A century old and going strong: The tiny Dew Drop has hosted a who’s who of Louisiana music
As the choir practiced that Sunday night in November, the sweet sounds flowing from the open doors and windows of the Dew Drop Jazz & Social Hallfloated through the quiet Mandeville night.
Clad in a T-shirt, pajama pants, and slippers, a neighbor on Lamarque Street followed the joyful noise to its source. He quietly made his way inside the 128-year-old hall, took a spot on one of the empty benches, and began happily clapping along.
“Man,” he told the group after it had wrapped rehearsal for the evening, “that was great.”
To Jamie Roche, a board member of the nonprofit whose mission is to preserve the historic hall, that scene from last November could have happened 50 years ago. Or 75. Or even 100.