Echoes From The Attic and Poems, Peter Donaldson Home, Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana
Submitted to the USGenWeb Archives by Don Johnson, Jan. 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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SPANISH MOSS DRAPES OAKS SURROUNDING HOME

Spirals of moss drape the branches of the aged oak trees surrounding the large 
tract of ground where Peter Donaldson, of Swedish descent, built a house in the 
mid-1880s after coming from the north, his native home.  In early years the estate 
extended over several lots. The gray wooden structure, the old family residence, 
remains on the shaded tract of land.

Donaldsonís wife was the former India Rogers of Hammond.  The couple had three 
sons and one daughter, Oscar, Eric, Bob and Mattie.  All attended Hammond schools.

Oscar, the eldest, was widely known in the business circle.  He was married to the 
former Gladys Reid, who hailed from Michigan.  His first venture in the mercantile 
business was when he was a partner in the Blatzell, Donaldson and Black Company.  
G. B. Blatzell, one of the partners, was the father of Mrs. J. Winston Bradley
of Hammond.  One entrance opened on Cypress and the other on Morris.  The massive 
building extended for half of a square.  Included were a grocery store, a hardware 
store and a department for hardware.  Appealing to the feminine gender was a 
thriving millinery shop operated by Miss Jessie Ketih, whose sister, Miss Ariel 
Keith, lives on the4 corner of Pine and Morris street in her own little home.  A 
special section was set apart forthe hat shop where original headpieces were 
designed.

From the grocery department horse drawn wagons delivered orders consisting of 
barrels of flour, 100 pound sacks of sugar and cans of lard along with other 
commodities in large quantities.  This large store was a forerunner of the modern 
shopping centers, carrying everything needed for householders in food, clothing 
and building materials.

Oscar later opened a store on Thomas and Cate streets, with entrances on both 
streets.  The building was formerly the Neelis Store building, place of pioneer 
merchants.

When the depression came, Oscar closed the store and gave up the fine home he had 
built on Range Road.  The house, named "Gladwood" became the C. C. Carpenter 
residence, and the Oscar Donaldsons moved into the old Donalson home on West 
Church Street after remodeling and changes were made.  This was their final home.

Bob, the youngest son, was in the mercantile business for some time, managing a 
store for his brother, but he was for the most part, associated in the automobile 
business as a salesman.  The family occupied a cottage on the Donaldson land in 
later years.  His wife is the former Laura Whitley.

Mattie, the only daughter, was also known in the business world as she spent many 
years as a saleslady in the Donaldson stores.  Later in life she was married to 
Charles Tycer and lived in the Tickfaw area.

The age worn wooden structure and the vast number of decaying trees are the only 
reminders of a pioneer family who played an important part in the business 
progress of Hammond.

(From ECHOES FROM THE ATTIC, IV, 1969, by Edna Campbell)

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