Landweir House Chapter 14 - Tony Lane's Blog

Landweir House

Chapter 14

Renovating History

After a few days the media had turned its full attention to New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. Hurricane Katrina had done unprecedented damage to the area. Lisa Marie was called into action to render medical aid and she spent long hours away from home. Donald used his four-wheel drive Ford F150 to help move people and things in the neighborhood. While Lisa Marie saw first hand the devastation that the storm had on the inhabitants of the city, Donald had a first hand view of the devastation that Katrina had on their property. Both of them became residents of New Orleans that week. They met their neighbors and were able to help them. It made them feel that they had become a part of the history of the city and now would remain connected to it forever. They were proud that they had something to offer.

One evening, Donald had just returned from transporting an elderly woman to the aid station where Lisa Marie was working, when he pulled up in front of his house and parked it behind a van that was at the curb. From his driver’s seat he could see three people in his yard looking up at the roof. There was a woman in her early thirties with tight jeans and a work shirt that fit her just a little too well to really be a work shirt. There was a tall man in his early forties also in very clean work clothes and another, younger man in his twenties who had a clipboard and a satellite telephone.

“Can I help you?” Donald asked as he came up from the street. The three guests spun around to face him.

“Hello, I’m Terry Marshall and these two you might recognize. They are Molly Harrison and Bart Mason from HGTV’s “Renovating History” program.” The young man with the clipboard offered as he held out his hand pointing to the van. Donald turned and looked at the van and sure enough, the side was emblazoned with the HGTV logo and the show’s name Renovating History.

“My wife and I watch your show all the time, how can I help you?” Donald lied. He had heard of the show but never watched it before but he wanted to gain their favor just in case there was something in it for him.

“Well sir, do you own this house?” Terry went on.

“Yes, my wife and I do. This is the Landweir House. I’m Donald Landweir.” He said as he offered his hand to the three of them.

“We knew it was the Landweir House but we didn’t know about a Landweir owning it still.” Molly said excitedly.

“We just bought it a couple of weeks ago. We are from Pittsburg but when we saw that it had our name, we had to have it.” Donald said.

“You must know then that we host a show that does renovations on historic residences. The show not only centers on the reconstruction efforts but also the history and the stories of those who have lived in it.” Bart offered as he showed his winning smile.

"Sure, it’s great.” Donald said to them.

“We wanted to be here right from the start and work on a renovation after the storm. We thought that we could get some traction by using the storm as the background story. So we are looking for houses to work on. Can you tell us the story of this place?” Terry said as he started a digital recorder.

“You mean to renovate?” Donald had thoughts of the publicity that the show would generate and bring attention to the Hollywood memorabilia that would be up for auction. It would only help to add another layer of luster to the objects. “Well folks let me tell you a story. My wife is doctor and is at a makeshift clinic right now helping to treat people who are in need. I am a lawyer but am spending my time working on this place. It was originally built by the Landweir family in 1853. I don’t know if we are related or not.”

“We could do a DNA genealogy on you. That would be a great find. Coincidence brings original family back to save homestead from Katrina’s wrath. That boat will float.” Terry said as he saw the story starting to open up.

“My wife will want in on the DNA thing too. Her family is supposed to be from here originally. Donald said knowing that Lisa Marie would be happy to find family.

“That would be another great angle. Finding long lost family in this time of great need. Reuniting relatives, I love it.” Terry was lost in the advertising.

“Anyway, I know that the house changed hands at the time of the civil war and that it was used to house sailors during World War Two. After that Richard Breen, the screenwriter bought it but he was killed in the bayou while researching alligators for a movie that he was writing. He left his house to his twin brother Robert, also a screenwriter. Robert lived here until his death and then we bought it.” Donald said.

The three from HGTV stood there with their mouths agape. They had found the house that they could use. In fact they would make an entire season out of this project. It had it all, Katrina, old Hollywood, the Civil war, World War Two, alligators, doctors, lawyers, mystical connections and pathos. All four of them knew that they were about to write their own tickets.

“Oh there’s one more thing about Landweir that your viewer’s might find interesting. Why don’t you come inside?” Donald said like the spider to the fly.