​Since 2018, the West Feliciana Historical Society and members of the Order of Eastern Star have been working on an initiative to preserve and restore the Old Benevolent Society building.  The effort, which started with having the building listed on Louisiana’s Most Endangered Places List, has come a long way since then with a successful fundraiser, completion of a Historic American Buildings Survey and growing community support.  The Old Benevolent Society Restoration (OBSR) Committee and the Historical Society are now pleased to release a documentary video which summarizes the history and the restoration effort.  Both groups hope the video will raise awareness of the historical significance of the building in local history.
Produced by Mr. Kevin McQuarn with support from the West Feliciana Parish Schools Technology Department, the video is entitled:  The Story of a Building, and can be viewed at the link https://vimeo.com/392040402.   The link can also be found on OBSR Committee Facebook and Instagram sites, as well as on the West Feliciana Historical Society website.  Mr. McQuarn is no stranger to West Feliciana, having produced several other video documentaries about significant programs and projects in the Parish.
Sara Wilson-Rogers, President of the OBSR Committee notes, “Since our very first meeting the committee has worked tirelessly to make sure we do everything possible to save the building.  The West Feliciana Historical Society has supported us every step of the way and we are grateful for that support.  This documentary helps to show the painstaking work that is being undertaken and why it is so important to our history.  We sincerely hope that it will encourage people to get involved in a meaningful way.” 
The West Feliciana Historical Society partnered with the Old Benevolent Society Restoration Committee in their efforts to save St. Francisville’s oldest burial insurance lodge.  Joint conversations about saving the building have been going on for quite some time, but in 2018, the effort gained momentum with the listing of the building as an endangered place.  According to Dot Temple, President of the West Feliciana Historical Society, “The old building warrants being saved for the part benevolent societies played in local African Americans' history and for what it can offer as a meeting place and a museum to house artifacts, pictures, and documents that tell African Americans’ story in West Feliciana.”
Temple further notes, “Our organization has been delighted to support this project and is excited about the video documentary which complements our exhibit:  Saving the Intangible Culture, Old Benevolent Societies.  The West Feliciana Historical Society’s support of this project remains steadfast and we want greatly for this endeavor to become a reality.”  Temple and the Historical Society Board extend an invitation to all to visit the Museum located on Ferdinand Street to see the special exhibit and view the new video.   
Highlights of the video include commentary from OBSR Committee members Ms. Wilson-Rogers, Mr. Cliff Deal, West Feliciana Historical Society Museum curator,  Mr. James Dart, architect and preservationist, and students from West Feliciana High School who assisted with the Historic American Buildings Survey under the guidance of Mr. Dart.
Monetary support is key to completion of the restoration/rehab project and to that end, Ms. Temple and Ms. Wilson-Rogers encourage folks to consider making a monetary donation.  
Once restored, the committee would like to add professional exhibits to tell the story of the Old Benevolent Society and its part in African American history, thus expanding the role of the building to that of museum, a place open to the public for local festivals, events and educational children’s programs – a must see stop in St. Francisville. 
The public is invited to follow the progress of this effort on Facebook (Save the Old Benevolent Society) and Instagram (obsr2018).  Donations are now being accepted and can be made via PayPal at www.paypal.me/savetheOBSbuilding, or by mail to OES/OBSR Committee at P.O. Box 2365, St. Francisville, LA  70775.
For more information about the Old Benevolent Society Restoration effort in St. Francisville, please contact Sara Wilson-Rogers at 225-937-3004 or send an email to obsrestoration@gmail.com. To learn more about the Louisiana Most Endangered Places Program and List, visit: https://www.lthp.org/properties/most-endangered/.

Press Release - March 11, 2019
​Old Benevolent Society Restoration Committee

Visitors to St. Francisville enjoy strolling through the Historic District to see the many historic homes and buildings, each with a rich and intriguing story.  But a small, dilapidated greyish-blue building that sits in the Historic District across from the West Feliciana Historical Society Museum is often unnoticed by passersby, even though it played a special role in African American history.  That is about to change.

Built in 1883, the Old Benevolent Society building, located at 11738 Ferdinand Street in St. Francisville’s Historic District, played a significant role in local African American history as the area’s oldest burial insurance lodge. In the aftermath of the Civil War, Benevolent Societies filled an urgent need for medical care and burials of freed slaves that had once been filled by the masters of the plantations.  Over time, the societies provided union and fellowship amongst the black community.  During the late 19th and 20th centuries, nearly every church had a benevolent society that filled dire and pressing needs such as sitting with the sick, feeding the weak, funding medical care, and covering the cost of a decent burial.   

By the 1960’s, desegregation and modern health and burial insurance plans lessened the need for many of these societies to exist.  In recent decades, the local Order of the Easter Star (OES) group have maintained and operated the building for their activities.  Their group, which is affiliated with the Masons, are dedicated women who sincerely reflect the spirit of fraternal love, a strong belief in God and the desire to work together for good and charitable activities.

A group of dedicated preservationists along with the OES ladies have begun an initiative to preserve and restore the Old Benevolent Society building.  Sarah Wilson-Rogers of the OES group chairs the committee, which also includes Dyvar Anderson, James Dart, Darch, West Feliciana Parish IT Director, Cliff Deal, a Museum specialist and curator with the West Feliciana Historical Society; Susie Tully West Feliciana Historical Society Board member; Laurie Walsh, St. Francisville Main Street Coordinator; Hollis Milton, West Feliciana Parish School Superintendent; Stuart Maginnis of Maginnis Construction and Louise Whitaker, Order of Eastern Star.
 
A lack of funds over the years to pay for major repairs and restoration has led to continuing and now rapid deterioration of the building, putting it in danger of “demolition by neglect”.  Due to the current condition, all activities in the building have ceased and several short-term measures have been taken to minimize further deterioration.
 
The Old Benevolent Society Restoration Committee is hopeful that the recent listing of the building on Louisiana’s Most Endangered Places List will help bring much needed attention and funding to the cause. The building was a contributing element in the successful application for the St. Francisville Historic District to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  The committee also plans to apply for individual listing of the building on the National Register of Historic Places. 

According to OBS Restoration Committee Chair, Sara Wilson-Rogers, efforts are now focused on enlisting a preservation consultant to provide a detailed assessment of the building’s condition.  This will allow a restoration scope and budget to be established.  A Facebook page and crowd funding site are also being established to jumpstart the fundraising efforts.  The committee is also in the process of identifying and applying for grant grants.

Once restored, the committee would like to add professional exhibits to tell the story of the Old Benevolent Society and its part in African American history, thus expanding the role of the building to that of museum, a place open to the public for local festivals, events and educational children’s programs – a must see stop in St. Francisville. 

The public is invited to follow the progress of this effort on Facebook (Save the Old Benevolent Society) and Instagram (obsr2018).  Donations are now being accepted and can be made via PayPal at www.paypal.me/savetheOBSbuilding, or by mail to OES/OBSR Committee at P.O. Box 2365, St. Francisville, LA  70775.

For more information about the Old Benevolent Society Restoration effort in St. Francisville, please contact Sara Wilson-Rogers at 225-937-3004 or send an email to obsrestoration@gmail.com. To learn more about the Louisiana Most Endangered Places Program and List, visit:
https://www.lthp.org/properties/most-endangered/.

​







​Press Release - February 15, 2018

The Historical Society is pleased to present a special exhibit for Black History Month: Louisiana Blues - A Century of African American Influence.  The exhibit features the fascinating stories of sixteen Louisiana bluesmen, several of whom with ties to the Felicianas.
 
​ West Feliciana Parish is proud to be home to Lil Jimmy Reed.  Born Leon Atkins and raised in a small shack in Hardwood, Lil Jimmy earned his moniker after filling in for bluesman, Jimmy Reed.  And so began his long career as an authentic Louisiana bluesman.  His photograph was the perfect inspiration for our publicity flier - you can almost hear his music come off the page.
 
Blues music told the rural story of oppression, hard work, broken hearts, misfortune, and struggle. Early blues musicians usually played guitar and harmonica. Some used percussion. The important thing was that the song told the story. Most songs were passed along orally; few were written down or recorded until the early 1900s. Songs that resembled the blues music we know today were played in the late 19th and early 20th century and some called them “ditties.”
 
 The exhibit explores the impact Louisiana bluesman had on the local, national and international music scene.   In many cases, their music was far more appreciated in other countries than in the America.  Nonetheless, the influence their music had on other genres was, and continues to be far reaching.  Recording artists from Eric Clapton to Kurt Cobain often touted the inspiration of these gritty and soulful musicians on their own music. 
 
 The exhibit, which was carefully researched and curated by Cliff Deal, opens on Thursday, February 22, 2018 at 6:30pm.  

Press Release -  March 23, 2017

The West Feliciana Historical Society Museum, in celebration of Black History Month 2017, unveiled a new exhibit entitled John S. Dawson: An Educational Legacy.  A special “opening night” reception was held February 23 to kick-off the exhibit and was well attended and enjoyed by all.  Special guests included Ken Dawson, grandson of John S. Dawson; Dr. Henry Hardy, President of the John S. Dawson Alumni Association Foundation; and Mr. Rufus McKnight, also representing the foundation. 
 
The Dawson exhibit remains on display at the museum and the public is encouraged to visit and learn more about this inspirational part of West Feliciana history.  Historical Society President, Susie Tully, and Museum Curator, Cliff Deal, are working to incorporate this exhibit into the permanent displays.  Tully notes, “The story of John S. Dawson and the school he started remind us of the hurdles that African Americans overcame in their journey to equality.  The J.S. Dawson Alumni Association and Foundation members are to be commended for their efforts to preserve the school, including having the building listed on the National Register of Historic Places.” 
 
A Legacy Unfolds
 
On a cold January morning in 1890, nineteen-year-old John S. Dawson arrived by train in West Feliciana. Together with John Jones and C.H. Argue, the two men who were responsible for bringing Dawson to Laurel Hill from Mississippi, they made their way to the Rosemound Baptist Church. John S. Dawson announced to the gathering that he was the new school teacher.
 
On Monday morning he began to register students for the new school. Before the week was over, 125 children were registered. Only 20 of these could read.  Thus began the amazing story of John S. Dawson and his educational legacy in West Feliciana Parish. The earliest known publicly organized school for African Americans in West Feliciana was the Laurel Hill School. Today, known as the Dawson School, the old structure still stands in Laurel Hill.
 
At that time in Louisiana, in the wake of Plessy vs. Ferguson and its “separate but equal” mandate, segregation continued to make education for African American children practically unavailable, even as white school systems were funded and new facilities constructed. In rural Louisiana, Baptist churches provided space for education in one-room buildings. In West Feliciana Parish, churches at Afton Villa, Elm Park, Sage Hill and Hollywood served this purpose.  During the early 20th century, educational opportunities for African American children were few and far between. Rural schools were isolated and just getting to school was difficult. As most families farmed for a living, children missed school while working during planting and harvest. Rural parish school boards were poor, and the rural black schools were poorer.
 
 
Professor Dawson Begins
 
They called him “Professor” and he single handedly organized the education process at Laurel Hill. He was lucky to have a two-story, wood framed school building (used also as a Masonic lodge) that could handle larger classes. Dawson taught the basics and the students learned quickly. Eventually two assistant teachers were hired, 15-year-old Amelia Brown and Corrine Lee. The students who excelled were also called on to help with instruction. Under John S. Dawson’s leadership for the next thirty-years and with the continued support of the community, the Dawson School in Laurel Hill prospered. His students went on to high school if they could travel to McKinley High School in Baton Rouge, the nearest black high school. Some made it to college and through his inspiration became teachers.
 
 
The Next Generation
 
During the 1930’s ,after teaching for thirty years at Laurel Hill, John S. Dawson became principal at the Raspberry Baptist Church School and also served as Senior Deacon and Sunday School Superintendent in the church. The school was located off Ferdinand St. behind the present site of the Historical Society Museum. He married Corrine Lee and they had four children:  John M. Dawson, Thomas Dawson, Marian Dawson and Brunetta Dawson. Soon to become educators like their father, they would leave their own mark on West Feliciana education.
Secondary education for African Americans was slow to develop over the first half of the 20th century. Rural black schools only provided a 7th grade education. By 1945, there were 80 black, four-year high schools in Louisiana, but thirteen parishes were still without approved schools. One of these was West Feliciana Parish.
 
Once again John S. Dawson came to the forefront as a leader in the community. Planning for a new high school began with Dawson securing the land through a donation to the parish from the Barrow, Richardson, and Nolan families. The land on Hwy. 66 was specifically to be used for a black high school.
 
John S. Dawson passed away in 1950, before the new school would open its doors in 1951. But his legacy lived on as the school was named in his honor, the John S. Dawson High School. At his funeral people lined the street to honor his life and contribution to West Feliciana as the carriage carried him to the Raspberry Baptist Church for the last time. His sons carried on the legacy at Dawson High School as John M. Dawson was the first principal from 1951 to 1961; and Thomas Dawson served as principal from 1961 to 1969.
 
Laura Ewen Blokker of Southeast Preservation wrote, “The opening of the John S. Dawson High School in 1951 was a tremendous advancement of education in West Feliciana Parish. The opening of the elementary wing for lower grades in 1962 was also significant. It consolidated the elementary education that had previously occurred at the disparate church-based schools in one, new modern facility. The separate gymnasium, band building, home education/industrial arts wing, and agriculture shop further expanded the curriculum and extracurricular capacities of this modern school plant.”
 
The school provided a diverse curriculum and a quality education through the dedicated efforts of the excellent teaching staff. Many of the Dawson alumni continued on to college and have been successful in a variety of professions as a direct result of the excellent education provided at their West Feliciana Parish school
 
John S. Dawson High School alumni include: over two hundred college graduates, doctorate degrees in agriculture and mathematics, a chancellor at Southern University, a judge in South Carolina, and a retired U.S. Army general.
 
John S, Dawson High School closed in 1969 following the Supreme Court decision in the Carter v. West Feliciana Parish School Board which mandated all the area’s schools be desegregated by February 1, 1970.  The parish school board chose to reassign the students to other schools and closed John S. Dawson High School. After eighteen years of serving the crucial need of providing modern secondary education to the African American population when it was otherwise unavailable, the school was abandoned.
 
John S. Dawson, the teacher and visionary, had done an extraordinary job while creating a legacy for all of the citizens of West Feliciana Parish. John S. Dawson High School was vital in its historical role for African American education in West Feliciana Parish.
 
Preserving the Legacy
 
For years after it was closed, John S. Dawson High School sat forlorn and empty out on Hwy 66, waiting for the bell to ring. Eventually, it was covered by vegetation, windows were broken, and ceilings fell in. And the story would have ended there had the school been torn down.
 
But there was another chapter to be written in the Dawson legacy. Ken Dawson, grandson of John S. Dawson and son of Thomas Dawson, led the charge as approximately 100 members of the John S. Dawson Alumni Association and Foundation pledged to save this important West Feliciana structure. Along with Dr. Henry Hardy, class of 1958 and president of the Alumni Association, the group applied for grants, launched a massive clean-up effort in 2010, and successfully had the property placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2015. The Alumni Foundation continues to work on plans for developing the property and renovating the school building. Ken Dawson explains that one day they hope to see a community center and park built that would serve the entire West Feliciana Parish population.
 
The legacy and spirit of John S. Dawson is still alive and vibrant today and he is still teaching and influencing the population of West Feliciana Parish in a positive manner, just as he always did.
 
 
The West Feliciana Historical Society is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization whose mission is to promote the preservation of its historical, cultural and architectural heritage through education, advocacy, stewardship and investment. Of utmost importance to the society is to instill respect and appreciation of the past, improve the present, and plan for the future, while presenting history in a way that educates and enlightens residents and visitors alike. For more information visit www.westfelicianahisoricalsociety.org.