REVITALIZATION OF ST. JOSEPH

ARTICLE BY NILS BORQUIST | PHOTOGRAPHY BY KELLY MOORE CLARK

ST. JOSEPH, A TOWN WORKING TO BREATHE NEW LIFE IN A REGION OVERFLOWING WITH NATURAL BEAUTY SITS JUST BELOW LAKE BRUIN’S SOUTHERNMOST CURVE IN TENSAS PARISH, WHERE IT INCIDENTALLY IS ALSO THE COUNTY SEAT.

American small towns and villages are often thought of in a romantic light as the kinds of places where you didn’t have to lock your doors and kids rode bikes down the street with baseball cards rattling between spokes and families along neighboring streets grew up together at barbeques and reunions year after year. People remember these communities fondly as bygone memories of better times, when their grandparents rocked on the porch, swatting flies and fanning themselves with the morning paper in the fading evening light. Thankfully, against the unpredictable whims of people deciding to move away from their small hometowns or the ups and downs of the inevitable uplifting and down turning cycles of life, small towns are experiencing a Renaissance of sorts.  

The term revitalization refers to a rebirth or a rejuvenation of life. Many towns dotting the landscape of Louisiana can hardly claim to be undergoing a resurgence of significance or a reinvigoration of industry that has fallen on hard times. Most if not all of these places never had a booming time period in their existence. Perhaps, then, the interest in the surging communities residing along stretches of sun scorched highways should be more viewed as seeing the possibilities of a dream to fruition, the citizens moving their hopes from the realms of what could be into the real world of concrete, hand painted signs, and individually crafted goods, available for all to see and buy and enjoy. The stories of revitalization, of rebuilding what once was, and those of building something new from a vision of what could be are stories of promise, dedication, hard work, and community togetherness. So many towns and cities in Louisiana, both large and small alike, need an injection of life, a push to restore the once thriving main streets, while others have recognized that need and are fortunate to have citizens who dedicate their lives and careers to those special places ready to be discovered and experienced. 

One such place that is steadily progressing is St. Joseph, a town working to breathe new life in a region overflowing with natural beauty and people exuding the ideals of Southern hospitality, and it sits just below Lake Bruin’s southernmost curve in Tensas Parish, where it incidentally is also the county seat. Residents of St. Joe, recognizing the potential connected with the renowned splendor of the lake and coastal delta surrounding the town, have begun to invest time and money into not only the downtown but the entire locale. With their visible progress, hope should drift along those highways and waterways that meander to and through every town in the state, joining each of them in a special kind of family tree, delivering the encouraging message of what can be done anywhere with the full effort and backing of everyone who lives there as well as from those who love to visit. 

As a town that originated in the 1840’s, St. Joseph owns a storied past with a background including acting as a major stop along the Mississippi River during the Civil War, being the location where a standoff with the Jesse James gang occurred, and was the birthplace of Cross Keys Bank well over 100 years ago when it was originally known as the Bank of St. Joseph. Most of Tensas Parish’s settlers began as cotton farmers, and while the crops have often changed from year to year, much of the land remains in use in the same way as it has been for almost two centuries. In that time, the parish has seen its population hit nearly 20,000 people in the early 1900’s, but now sits at just over 4,000, making it currently the least populated in the state. However, even with a low number of established residents, St. Joseph’s location makes it enticing for would-be vacationers and a treasure for those who have come to make it their homes or for those born there and who never left. 

Plank Road serves as the main street for businesses in St. Joseph, and over the previous few years, a number of new and diverse establishments have emerged in the effort to bring in new people both to move to town or to make it a travel destination during the lengthy Louisiana summer months, which includes the late spring and early fall, when the hot weather seems to creep in and linger. While this may be a deterrent for many people, those wishing to avoid the humidity and sweltering heat, others see this as a perfect opportunity to spend time in and on the water, fishing and swimming and congregating with friends and family. One of the best places to do so in the entire state, and some would even argue in the entire south, is on Lake Bruin. Lake Bruin State Park (https://www.lastateparks.com/parks-preserves/lake-bruin-state-park), a beautiful and well maintained 53 acre site, offers visitors not only the chance to enjoy the water but also biking, camping, and wildlife viewing. Additionally, they rent cabins of various sizes for comfortable accommodations as well as a pavilion for parties and other celebrations. For those smart enough to choose to visit the lake on weekends or long breaks, taking the time to shop, walk around and enjoy the scenery, and eat local cuisine all often go hand-in-hand. With that in mind, shops and restaurants are springing up along the main stretch of town, and most residents couldn’t be happier. 

          Along Plank Road, where in recent times many storefronts stood empty, new energy is surging and growth is occurring. Faith Gremillion, who splits her time working as a teacher in Monroe and as a director for the Tensas Parish library, believes that the excitement in the area is warranted, especially when one considers the overall involvement a community must maintain in order to drive burgeoning businesses to great success. Among antique shops selling nostalgic riches, such as River Traders, and the newly opened gym, named Plank Fitness and cleverly featuring a logo of someone in the plank position, several of the businesses focus on artisans and their crafts. Folkway Co. Mercantile (https://www.folkwayco.com/mercantile) specializes in offering local and regional goods among other items from around the world. Their diverse inventory, ranging from kitchenware, games, and even local produce, is sure to spark interest in even the most casual shopper. Rebecca Vizard, the originator behind B. Viz Design (https://bvizdesign.com), made St. Joseph her global headquarters in 2016. Vizard and her talented and innovative team transform salvaged material into clothing, jewelry, and textiles, but she and her company are predominantly known for their pillows, which are purchased and shipped globally due to their incredible loveliness and unique craftsmanship. Shop All Daye (https://shopalldaye.com/), opened and run by Natalie Sutor, currently primarily sells women’s clothing and accessories, but will soon also offer children’s clothing as well when they expand on the store’s fourth anniversary during Easter. Leslie Ratcliff (https://www.instagram.com/lratcliffart/?hl=en), a local teacher and artist, produces paintings utilizing multiple media styles in her studio, L. Ratcliff Art, located on Plank Road. She is one of several talented creators who draw inspiration from the region’s people, cultures, and environmental diversity. 

Beyond the visual artists and retail shops, culinary artists are also making a positive impact on the town. Stacey Mobley and chef/baker Jessica Mobley are the minds behind restaurant and bakery The Walking Pig (https://www.the-walking-pig.com/). Also located on Plank Road, The Walking Pig offers customers a wide range of choices, from Southern staples such as fried catfish po’boys, cochon de lait po’boys, and grilled pimento cheese sandwiches to Angus beef burgers, healthy grilled mushroom wraps, and even a selection of delicious and imaginative tacos, such as the pork belly and southern fried chicken specialties. While rare for such a small, rural community to have an innovative eatery, the decision by the Mobleys to bring their creations to St. Joseph is appreciated by everyone who enters their doors. Another restaurant bringing visitors from as far away as 100 miles is Maria’s Mexican Restaurant. Originally housed in a smaller location, the popularity of Maria’s has forced the owners to move to a larger facility in order to welcome their ever-increasing fan base. Maria’s provides standard homemade Mexican fare such as Spanish rice, succulent refried beans with cheese, and nachos packed with toppings, but they also expand into new territory with numerous dishes featuring fresh avocados as well as their prawn shrimp cocktails. With these two restaurants leading the way and successfully growing, citizens and visitors should certainly expect even more culinary delights in the future. 

Realtor, business owner, and community supporter Jane Netterville is perhaps the biggest cheerleader for St. Joseph’s progress. Calling Lake Bruin “the jewel of Tensas,” and even coining the motto for St. Joe, “come to play, plan to stay,” Netterville and her husband, along with several members of her family, own and operate Netterville Landing (http://www.nettervillelanding.com/) on the northern shores of the lake. The business truly shines during the summer months, with visitors able to rent cabins alongside the lake as well as tubes, kayaks, and pontoons for water fun. Known for their first-class service and list of special events, including the “Thunder on Bruin” airshow, Netterville Landing pulls out all the stops to ensure that their guests will have the time of their lives during their stay. Beyond her business interests, Jane also gushes about the positive impact St. Joseph can have on people and their families. Having raised her own children there, she knows firsthand the significance of kids growing up in a small town where people seem to care about their neighbors, and safety and values are the norm rather than the exception. This sentiment is seconded by Natalie Sutor, who is originally from the Mandeville/New Orleans area, and who met her husband when they were both attending LSU. After moving back to St. Joseph, his hometown, they have begun a family, and Sutor stated that there’s no other place she would want to raise her kids, Harper and Piper, who just so happened to be the namesakes for her store (Harper’s middle name is Daye, a family name) as well as the upcoming expansion (Piper is nicknamed Sweet P, which will be the name of the children’s boutique). While some things have changed in the years Netterville has lived in St. Joe, she stated that the overall care shown by the community for each other has remained a constant. 

St. Joseph is one of many towns beginning to embrace the possibilities of creating growth and expanding its population, cultural borders, and economic limits. The only way this happens is when the people who live there recognize the potential in their towns and in themselves. Jane Netterville made a strong point, declaring that success can be had when citizens are creative, come up with strong ideas, and capitalize on what is available and on what people want when they come to places like St. Joe. The growth in “the jewel of Tensas” has been gradually developing, and many tremendous changes have happened in just the past five years. Perhaps in the coming months, the next groups of visitors, those going for the first time and those who come back year in and year out, will influence others to come along, to see what’s out there on the big oxbow lake in east-central Louisiana, to take advantage of the welcoming arms of the good people of St. Joseph who want nothing more than to share good times and beaming smiles with each and every guest fortunate enough to make the trip.