The Southwest Louisiana Historical Association's Newsletter

Imperial Calcasieu Notes

April 2005            Vol. 9 No.2             Kathie Bordelon, Editor

April Meeting | January Meeting | Taylor Award Winners | Gingham Ladies | Announcements

April Meeting
 

The Southwest Louisiana Historical Association will hold its next meeting on April 25, 2005, at 7:00 p.m., at the Piccadilly Cafeteria (3539 Ryan Street). The meeting will begin at 7:00 p.m., but please plan to arrive by 6:30 p.m. in order to finish dinner before the meeting.
 

The speaker is Joe V. Warren, President of the South Beauregard Museum in Longville. Mr. Warren is the author of two books: A History of the Long-Bell Lumber Company and “The Family” at Longville, Louisiana and the DeRidder Centennial publication, DeRidder, Louisiana: The First 100 years, 1903-2003.

Mr. Warren’s topic will be the history of Longville from 1906-1934 when it was one of the most important lumber towns in Louisiana. According to Mr. Warren, the owners, Robert A. Long and Victor B. Bell, came to Southwest Louisiana to prospect for “gold.” The gold they were searching for was not mineral, it was a living, growing tree - the “Southern Longleaf Yellow Pine.”

In 1906, the Long-Bell Lumber Company of Kansas City, Missouri, under the leadership of Robert A. Long, began building a premier sawmill at Longville, Louisiana.  The steam-driven sawmill could cut 350,000 feet of lumber per day.  Long-Bell also built homes and all the support facilities needed to sustain the large population of workers and their families.  Longville was a “closed town,” meaning that the company owned all residential housing, the commissary, hotel, theater, and doctor’s office.  The Lake Charles and Northern Railroad and the Louisiana and Pacific Railroad provided transportation for the residents and also hauled the sawmill’s logs and lumber.

On June 3, 1921, a massive fire destroyed the Long-Bell Lumber Company.  Since logging operations had already nearly decimated the Longleaf Pine forest, the company decided not to rebuild the sawmill.  Long-Bell sold all of its buildings and moved the workers to other mills.  Long-Bell continued to operate a hardwood flooring mill at Longville until 1929.

Nearly a century later, the Long-Bell Lumber Company’s original red-brick bank building, the First Baptist Church, a few company houses, and the millpond (Longville Lake) remain in use.

Mr. Warren will present a slide show during his talk. He has collected lots of old photographs of Longville which should be of great interest. Please come and bring a guest!        

In addition, the winner of the Dr. Joe Gray Taylor Louisiana History Essay Contest will be invited to read her winning paper. Also, the winner of the Dr. Donald J. Millet Historical Writing Contest will be announced.                                                                            

January Meeting Report
by Truman Stacey

Mardi Gras in the Cajun country is a time of community celebration and sharing. That was the theme of an address and slide presentation at the winter meeting of the SWLA Historical Association.

Dr. Keegan LeJeune, Assistant Professor in the Department of Languages at McNeese State University, described the folklore and the tradition of Mardi Gras in the Cajun country and illustrated it with photo slides from celebrations in Soileau, Elton, Oberlin, Bell City, Iowa, and North Lake Charles.

“Mardi Gras is a time to turn the world on its ear,” Dr. LeJeune said, “a time to pretend to be what you are not. It is a time to dress up in costume to bring some color to the winter landscape, a time to dance and frolic, but it is also a time to re-establish community.”

The central part of the country Mardi Gras is the “courir” (the “run”). This is really a parade led by mounted horsemen, followed by trucks and trailers carrying former riders now too old to ride, along with musicians, other participants, and a trailer with youths who are learning how to be members of the run.

“A run seems to be all chaos,” Dr. LeJeune said, “but underneath the chaos there is a rigid structure and strict and precise rules.”

He pointed out that “Le Captain” is the supreme ruler of the run. He decides when the run starts, the route it takes, and the houses it visits. All of the houses are selected in advance, of course, and at each house or farm the entire family and extended family come together to welcome the run and to provide refreshments. The horsemen descend, and visit with the family members, especially the elders. Others provide music for an impromptu dance and the head of the house may let loose a chicken or two for the “fowlers” to chase.

Le Captain decides when it is time to leave and head for the next farm. Le Captain has several assistant captains who use whips to keep order. Some members of the run are deputized to try to steal the assistant’s whip. It is considered a disgrace to lose one’s whip. Other members of the run are deputized to start pretend fights to lure the assistant who will whip the offenders unless someone is able to steal the whip.

The run continues until it winds up at the town hall or other central site, where other men (never women) have spent the day cooking gumbo and preparing for the evening feast.

When the runners arrive the entire village or town is invited to the evening gumbo. After the gumbo comes a street dance if the weather agrees, or else they repair to the town hall.

Mardi Gras or “Fat Tuesday” is, of course, the day before Ash Wednesday, when the Catholic Church goes into the Great Fast of Lent. It is thus the last day for celebration before the time of preparation for the Crucifixion.

Attention Gingham Ladies!

There will be a very important meeting on May 7 at the Power Squadron Anchorage at 11:30 a.m. A picnic lunch will be provided. Bring your own drinks and chairs. We have several things to discuss so it’s crucial that everyone be there. For any other information or directions to the Anchorage, call Elaine Cameron or Maxine Ray.  A big THANK YOU! To all the Gingham Ladies who manned the desks for the Palm Sunday Home Tour. The weather was beautiful so it was a huge success.

This year’s contest took place at the 2005 Region V Social Studies Fair on March 22. Judges were Diane McCarthy, Chuck and Ellie LeMoine and Charles and Betty Nelson.

The winners are, with their school, teacher, and topic:

The first place winner received a $75 savings bond and plaque. The second and third place winners received $50 savings bonds and plaques. Savings bonds were furnished courtesy of First Federal Bank.          

Dues are now payable for 2005. Please send your check for $10/individual or $15/couple to George Ann Benoit.

The dates for the next SWLA Historical Association meetings are:

April 25, 2005

July 18, 2005

October 17, 2005

January 23, 2006

April 24, 2006

The Southwest Louisiana Historical Association relies on its members to contribute ideas for publications and historical markers, speakers for our meetings, and other projects. Please let us know if you have any suggestions.

Copyright 2005 Southwest Louisiana Historical Association

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