Recap of our cemetery tours, November preview
We spent the entire month of October exploring the historic cemeteries around downtown Baton Rouge. We shared ghost stories and discussed how these cemeteries came to be. We learned about the roles cemeteries once played in society and how our treatment of people in life is reflected in how we treat them in death.
As you read this newsletter, you’ll find links for more information. As I build out the new website, I’m creating individual articles on everything we discuss during our rides. So, one ride might inspire three or more articles, all interconnected.
I have a significant backlog of articles to post, but I plan to work on this gradually. When you subscribe to this newsletter, your support helps me dedicate more time to this project. I will keep this information free, hoping it will become a valuable resource for Baton Rouge’s historical archive. The next story is a great example of how much history we still have to uncover.
Discovering Alex Gilbert
In the spring, we visited the Lutheran Cemetery. During my research, I came across an intriguing article about a man buried in Magnolia Cemetery who died in 1891. What caught my eye was the line, "the largest colored funeral ever witnessed in this city."
To my knowledge, Magnolia Cemetery was segregated at that time. So, I turned to the best historical resource in Baton Rouge—Melissa Eastin, Archivist/Librarian III at the East Baton Rouge Parish Library. She, too, found it fascinating and began digging. Soon, with additional help from David Laatsch in the Genealogy Library, the story began to unfold.
We visited his grave, where I shared the story of the oldest known Black-owned business in Baton Rouge. It was a story I didn’t expect to tell in a predominantly white cemetery located near a historic Black cemetery.
This story is an ongoing research project, as there is still so much to learn about the legacy of this family and their business.
CLICK HERE to read what we’ve learned so far.
Missing Marker for a Founding Settler
Our second October ride focused on the early settlers buried in the Catholic Cemetery on Main Street. Although he has no official headstone, Col. Philip Hickey is reportedly buried there. His legacy includes being a plantation owner, military leader, and politician. Known for establishing East Baton Rouge Parish’s first sugar mill, he shaped the region's economy and served as a state senator and colonel in the Louisiana Militia during the War of 1812.
Another significant discovery was made while researching this article: Hickey was listed as a trustee at the College of Baton Rouge. This was not LSU but rather a boarding school, located where the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections stands today.
Yellow Fever
Our third week featured a ghost story about an epidemic rather than a person. Yellow Fever was a harsh reality for early Baton Rouge settlers. For the Baton Rouge Jewish community, it spurred the creation of a cemetery and the establishment of a congregation.
During our visit to the cemetery, we observed the tradition of placing stones on the headstones we visited. Riders took time to explore, recognizing names of prominent community members and others familiar to them from childhood.
Velo Muertos
On Sunday, October 27, Mark Martin led the annual Velo Muertos cemetery tour. If you missed it, don’t worry; Mark leads it every year. I documented the entire event and summarized it, including a map of the historic cemeteries.
You can still buy the Velo Muertos shirt! Purchase it now to wear next October and as a reminder to attend the ride.
Costume Ride
For our fourth week, we celebrated Halloween with a costume ride! Everyone dressed up, and we took the scenic route to downtown Baton Rouge, stopping at The Main Lobby. This was our first visit, and it didn’t disappoint.
The Halloween decorations were fantastic, the drinks were excellent, and the upstairs balcony is now my favorite downtown spot. I wish they had a coffee shop there during the day because I’d love to work from that rooftop!
We gave out prizes, thanks to Spoke and Hub, for the best costumes. The winners were:
First place: Fercho Rengifo
Second place: Michelle Lee
Third place: Janet Lafleur and Richard Kiser
November Rides
Our next ride will start after dark, so be sure to bring lights. I am currently out of lights to give away, and we haven’t received contributions for our Light Up the Night campaign.
I’ll be looking into potential grants for lights, but I’m new to this. If you’re experienced in grant applications, I’d love to connect!
Also coming up in November is the return of Cranksgiving! This annual event wasn’t held last year as Bike Baton Rouge was on hiatus. The nonprofit is in a restructuring phase, and the details are still being finalized. However, the event is set for Sunday, November 17, at 10 a.m., in a NEW LOCATION—Electric Depot!
More details will be announced soon!