CROWLEY STAFF ATTEND LOUISIANA PRESERVATION CONFERENCE
Providencia “Rita” Johnson, Main Street Manager for the City of Crowley attended The Louisiana Preservation
 Pictured from left to right Charlene Beckett, Abbeville Main Street Manager and Vice President of LMSMA; Kristine Hebert, Plaquemine Main Street Manager and President of LMSMA; Jane Braud, New Iberia Main Street Manager and Secretary of LMSMA; Providencia “Rita” Johnson, Crowley Main Street Manager and Treasurer of LMSMA and Phil Boggan, Executive Director Louisiana Division of Historic Preservation |
Conference that was held in Thibodaux, Louisiana from April 23rd through April 25th. National Preservation month is celebrated during the month of May, therefore this conference was held to kick off the preparations. The conference was sponsored by the Louisiana Trust for Historic Preservation in partnership with The Louisiana Division of Historic Preservation. The theme for the conference was “Preserving for the Future.” Preserving the future is relevant to all of Louisiana says Johnson. This conference was dedicated to the memory of Ms. Sadie W. Newell who served as chairperson for the Association in Natchitoches and president of the Louisiana Trust for Historic Preservation.
The Keynote Speaker was Dwight Young with the National Trust in Washington D.C. Mr. Young opened the conference with “Why does It Matter, Why should we Care”. While elaborating on the whys, Mr. Young stressed that places matter because they teach us things, because they are wonderful to look at and because they are a right feast for the unhurried eye. One of the most interesting statements he made was “great nations write their testimony about their country as 1) the book of their deeds 2) the book of their words and 3) the book of their art. The only trustworthy one is the art.” When you stop and think about it, every place has a book of their art. It is the architecture and design, and when you look around Crowley, we are very fortunate.
Johnson said “this statewide conference is important to our success of efforts to save our heritage that defines us. The conference offered a range of experts who told us about the latest preservation tools and techniques out there. It offered an opportunity to share information and experiences and to tell others about the issues that confronts us. It also offered us an opportunity to share our success stories and to help one another find solutions to problems.”
Rita Johnson reminds us that if you have a business or own a building in downtown commercial Main Street District here in Crowley, that you contact the Main Street office and speak with her on your plans for your business/building as far as signage, painting of building, restoration of building or any changes to the building before starting any work. Johnson says that the City of Crowley has ordinances and guidelines specifically for the Historic Downtown Commercial Main Street District, along with a Historic Commission and Main Street Board. You may contact Rita Johnson at the Main Street office located at 317 N Parkerson Avenue next to the Rice Theatre or phone 788-4123. Thank you for your support of the Crowley Main Street program and the Crowley Historic District.