Pumpkin Center, Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana
Submitted to the USGenWeb Archives by Sandra McLellan, Aug., 2000

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From Tangipahoa Centenial Book, 1869-1969: 
Donated to the archives by the Tangipahoa Parish Tourist Commission

Pumpkin Center

About seven miles west of Ponchatoula on Highway 22, there is a sign
labeled "Pumpkin Center," designating the Pumpkin Center Road, which
connects La Highway 22 and La Highway 1040 (the old Baton Rouge 
Highway).

In all probability, the name of this rural community originates from
a fictitious place which once existed in the entertainment world. A
few years prior to World War I and a good many more years before the
advent of radio, many Americans were delighted by the records of the 
comedy team of Uncle Josh and Aunt Nancy, who lived at a place called
Pumpkin Center.  The Thomas Morris ("Uncle Mott") Coates family, one
of the then unnamed Pumpkin Center community of Tangipahoa Parish,
enjoyed these records as a part of home recreation.

Some time later, residents of the still unnamed community formed a 
baseball team just as had been done in nearby Wadesboro, Springfield
and Albany.  Because the settlement was beginning to grow and the ball 
team had no name, a member of the community suggested that is was time 
to name the team.  Various names were offered, among them "Pea Ridge"
and "Pumpkin Center."  According to John A Hollis, the man who suggested 
that the team be named was also the man who suggested the name of
Pumpkin Center; namely, Albert ("Uncle Ab") Coates, the eldest son in
the Coates family mentioned earlier.  The name must have derived from
the place called Pumpkin Center on the Uncle Josh and Aunt Nancy 
records.  There were no great abundance of pumpkins in the locality;
A. W. Coates, however, is known to have raised some.

Mr. Coates, an outstanding member of the community, was known for his
humorous terminology.  For example, he called his first estate
Bunker's Hill; his second one, Big A-Plenty; The Jerusalem Baptist
Church, Needmore Church.  Of such designations, Pumpkin Center, of
course, remains as a memorial to his wit.