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This home is the
official Headquarters of the Louisiana Garden Club Federation, Inc.
Located in Lecompte, about 20 miles west of Louisiana's geographic
center. |
Tours
are by appointment only.
Contact: Local Chairman, Fran Francis
(318)776-5671
FranF35 (at) aol.com
Physical Address:
1606 Water Street
Lecompte, LA
Mailing Address:
PO BOX 542
LECOMPTE LA 71346-0542 |
Built
in the 1890’s
The Dr. E. L. Henry home was built by James Ward Hardy for his
daughter, Patricia, and deeded to her on her marriage to Dr. E. L.
Henry in 1899. Sometimes after 1917, Dr. Henry died and Patricia
married Dr. Benjamin Blake.
In 1921, he built a sanitarium, now a modern and thriving clinic, next
door to the house. The home typifies a Louisiana Plantation Cottage. It
is centrally located in the state of Louisiana, on Bayou Boeuf, in the
small town of Lecompte, which is located on Highway 71 about 15 minutes
south of Alexandria.
Both century old Live Oaks are members of the Live Oak Society; one is
named for Dr. Edwin Stephens, founder and one for Lucile Brown, 1st
LGCF Live Oak Society Chairman.
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Perseverance
From 1971 to 1977, LGCF members held raffles, auctions and other
fundraisers to raise the monies to purchase the house from the late
State Senator Cecil Blair. Club members also saved Betty Crocker
coupons to furnish the kitchen. The walls are of double cypress
construction and the floors are the original cypress boards. A board
gallery once surrounded three sides of the cottage. Through the years,
a portion of the gallery was enclosed to form two large bathrooms, a
den, and a large closet to house all LGCF records.
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It is furnished with period antiques and art donated by different
garden clubs and individual garden club members. The home features a
wide entrance hallway where photographs of all the past LGCF Presidents
greet you. The sitting room boasts of one of the two fireplaces in the
home. Double doors open into a formal dining room featuring a stained
glass Louisiana iris hanging in the window. It was designed and donated
by a Club Member. Other artwork includes a painting of the Carolyn
Dorman Magnolia and a pen and ink drawing done by one of the LGCF
Scholarship recipients.
Each past state president has added her personal touch to the home and
garden…from the birdbath, wrought iron bench and plantings in the side
garden to the bench in the back garden where you may want to have a
club meeting and brown bag lunch, or just sit and reflect. |
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