Allendale Plantation Marker Name: Allendale Plantation Marker Dedicated: September 23, 1959 Marker Sponsor: Louisiana Department of Commerce & Industry; General Chairman Mrs. Ethel Claiborne “Puffy” Dameron Marker Location:North shoulder of LA Hwy 190 (Airline Highway) near Allendale Plantation Road Marker Text: Home of Second Louisiana Confederate Governor Henry Watkins Allen. Purchased from Colonel William Nolan in 1852 for $300,000, which included 125 slaves. House burned by Federal troops during the war. Background: Through Mrs. Dameron’s efforts, there arose a need to call attention to Governor Allen by erecting this marker near his former home on Allendale Plantation. Mrs. Dameron’s initiatives also made possible the creation of a statue of Governor Allen on the courthouse grounds in Port Allen. Allen was born in Virginia, the son of a physician, moved to Mississippi where he served in the state legislature and in 1846, moved to Louisiana to become a sugar planter. Allen bought a site near Port Allen, fronting the river and in 1853 was elected to the Louisiana state legislature. Allen was made a Lieutenant Colonel in the Confederate Army during the War Between the States and was advanced to the rank of Brigadier General in 1863 by President Jefferson Davis. During the battle of Baton Rouge, he was wounded in both legs by an exploding shell. In November of 1863 he was elected Governor of the state and assumed the duties of that office in January of 1864. Seeing a crumbling South before him in 1865, he gave up the office of Governor and moved to Mexico where he established a newspaper called “The Mexican Times”. Allen published a farewell address to the people of Louisiana on June 2, 1865 saying “I have thought it my duty to address you a few words in parting from you, perhaps forever. My administration as Governor of Louisiana closes this day. Let us not talk of despair, not whine about our misfortunes, but with strong arms and stout hearts adapt ourselves to the circumstances which surround us. If my voice could be heard and heeded at Washington, I would say “Spare this distracted land, oh spare this affected people. In the name of bleeding humanity, they have suffered enough’.” Allen left the land he loved to live among strangers and died in a foreign land a year later. Port Allen was later named for Gov. Allen. “Had the events of history turned out differently, Henry Watkins Allen would probably have been considered not just a Louisiana leader, but a great American leader” Gibbs Adams, Assistant Executive Director of the Department of Commerce and Industry stated during the dedication ceremonies. (quotes from Morning Advocate article dated September 24, 1959) A proposal was made to the West Baton Rouge (WBR) Historical Association on July 2, 2002, to replace this historic marker. After searches to find the old marker throughout the parish and state storage areas fell through, the WBR Historical Association agreed to replacing the marker with the same marker text. The marker replacement honors not only a great person and piece of Louisiana history, but also honors the memory of Mrs. Ethel Claiborne Dameron, who worked so hard to create lasting visible reminders of Governor Allen. For more information: • Morning Advocate, September 24, 1959 • Along the River Road by Mary Ann Sternberg, pages 13, 200-202 • Chronicles of West Baton Rouge by Elizabeth Kellough and Leona Mayeux, 1979, page 32 • National Register of Historic Places nomination (Allendale Plantation Historic District) • State Historic marker files at the West Baton Rouge Museum • Reference files at the West Baton Rouge Museum and Library Dedication - September 23, 1959 Mrs. C. I. “Puffy” Dameron speaks to the audience while left to right Mary Dameron, Martin Kahao, Rev and Mrs. A. B. Couvillion listen. Left to right: Mrs. A. B. Couvillion, Irving Dameron and Parish President Ben Devall listn to Gibbs Adams speak about Gov. Allen. Parish President Ben Devall addresses the group as the Honor Guards look on. Re-Dedication - June 27, 2005 A large crowd was on hand for the dedication during the hot weather June 27, 2005. Mrs. Kenneth (Mary Jane) Kahao, Sr. gave the crowd the history of Former Governor Henry Watkins Allen and Allendale Plantation. The marker was unveiled by West Baton Rouge Historical Association President Ellis Gauthier and Mrs. Mary Jane Kahao. After the ceremony, the Kahao family members gathered by the new state marker. Top of Page