Alphabet File page 358

Swilley, W. H. r 1528 Dunbar (Ph 55)

 

Switer (First name unknown) Master of the steamer "SOUTHERNER See also entry under Boat file: "CAROLINE"

 

Swoop, Mrs. and daughters were in Bay on Saturday.  (SCE 9/24/1892)

 

  Mrs. Swoop and daughters were over from New Orleans on   Thursday. (SCE 11/5/1892)

 

  Swoop, Mrs. and Mr. Frederick Swoop spent a few days at their summer home this week. (SCE 12/16/1893)

 

Swoop, Julian House. Gazibo. (pg 47 BSL 100 Yrs). Photo

 

The Julian Swoop house was originally built by F. Remogosa,  a Spanish gentleman.  He lost two of his three sons to yellow fever.  He returned to Spain heart broken. The house was lavishly furnished with rare and handsome pieces from Spain.  Thomas Hale purchased the house and its furnishings from Mr. Remogosa in 1857.

 

Sebastian Swoop purchased the dwelling in Nov 1880 and in 1904 Julian Swoop purchased the home from the heirs.  In 1942, Swoop family members listed were Mr. Timony Swoop. Mrs. Isabel Swoop Hillery, Mrs. George W. Nott Jr. and their mother's sister, Miss Ella Timony. (Gen. information)

 

Century No. 2 begins, Swoop descendants still gather at the 100-year-old manor, by Kat Bergeron.  Pesky termites, ravenous hurricanes and the hunger of time have claimed less of Swoop manor than its residents have gobbled down in turkey.

 

  Today, the house regally faces the bay, defying the forces that would eat away its old timbers and iron railings.  The manor has passed the test of time with the strength of a gladiator, the grace of a queen.

 

  This year - 1880 - marks a special Thanksgiving for the descendants of the Sebastian Swoop family ... it is the 100th year they have celebrated the holiday at their Bay St. Louis home.  The New Orleans family bought the Acadian style house in 1880, and since then it's been used as a summer and holiday retreat.

 

  This year, 30 family members gathered at the 414 South Beach Boulevard address to dine on traditional Thanksgiving fare and drink homemade scuppernong wine produced from the fruit of the ancient backyard arbor.

 

  On past occasions, the large persimmon and pecan trees have produced "homegrown" pies.  A few vegetables grown at the back of the lot also have made their way into the holiday feast which seldom has been missed by five Swoop generations.

 

  They laugh, play games and eat turkey until they seemingly sprout wings to fly from the few ancient oaks which have not been claimed by storms.

 

  One special tree in the back is known as The Money Tree. According to family tradition, coins and dollar bills are hidden under pieces of bark and considered prize money to the ones diligent enough to locate it.  At the same time, the younger set has its fun with "'The Lollipop Tree."

 

In addition to fun time, the family has taken an historical interest in their possession which has survived war and depression.  The family estimates the house was built between 1853 and 1857, although the exact date remains part of the manor's mystery.

 

  Records show the property was part of a 1781 land grant which was acquired by F. Romogosa 100 years later (Error in dates here, CHG).  He reportedly returned to Spain five years after that, broken hearted over his sons' yellow fever deaths.

 

  Another story is that Romogosa built a house on the property for his daughter who returned to Spain after her son and husband died.  Whichever tale rings true, the family believes the house was on the property when it was sold to Thomas Hale in 1857.

 

  Twenty-three years later, it was purchased by a prominent iron foundry owner as a family escape from the stifling New Orleans heat.  Twelve decades later, it serves the same purpose.

 

  "If you don't have a breeze up here, there isn't one to be found in the Bay." Isabel Cobb says with pride.  She is the former Isabel Swoop Hillery, great granddaughter of the French immigrant who bought the manor.

 

  "The house was built on what was known as The Hill, the highest point  in Bay St. Louis.  It's always a few degrees cooler up here."

 

  The location also has preserved Swoop Manor from hurricanes.  Even Camille did not make her way indoors, although the storm claimed part of the porch which surrounds much of the structure.

 

  Because it stood firm in the 1969 hurricane, the house is credited with saving the lives of a neighboring family which took refuge after their home collapsed.  Not knowing there were nearby attic stairs, the family climbed a high piece of bedroom furniture, made a hole in the ceiling, and crawled into the attic for the safety of a three-day-old baby.

 

  Generally, the house is bathed in festivity whether it's a       fishing trip, teenagers on a boating weekend or a chance for young ones to exercise on one of the nine backyard swings.

 

  At one time there was a stable, a boathouse and a gazebo, but all have fallen victim to the weather.  The rest of the house, though, remains in good condition.

 

  "As you can see, there is nothing glamorous," Mrs. Cobb laughs as she shows visitors the main rooms which have 15-foot ceilings.  She's likely to point out the mishmash of newer city discards and older furniture that might date back to Sebastian Swoop's time.

 

  But Mrs. Cobb offsets that comment by pointing to a massive wooden archway that reaches to the ceilings.  Its twists and spindles supposedly came from a mold her great grandfather had at his foundry.  The metal work around the front porch is a product of that Shakespeare & Swoop iron business.

 

  Sebastian's son, Julian M. Swoop, followed in his father's footsteps and eventually took over ownership of the foundry and the Mississippi summer home.

 

  True to its Cajun style, the manor is in several parts.

 

The main section consists of an entryway/parlor, four bedrooms and a large finished attic that today serves as a massive bedroom.

 

  Another section is reached by a back porchway.  It contains a large dining room, a kitchen, storage rooms, a bathroom and servants' rooms that have been converted into summer bedrooms.

 

  Today, an old gas stove covers the front of a kitchen fireplace that once bubbled with pots of seafood gumbo. Since there's only one bathtub, a makeshift shower has been rigged on the lawn.

 

  A brick well that once served as the main water supply has dried up, but the coolness of a cellar under the main house hints at how it kept homemade wine and food preserved.

 

  Today, Swoop Manor is owned by Sebastian's grandson, J. Timony Swoop, and the children of his late granddaughter Isabel Hillery.  Mrs. Cobb is one of her four children.

 

The Swoop and Hillery clans range in age from three into the 70's, and number more than 30 members.  That could be too many to share one home - even spacious Swoop Manor -but the heirs have worked out a system.  Timony Swoop usually lives there unless others opt to use their allotted time.

 

There is always a new generation growing up at Swoop

 

Manor, and with the privilege of age, Swoop Manor demands attention.  The restoration work gets underway as it's needed, usually by the handymen of the family.

 

  But, the future is not forgotten.  With an eye toward the enjoyment of future generations, three young oak trees were recently planted in the front yard.  (Sun Herald 11/30/1980, VF -Swoop)

 

  Julian Swoop, (414 S Beach) # 24 J A Cuevas, (VF MJS VIII 00350)

 

Swoop, Julian Timony, 414 S. Front (Ph 48 thru 50, 55)

 

Swoop, Mrs. S. and daughters and son have returned from Chicago.  (SCE 09/16/1893)

 

Sylvester, Herman r 339 Easterbrook (Ph 55)

 

Sylvester, W. O. - Mr. Richard Mendes made one of the biggest business transactions in the Bay this week.  He bought for the well known Ecuuer's tannery, of New Orleans, 10,424 lbs. of beef hides and 100 sheep skins from Messers. Geo. Muller, R. W. Toulme, Thomas Carver and W. O. Sylvester.