By Jeanni Ritchie
I arrived at the Catalpa Retreat house with five bags of snacks, my laptop, and a suitcase full of loungewear. I would be James and Meriget Turners’ first writer-in-residence at their See Far Artist Retreat, a creative retreat space that supports artists at pivotal points in their careers.
For me, it was a memoir that had suffered so many rewrites I was afraid it would never see the light of day. Two weeks in a historic plantation home seemed the perfect opportunity to shut out the outside world and get the words flowing again.
See Far, Inc. is made up of two properties — Fleeta Springs and Catalpa. Fleeta Springs, on beautiful Anacoco Lake, consists of cabins, hiking trails, workshops, studios and the main house. The property — on the Louisiana Natural Area Registry — has been carefully maintained by landscape architect James and his wife since 1973.
I spent the night in the Driftwood Cabin at Fleeta Springs in early November, and the inspiration of the Piney Woods coupled with the backdrop of the sunset over Anacoco Lake made returning for a writing retreat an absolute certainty.
But based on Louisiana’s seasonal identity crisis in early March — is it summer? is it winter? — I decided to experience Catalpa first.
I’m so glad I did.
After one unexpectedly emotional afternoon of writing, Glenn Miller’s “In the Mood” suddenly came through the speaker where the house iPod was docked. I jumped up, wiped my tears, and started dancing like a 1920s flapper across the hardwood floors in three layers of socks, blinds open and absolutely no concern for who might see me. In that moment the old historic home felt less like a place to stay and more like a friend that knew just what I needed.
Catalpa consists of three historic buildings — lovingly restored and preserved by the Turners — in downtown Leesville. The Smart Plantation Home (circa 1855) was the family home of Dr. Edmond Ellison Smart and his bride, Harriet Neal. The Barracks are a restored army barrack building turned artist studio. The Kitchen House (circa 1858) was originally used for cooking outside the main home, and eventually added to, and now consists of two bedrooms, a bathroom with a clawfoot tub, a kitchen, dining room, and living room — site of my impromptu dance party. It was a cozy, inspiring, and peaceful home away from home, filled with artwork from the Turners’ private collection.
Not only have they collected artwork over the last few decades, but James has framed artwork of his own and Meriget — daughter of famed Louisiana photographer Fonville Winans — inherited her father’s extensive collection.
It is inspiring to work among the pieces of some of the most talented artists from Louisiana and beyond.
If bad company corrupts good character, then good company can only enhance it. It seemed like my writing flowed in a way it never had before.
With inspiration on every wall, a front porch swing for musing and meditating, and the belief that one day my own work may far outlive me as well, the Catalpa Retreat House became part of a journey that will forever remain in my soul.
