Echoes From The Attic and Poems, Preston House, 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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PRESTON HOUSE

STATELY HOME BUILT ON "BANKERS ROW" IN A VAST SETTING OF 
MOSS-DRAPED OAKS

"Preston House," located at 706 East Charles Street, Hammond, is one of the town's 
interesting homes.  Poised at a safe distance from the traveled streets, the palatial home is 
in a gracious setting surrounded by groupings of moss-draped Oak trees.  The street in 
itself, lends stately background emphasis, for many years ago, this thoroughfare was 
called "Bankers Row."

Constructed along the lines of artistic Southern architectural trends, it meets the eye on a 
pleasing vein, featuring numerous wide-arched windows, veranda bannister railings, and a 
high glass-paned cupola as the glance travels upward.

The home, the original family residence of Mr. And Mrs. Eli Voctor Preston, was build 
around 1906.  Residing with the Prestons were their two daughters, whose married names 
later were Mrs. Nathaniel Amaker Kent of Hammond, and Mrs. William C. Allen of 
Jackson, Miss.

Mr. And Mrs. Kent had three children, Mrs. Conrad Kidder (Marion), Mrs. Polk Hebert, 
(Zoe), and a son, Stewart Preston Kent.  The family took possession of the home 
following a residency in Havana, Cuba, in 1919.

The Prestons, no longer felt the need for a large house and they moved across the street 
into their new home.

Mrs. William Allen had two children, Preston Allen of Jackson, Miss., and the late Mrs. 
Hartwell Cook.

The East Charles Street home, now occupied by Mrs. Polk Herbert holds strong ties for 
the Kent family members where they spent many hears of their youth and up until there 
were married.  They recall that an architect, Mr. O'Malley of New Orleans had designed 
the distinctive home following the instructions of Mr. E. V. Preston, who had it copied 
from one he had taken a fancy to in New Orleans on Canal Street.  Originally, the wide 
verandas had completely encircled the front of the house.  In later years, the veranda 
space had been enclosed to form more rooms.

Mr. Nat A. Kent, who was a copartner in the guess and Kent Drug store died in 1922.  
Mrs. Kent died in 1956.  When the estate was settled several years ago the Heberts, 
through expressed choice acquired the property and moved there with their two 
daughters, Zoe May and Cynthia Hebert.

Zoe is an airline stewardess stationed in Miami, Fla., and Cynthia is attending The 
American College of Paris, France.  Mr. Hebert died several months ago.

(From ECHOES FROM THE ATTIC AND POEMS, II, 1967, by Edna F. Campbell)

(Pic of LANDMARK HOME)

(current owners are:  Tom and Donna Gay Anderson.  Mr. Anderson is an attorney, and Mrs. 
Anderson is director of FANFARE at Southeastern Louisiana University.  BEC 2/08/01)