Alberta Irving and Ralph "Kid" Irving owned a grocery store and gas station in the 1950s.

Kid and Alberta Irving Grocery Store and Gas Station
Roseland, LA
Photo Credit: Dr. Antoinette Harrell

Taking photographs of farm animals grazing in pastures or in picturesque meadows with colorful flowers and greenery on back roads in the early morning or midday is one of my favorite activities in the spring or summer. Photographs of those breathtaking landscapes would make excellent greeting cards and postcards. On a beautiful evening, I decided to take a back road in Roseland, Louisiana, instead of taking the interstate.  As I rode along a beautiful back road, I noticed a tiny wooden building with a single gas pump. I observed a gas pump that looked like it was from the early 1950s.

Since I did not have my camera with me, I used my phone to take the photograph. What is the history of the building?  My intention was to post the image on Facebook to see if anyone was familiar with the building's history. A couple of people who saw the picture started talking about the picture and sharing memories of the place. One of those people was a woman named Lorraine Deamer Lizana who shared her memories. "This is the store owned by my Aunt Alberta and Uncle Ralph "Kid" Irving on Washington Avenue," said Lorraine. 

"This store was built at least in the 50s because I remember it as a child. I lived down the gravel road about 1/8 mile fromthem. Uncle Kid drove the school bus. They were also farmers. Me and my cousin picked green beans and strawberries for them. Aunt Alberta would go to Amite to sell fruits and vegetables from the back of her pickup truck. She operated the grocery store in the picture selling dry goods, candy, dill pickles, pop, lunch meat, canned goods, Stage Planks, and other items. I remember my Mother Lena driving up to the gas pump and asking for a "dollar's worth" of gas for their old Ford Car."

Mayor Wanda McCoy of Roseland commented on the image. She confirmed that it was Aunt Alberta's and Uncle "Kid" Irving's grocery store. According to her, she had no idea it was still standing. I was intrigued to see that the post was shared thirty-three times, which generated fifty-six comments, as well as one hundred and sixty-five likes. The Irving family was entrepreneurs and owned lots of land. 

Others who shared memories were Adoncia Blevins Dyson. She said her grandmother Clara Irving walked them by the building and told them stories about the good old days. Russel Madre said he photographed that old gas station a few times. Matter of fact, someone said that a picture of the old store and gas station can be found hanging up at North Oak Hospital in Hammond, LA.