Lucie Monk Carter
Over the course of his thirty-five years in Los Angeles, Zachary native Larry Square developed a deep passion for fine art, accumulating a massive and diverse collection. In 2004, he and his wife Gay brought it all home, where—in the house he designed—he could finally display it for all to see.
For us at Country Roads, 2019 brought yet another year of remarkable storytelling, fantastic adventures, and—as is now par for the course in this world of publishing—lots of change.
Settling in to observe the dawn of a new decade, we first flipped our way through the twelve issues we've sent into the world this past year, and—using the magic of 21st century analytics—learned a bit about our readers. The stories you most enjoyed from our misadventures, investigations, and discoveries of 2019 include: a mad dash around coastal Mississippi, celebrations of this year's Small Town Chefs, discoveries of ancient forests, revitalization efforts on the coasts and in Louisiana's small towns, plus conspiracy theories, old ladies rocking out, and an ethical taxidermist. And lots more.
For all the chronic reminiscers out there, you can find all of our stories from 2019 (and all the way back to 2016), in our Issue Archive. If you'd like to stay up to date with our work in 2020 (and beyond!), be sure to subscribe here.
1. 90 Miles Down 90
The Mad Lifestyle Journalist of the Marigny meanders over to Mississippi
by Chris Turner-Neal
Courtesy of Visit Mississippi Gulf Coast
The Walter Anderson Museum of Art in Ocean Springs rivets many a museumgoer.
2. The Golden Girls of Punk
Four Baton Rouge women defying stereotypes, three minutes at a time
by Jason Christian
Jordan Hefler
(From left to right) Kay Lindsey, Dorothy LeBlanc, Debbie Roussel, and Sandy Brock are, collectively, Your Mom.
3. From Fragments to First Light
After a traumatic injury, Kyle Baughman found his calling in stained glass
by William Browning
Suzanne Carey
After years of searching for fulfilling work, a traumatic injury led Kyle Baughman along an unexpected path of craft, art, and light.
4. Chef Ben Lewis
By moving to the Caribbean, the Woodville native developed a new perspectives on familiar foods
by Lucie Monk Carter
Lucie Monk Carter
Chef Ben Lewis has roots that run two hundred years deep in Woodville, but it was a trip to the Caribbean that truly informed his fresh approach to Southern cuisine.
5. Cypress Avenue
In the middle of a Tangipahoa Parish swamp, the last uncut primary growth cypress forest north of Lake Pontchartrain stands strong
by Chris Staudinger and John Hazlett
John Hazlett
John Dahmer (standing) remembers the meeting where his father negotiated with the logging company to spare one hundred acres of cypress for the people of Ponchatoula. Dahmer led writers/kayak guides Chris Staudinger (sitting) and John Hazlett to see the cypress forest for themselves.
6. The Granular View
Prairie Ronde Rice offers single-variety, freshly milled rice
by Deborah Burst
Paul Kieu
Beth James and Rolando Sanchez grow and mill their own Prairie Ronde Rice at James Rice Farms.
7. Saving St. Joseph
Using natural and nurtured beauty to revitalize a tiny Tensas Parish town
by Lauren Heffker
Candace Head
Enthusiastic locals are giving their all to improving St. Joseph, though at times it is an uphill battle. "Our community is small, but it is bound with love," said Mayor Fields.
8. Justice for Clementine
FBI agent Randy Deaton helped end the forty-year career of a mostly unknown forger
by Ruth Laney
Lucie Monk Carter
In the 1990s, hundreds of Clementine Hunter forgeries were being sold on the market. Friend of Clementine's Tom Whitehead says he could tell they were fake because "they were too perfect."
9. Tea Time?
The path to tea cultivation in the South
by Christie Matherne Hall
Lucie Monk Carter
The success of the Southern Tea industry depends on many things—but a key quality of its success thus far has been the spirit of collaboration and support fostered in its farmers.
10. Chasse-Femme
For this woman-led Courir de Mardi Gras, the Prairie des Femmes erupts in a wild chicken chase
by Jordan LaHaye
Alongside Capitaine Mariah Quebedeaux and La Patrone Danielle Gee, Ashlee Michot—in a play on Lousiana French dialect and its pronunciation of the term for "wise woman" (sagefemme)—dubs herself "Chasse-Femme," which can also mean "woman hunt."
11. The Dog Days Aren't Over
The Bayou State Rabbit Hunters Federation upholds the declining practice of hunting rabbits with beagles
by Jonathan Olivier
Jonathan Olivier
Tommy Boudreaux pictured with his dogs at home in Livonia
12. One Man, One Gun, One Bullet?
With ample evidence, Ernie Gremillion hopes to clear the name of Huey Long's alleged killer
by John Wirt
Lucie Monk Carter
Ernie Gremillion (above) believes an innocent man was convicted of killing Sen. Huey Long (top).
13. The Bursting Bungalow
Paul Fitch takes pride in his portraits, antiques, and meticulously restored home
by Ruth Laney
Matthew Dominique
Paul Fitch houses his many collections in a 1916 Craftsman bungalow in Franklin, Louisiana.
14. Chef Luke Hidalgo
The owner of Hambone loves life on the Northshore
by Beth D'Addono
Lucie Monk Carter
Luke and Marci Hidalgo, owners of Hambone in Old Mandeville.
15. Stuffing and Nonsense
Ethical Taxidermist Bunny Lane creates a carnival of the animals
by Chris Turner-Neal
Alexandra Kennon
Bunny Lanes demonstrates her craft.
16. A Wing and a Prayer
Could coastal restoration bring waterfowl back to the Maurepas Swamp?
by Jonathan Olivier
Warren Coco
Owner of Go-Devil Manufacturers of Louisiana and avid duck hunter Warren Coco has long brought his camera along on his hunting excursions. He has made thousands of images of the Maurepas Swamp from the 1980s and '90s, when the area was a haven for waterfowl.
17. Just Say Yes
Bravery positions Yvette Landry for breakout success
by Tom Scarborough
Paul Kieu
Musician, author, and educator Yvette Landry combines inspirational bursts with a sense of humor and a willingness to try anything.
18. The Square Collection
An exploration of the African American experience in one man's artful home
by Jordan LaHaye
Lucie Monk Carter
Of the dozens of artists in Larry Square's collection, Tina Allen is represented the most. Allen was internationally recognized as a master of capturing the African American likeness in sculpture.
19. Leaving Maison Chenal
In Pointe Coupee Parish, Pat and Jack Holden's lovingly created tribute to life in colonial Louisiana is up for sale
by Ruth Laney
Courtesy of the Holden Family
A passion for the past, pursued for over thirty years, has created Maison Chenal, Pat and Jack Holden’s loving tribute to the vernacular architecture and lifestyle of colonial Creole Louisiana.
