True Friends Hall restoration aims to save Louisiana music landmark

DONALDSONVILLE, La. (Aging Untold)— A historic hall that once provided refuge for Black families and performers during segregation is getting new life through a major restoration project. True Friends Hall, built in the late 1800s in Donaldsonville, served as a cornerstone of the local Black community for decades. The benevolent society that operated the hall helped families in need and provided a gathering place during an era when Black Americans faced widespread discrimination. “These organizations supported families. If you had a baby, the house burned down, they would come to the aid. These are men who were carpenters, brickmasons,” Darryl Hambrick, founder of the River Road African American Museum, said. Musical heritage and the Chitlin’ Circuit During segregation, True Friends Hall was part of the Chitlin’ Circuit, a network of performance venues across the United States for Black musicians, comedians and other entertainers. The circuit helped shape American music by creating new