Echoes From The Attic and Poems, HISTORICAL HOME FADES , 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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HISTORICAL HOME FADES INTO PAST IS REMINISCENT OF EARLY DAYS

Another early home reeking with historical features was that of Captain F. A. 
Stinson, "The Villars," which was located on grounds now serving as an airport.  
The home links the names of Stinson and Baltizell, names interwoven with pioneer 
businesses in Hammond.  Two of the direct descendants of the residents of the home, 
are Mrs. J. Winston Bradley, the former Marie Baltzell and Mrs. William Darouse, 
the former Maxine Stinson.

The raised Colonial type home, typical of those of New England embraced many 
interesting features. Singular among these was the cupola pier peaking the top the 
second story, which was to typify a nautical feature, "The Widow's Walk," which 
was known to seamen as a legendary place where wives of lost seamen watched to see 
if their husbands would return.  The ring-bannister railing completely surrounded 
the wide verandas lendingadded interest.

The pier was reminiscent of the seafaring days of the builder, Captain Stinson, of 
Bath, Me., and a daily reminder of the time spent on the sea waters, Captain 
Stinson sailed from Bath, Me., when a boy and for many years was in command of the 
Prussia, Scotia and other ships.  He had traveled in all parts of the world and 
when he tired of the sea chose the vicinity of Hammond as a place to cast anchor.  
He made this selection on the merits of the ideal climate and the yields of the 
fertile soil lands.

He was married to the former Marie Pauline Villars, whose parents hailed from 
France, and whose father was Paul de Villars, a French Count.  Her father was 
among the early newspaper publishers in New Orleans, the French edition being the 
"Labee."

Two prominent wedding solemnized in the Villars were that of Ada Louisa Stinson, 
to Mr. Charles Gilbert Baltzell, and Miss Ella Saint, to Mr. Furman Pearce.  Mrs. 
Pearce resides in New Orleans presently, and is a sister to Miss Mary Saint.

Of much interest is the originality of Ada Louisa Stinson's name especially for 
all lovers of the Louisa Alcott books, for Louisa was a namesake of the author who 
was a friend of the Villars and especially Ada Louisa's mother.  In one of her 
stories she told of the little French girl and spoke of her namesake.

In the background of the large home was a cistern which served many purposes other 
than providing water, for it was here the eggs, butter, milk and other perishables 
were cooled in pre-refrigeration days.

After residing here for a number of years, Mrs. Stinson became weary of living in 
"the woods," and they sold the home to the Chapman A. Saint family.  The home was 
sold later to F. Hyde of Amite, and then purchased by the government and made into 
an officers club.

Among other interesting historical facts includes Captain Stinson being a nephew 
of Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Mr. Baltzell a great-nephew of William Jennings Bryant.

The name Baltzell was widely known in the business world for the entire first 
block of South Cypress was covered by a brick store building housing the 
Baltzell-Donaldson and Black Department store.  The building was owned by Mr. 
Baltzell.

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

(Pic "The Villars")