Editor, The Era-Leader and WP Fair Attendees:
In 2008, businessman Joe Jaeger and his wife Becky made a very generous offer to Franklinton High School Demon Baseball.
Jaeger was the owner of the former Rutter Rex property across Bene Street from the Washington Parish Fairgrounds and he felt the baseball team could park cars on the property during the Fair as a fundraiser.
It was late September and Coach Jeff Tageant was recovering from kidney cancer. However, he, parents, and players prepared the property for parking and worked tirelessly to fill the lot each day for only $10 per car. It was a great change to an area that was unlit and essentially unsafe for parking. The "baseball parking lot," as it came to be known, became a regular spot for locals and returning visitors alike. Many motorists purchased weekly passes, and this worked out great not only for folks who were camping nearby and needed additional vehicle parking but also vendors at the Country Market and other spots on the fairgrounds.
The FHS Baseball parents and players staffed the lot along with coaches and FHS custodian the late Nate Flowers, and as the numbers swelled the team shared the work and profits with theschool’s JROTC, the soccer team, and the powerlifting team.
In the 17 years since its inception, the property has seen impromptu reunions, former players stopping by to visit, and families using the spot as a place to meet and regroup before heading back to the fairgrounds. The price has never increased, and people have returned daily and yearly to park in a place that was well-lit, safe, and where a spot would always be found, even if the line stretched down 9th Avenue.
Following the untimely death of Mr. Joe in a car accident in 2024, the Jaeger family sold the property in early September 2025. The new owners have their own plans for the property.
Since being named Head Coach following my father's retirement in 2023, I barely remembered a time before the team came together, sacrificed time with friends at the fair, and worked to maintain the standard of excellence for Demon Baseball that included the parking lot. My dad and I, along with the baseball team, will be forever grateful to everyone who has supported our fundraiser each year.
Thanks also to our Babington Subdivision neighbors who happily tolerated us and sent cars our way.
Demon Baseball will continue to play the best baseball possible, and I sincerely hope past parking customers will continue to support the program by participating in other fundraisers we conduct.
Time passes and life changes, and it will feel odd to walk past the corner of Bene and 9th and not turn in to help direct cars. I hope everyone finds a handy parking spot somewhere close to the fairgrounds and enjoys the world's largest free fair!
Thanks again for 17 years of unwavering support.
Clay Tageant, Head Coach
FHS Demon Baseball
