The Randall Oak
Here's a bit of information on New Roads from the LSU Agricultural Center. Pictured above is the Randall Oak, a HUGE tree that is over 300 years old. The tree is on the property adjacent to ours. The story (legend?) is that James Ryder Randall wrote the words to "Maryland, My Maryland" under the tree, while he was Professor of English at Poydras College, which was once located on the property. One day, I'm going to post a picture of the tree with a person standing near it to give you a true sense of how large the trunk actually is.
The Pointe Coupee Parish Courthouse
Listed on the National Historic Register, this building was originally built in 1902 of Romanesque Revival architecture. On the grounds is a statue of Major General John Archer LeJeune, World War I hero for whom Camp LeJeune, North Carolina is named.
I like the turrets.
Thus endeth the geography lesson.
The perspective of the photo is good. I can imagine a person standing there. That tree is huge! I hope Lynn sees this.
ReplyDeleteHere are the lyrics (giggle!):
Maryland, My Maryland
I
The despot's heel is on thy shore,
Maryland!
His torch is at thy temple door,
Maryland!
Avenge the patriotic gore
That flecked the streets of Baltimore,
And be the battle queen of yore,
Maryland! My Maryland!
II
Hark to an exiled son's appeal,
Maryland!
My mother State! to thee I kneel,
Maryland!
For life and death, for woe and weal,
Thy peerless chivalry reveal,
And gird they beauteous limbs with steel,
Maryland! My Maryland!
III
Thou wilt not cower in the dust,
Maryland!
Thy beaming sword shall never rust,
Maryland!
Remember Carroll's sacred trust,
Remember Howard's warlike thrust,-
And all thy slumberers with the just,
Maryland! My Maryland!
IV
Come! 'tis the red dawn of the day,
Maryland!
Come with thy panoplied array,
Maryland!
With Ringgold's spirit for the fray,
With Watson's blood at Monterey,
With fearless Lowe and dashing May,
Maryland! My Maryland!
V
Come! for thy shield is bright and strong,
Maryland!
Come! for thy dalliance does thee wrong,
Maryland!
Come to thine own anointed throng,
Stalking with Liberty along,
And chaunt thy dauntless slogan song,
Maryland! My Maryland!
VI
Dear Mother! burst the tyrant's chain,
Maryland!
Virginia should not call in vain,
Maryland!
She meets her sisters on the plain-
"Sic semper!" 'tis the proud refrain
That baffles minions back again,
Maryland!
Arise in majesty again,
Maryland! My Maryland!
VII
I see the blush upon thy cheek,
Maryland!
For thou wast ever bravely meek,
Maryland!
But lo! there surges forth a shriek,
From hill to hill, from creek to creek-
Potomac calls to Chesapeake,
Maryland! My Maryland!
VIII
Thou wilt not yield the Vandal toll,
Maryland!
Thou wilt not crook to his control,
Maryland!
Better the fire upon thee roll, Better the blade, the shot, the bowl,
Than crucifixion of the soul,
Maryland! My Maryland!
IX
I hear the distant thunder-hum,
Maryland!
The Old Line's bugle, fife, and drum,
Maryland!
She is not dead, nor deaf, nor dumb-
Huzza! she spurns the Northern scum!
She breathes! she burns! she'll come! she'll come!
Maryland! My Maryland!
Loved the Geography lesson and have returned from church and absolution:-)
ReplyDeleteScott, they're pretty bad, aren't they? They made me cringe, actually. I suppose the schools took their lessons from words like these when they wrote the fight songs, which they sing at sports events.
ReplyDeleteBrian the Clean, until your next sinning moment.
Mimi, this is a wonderful post. Some of these old courthouses are wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThe tree speaks for itself.
Thanks for sharing.
Jim, thanks. It's quite a healthy old tree, but maintaining it in it's healthy state is quite costly. I'm glad it's not on our property. We can admire it, without having to pay a price.
ReplyDeleteWell, I started to say this yesterday, but thought about it a little too much. Now I say it... The courthouse looks French. It's the turret! Ive seen those on chateaus or is it chateaux? They weren't brick, of course, but you work with what you've got, eh?
ReplyDeleteSusan, I suspect that the building was meant to look like a French chateau.
ReplyDeleteThe oak is gorgeous. Given the inscription, I wonder whether it is a descendant of the late great Wye Oak of Maryland which was also of great size and age, and a totem of the state. When it fell in 2002, a casualty of a severe storm, it was thought to be somewhere around 460 years old. Its acorns had been collected for years and planted across the country, so it does have many offspring.
ReplyDeleteThanks (I think) to Scott for the lyrics. I've lived in Maryland for 34 years without having had the misfortune of having to sing the state song. I think I can happily go another 34.
Mary Clara, the Randall Oak could be related to the Wye Oak. I remember reading about its tragic demise. Perhaps the tree in New Roads reminded Randall of his home state.
ReplyDeleteLucky you! A Marylander who never had to sing the state song!