The Opelousas courier., 1884-05-24
Camp Nichols.
INTERESTING FACTS FROM THE OFFICIAL
REPORT OF THE CONFEDERATE SOL
DIER's HoME~oF LOUISIANA.
IN. o. Picayune, May III

IN. o. Picayune, May III
The Board of Directors of the Home
for Disabled and INDECENT Confederate
Soldiers of Louisiana has prepared re-
port to be submitted to the General
Assembly. 1t recites the history of the
institution, from which the following
interesting particulars are extracted
The Home was established in confor-
nifty with act 62 of the Legislature of
1882, approved June 80 of that year.
The Legislature appropriated $25oO for
the purposes of the Home for the year
1883.
The act of Assembly constituted as a
board OF directors for the management
of the institution the President and
Vice, Presidents and Recording Secre-
taries of each of the Benevolent Asso-
Citations of the armies of Tennessee and
Northern Virginia, and the first meet
ing of the board for organization was
held in this city April IL, 1888.
The board, after negotiations with
Mr.. j. R. DeMahy, purchased of him
a tract OF land of sufficient size for the
location of the Home. The terms of the
purchase were $24OO, one third to be
paid in cash and the balance in equal
installments in one, two and three
wears. The property is advantageous
ly situated ON the east shore of Bayou
St. John, some two hundred yards be-
low the crossing of Esplanade street.
The soil is fertile and high and dry,
bearing fine grove OF live oak and
magnolia trees.
The board determined to build upon
and improve the land it had bought.
Pursuant to its authority, the Presi-
dent took up the three outstanding
notes of 5000 each, by paying for them
S1775, thus freeing the place from
debt. The mortgage has been can
celled.
Extensive buildings were erected and
they were properly fitted and furnished
for the comfortable keeping Of the dis
abled veterans, where they are we'll fed
and we'll treated and cared for in every
way.
The institution was baptized as
"Camp Nichols" on the 10th OF March,
1884, when the daughters OF Robert -:
Lee, Stonewall jackson and D. Il. Hill
hoisted over the building the blue flag
of Louisiana, while an artillery salute
gave emphasis to the ceremony.
Quoting from the report of the Sec.
retary FEThe old soldiers declare them
selves to be contented and happy, and
free from any care or thoughts for the
morrow. They are well behaved and
willing to assist, according to their
abilities, in improving and beautifying
the place, to which end the board de-
votes it's constant attention. An iron
twelve FOUNDER, with carriage and cais.
son complete, received from the State
through Gen. G.. T. Beauregard, il
placed on the front lawn, near the base
Of the tall flag staff, and lends a mar
tial appearance to the grounds.
MEN who are blind, manned ant
disabled by wounds, disease, age ant
hardship, cannot be expected to dt
more than police their quarters ant
keep the grounds in order. 1t is in
cumbent. then, upon tie General AS
sembly to take this matter into serioa
consideration, and to see that thl
State institution--this home of its dis
abled soldiers-is provided by an ampl
appropriation with funds which wi
complete the good work SO gloriousl
begun, and preserve it to an endurln
future of continued prosperity
Twenty-Five disabled veterans hav
been admitted to the home.
The following is the present Boar
, of Management:
Francis T. Nichols, President; A. ,
:, Lewis, Secretary w. FL: Rogers, Pres
! .ident pro tenn; j. II. Murray, Treast
: rer: j. j. Fitzpatrick Fendel Horl
Louis Prados, R. Fl. Brunei, Jr., F.
Ober, w. E. Todd; Superintendent
VIM. Bullitt.
The best fve-cent cigar, Little Jol