Genealogist, local historian visited Laurel Valley Sugar Plantation grandson

Connor visiting Laurel Valley Planation
Photo Credit: Antoinette Harrell

In the early hours of the morning on a  beautiful Sunday, Eddie Ponds, owner, and publisher of The Drum Newspaper, along with my grandson Connor and I visited the Laurel Valley Plantation. This historic sugarcane plantation is located in Thibodaux and has been operating for over one hundred and fifty years. A short video on YouTube about Laurel Valley Plantation made me want to visit it as soon as possible. It wasn't long before that day came. It's an hour and forty-five-minute drive from my house, so that wasn't too far to travel on such a lovely Sunday morning. 

The plantation covers about 3,400 acres and includes   several outbuildings, and slave quarters. The plantation was established in 1830 by Joseph Tucker, a Virginian, who purchased more than 50, 000 acres of land along beautiful Bayou Lafourche. African enslaved people, as well as their descendants, worked on the plantation for decades until the Civil War ended. Currently, the plantation offers guided tours that focus on the history of the plantation's enslaved and their lives while working and living there.

Visitors can explore the grounds and learn about sugarcane cultivation, the history of the plantation, and
the daily lives of the enslaved people who lived there. The plantation also hosts events throughout the year, including a fall festival and a Christmas open house. At present, the property is still being used as a sugarcane farm.  Plantations like this are still profitable today. During our drive past the cabins, I could not help but think about how life must have been for those enslaved during those times. As I pondered the hardships they endured, I felt a deep ache in my heart. I thought about how little had changed in the years since they were freed from the chains of slavery. I felt a deep sadness for their suffering and a sense of helplessness in the face of such injustice. 

My grandson and I discussed the experience on our way home. He pointed out that seeing the cabins made him think about what it was like living as an enslaved person and how hard they had it.He found it difficult to wrap his head around the idea of being a slave, and the immense amount of courage and strength it must have taken to endure such hardship. "Looking at the small cabins, I couldn't help but think about the number of people living in them," said Connor. He was amazed by the courage and strength of the former enslaved and was humbled by the freedom he has today. "I was filled with admiration for those who had to endure such difficult living conditions," Connor reflected. He pointed out how he clearly understood why he shouldn't take anything for granted. I hope that he share what he learned with his siblings and friends.

The issues of Critical Race Theory and the removal of historical truths from classrooms really emphasize to me why I must continue teaching my grandchildren about their history. It was time to take the history class on the road. This experience has made me even more passionate about ensuring that my grandchildren learn the correct version of historyso that they can better understand the reality of the world they live in. I have been able to provide them with an in-depth understanding of how the past has shaped the present and how our actions today will shape our future. Teaching them the truth has been an invaluable experience and I look forward to continuing this journey with my grandchildren.

Antoinette Harrell visiting Laurel Valley Plantation
Photo Credit: Connor LaCoste

St. Helena Parish's Legendary Vegetable Farmer's Field Day at Warner Hall's Farm

Warner Hall
Local Farmer, St. Helena Parish

Early this morning, I drove out to St. Helena Parish's Legendary Vegetable Farmer's Field Day to take part in the event. A number of representatives from the SU Agricultural Center, LSU Agricultural Center, USDA, and WCSHC were present at this event. In order to capture some photographs of the garden and nature scenes before the crowd poured in I arrived early. The atmosphere was vibrant, with old friends greeting each other and new friends forming connections. It was truly a great day to be a part of the agriculture community.

The weather that day was slightly overcast, so I was able to take some photographs. Weather-wise, I could not have asked for a better day.  The mild temperatures and overcast skies made for perfect shooting conditions. His farm has a lot of vegetables that I took pictures of. The acres of land are covered with rows of corn, squash, cucumbers, green bell peppers, strawberries, watermelons, and eggplants.

The therapeutic nature of gardening was emphasized by a retired couple I met at the event. They both agreed that tending to their garden was a calming and peaceful activity that had become an integral part of their everyday routine. I can assure you that every word spoken here is correct. When I'm working in my garden it is relaxing and therapeutic for me. 

Members of the Winston County Self Help Cooperative (WCSHC) drove 3 1/2 hours from Lexington, Mississippi to attend this educational agricultural event. A group of Winston County Self-Help Cooperative members traveled three and a half hours from Lexington, Mississippi to attend this agricultural educational event. The event was attended by other local farmers who shared and learned. Sharing farming tips is something they never hesitate to do with each other. 

The free agricultural education material I received was much appreciated.  I walked away with a pack of Wildflowers Mixture for Natural Landscaping which is distributed by the USDA. I am interested in learning more about pollinators and how they work. It is estimated that three-fourth of all flowering plants in the world require pollinators in order to reproduce and survive. There is no doubt that animal pollination is necessary for the majority of vegetables, fruits, and seed crops, as well as other plants that are used for fiber, medicine, and fuel production.  Insect pollinators like butterflies, bees, birds, moths, bats, beetles, and ants contribute significantly to the existence of many of the foods we eat on a daily basis. The type of educational agricultural events is important. 

Warner Hall's farm
Photo Credit: Antoinette Harrell

Livingston Parish Civil Rights Leader Lester Youngblood

Lester Youngblood
Courtesy of
 Bernice Alexander Bennett
Funeral Program Photo

I'm familiar with the name Youngblood since author and genealogist Bernice Alexander Bennett comes from the Youngblood family. Often she talked about her Youngblood ancestry from Livingston Parish. Recently I was at the Tangipahoa Parish Clerk's Office researching charter documents and found a the charter for the Citizen Voters League. 

Among the 36 names mentioned in the charter was Lester Youngblood. Her confirmation was that there are two Lester Youngbloods: Jr. and Sr. Bernice forwarded me a copy of Lester Youngblood's funeral program. Among the civil rights icons in Head Island, a parish in Livingston, was Lester Youngblood, Sr. 

Lester was born on August, 7, 1914  to Wesley Youngblood and Fannie Walker in Head Island, Louisiana  He passed away on May 32, 1997 at his home. He was married to Dorothy Martin Youngblood. They were the parents of 16 children.  10 daughters and 5 sons: Dora Youngblood  Harris, Elnora Youngblood Quiet, Margie Youngblood Hawkins,  Helen Youngblood Raven, Georgiana Youngblood Jackson, Lillie Youngblood Davis, Jessie Youngblood Hart, Daisy Youngblood Norman, Barbara Youngblood Thomas, Toni Youngblood Jackson. James Youngblood, Elgene Youngblood,  John C. Youngblood and Henry Youngblood.  When he passed away he had 55 grandchildren, 74 great-grandchildren, and 8 great-great grandchildren. He and his wife had a very large family 

I used Ancestry to learn more about the man who put his life on the line for the right to vote. Lester realized that during that time in the Deep South. I found information on the U.S. World War II Draft Card. His bright day was listed as 1914, he was born in Head of Island, Louisiana and was employed at McCarrol Lumber Co.  In the United States 1940 Census he was working for as a logger for a Sawmill Company. Lester owned his home in 1940. 

Standing up for that right to vote, Youngblood could have been murdered. That didn't deter him from doing so. In 1955, he organized the Citizens Voter League with 35 other men. Civil rights leaders are often lauded on a national level and dismissed locally. The charter provided the names of brave men such as Lester Youngblood. It wasn't that long ago that he passed away. My hope is that his family members recorded his story. It is possible to gain some insight into the time and period of voting rights in the Florida Parish by learning about a few pieces of the rich history of voting rights for African Americans through documents like this charter.

Source: Funeral Program for Lester Youngblood

             Tangipahoa Parish Clerk's Office 

             Bernice Alexander Bennett