The recipient entity's physical address:
           126 Beechwood Lane
Natchitoches, La.
71457

The recipient entity's mailing address (if different):
           c/o Vicki Parrish, Ph.D.
P.O. Box 2248
Natchitoches, La. 71457

Type of Entity (for instance, a nonprofit corporation):  Association

If the entity is a corporation, list the names of the incorporators:
          

The last four digits of the entity's taxpayer ID number:  5857

What is the dollar amount of the request?  $500,000

What type of request is this?  General Appropriation

Is this entity in good standing with the Secretary of State?  Yes

Provide the name of each member of the recipient entity's governing board and officers:
           Executive Board of Directors:
Vicki Parrish (President),126 Beechwood Lane, Natchitoches, La. 71457
Gail Metoyer Jones. (1st VP), 2204 Hwy 484,, Natchez, La. 71456-3739
Gayle Howell, (Treasurer) 1050 Hwy 494, Natchitoches, La. 71457
Sharon Ebarb, (Secretary), 120 Mt. Olive Church Rd., Natchitoches, La. 71457
Gina Puls, (Cor. Sec.), 1525 Washington St., Natchitoches. La 71457
Toni Stroud, (Properties Chr.), 367 Mr. Ed Lane,, Natchitoches, La. 71457
Connie Melder, (Ways and Means Chr.), 325 Jefferson St. Natchitoches, La. 71457
Leah Witman, (Executive Director), 925 Harling Lane, Natchitoches, La. 71457

Provide a summary of the project or program:
           Big House built in 1833.
• The foundation of the house is sinking. An extensive drainage project is needed to revert water away from the Big House, directing it toward the river, and keeping it from seeping in underneath the house structure.
• Repairs to the Big House include stabilizing the first-floor brick columns and several rooms on the second floor impacted by column subsidence and repairing the moisture damage done to the bricks and mortar.
• The roof needs replacing due to hurricane damage with repairs to the dormer sills and columns.
• The exterior of the house needs to be repainted.

Weaver’s Cabin: Needs Assessment (2021):
• This building needs major restoration. The columns are sinking and the roof has sustained tremendous damage. The building was already in poor condition before the 2020 hurricanes.
The hurricanes damaged the roof of the building and twisted the building on its foundation. A scope of work had been developed for this building in 2019. A new scope will be needed based on the 2020 hurricane damage. Some funding is available through hurricane insurance. Additional funding will be needed.

What is the budget relative to the project for which funding is requested?:
          Salaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . $0
          Professional Services. . . $0
          Contracts . . . . . . . . . . . $0
          Acquisitions . . . . . . . . . $0
          Major Repairs . . . . . . . $500,000
          Operating Services. . . . $0
          Other Charges. . . . . . . $0

Does your organization have any outstanding audit issues or findings?  No

If 'Yes' is your organization working with the appropriate governmental agencies to resolve those issues or findings?
          

What is the entity's public purpose, sought to be achieved through the use of state monies?
          The Association for Preservation of Historic Natchitoches (aka. APHN) are the owners and caretakers of Melrose Plantation. Our Vision is to apprise future generations of our unique Cane River cultural heritage and to inspire them to continue efforts to preserve it.
It stands today as a monument to our Colonial founders, the French Creole people who built it, the subsequent home owner’s who sustained it and the artist whose creativity it helped to produce. Its ability to survive through the years is a testament to the talents and ingenuity of its owners. Our purpose is to keep its’ historic story alive and applicable to its’ viewers.
Melrose is the 1796 homestead of Louis Metoyer, who was born into slavery in 1770, the son of the wealthy French merchant and planter Claude Thomas Pierre Metoyer and the enslaved woman of African descent Marie Thérèse Coincoin. They are the parents of ten children, whose many descendants compose the Cane River Creole community.
Emancipated by his French father in 1796, Louis, as a freed Creole, established a plantation on land in what became known as the Isle Brevelle community. In time he would own over 1400 acres. By 1830 he was a wealthy planter with fifty-four slaves and had begun building a series of structures. His son, Jean Baptiste Louis Metoyer, finished the construction on the Big House in 1833. His son, Theophile Louis Metoyer, owned the property until it was sold at auction in 1847. Four of the structures built during the Metoyer tenure remain today. They not only represent the unusual success of a free-person-of-color family during the early nineteenth century but also, are a rare collection of French Creole architecture.

Passing hands through the years, and falling into poor condition during Reconstruction, Melrose was purchased by Joseph Henry in the 1890s. His son John, and daughter-in-law Cammie Henry moved into the Big House 1896, and Cammie began work to restore the once illustrious home, and through the years, added five more structures to the grounds and created an artist retreat, which would influence a house servant named Clementine Hunter to paint her stories. Cammie died in 1948, but her son J.H. Henry, continued to run the property as a cotton and pecan plantation, until his death in 1969.

In 1970 the Henry family sold Melrose Plantation to the Southdown Land Company , who were planning on tearing down the structures. The Natchitoches and Cane River community protested the demolishment. Because of the outrage and intense pressure , Southdown revised their plans. And in 1971 the land company donated the nine historic buildings and the surrounding 5.77 acreage to the Association for Preservation of Historic Natchitoches (aka. APHN) Since then, APHN has made a concerted effort to be a good steward for this extremely important historic site. (For more on the Creoles see “Spirit of a Culture: Cane River Creoles” on youtube.com. Louisiana Public Broadcasting 2005, 1:26 in length.)

What are the goals and objectives for achieving such purpose?
          APHN ‘s goal is preservation. Our objective is to assist Melrose in becoming financially self-sufficient. As a non-profit organization, individual volunteer contributions have been APHN’s lifeblood. The great majority of its membership is composed of local citizens who pay membership dues. Therefore, without corporate sponsorship, fund raising has been limited to smaller donations. To achieve its’ goals, APHN has hired an executive director and tour guides to give daily tours to school groups and outside visitors. To sustain our efforts for over 60 years, APHN has hosted Arts and Crafts Festivals, the Fall Tour of Homes, weddings and other events. This income can only sustain its operational cost. As the property is aging, the cost to restore these historic buildings has become monumental. The beneficiaries of this project will be the residence of the United States who will have this significant National Historic Landmark preserved for future generations.

What is the proposed length of time estimated by the entity to accomplish the purpose?
           one year

If any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official is an officer, director, trustee, or employee of the recipient entity who receives compensation or holds any ownership interest therein:
     (a) If an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of the official and the office held by such person:
                 NA
    
     (b) If an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of such person; the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related; and the nature of the relationship:
                 NA

     (c) The percentage of the official's or immediate family member's ownership interest in the recipient entity, if any:
                 NA

     (d) The position, if any, held by the official or immediate family member in the recipient entity:
                  NA

If the recipient entity has a contract with any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official or with the state or any political subdivision of the state:
(a) If the contract is with an elected or appointed state official, provide the name and address of the official and the office held by such person: 
               NA

(b) If the contract is with an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official:
          Provide the name and address of such person:
               NA

          Provide the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related:
                NA

          What is the nature of the relationship?  NA

(c) If the contract is with the state or a political subdivision of the state, provide the name and address of the state entity or political subdivision of the state:
                 NA

(d) The nature of the contract, including a description of the goods or services provided or to be provided pursuant to the contract:
               NA


Contact Information
name:  Vicki P Parrish 
                                       address:  126 Beechwood Ln
Natchitoches, La 71457
                                       phone:  3183525866
                                       fax: 
                                       e-mail:  parrishv@nsula.edu
                                       relationship to entity:  president, Board of Directors