The Southwest Louisiana Historical Association's Newsletter
Imperial Calcasieu Notes
October 2006 Vol. 10 No.4 Kathie Bordelon, Editor
October Meeting | August Meeting | McNeese Archives | Gingham Ladies | Website | Mike Jones' book
The October meeting of the Southwest Louisiana Historical Association will be held on October 16, 2006 [Note: Meeting date changed to October 23, 2006], at the McNeese Library in Room C on the first floor. The meeting will begin at 7:00 p.m. Parking will be available across the street from the library and refreshments will be provided. Please plan on attending and bring a guest!
Our speaker for the evening will be American Press writer and Historical
Association member Mike Jones. Mike plans to talk about Niblett’s Bluff and its
role in history. Mike has documented information about the activities at
Niblett’s Bluff from the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion. He
has walked the trench line there and drawn a sketch of the original
fortifications. In addition to information on the physical layout, Mike has
information on the units that were stationed there and their activities.
The Southwest Louisiana Historical Association met in DeQuincy on August 15, 2006, to dedicate and unveil the Newport Industries historical marker on the corner of Hwy. 27 and Hwy. 12 at the former location of the plant, now the Burger King location. See more about the marker here.
Harry Methvin organized the ceremony which included comments from Jerry Bell,
mayor of DeQuincy, and Nell Hayes, past president of the Association.
Entertainment of an historical nature was provided by Hershel Frazier,
singer/songwriter, who sang his Stump Plant Song and Harry Methvin who
recited his composition of The Stumper’s Prayer. Among the attendees were
former employers of the Newport Industries plant and Judy Douglas, granddaughter
of Harry Smith, former manager of the Newport plant.
The ceremony was well-planned and well-attended. Historical Association members
were honored to be a part of the preservation of this segment of DeQuincy
history.
We often get calls, letters, and emails from persons requesting use of photographs or materials from our collections. We are always happy to be of service and like to see our materials published, displayed, or referenced.
Local restaurants are some of the best places to see our photographs displayed.
The next time you eat at Raisin’ Canes, Bennigan’s, O’Charley’s, or Ruby
Tuesday’s, look for these historic photographs from our area. We had a good
collection of photographs at Applebee’s and were sorry to see it close after
Hurricane Rita.
We have also provided photographs and materials for books. Chef John Folse used
some of our photographs in his Encyclopedia of Cajun and Creole Cuisine.
More recently, he has requested permission to use these in A Taste of
Louisiana, his television show produced in conjunction with Louisiana Public
Broadcasting. In addition, he has asked for help in finding old Louisiana menus
for his new cookbook. Scrapbooks from the Maude Reid Collection documenting
cooking during World War II rationing were used by Jessamyn Newhaus in her book,
Manly Meals and Mom’s Home Cooking. Newhaus heavily relied on one
scrapbook we did not have in our collection, Ways and Means for War Days,
which she had found and subsequently donated to us. Colette Leistner credited us
for helping provide information for her thesis, French and Acadian Influences
Upon the Cajun Cuisine of Southwest Louisiana.
Nola Mae Ross has used our materials in several of her publications about houses
in Lake Charles and the history of Southwest Louisiana. Robert Benoit used some
of our photographs in his book, Images of America: Imperial Calcasieu.
History Detectives, another PBS production, used photographs and letters
from our Scott Heywood Collection in their segment on the invention of a drill
bit used in drilling the first oil well in Louisiana and at the Spindletop site
in Beaumont. The mystery was in whether Howard Hughes, Sr. invented the bit or
not. A documentary team working on General Claire Chennault and the Flying
Tigers visited here from Los Angeles several years ago and used material from
our archives.
Perhaps not as exciting, but certainly useful, is the information we have
supplied to the Historical Association for the historical marker projects.
Gerstner Field, the Borealis Rex, the Calcasieu River
Lighthouse, the Gulf Biologic Station,
Longville, Louisiana, and
Newport Industries come to mind.
The Gingham Ladies ended the Spring season with their annual picnic at the
Anchorage of the Power Squadron on May 20. The tables were decorated with spring
colored table cloths. Everyone brought a sack lunch and the drink was provided.
We walked on the pier and sat on benches near the water. We visited inside as we
ate our lunches.
On August 26, we had our first meeting in preparation for the upcoming season of
the Little Theater with Jo Ann Hanks as our speaker. Jo Ann told us about our
new duties for the season. This was another picnic with everyone sharing a dish
with the group. The theater season is moving along nicely. We worked the play
Hayfever during the month of September. Our next play to work is Dracula
slated for October 28, 29, November 2-5, 9-12 at the Stable Theater. The theater
looks wonderful after the repairs from the storm.
We will have our annual “Christmas in October” on October 21 at 11 a.m. at
Southern Spice Restaurant. Each member is to have something Halloweenie on some
part of the body. We will exchange “White Elephants.”
Remember Gingham Ladies you must pay your dues
to the Historical Association to be a current member of the Gingham Ladies.
Cordially submitted,
Nancy Hurlbut, Chairperson
Keep up-to-date with the news of the association at its website: swlahistory.org. Learn about our historical marker program, order note cards, postcards, or Mike Jones’ new book online, contact officers, and more!
Copyright 2006 Southwest Louisiana Historical Association
Webmaster: pthreatt@mcneese.edu