Olde Towne Slidell

The first wooden Town Hall was built on First Street in 1888, the same year Slidell was legally incorporated as a town. In 1907, a new brick building replaced the original wooden structure. This new hall housed the Mayor’s Office and the Marshal’s Office—complete with five jail cells. Today, that old Town Hall on First Street serves as the Slidell Museum.

By the mid-20th century, the growing community needed more space. In 1954, Slidell constructed a new Town Hall on the site now occupied by the Slidell Auditorium. Continued growth led the Louisiana Legislature in 1964 to recognize Slidell’s transition from town to city. Consequently, the building across the street from the 1954 Town Hall became Slidell’s City Hall in 1973.

Prior to 1973, this building formed part of the Our Lady of Lourdes Church complex (c. 1890), which extended along Bouscaren Street between First and Second streets. Erected in 1932 as the Our Lady of Lourdes Parochial School, it served the community until the school relocated in 1962. The City of Slidell acquired the property—including the adjacent former nuns’ residence—in 1972. Renovations on the school building began in January 1973 and were completed on August 15 of that year.

Since then, it has housed City Hall, with a portion of the ground floor dedicated to the Slidell Gallery, which presents a variety of art and cultural exhibitions each year. The former nuns’ residence next to City Hall accommodated various municipal offices over the years but eventually fell into disrepair. By 2001, it was condemned and slated for demolition. Slidell City Council members and the civic organization Guardians of Slidell History (G.O.S.H.) rallied to save the building.

Thanks to their efforts, this historic structure still stands, now used for special city presentations and as a repository for archival materials provided by G.O.S.H.

The Slidell Municipal Auditorium was dedicated on April 18, 2012. This 22,166-square-foot facility was the last of several municipal buildings to reopen following Hurricane Katrina’s destruction in August 2005. The original structure, erected in 1959, contained an auditorium and served as town hall for many years—housing the mayor’s office, the tax collector, other municipal departments, and the town library. As Slidell’s population expanded rapidly in the early 1960s, the community officially became a city in 1964.

The burgeoning city soon outgrew the old building, and offices and services relocated elsewhere. Renovations completed in 1979 repurposed the facility primarily for civic events, teen activities, weddings, lectures, concerts, and other entertainment. Many organizations held regular meetings in its conference rooms, making it Slidell’s social hub until 2005. The new auditorium features a large open floor plan, a full stage, ample seating, and modern audiovisual infrastructure to support theater productions, concerts, art shows, craft fairs, conventions, fundraisers, and public meetings.

As a cultural centerpiece, it provides a platform for artists, performers, and organizations to engage the community. By offering a versatile gathering space, the Slidell Municipal Auditorium has strengthened the city’s cultural and social fabric—fostering the arts, boosting local economic activity, and nurturing civic pride.

From 1907 until 1954, this two-story brick building was Slidell’s Town Hall. The first wooden Town Hall was constructed on this site soon after the town incorporated in 1888, at a cost of $275. This newer brick building built in 1907 used locally produced bricks and cost $3,865. It took the Town of Slidell three years to repay the building loan for the second Town Hall.

This sturdier brick building housed the town Marshall’s Office and five jail cells on the lower level, while the Mayor’s Office took up the entire upper floor. Early in the town’s history, the Mayor’s Office also served as the Courtroom and Town Council Chambers. The Mayor served as the town’s Judge before 1962. Anyone arrested by the Marshall for misdemeanor offenses would appear before the Mayor for sentencing.

The more serious offenders went to higher courts in Covington or New Orleans. In the early jail cells, there was no electricity for heating, air conditioning, or even lighting. Temperatures were brutally hot in the summer and frigidly cold in the winter. There were no window coverings other than steel bars and a wire mesh.

No plumbing was available for the prisoners ‘personal needs,’ which were handled by chamber pots and/or buckets. The town contracted local ladies to furnish meals for the prisoners, paying them just a few cents a day. Meals usually consisted of whatever leftovers were available. In 1927, the town constructed an additional fire barn to accommodate the town’s first fire truck.

There was a large brass bell mounted outside the fire barn that people used to signal the town’s volunteer firefighters. Next to the bell, there was a large sign that displayed several patterns of bell strikes. The different bell signals told the volunteers which part of town they should head to. A block and a half north at the corner of Front Street and Fremaux, was a Gulf coast Oil gas station.

In the early years, many of the young volunteer firefighters would hang out there. According to early volunteers, ‘When the alarm bell was rung, there would be a foot race from the gas station to the fire barn, because the first one to arrive got to drive the truck.’

At the Old Town Soda Shop in Slidell, “We Serve Memories.” – Frank Jackson In 1908, a clothing and hat retail store occupied this location. In 1916, that structure burned down. The Giordano family later purchased the property, and after reconstruction and repairs, the Giordano & Buckley Shoes store opened—remaining here from 1930 until 1984. In 1988, Frank and Carla Jackson acquired the building and remodeled it into a 1960s-style ice cream parlor.

Soda fountains originated in drugstores in the late 1800s: druggists—sometimes called chemists—mixed their own tonics, syrups, and sodas to serve customers. Over time, soda shops became popular social gathering places in many communities. The Old Town Soda Shop faithfully replicates the interior décor and equipment of a 1960s parlor and serves handcrafted ice cream. Along the walls, you’ll find a vast collection of vintage ice cream scoops—many donated by patrons—demonstrating the community’s support for this nostalgic business.

The building’s exterior has changed little since its days as Giordano & Buckley Shoes. The Soda Shop remained largely the same until Hurricane Katrina flooded the interior in 2005, destroying its specialized equipment. It seemed the business would never reopen—until, in 2011, local businessman Morris Hawkins proposed its rehabilitation at a city planning meeting. Encouraged by the Slidell City Council, Hawkins and Jackson partnered to source authentic 1960s equipment; the Slidell Equipment Company tracked down era-appropriate appliances.

The Old Town Soda Shop reopened in 2012, once again serving Slidell as a beloved social hub. Over the years, Frank Jackson has mentored entrepreneurs opening similar nostalgic ice cream shops, sharing the perks and pitfalls of the business and helping foster appreciation for days gone by. Today’s owners continue his legacy.

The community of Slidell has a long and proud heritage of supporting a wide variety of cultural arts programs. In 1981, the Slidell Historical Antique Association was founded to promote art and culture by providing venues and events that showcase local, regional, and guest artists. The Association hosts the Slidell Street Fair on the last full weekend in April and October each year. These fairs highlight the district’s antique shops and feature over 250 vendors offering antiques, crafts, art, food, and live music.

Drawing more than 10,000 visitors each weekend, they are the largest recurring events in Slidell. The semiannual fair takes place in the beautiful and historic Antique District of Olde Towne, centered around “Antique Umbrella Alley” near Erlanger and First Streets. The Slidell Historical Antique Association is solely responsible for the creation, funding, and maintenance of Antique Umbrella Alley—Slidell’s most vibrant art display and tourist attraction. Visitors from across the Gulf Coast and beyond come to enjoy great food, live music, and an extraordinary selection of fine art and antiques.

Whether seeking a fun afternoon out, a family-friendly outing, or a deep dive into collectibles, there is something for everyone at the Slidell Street Fair. Many guests return throughout the year to experience Olde Towne’s peaceful atmosphere, historic architecture, and renowned hospitality. So comprehensive is the fair that many assume it’s organized by the City of Slidell. In fact, the event is entirely planned and funded by members of the Slidell Historical Antique Association, who cover all associated costs.

Proceeds generated bolster community programs, support local businesses, and benefit area service organizations.

Prior to 1852, a colonial settlement known as Robert’s Landing was established on the shores of Bayou Bonfouca. The settlement consisted of a few scattered houses, a general store, and a boat landing. This north-shore landing became a principal supplier of food and building materials, fueling the early growth and survival of New Orleans. Over time, the area around Robert’s Landing grew to include a marine supply house, ferry service, sawmills, brickworks, tar mills, and other industries.

By 1875, as many as eighteen schooners a day departed its docks laden with goods and supplies. In 1881, the New Orleans and Northeastern Railroad laid a northbound route through the site. Two years later, “Slidell Station” was officially named, and when the community incorporated in 1888, residents voted to adopt “Slidell” as the town’s name. During that era, the site served as the railroad’s construction headquarters—complete with production facilities, crew quarters, and engineering and management offices.

A major plant producing cross-ties and bridge timbers operated here from 1881 until 1972, when it burned to the ground. After the plant’s disappearance and removal of all industrial remnants, the City of Slidell dedicated the area as Heritage Park in the 1990s. The stretch of land between the National Historic Railroad Depot and Bayou Bonfouca was reserved for public enjoyment. In 2006, an amphitheater was added, and today Heritage Park hosts the Bayou Jam Concert Series, Slidell Movie Nights, and many other festivals and events.

In 2010, artist John Doherty’s 13-foot-tall “Fleur de Triomphe” sculpture was installed in the park—its side etched to mark the waterline reached during Hurricane Katrina. Heritage Park also features Slidell’s 9/11 Memorial Plaza, built to honor the lives lost in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.