Everyday objects offer a glimpse into the lives of those who came before us It is common in this Caire home to open an unassuming box, or pick up what looks to be a stack of old mail, and find treasures from the past. An assortment of paper items is nonchalantly laying in a pile on the coffee table - a few items of interest I’ve set there as I’ve perused various boxes and piles of items in the house. As I enjoy my Saturday morning coffee in the den, I look back through them.

A Special Mardi Gras Treasure As we approach Mardi Gras 2026, I feel inspired to share the story of this fascinating piece of history. Since purchasing the property which includes the Caire Stores and the adjacent family home, we are finding treasures at every turn. “Uncle Warren’s room” is the room Derrick and I now use, still adorned with antique furniture from the original house. On the dresser in the bedroom is a trinket box that piqued my curiosity. As I picked it up and

A Mystery unfolds Mary was stolen and has now been returned! “What?!” You may ask… I’ll explain. On the property behind the store, near where the original house once stood, there is a “grotto” that holds a Blessed Mother Mary statue. A grotto in the Catholic sense is a cave-like feature used to house a statue, often of Mary, where time in prayer and meditation can be focused. The story goes that the original statue was damaged during Hurricane Betsy, as was the house. At some