Treasure Chest Thursday - Charlie's Nite Club

Will Peck, IV gave the following description of Charlie's Nite Club in his History of Sicily Island, 1976 writings:

In the late 1940’s the citizens of our community experienced the end of an era, some not realizing the impact it had made on the area. Kathryn Benedict of Mississippi, came to Sicily Island to teach English and art and fell in love with a local boy, Charlie Smith. With her help Charlie opened what was to become one of the most famous nightclubs in Louisiana.

When citizens of the community went to Natchez or Monroe to shop at the most fashionable stores, they visited with the proprietors on a first name basis, since they mingled, dined and danced at Sicily Island the night before.

Ike St. Clair became known as one of the best bartenders in the country. There were also the bouncers, Bully Smith and Duke Kiper, who were well known for their ability to perform.

Bud Scott, the popular musician from Natchez, played at Charlie’s many times.

Reflecting, one can see how Mrs. Mollie Steele always knew about the exciting things happening at the club – not from Charlie, her first cousin, who came to see her almost every day, but through her trusted maid, the hilarious Annie Barkshire who was married to the well known Ike Sanders, the cook at Charlie’s.

When the nightclub closed, many of the dealers left and reestablished in Las Vegas, thus ending a nostalgic period in the town’s history. Old patrons will always remember Wednesday nights as Homer Rushing’s voice rang out to an excited crowd, “It’s nine and it’s bingo time.”

Treasure Chest Thursday ~ Yankee Cannon Ball Frag

Treasure Chest Thursday ~ The Old Shack and the Treasures it Held

A couple of years ago I was back home for a visit and decided to venture out to an old shack that stood behind our house.  This shack has been standing for over fifty years and will most likely remain standing for many years to come.

As children, we called the shack our playhouse; the girls taking up residence in the front room and the boys taking the back room.  Over the years it became more of a storage place. 

While the floorboards on the little front porch have rotted, the floors within the shack are still quite sturdy.  However, on this particular occasion, I was not concerned with the flooring as much as I was with what I might find residing in the old shack.  I could see through the door and noticed several boxes that had begun to deteriorate.  I had a choice.  Walk away because of my fear of "critters" or make a dash inside and retrieve the boxes.

Treasure Chest Thursday ~ A Father's Gift

My father loved to talk about our family history as well as the history of our small village and parish.  What a memory he had!  As a young girl, I loved listening to his stories.  I never thought to take notes.  I was, however, blessed to have a memory almost as good as his.  

Over the years, several attempts were made to create our family tree on paper.  The double cousins and such created a few obstacles; preventing him from ever accomplishing the task.  For example, my great-great grandmother's sister married my great grandfather's uncle.  Boggles the mind!