Downtown Abita Springs is the new home of a young Choctaw maiden, surrounded by native animals, poised to drink from a flowing spring. The new, bronze statue of the legendary Abita Princess is, perhaps, not far from the actual spot where her human counterpart lived hundreds of years ago and drank from the waters depicted in Gabriele Mossa’s creation. The statue preserves an important moment in Abita’s history and it’s most appropriate that it is dedicated to the memory of the man responsible for preserving the character of the old resort town.
The statue is a gift to the people of the town in memory of the late J. Buchanan Blitch, FAIA, known as the Father of the Historic District and Zoning in Abita. In recognition of Blitch’s work to preserve the unique and quaint architecture of Abita Springs, his son, Ronald Blitch, unveiled the statue along with his mother, Hilda Blitch, the widow of Jim Blitch, and Abita Springs’ Mayor Louis Fitzmorris.
In 1976 and 1977, under tremendous public pressure against the concept of protective zoning for the Town of Abita Springs, Jim Blitch presented a program to civic groups and town leaders explaining the value of zoning to an historic town such as Abita. The program included cartoons Blitch drew to explain what could happen to the Town’s character if zoning were not enacted, and a building by building analysis of all of the structures in the town limits to identify historic structures threatened by uncontrolled growth. The measure to create a zoning district and historic district initially failed to pass in 1976, but was successfully passed in 1977, and is responsible for the town being named a National Historic District soon after. Mr. Blitch and his firm, Blitch Architects received a National award in 1979 from the American Planning Association for the Master Planning and process used to successfully protect Abita Springs. He was named Abita Springs Citizen of the Year in 1989 in appreciation for his work and rode at the head of that year’s Water Parade.
The official seal for the town of Abita Springs includes a picture of a young Indian maiden kneeling to drink from a spring. The town’s motto is, “Where nature performs miracles.” There are many variations of the tale of the Abita princess, but all center around the healing and restorative powers of the town’s spring water that bubbles from an aquifer deep below the surface. One legend tells of a beautiful Indian princess married to a Spaniard, living in New Orleans before falling ill. Princess Abita was brought back to her home in the pine woods and cured by the spring water.
Another story relates the migration of a band of Mississippi Choctaws. The chief’s daughter had become ill and the tribe moved to the area where Abita Springs is now located because of the renowned curative powers of the water. The Choctaw named the place “Ibetab Okla Chitto” which means “large settlement near the spring”. The Choctaw word “Ibetab” was anglicized to Abita by settlers drawn to the area by the same healing water that lured the Choctaw.
In the late 1800’s, and through the first half of the 1900’s, Abita Springs was a resort for residents of New Orleans, who fled the heat and disease of summer in the city for the cooler climate and healthful waters of Abita. The town boasted 500 hotel rooms and trolleys and trains that ferried passengers from the steamboats that carried passengers from the city to the northshore.
The statue of the Abita Princess was designed and fabricated by Gabriele Mossa of Florence, Italy, who has spent time in Abita Springs and throughout the U.S. for portrait, fresco and sculpture commissions. Mossa was on hand for the dedication and described the intricate process of “lost wax” sculpting, where a clay original is made of an artwork, converted to a wax master copy, and then coated with plaster and hardened. The plaster and wax casting is then heated, the wax is melted and poured out of the mold, and then the mold is filled with liquid bronze. After the bronze cools, the plaster is removed, and an exact bronze copy is left for finishing and refinement.
The composition of the Abita Princess includes a cypress trunk surrounded by flora and fauna of Abita a result of Mossa’s extensive local research, and includes snakes, frogs, turtles, a heron, and possum in the composition.
The base of the statue is an eight-sided platform centered under the Pavilion moved to Abita after the 1884 World’s Fair in Audubon Park in New Orleans. Plaques around the base recognize the history of the Abita Princess, a dedicatory plaque to J. Buchanan Blitch, and other plaques recognizing town leaders and Committee members.
The statue was donated by Blitch/Knevel Architects, the firm founded by Mr. Blitch. Ron Blitch, FAIA, heads the firm and is also Chairman of the Abita Springs Historic Commission, and a member of the Town’s Trailhead Museum committee and Parks committee. He headed the original Parks committee that developed the Master Plan for the Trailhead Plaza, along with Sheri Sable Campbell, Donata Henry, Patrick Berrigan, Allison Rushing-Vines and Greg Lemons, all of Abita Springs.
It is all so appropriate. The Princess is kneeling to perpetually partake of the healing waters. She is surrounded by native creatures, in a historically significant building. She is historic, legendary, beautiful and unique. Placed by a generous donation in honor of a man who loved Abita and worked to preserve her unique character. She is our princess … she is Abita.