Back at Oakley

[DutchmenSport]

Returned to the Audubon State Historic Site on March 2 and will be here until June 30. This is our 4th time here and I've kept up my activities on the 3 prior visits on these forums. Check my prior posts "started" by me and you'll find them.

We've been here a week already on this visit. It's amazing how fast time flies.

I'm currently building a storage cabinet for the barn that will be placed in a room that will be dedicated for the plantation carpenter's shop. The cabinet will be functional and also a display so visitors can see some of the original carpenter's tools. Once done, I'll post some photos on this thread.

Getting ready to return to Oakley resulted in a very busy February. We left Oakley Jan 31 and made it home Feb 2. Over the month we had to accomplish a lot of things so we could head out again.

(Income taxes had to be done, had bearings repacked on the camper and fixed a frayed slide cable, had the roof of the Colorado truck repaired, Oil change on the dually, doctor visits for both myself and my wife, my wife had another medical procedure on here back done too. Got the dogs flea treatments for the next 4 months, banking needs taken care of, and a LOT of other stuff. The trailer was winterized when I took it in to have the bearings done. Temps dropped significantly in Indiana and the dealership had the trailer for 2 weeks. Then right before we headed back to Louisiana, the temps got above freezing, so I unwinterized at home again. I even picked up my annual Indiana State Parks pass for 2025 and another one for my son, even though we probably won't use it enough this year to pay for itself. Yes, it was a busy month.)

So the trip from Indiana to Louisiana was without any incidents .... except ... we stayed at the West Memphis (Arkansas) KOA for the overnight on our way to Louisiana. We pulled out of the KOA about 6:00 am (local time) and it was still dark. Little did I realize, I left my 4 foot step ladder there. I did not realize I forgot it until we actually arrived at Oakley. I purchased another one in Louisiana.

When we arrived at the park, we had to park in the visitor parking lot over over night. I set up my generator, had water in the tank, and we did just fine. The reason we could not immediately park on site is because "they" had scheduled a tall tree to be cut down on Monday morning. The tree is right beside where the trailer parks. By noon the next day, tree was gone, the grounds were cleaned up so well, you'd never know anything was ever done. After 5:00 pm (when the park was closed) I moved the trailer into it's site. Why did I wait so long? Well, Monday (the first full day back), they already scheduled me to do the plantation house tours for that day. So, I was busy with that our first day back at Oakley.... Talk about hitting the floor running! And I've been on a wild rush ever since. I've already done black smith demonstrations and shingle making talks for visitors in the park too, in addition to building that cabinet and cleaning up that space in the barn.

I'm doing a black smith demo later day (Sunday) also.

I suppose all of this sounds like a lot to do for a volunteer position from someone who retired 3 years ago. But you know what? I'm having the time of my life! It just doesn't get better than this!


Here's a photo of the RV site with the tree still standing. This photo was taken in January, before we left. You can see why everyone wanted it cut down. (especially my wife and I)...

Audubon State Historic Site, Louisiana

 

[Jay & Bobbie]

Thanks for the post. Looks like your a busy (and talented) man.
Agree, that pine tree would prevent me from sleeping at night. Especially during windy conditions.

 

[mlh]

That tree needed to go. I’m looking forward to your posts I enjoy them.
Lynwood

 

[twindman]

Come on now. Just prop the tree up with a 8 ft 2x4! No problem.....

 

[scottandsusan]

this is what retirement should look like. Doing things that you really enjoy.
thanks for sharing.

 

[DutchmenSport]

As promised, here are the photos of the barn display cabinet for the historic tools I was building. I finished the project completely yesterday. I had help moving them into their new location, and then added the labels and placed each item. Of course, many of these tools are still being used. So, these are working cabinets and display cabinets. Unfortunately EVERYTHING has to be kept under lock and key all the time so they don't walk away. (which has happened with many historical items here, over the years). Anyway:

Here' the doors I built while still home in Indiana in February (2025). I transported them inside the camper when we returned to Louisiana. Then, built the rest of the cabinet at the plantation.

Here's the start of the 2 cabinets after I got the bases assembled.

Here's the cabinets after putting them in place:

And here then are with all the artifacts on display, locked up secure, and everything labeled.

The reason it took so long to complete was because I've been working on these between other activities. I've been doing several Black Smithing demonstrations and started doing more in depth discussions about the enslaved life, in addition to the Oakley House tours. Meanwhile, the doggies need walks, and I'm constantly walking the grounds (mostly with the doggies) looking for things to do.

It's all fun ... a lot of fun! I truly enjoy my time here.

 

[mlh]

If you enjoy your job you will never work a day. How well I know that.
Lynwood

 

[DutchmenSport]

It's been a while since I posted on this thread. Here's an update. I've been working aggressively in the barn Carpenter Shop. I did do two different days of Carpentry demonstrations and had a great time doing it. I successfully built a small storage box for the plantation kitchen and am now making a box to store the kitchen knives in.

Today at the Audubon State Historic Site they commemorated the Octover 5th, 1864 Civil War skirmish between the 161st New York Infantry and the 1st Louisiana Cavalry across the park grounds.

I was responsible for the Blacksmith shop today. I had the forge fired up all day, gave lots of demonstrations, and shared a lot of information on Blacksmithing and the lives of the enslaved on the plantation in the 1800's. Even my doggies enjoyed the fun, excitement, and the people, until the canons started firing. Then they went back to the camper. Loud booms terrify our little girl.

 

[DutchmenSport]

The wife and I drove into St. Francisville, Louisiana yesterday evening after a full Saturday of events in the park. We drove down to the old Bayou Sara location, where the American Cruise Line and the Viking Cruise Line dock as one of their destination points.

If anyone is not aware of this, the Mississippi River river is currently "up" 16 feet form it's normal stage. What that means for the folks in St. Francisville, is the fact, the banks of the Mississippi are now inland about a mile and a half. Roads are flooded and the low-land areas are completely under water. The sewage treatment plant for St. Francisville is completely under water. A couple days ago we could still drive to the boat landing, yesterday, it was impossible, a mile from the boat landing. The "crest" is suppose to happen May 2. In New Orleans that will be 16.90 feet. New Orleans levies are protected up to 20 feet.

Where's all that water coming from? It all coming from the Northern states, rain run off over the last several weeks. Although Louisiana has not received "that" much rain, the Mississippi River river river system touches many states in the USA.

If anyone does not know how massive the Mississippi River system is, here's a photo of a map I took from a street fair vendor. I kind of wish I would have purchased that picture. But I do have a photo of it. The Mississippi River system is in pink. Awesome when you see it THIS way.... All that water dumping on Louisiana now!

On the lighter side, here's some more photos from the Civil War activities on the Oakley Plantation yesterday.

I think this little guy is just cute as a button. It IS very refreshing to see young children participate in preserving our history and heritage by become an re-enactor himself. It's refreshing to watch the children play with sticks, rocks, and anything that does not require electricity or a battery to operate.