.

Then the berries found other methods to market.  And the highway moved away. Taking 
with it the hurrying motorists to modern motels snugly close by.

Time is not kind to a forgotten beauty.  Today the Casa de Fresa deteriorates in a 
fallow block, windows darkened, lawn and shrubs unkept, chips of brick and stone 
fallen.  The lone palm tree next to the curved driveway dips sadly.

Those who knew the bright red inn with frosting-white columns and stone are 
saddened with her present state and regret that nothing is being done to restore 
here.  Younger people say she has served her purpose and should be torn down.  
Businessmen, with hard dollar facts to consider, look at the tremendous costs of 
restoring her looks, lighting, and plumbing to modern standards, and at her 
off-the-highway location.  Hammond no longer is a vacation spa as it was in the 
hotelís rich days.  Now it's a wayside, and a motel today must be handy to the 
motorists, along the interstates.  Despite these facts, a rumor circled for a time 
that the Ramada Inn chain was interested.  One Hammond realtor is skeptical about 
the building's future.

"The trend now is to move out," he said, "and it is hard to make a prediction on 
the potential of the hotel building.  Right now it's a big pile of brick.  I'm not 
too optimistic about it.  I can't figure out just what would draw attraction to it, 
and what kind of business would come in to support it.  Then there is the cost of 
the electric system, and other remodeling costs would be fantastic."

The imposing hotel, originally the Oaks, closed its door for business as an inn in 
1965.  It dates back to 1894 when Col. and Mrs. W. H. Robinson came from Cedar 
Rapids, Iowa, to promote the cityís first travelers wayside inn.

The building and land have been up for sale several years, under several different 
realtors.  During this time the ground floor still held a restaurant and a Western 
Union office.  But the former closed from lack of business and the telegraph 
office moved out.  Then for several years the Valley Forge private school held 
classes on the ground floor, altering rooms and walls.

The site is owned by Malcolm B. Wright, Jr.  Mrs. Wright said many people have 
made inquiries about the property.  She said nowadays the first thing done in 
buying old buildings is to tear them down, and she would hate to see that done.  
She added they would have much difficulty in doing that as it is a strong building. 
 As to 
what she would like to see in the future of the hotel, Mrs. Wright said she really 
doesn't know; that depends on the buyer.  She agreed that the building holds strong 
sentiment for the townspeople as it is a big part of Hammond's past.

Many other Hammond residents feel the same way.  Mrs. F. W. Reimers said it makes 
her quite sad to see the building, once the social center of the city, unused. "I 
remember the balls, the dinners, bridge parties and all of the gala functions.  
Col. and Mrs. Robinson were the host and hostess of Hammond and people from New 
Orleans would come up to spend the weekends there.  It was elegant in those days.  
I can recall two musicals my husband and I sponsored with artists from New Orleans 
performing followed with a grand ball.  It was grand!"

Brooks Robinson, Hammond's chief of police, expresses regret at the building not 
being used.  He has many happy memories of the place owned by his grandparents.

Mrs. James M. Fourmy, who was among the social set enjoying the various functions 
staged there, feels nostalgic about the old inn.  "I think it makes all of us sad 
to see a place once so elegant and attractive unused and falling."

Mrs. Maria Mhoon, who had charge of the dining room at one time and had the honor 
of naming it when it was changed from the Oaks to Casa de Fresa, said, "I think 
it's a waste and a blight on the city to have a location like that not being 
utilized.  I have so many happy memories of the hotel."

Jack Bahm, who recalls the Oaks as being the most popular hotel in the section, 
thinks the building has served its purpose.  "We have to accept changes.  However, 
I am sorry it couldn't have been kept up and modernized to serve as a convention 
hotel.  Perhaps the owners didnít think it would pay.  It's rather hard to comment 
on but I can recall the days when the leading hotel drew people from many points.  
Trains brought people here then.  There were no automobiles.  Things were 
different."

Mrs. J. Winston Bradley had an optimistic vision, "I think it would make a 
wonderful women's club with rooms opened up and redecorated.  The walls could be 
paneled inexpensively, crystal chandeliers installed and necessary remodeling done.  
Hammond is ready for a clubhouse.  The rooms could be given beautiful names.  It 
would be easy to get about 500 women to join." 

 One other direction is still open for exploration.  Perhaps state funds are 
available.  In a conversation with Mrs. Pamela Munson, director of centers of the 
Louisiana State Tourist Development Commission, encouragement was given for 
possible making the Casa de Fresa Hotel into a museum.

Mrs. Munson was very familiar with the place and has spent many nights here in her 
travels to the Gulf Coast.She thinks there is a possibility of restoration aid but 
added that would depend on historical significance.  Forms have to be submitted 
and these will be reviewed and screened before any steps can be taken.

There still may be some kind years ahead for thee old hotel.

(From ECHOES FROM THE ATTIC, VII, 1973, by Edna Campbell)

(Pic of the hotel)
(See also Part I "From Oak to Berries, Landmark Hotel Stirs Historical Memories" 
and III "Is a Hotel by any Other Name" for other articles on this old hotel and 
what happened to it.)