KIRBY STREET

            In the early days some of the streets and property lines were laid with so little accuracy that it was often difficult to know what property belonged to whom.  Such was the case with Kirby Street. 

            In 1877 word was sent by Mayor William Meyer from the Town Council to James Howard and his wife Mary E. Kirby Howard that part of the land on which they were building was the street and they were to “… desist from making any further improvements.”  The local newspaper made note later that Howard “…speaks of moving the Howard House…” from the corner.  The building which was to be used as a hotel was two stories high and had 11 rooms.

            The property in question was the north side of Kirby Street and the southeast corner of Bilbo Street.  Howard built another hotel back of this one, at the corner of Bilbo and Pujo streets in 1887.  Listed as being operated by Mrs. Howard, the two-story building was 80 feet long and 70 feet wide and had 28 rooms, some of which were “large sample” rooms for traveling salesmen.

            The street in which the Howards had been building was named for Samuel Adams Kirby, father of Mrs. Howard and a descendant of an early United States president. He came to Lake Charles from Vermont.  He lived in a plantation on property he had purchased from Michael Pithon and which ran from Kirby Street to Pithon Coulee and from Hodges Street to the lake.  He also owned the Kirby Lumber Co. whose several mills were shut down in the early 1900s when the price of lumber dropped abruptly.

            When the settlers of the town met to begin the formation of a local government, Kirby was named the first attorney, although at first he did more farming than legal transacting.

            Kirby Street was the main street leading to Ryan Street and the town, although in 1890 it was not open beyond Louisiana Avenue.  One of the recommendations of the council at a meeting in 1886 was to give “...attention to two very bad places” on Kirby Street which needed “….ditching and filling and a bridge.”

KIRKMAN STREET

            The first doctor who performed an appendectomy in Lake Charles was Dr. William Kirkman and it was for him that Kirkman Street was named.

            He offered his services on terms of one-half cash or available security at the time of service and the balance at the expiration of one year. The “available security” on one occasion was peaches - when the crop was harvested and at one time it was sweet potatoes.

            The doctor was a native of Kirkmansville, Kentucky, a town named for his ancestors.  At age 16, he was a soldier in the Mexican War.  Later he studied medicine in New Orleans and then came to Lake Charles around 1858.  He was a state senator around 1875.  He was a member of the City Council and was once fined five dollars for missing a meeting.  The doctor with two other men was owner of a silver mine in Colorado.  The yield per ton of mining was 2,267 ounces of silver. 

            One of the last transactions in 1869 was a sale of four acres of land at the end of Kirkman Street near the Louisiana Western Railroad, which later became Southern Pacific.  The acreage was sold by Joseph Bilbo to Adolph Pujo, and aged, freed slave.  After Pujo’s purchase, he built a large board fence around the small area on which he lived.  He farmed the rest of his land with two yoke of oxen which he used for plowing and also pulling his wagon to town when he went shopping.  He never rode in the wagon or in anything else, except for the few times he sat sideways between the front and rear axle of the wagon.  He often walked faster than the animals and when too far in advance, he stopped, popped the lash of his long whip and waited for the animals to catch up. 

            Pujo’s four acres of land blocked Kirkman Street on the north and for many years the only way people could get to the railroad was to go through the hole made in the board fence when the plank was pulled loose.  The city was forced to buy a right-of-way through Pujo’s property so Kirkman Street could be opened to continue north.  The city made the last payment of $147.55 at the spring session of the City Council in 1889.  However, the street was not continued until 1893. 

            The aged owner of the land died in 1890 and when his estate was opened, it showed the original lines of his property unchanged -  he had kept his land even after selling the right-of-way through it.

            The extension of Kirkman Street gives it the distinction of being the longest street in the city.  Originally, the extension beyond the railroad track was called St. Andrew Street; it is now North Kirkman.  The street bisects the city from south to north running in a straight line from McNeese in the south to the banks of Calcasieu River in the north. 

KNAPP STREET

            In the winter of 1885 Dr. Seaman A. Knapp moved from Ames, Ohio to Lake Charles to take part in the large development enterprise of the North American Land and Timber Company.  A street running east to west from Goos to Jake streets bears his name.

            Dr. Knapp had been president of Iowa State College.  When he moved to this city, he was employed as assistant manager of the 1,500,000 acres of land which the American representative of the English Land and Timber Company had purchased in Southwest Louisiana. 

            The Iowa newcomer lived at the corner of Pujo and Common streets.  He was a practical and experimental agriculturalist and one of the two things he was sent to do was to find out what crops could be profitably grown in this region.  Second, as a man of renown among farmers of the Middle West, he was to assist in attracting a desirable class of settlers to this section. 

            His fulfillment of the first role gained for him the merit of being called “father of the rice industry in Louisiana.”  His second purpose was accomplished when every nine of ten residents of Southwest Louisiana were farmers induced to settle here from the Middle West.

            Because so many from Vinton, Iowa came to his area and because Dr. Knapp had for some years lived with his family in Vinton, Iowa, in the course of developing land in this area, he surveyed and plotted a town in 1888 and gave it the name Vinton. He also plotted another town and gave to it the name Iowa.  Both towns retained these names.

            Through Dr. Knapp’s experimental effort, there developed a method of raising rice with the use of modern machinery.  In 1891 he aided in establishing a rice mill here after interesting New York capitalists in the venture.  The mill, owned by a firm called Lake Charles Rice Milling Company, was the first in the state outside New Orleans.  The mill established the cash system of selling rice; up to that time, all rice was toll-milled.

            Dr. Knapp, who was born in Schroom, Essex County, New York was also known as the founder and builder of the Farmer’s Cooperative Demonstration Work which had its official beginning in 1903.

            In other areas of the economy he helped establish the Calcasieu National Bank and served as its first president for two years.  He was instrumental in obtaining a $300,000 appropriation from the federal government for jetties at Calcasieu Pass.  He also organized and promoted agricultural clubs which resulted in the current 4-H clubs.

            Dr. Knapp left Lake Charles around 1897 for Washington D. C. where he was an employee of the U. S. Department of Agriculture until the time of his death in 1911. 

            In 1937 one of two arches between buildings in Washington was dedicated to Dr. Knapp, the “father” of  farm extension who was also described by the federal agricultural department as one of the “two outstanding figures in American agriculture.”  Among those attending the dedication of the arch and the unveiling of a memorial tablet was his son, Major S. Arthur Knapp of Lake Charles.

MAYO STREET

            In North Lake Charles, a one-block street running north and south caries the name Mayo, a name long associated with land abstracts in this city. 

            The first of the men with this surname was Thad Mayo, the son of a New Englander named William Mayo who came to South Louisiana early in life.  Thad was born in Washington, Louisiana but reared in Plaquemine.  When his father died the 14-year-old boy went to New Orleans where he worked as a clerk until 1851.

            That year he moved to Opelousas and worked in a drugstore to learn the business.  Four years later he opened his own drugstore.  The venture ended quickly when his business burned down and he did not have insurance to cover the loss.

            In 1875 he was employed in a civil engineering company but this, too, did not last long.  Later that year, he moved to Calcasieu Parish and taught school in Hickory Flats.  During the war he served in the 17^th Louisiana Regiment Infantry.  At the end of the war he returned to the drugstore business in Opelousas, but this time it was in partnership with his brother and of a longer duration than his first attempt in that field.  He remained there until 1872 when he moved to Lake Charles and operated the Lake House.  He also built and sailed the schooner named Lottie Mayo.  After he sold the schooner, he became a clerk in the Ryan and Geary saw mill.

            In 1876 he became deputy clerk for Asa Ryan.  Two years later when Ryan died, Mayo was appointed to serve Ryan’s unexpired term as clerk of district court.  The following year he was elected to the post and re-elected twice.

            During this time Mayo made a complete set of abstract books for Calcasieu Parish.  In 1892 he declined to run again for clerk of court and established an office for his own abstract business.  He also engaged in real estate and was owner of extensive lands in the city and in the parish.

            His office was at the corner of Ryan and North Court streets.  He kept complete abstracts of all records pertaining to real estate and which were filed in the clerk’s office. 

            Another Mayo of prominence in early Lake Charles history was Thad’s nephew, Augustus Mixer Mayo.  His second name was his mother’s maiden surname.  He was born in St. Landry Parish and lived in Opelousas until 1867, when he left for schooling in St. Louis.  Upon completion of a four-year course, he moved to Lake Charles.

            At the request of his uncle, he became his deputy and remained with this work until he went into the real estate, notary public and title abstract businesses.  The abstract business was established in 1887 and in 1903 it was incorporated under the name Mayo-Knapp Abstract Company.  The offices were in the Von Phul & Gordon building where they had fireproof vaults for the protection of their records.

            Augustus was a member of the Broad Street Methodist Episcopal Church South.  He served as secretary of the Sunday School until 1892 when he became superintendent of the department.

            In 1890 he was made president of the Calcasieu-Cameron Sunday School association.  He was also worshipful master of Lake Charles Masonic Lodge No. 165 F&AM and was later appointed representative of Grand Lodge of Manitoba.

            One of his civic duties was with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children for which he was the first president.  The group was organized in 1890 and reported abuses of children to the Police Jury which took proper action.

NAME CHANGES

            There are many more streets in Lake Charles with interesting histories, but it would be impossible to write about all of them.  Some have had the names changed and it is possible not all changes are reflected in these stories.  But a change of name does not affect the original history of the street or the one for whom it was named.

            An ordinance was proposed to change the names of a considerable number of streets.  Some residents opposed any changes giving reasons from tradition to sentiment.  A five-member committee was appointed to find streets with confusing names, which was the reason given for wanting the changes.

            The committee worked one year on these, then made its recommendation to then mayor T. C. Price and commissioners W. T. McInnis and Lucien Moss.  Some 200 name changes were adopted. But this did not always clear up the confusion because the changes were not all noted on maps, street signs and /or plats in the offices of the clerk of court and parish assessor.

            One example is Louisiana Street.  Sections of the street were Ackerman Street, Sunset Avenue and Louisiana Avenue.  The official name is Louisiana Street, but current maps and street signs show the north side as Louisiana Street and the south as Louisiana Avenue.

            Center Street was a drive, a street and a road.  They are now all streets named Summitt, Colletta and Cross, respectively.  There is also a Center Street leading south from West College.

            Griffin and School streets were both known as Alabama.  There is now no Alabama, and Griffin and School are now separate streets.  Bank Street was Rock Street and Enterprise Boulevard was Gray Street.

            Nix, Hutchins and Gallaugher streets are now Franklin, Fournet and Jackson, respectively.  Opelousas Street was once Mount Hope Street.  Eighth and Ninth streets were Midway and Pearl Harbor streets and Legion and Tenth streets were Guam and Wake Boulevard, respectively.

            Some streets went through many changes such as Hodges, once know as Charles, Broussard, Canal, Blaske, Laura and South Hodges.  All were scratched in favor of one name - Hodges Street.

            Two very important streets in the early days of the city were two dirt lanes running parallel with and north and south of the Public Square, also called the Court Square.  The one on the north was North Court Street and the other was South Court Street.  The names were given for geographical reasons.  South Court was also called “Broadway” and it is assumed this name was only for prominence.  Both streets had their names changed. North Court is now West Kirby and the south street is Gill Street. 

            The square between these streets was a parallelogram measuring 60 yards at the front and running back east or about east two and one-half acres.

            The courthouse faced the lake and the jail was “….at a suitable distance in the back of the courthouse in a direct line.”  These regulations also stated the buildings were to be erected in as “….good a condition as they were at the old seat of justice” from where they were moved and maintained with private donations.  This information is in the abstract showing the donation of the land for the public buildings and public streets. 

            North Court had at its east corner Jim Bryan’s Store.  Then there was a small recorder’s room where the city council met and at the foot of the street near the lake was another store, owned by Jacob Ryan and later by the Pujo brothers.

            South Court Street flourished with many small homes, offices of lawyers and the building for the newspaper, Echo.  At he foot of this street was the LeFranc Wharf and in front of this was a store owned by W. L. Hutchins.

            These two streets were silent witnesses of the heavy activity on the square which included everything from a gathering of the town’s residents to discuss anything; to murder; to holding public hangings and even the sale of human beings.

            One of the worst things on the square seems to have been the jail which merited this write-up in a local paper;

… a shapeless and unsightly structure.  It is a subject of wonder to everyone, even a casual visitor, why it was ever built and where it is and it is still more wonderous why the citizens of Lake Charles suffer it to remain there … its gloomy aspect and its ugly frame, strangely symbolic of the darkness and deformity of the crime it conceals behind its sweltering walls.

The unbearable stench which rises from it and pervades the whole atmosphere around it and particularly on a hot summer day, is sufficiently violent to nauseate the whole neighborhood.  It is boxed up almost as tight as a patent tin can and its unfortunate inmates are doomed, in anticipation to expiate their misdeeds by serious inroads to their bodily health. It is a monument of primitive bad taste to point of structural design.  It lacks ventilation; it receives no light from any quarter of the heavens; it is unsafe and expensive to the parish and it is the immediate cause of the depreciation of property in proximity to it.

            After this “stir-up” the jail was demolished and prisoners were taken to Opelousas for safe keeping until another jail was constructed.  Evidently other buildings around the busy streets were neglected and  in the early 1880s a move was started to have the “crooked shanties” - meat markets and coffee shops - behind the Court Square on the lake demolished.

PERKINS STREET

            According to an early map of Lake Charles, Perkins Street seems to have been the current Eddy Street, leading east from Ernest Street and lying a few blocks north of Prien Lake Road.  There is no Perkins Street in the city now.  There is one in Sulphur and one in Westlake.

            There was also a Perkins Alley, which ran into South Ryan Street, but just where is not known.  Perkins Grove was about 40 acres extending from Ryan Street to the lake.  With 400 orange trees and 25 acres in cultivation, it was offered for sale in the late 1880s but was not at that time purchased.  The area is now a subdivision known as Margaret Place.

            There were several men with the surname of Perkins and these places mentioned above could have been named for any or all of them.  One of these was C. T. Perkins, proprietor of a leading transfer and dray line with offices on Broad Street.  He did a general line of hauling and transferring, calling for and delivering baggage from train to train.

            Another Perkins was A. J. who started a lumber mill in 1873 which was later incorporated as Perkins and Miller Lumber Co., Ltd.  It became one of the most complete lumber manufacturing plants of the south.  This Perkins was also a co-owner with Miller of a large mercantile store.  In 1881 Perkins was with the firm Moore, Perkins and Co.   He was responsible for the construction of the Calcasieu and Vernon, the first railroad built in the area to transport timber. 

            Two of the early Perkins were both doctors - Dr. Albert J. and Dr. Dosite Samuel.  Dr. A. J. Perkins was born about seven miles north of Lake Charles.  He came to the town in 1888 after graduating from Medical School of Tulane University in New Orleans.  Prior to that he graduated from Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas with second honors and a gold medal for the best work in drawing and painting.  This became his hobby.

            A few months after he was in Lake Charles, he was elected coroner for the parish and held this post for several terms.  He was also appointed surgeon-in-chief for the Southern Pacific Railroad.  Offices for the physician-surgeon were on Pujo Street.  His great-grandfather was Rees Perkins, the first justice of the peace in Calcasieu Parish.

            Dr. Dosite Samuel Perkins was born in Rose Bluff.  He, too, attended the Georgetown University and then Tulane Medical School, and graduated in 1889.  He studied pharmacy and served as assistant to a New Orleans specialist in antiseptic surgery.

            He served as president of the Calcasieu Board of Health for four years.  Most of his practice seems to have been in Sulphur where he was that city’s first mayor.

            One history account gives an Allen J. Perkins as the “father of Westlake” because in 1888 he caused the 160 acres in the Northeast Quarter of Section 35, Township 95 to be subdivided and designated the town of Westlake.  Originally the town was called West Lake Charles but postal authorities ruled to omit the designation as east or west so the town became known as Westlake all in one word. 

            He was also listed with W. B. Norris as the operator of a lumber mill on the banks of the river.  A ferry boat Hazel which operated from the foot of Perkins Street in Westlake to the foot of Pujo Street in Lake Charles served as the link with each other until the construction of a bridge just south of Westlake in 1916.

            Many individuals used the name of the town in two words West Lake, instead of one word.

PITHON STREET

            A street, coulee and an alley were named for Michael Pithon, one of the earliest of Lake Charles settlers.  The alley, no longer in existence, ran froM north to south through where the former jail stood until a new one elsewhere in the city was constructed. 

            A “For Sale” ad in 1876 in a local newspaper read, “A residence and lot, situated on the corner of Public Square and Pithon’s Alley … 38 feet front by 98 feet (more or less) on said Alley …. In addition to outhouses there are a number of bearing orange trees …” 

            Pithon was a soldier of Napoleon and fled to America for safety.  He first went to New Orleans and then came to Lake Charles and bought land from an Indian.  The price, according to descendents of early settlers who heard it from their parents, was a blanket, and a bottle of whiskey.  Legend or fact?  No one seems to positively know.  One abstract lists 167.20 acres which were homesteaded by Pithon.

            The pioneer settler was one of two commissioners appointed in 1852 to move the seat of justice from the town of Marion to Lake Charles. 

            After the war Pithon told his slave Wash Pithon that he was free, but he would take care of him.   He built him a home on the corner of Ryan Street and Wilson Avenue.  Later Wash built a house at the end of North Court Street.  The house extended TO the lake.  He also had a restaurant and dance hall for Negroes.

            Another Piton of early days was an A. C. Pithon who was co-owner of Lake City Salon (Saloon?).  He and his wife lost two of their children, Zora and Medora, 10 and 12 years of age, respectively, through a water accident.  The little girls were in the pilot house with the captain of the mail boat Ramos when it was struck by a violent squall and thrown on the beam end after which it sank quickly in about 30 feet of water.  The captain broke open the door of the pilot house and took the girls out, holding each by the hand.  After getting on a float, the children clung to him in fright, their arms around his neck.  They dragged him twice under the water and the second time, their arms fell away and they sank.  Efforts by both the captain and the engineer to find them were futile.  Both little girls drowned.

POE STREET

            Poe Street is three blocks long running east and west and appearing rather insignificant in the northeast section of the city map.  But the one for whom it was named was an influential figure in the early days of the city.

            John Poe was born in Calcasieu Parish and lived most of his life in Lake Charles.  He was orphaned at the age of 12 and reared by his uncle Thad Mayo.  His first employment was in a sawmill and from then on, the greater portion of his interest remained in the lumber business. 

            He first owned a mercantile business in Bagdad which specialized in buggies.  He sold out in 1891 to enter the shingle business.  While retaining the latter he returned to the mercantile business and was the senior member of Poe and Bahel Co.

            His shingle mill was at north end of Ryan Street on the Calcasieu River.   It was connected by switches with two railways. Trade lines extended into Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri.  His mill ran regularly and put out cypress shingles exclusively.  It had a capacity of 10 million shingles per year.  The best machinery was used in the mill and the company was said to be one of the strongest in the city.

            At one time, Poe advertised as a sign painter and gold, lead and bronze worker.  He was also a rice buyer.  He was active in city and parish affairs.  He served on the City Council for several terms, was clerk of registration for the parish and served once as constable and ran for mayor in 1901. 

            Poe was also a member of the Calcasieu Parish School Board and was on the examining board for qualifying teachers.  The stage also interested him.  He was secretary of the Lake Charles Minstrel Troupe and played one of the leading roles in a theatrical held in Magnolia Hall.

            He was senior warden of a Masonic Lodge, secretary of the Hook and Ladder Co. and secretary of a baseball club.  In 1900 he went by train to Galveston, Texas on business.  The train on which he was, was washed off the track by the hurricane that killed an estimated 8,000 persons.  He was not hurt.

            With five other men Poe went to Opelousas one summer in answer to a summons to serve on the jury.  The men made what was then a long trip only to find out when they got there that they were one week too early.

POWELL STREET

            When Lake Charles was in its infancy, J. C. Powell became one of its residents and one of the most prominent men in the development of the lumber business and of the city. 

            A street bearing the name Powell runs from the Country Club Road north several blocks and then dead ends.  Powell’s home was at the corner of Hodges and Broad streets.  He also had rent houses. 

            His involvement in the lumber industry was first as operator of the Drew Lumber Co.  Later he became an associate under the firm name Drew and Powell and under the latter’s sole ownership; the lumber business carried the name Powell Lumber Co.  It was located on Calcasieu River in the northern part of the city.  Logs from the pine forests were floated down the river to the mill.  The mill had rail connections with all railroads leading into the city and lumber could be loaded at any point at the mill.

            Powell was also owner of a steamboat for transporting lumber to Calcasieu Pass for coastwise shipments.  He kept a complete stock of all grades of lumber on hand.  The 15 acres on which the mill and yard were located held rough and dressed lumber from the well-known Calcasieu long leaf yellow pine forests. 

            Powell was most interested in pine lumber and was owner of a 10-year supply with his mill running to its full capacity.  In 1888 the capacity of the mill was 30,000 board-feet per day and this nearly doubled by the end of the century.  His logging facilities were equipped with steel trams and modern loaders and skidders.

            There was also a planing mill for working up the finer grades of timber and it had a capacity of 40,000 feet per day in the early 1900s.

            Powell was also purchaser of logs which came to market in Lake Charles and much of his own timber was held in reserve.

            The pioneer lumber dealer was also a director and one of the largest stockholders in Calcasieu National Bank and he never lost interest in the economical and social development of the city.

PRATER STREET

            One of the early families of Lake Charles who contributed to the growth of the city had the surname Prater, a name carried by a North Lake Charles street.  The street runs north from Mill Street and dead ends just beyond Fitzenreiter Road. 

            J. N. Prater was co-owner of the Loyd-Prater Grocery Co. considered in 1905 to be one of the youngest wholesale houses in this section of the state.  It was also one of the largest and commanded a patronage in excess of some of the older concerns.  The company came into existence in 1898 when it was incorporated for $20,000.  Loyd-Prater Co. succeeded the old grocery firm of Loyd and Fox and also took over the patronage of the firm.  The business outgrew the expectations of the incorporators and at a meeting of the stockholders, it was found necessary to increase the capital stock from $20,000 to $65,000.  Of this amount $55,000 was immediately paid out, making the company the largest grocery establishment in Southwest Louisiana.  It handled everything known to the grocery trade.  A large force of salesmen served the entire southwestern part of the state from the Sabine River on the west to Lafayette on the east.

            For a number of years, the bulk of the trade had been going to New Orleans and to Houston, Texas but the new owners turned this back to Lake Charles which they considered the logical supply point for this section of the state.   Sales rooms were on West Division Street.  There was also a warehouse on the side of the KCS Railway which gave to the firm a combined space of over 14,000 square feet.

            Prater was president of the company and C. B. Loyd was vice president and general manager.  The president’s son, C. H. Prater, was secretary and treasurer, positions he accepted soon after completing high school.  Others on the board were M. O. LeBleu, Ambrose LeBleu, J. R. Tabor and A. F. Bolton. 

            The elder Prater also conducted one of the largest grocery retail stores in the city.  The company was called Messrs. Williams and Prater.  The large, well-stocked store was on Ryan Street.  Williams was the senior member and had formerly been connected with another wholesale grocery company.  The promptness in filling and delivering orders, the quality of the goods furnished and the moderate prices asked aided in the success of the second Prater venture.

PUJO STREET

            There were two Pujo brothers, Amede and Paul, in the early days of Lake Charles and it is assumed Pujo Street was named for both.

            They came from Tarber, France to New Orleans around 1835 and 10 years later, came to Lake Charles.  They were in business together in a merchandise store and also sold lumber.  They were married to LeBleu sisters.

            Amede had a large colonial house on the river which could be seen clearly and Paul lived on the old Jacob Ryan place, his home hidden by trees.  The area was called Rose Bluff after Rose, one of  Amede’s two daughters.  The current Citgo Service now occupies what was Rose Bluff.

            Paul had two sons, Paschall, who according to old newspaper accounts was killed by a man from Texas, and Arsene P. Pujo who became a congressman.  There were also two daughters.

            Paul was appointed to see about building a courthouse in 1872.  He also served as postmaster, but resigned in 1874.  His congressman son was noted for his work in obtaining Calcasieu Pass.  He was involved in a hunting accident which resulted in the death of an attorney friend, Joseph C. Gibbs.  The two men with Ben Chadwell went duck hunting on horseback and a few miles from Cameron, Pujo and Gibbs both dismounted to kill a jacksnipe.  When they remounted their horses, Pujo reloaded his gun and the cartridge exploded hitting Gibbs who fell from his horse.  Help from Cameron came and the injured man was taken back to Lake Charles by steamer but died before reaching the city.

            At he end of Pujo Street was Pujo Wharf, a popular place where many steamers landed.  A pot office was built on the street at the request of Mrs. J. D. Leveque after she was appointed postmistress.  Wooden culverts and curbing, and sidewalks were put down in the 1890s and the street was graded and put in “excellent condition.” 

            In 1901 Congressman Pujo was given a brilliant, successful and enjoyable banquet at the Majestic Hotel, according to local newspaper accounts.  The event featured a brass band during the meal served with … “vintages of Old France.”  The menu was printed in the local paper as follows:  “Martini cocktails, olives, lemon soup, celery, baked shad, tartar sauce, Saratoga chips, white wine, filet of tenderloin beef with mushroom sauce, French peas, claret punch and cigarettes; fried spring chicken, asparagus tips on toast, cucumbers, lettuce, tomatoes, mayonnaise dressing, crackers, Roquefort cheese, coffee, cream de menthe and cigars.” 

REID STREET

            In 1861 David John Reid homesteaded a 40-acre-track north of Broad Street with Kirkman Street on the north and Louisiana Avenue on the east.  This became one of the Reid additions and included areas called Clement Place and Central Place.  The acreage was known as Reid’s Pasture and the street in that area was named Reid Street for the homesteader of the property.

            In 1891 a petition was submitted to the city council for the extension of Reid Street to Railroad Avenue. The council appointed a committee composed of John Brooks, John Munday and Robert King to call on property owners for an agreement for this work.  The principal owner was T. Bernard who wanted $2,000 for a 50-foot street and $500 for a 28-foot alley.  The committee considered this an exorbitant price and decided not to contact any other owner.  Some agreement must have been reached within the next few years because an 1895 map shows the street running from what is now Sixth Street north to the railroad.  Today the street is the same at the north but at the south, it continues to Seventh Street.

            David J. Reid became sheriff, the first of many men with his surname to serve as sheriff in the following years. From the position of sheriff, he went to that of parish judge and remained so until his death.

            It has been related that he became sheriff because of an accident.  He was standing by Sheriff Johnson Moss when the latter’s pistol discharged and Reid was accidentally shot in the foot.  A campaign began then to elect him sheriff.  In 1863, this Reid with two other men established the newspaper Weekly Echo.  He became sole owner of the paper in 1895.

            Another Reid of prominence in the early days of the city was Alex L.  He served as parish assessor, town alderman and captain of the Calcasieu Rifles.  He also served as mayor and around 1888, he delivered an extensive message to the town council concerning the condition of the city. 

            His message stated the city was almost without lights or water, the former making the streets dangerous for one to walk down them at night.  That danger was not from another life, “I am proud to say we have had no midnight assassins,” he said.  The danger was in stumbling over some object or walking across a broken bridge. 

            The lack of water was to the extent that in case of fire the city was in danger of “being swept out of existence in the twinkling of an eye.”

            The mayor found the police force insufficient and suggested appointing four policemen at a salary not to exceed $50.00 per month.  If the laws were strictly enforced and the necessary fines collected, this would almost balance the extra money put out for the increase of the force.   Abandonment of the old system of street work and the use of a road machine, a strict enforcement of the collection of city taxes of which he had a delinquent list of over $3,000 and a revision of the tax laws put in pamphlet form and distributed throughout town for the benefit of the people were other recommendations contained in his letter.

            He concluded with the hope the council would be “wide awake in the interest of your constituents.  Let it be your object of endeavor not only to look after the needs of our people but pride yourselves in elevating your little city by the lake out of the mud and make her the shining light of Southwest Louisiana. 

            Previously the mayor had ordered that no policeman enter a saloon while on duty unless called for because of a disturbance in case of disorder would be prosecuted.

RYAN STREET

            The feet of horses were sunk deep in the slimy black mud of the road and the wagon wheels were as deeply immersed.  A man stood in the middle of the road and while other men worked to insert rough board beneath the wagon wheels, he predicted, “Some day this road will be paved.  It will be the main street of our town.” 

            The man was Jacob Ryan and the short muddy lane on which he stood was Ryan Street, named for the man who was later given the title “Father of the Town.” It was through his potato and turnip farm that fences were cut down and the street laid. 

            When Ryan measured his land, he used a chain and it is said the chain caught on a bitterroot weed where the Muller’s store building now stands, causing irregularity in the line of the street. 

            It was the first street actually made within the town.  It must have been laid out not too long after Ryan and S. A. Kirby moved the courthouse from the parish site of Marion to Lake Charles. 

            Ryan and Kirby donated the public square upon which to erect the courthouse when it was moved, according to a deed made May 21, 1853 because the original act of donation was lost. 

            Ryan Street was at first closed off at both ends and in 1874 the City Council asked that the street be opened up beyond Iris Street at the south and especially towards the north end.  In 1888 the business district lengthened to a distance of three blocks with the residential section centered around the main street with the poor dwellings around the saw mills.

            As late as 1890 Ryan Street was hardly more than a country road.  The only approach to any building was in front of the United States Hotel.  There a few planks made it possible for carriages to bring their passengers to the walk in front of the hotel.  Passengers from the trains were brought to Ryan Street by cutting across lots and winding their way around to avoid the mud holes.  Deer trotted across the street; pigs uprooted sidewalks which were so narrow one had to walk single file until the City Council deemed it necessary to give specific measurements for the wood walks.  A cow walked into a doctor’s office and horses roamed freely.  Merchants had a hard time keeping cows out of their stores.

            First the street was paved with cypress slabs laid across and close together.  Sometimes several slabs thick were needed over the soft places.  Next, came the brick work in 1907 from Pithon Coulee to Division Street.  A bridge was built on Ryan Street over the coulee to connect the south part and later that year sidewalks of planks were put down.

            Ryan Street now extends south to McNeese Street and north to Calcasieu River.  Formerly the section from Sallier to McNeese streets was South Ryan Street.  Where Ryan branches off at Seventh Street, to the southwest and curves around to meet Lake Street, it was called South Street and is today South Ryan Street.

            The man for whom the street was named was the son of Jacob Ryan, although the junior and senior suffixes were not used.  He was born at Perry’s Bridge on Vermillion River and had two brothers and 11 sisters.  One brother, his twin, and one sister died as babies and another sister when she was just a few years old.  Ryan was one year old when in 1817 the family moved to the prairies of West Calcasieu River.  From there he came to Lake Charles around 1832.

            He and one other man owned farms which covered what is now downtown Lake Charles and much of what were the city limits of the 1930s.   Anyone wishing to purchase a lot could buy from Ryan on time with easy payments.  Choice commercial lots on Ryan Streets were $50.00 and residential ones were even cheaper.

            Jacob Ryan, the Father of the Town, was also the first sheriff.

SALLIER STREET

            Sallier Street was named for Charles Sallier, reported the first white settler on the lake.  Legend indicates the massive old oak known as Sallier’s Oak which is located on the north side of the street at the corner of Sallier and Ethel streets and back of the Imperial Calcasieu Museum was planted by Sallier.  The site on which it stands was also the site on which stood the cabin home for some of the Salliers.

            The street was more like a wagon trail and was some distance from the original limits of the town when it was incorporated.  Most of the homes along the street near the west end were small ones for mill workers.  An 1895 map shows the street as the south corporation limit of the town then.  In 1890 the street was graded and ready for the laying of the rail tracks of the Kansas City, Watkins and Gulf Railroad.  Two years later an invitation was sent to Lake Charles from Alexandria to “celebrate the driving of the Golden Spike binding together with bands of steel the Gulf Port City and the Central Queen City.”

            Miss Severine Sallier, who died in 1884, is said to have lived on the old Sallier place near the oak tree.  The Salliers are reported to have owned all the property north of Sallier Street to Fifth Street and east to west from Hodges Street to Lake Street. 

            The name Sallier is woven with legendary, although fascinating tales.  There has been controversy over the spelling of the name, the origin of the first Sallier, who lived here and what happened to some of the properties.  The disappearance of the first Sallier is also disputable.  The most popular story is that he mounted his horse, plunged into the Calcasieu River, headed west and was never seen or heard from again.  One descendant prefers this more romantic tale - Sallier was jealous of the pirate Jean LaFitte.  When LaFitte, Sallier and his wife were in the yard, Sallier shot at the pirate.  Mrs. Sallier fell, although she had not been hit.  Her husband thought he had hit her and in sorrow mounted his horse, plunged into the river and was never seen again. Sallier is reported to have been land agent for LaFitte and distributed his pirate goods for him.  These tales and others have been handed down through the years.

            Nevertheless, the street, the lake and the city have been given the name Charles in honor of Charles Sallier.  The Sallier settlement became the Sallier Subdivision and some of the Salliers did live on Sallier Street.

SCOTT STREET

            Ten dollars, energy and determination were what J. E. Scott had when he came to Lake Charles from North Dakota around 1893 to found a business.  He did so well in his furniture business that two of his brothers joined him.

            They expanded to open a branch in another city and even ventured into three additional enterprises and a street was given their surname. 

            Scott Street, the length of which is no comparable measure for their achievement and contribution to Lake Charles, lies south of Sallier Street.  It is one and one-half blocks in length, running east from Common Street and dead ending just east of Hodges Street. 

            The first brother to come to the city opened a second-hand furniture store on Broad Street.  One and one-half years later the business became Scott Brothers Furniture Co., Ltd. with his brothers C. E. and E. M. Scott joining him.

            Eight years after the business had been started, the store occupied a total of 20,000 square feet and was said to be the largest in the city.  The main building was a two-story brick structure at a new location, 208 Pujo Street.  It measured 30 by 100 feet and had elevator service. 

            Displayed over the spacious flooring was every type of furniture from the ordinary to the elaborate.  The brothers by then were also handling crockery, glassware and picture frames and were the only agents in the city for the Wheeler and Wilson, and New Royal sewing machines.

            The branch opened was in Jennings in their own two-story brick building, 32 by 140 feet.  E. M. Scott managed this store.

            Another business venture of the Scott brothers was in a new brick, 21-by-130 foot building on Ryan Street.  J. L. Bowman, a graduate of a school of embalming in Nashville, Tennessee was in charge.  He also handled all funeral directions.  Another undertaking department with a graduate embalmer was also maintained in Jennings.  The company was said to be the first and only one which received the undertaking supplies in car lots.

            In connection with the work, the brothers organized a Mutual Funeral Association.  Membership was over 600 and carried benefits to some 3,000 persons.  Fees for membership were 10 cents, 15 cents and 20 cents depending on the type of membership and provided for funeral services ranging from $50.00 to $100.00.  There were three hearses for different ages and usages.

            The second-hand furniture store which was the first venture had a repairing department added to it and facilities for the business were moved to stand opposite the Pujo Street Company. 

SHATTUCK STREET

            Shattuck Street runs from Broad Street north to Railroad Avenue as South Shattuck and from the railroad to Woodring Street and North Shattuck.  At one time the street area, before the street was named, marked the east corporation line of the city.

            The street bears the name of the Shattuck brothers, Simeon O. and Benjamin.  They came to Lake Charles from Vermont. 

            They became owners of a portable sawmill in West Lake.  They later moved the mill to Calcasieu River near the foot of Hodges Street and added a shingle mill. 

            Benjamin was elected chaplain of the Lake Charles Council, United Friends of Temperance and gave several talks for the group.  Little else is known of him. 

            His brother was the more active of the two.  He was with the Norris and Shattuck Shingle Mill in West Lake.  At this time he was elected representative and re-elected twice, giving him six years in this office.  During these years he was selected delegate to the Western Waterway Convention in New Orleans. 

            Other civic activities were vice president of the Pelican Hook and Ladder Company, alderman for the city and editor of the newspaper, Echo.  He was one of the incorporators of the Lake Charles Driving Park and an officer in the Apollo Lodge K of H and a charter officer of the 100F Anchor Lodge.

            Simeon was also a Sir Knight of the Lake City Division No. 6 Uniform Rank of the K of P and one of the speakers at the installation of officers in 1893 at a banquet prepared by Pierre Theaux and held in the Lake House. 

            Music was by Toce and Hill and the menu was “Soup, Julien Grace, Wine, Haute Saiterne; Fish, Red Snapper Court Bouillion; Wine, Chateau Julein; Roast Dressed Turkey; Wine, Chateau; Lettuce; Dessert, Oranges, Apples, Bananas, Raisins, and Nuts, Champagne Coulet; Coffee.” 

            Simeon Shattuck was also a teacher in private schools and for a time conducted his own school.  On one occasion he said that he had lived all the way from the north to the south and no state presented so many natural advantages of soil and climate as Louisiana.

SHELL BEACH DRIVE

            Years ago near the south end of Shell Beach Drive was a large mound of shells which formed a natural barrier between the lake and the dusty lane the street was then.  This mound was the reason for giving the street its name.  After a rain or heavy wind, the shells loosened and fell away, exposing Indian skeletons which caused residents to believe the site was an old Indian burial ground.

            In 1877, the Board of Lake Charles ordered wooden culverts and curbing be put on the lake front in front of Pujo’s Store.  The slabbing for this was from Ryan and Geary Mill and work had to be suspended when the mill stopped cutting. 

            In 1881 a levee was put up from Drew’s Mill at the west end of Alvin Street and ran north to Griffith Bayou, then continued to what was Allen J. Perkins’ home.   The levee existed until the road was built. 

            A plank road was constructed on top of the levee from Perkins’ home to the bayou and a small foot bridge crossed the bayou at Drew’s property. 

            The Lake Charles Echo ran an article in 1886 calling attention to the poor condition of the lake front “… the most important feature of our natural surroundings.”  The article suggested the  “…destruction of decaying vegetable matter which is being added to every day, contrary to every sanitation law…” and “… arrangement to prevent the caving of the eastern shore…”  The erosion increased the area of shallow water; the article stated the “…area of that part was left exposed to the sun, thus augmenting the flow of poisonous gases and still further endangering the health of the town." 

            In 1888 “Lover’s Retreat” was completed on the road.  This was a long winding bridge over Pithon Coulee where it emptied into the lake.  It began at the foot of Clarence Street and ran through dense cypress forest with the bridge sills nailed from tree to tree and the hand rails nailed to the trees.

            Some years later Shell Beach Drive assumed more importance with the erection of Shell Beach Casino, described by the local paper as the coolest and most pleasant spot in the city to “pass” a pleasant evening.

            In cooperation, the street car company assured the casino manager that cars would be run every 15 minutes without fail so those going or coming may not have to wait for transportation either way.

            One of the local community organizations, The Enterprise Club, was instrumental in the beautification of the lake front and improvements on Shell Beach Drive. 

TOUCHY STREET

            Around 1859, Victor Touchy purchased a strip of land running from Ryan Street to Hodges Street and lying between Kirby and Iris streets.  It was one acre deep and six acres long.  Touchy had his home constructed in the middle of the tract.  The one-story home was completely hidden from view by the many orange trees surrounding it.

            From his nursery he sold thousands of young trees of Louisiana sweet oranges.

            Touchy Street runs two blocks in and east and west directions in west Lake Charles and one block from Shell Beach Drive.

            Around 1879 Touchy and A. C. Pithon purchased the Lake City Saloon from Joseph George. The building and business had been sold by George to Martin A. Medicis who kept it only four days before selling it back to George who then sold it to Touchy and his partner.

            Touchy was French and was known for his peculiarity of signing his surname first and then his given name with the two separated with a comma. 

            His son Cassius had a two-story home constructed near Louisiana Western Depot around 1886.  That same year Cassius and Albert Rosteet went by buggy to Lacassine on business and took their guns with them in case any game appeared.  On the way back when they were some 12 miles from Lake Charles the horse became frightened and shied to one side causing the wheels of the buggy to lock.  Touchy got down and attempted to calm the horse and straighten the buggy.

            The animal was unmanageable and reared back.  Touchy was concerned over Rosteet still in the buggy and suggested his friend jump out.  He did and the gun accidentally discharged and wounded him seriously.  Touchy went to a ranch about two miles away and sent someone to stay with Rosteet while he went for a doctor.  These attempts to aid his friend were futile.  The young man died from the many gunshot wounds.

            Cassius Touchy served as a member of a sheriff’s posse to find a man involved in a fatal shooting and he participated in stage performances held at Magnolia Club

            An L. V. Touchy is also mentioned as an early settler in Lake Charles.

VINCENT STREET

            Vincent Street is two blocks long running east and west.  It is just east of Claire Gardens and runs parallel to and midway between U.S. 90 and East Broad Street.  There is also a Vincent Road in the southwest section of the city and runs a few blocks off Big Lake Road. A few miles south of Lake Charles is an area called Vincent Settlement.

            A number of men bearing the surname Vincent are mentioned in early local newspaper accounts, but the two of whom much has been written are Dosite Vincent and Aladin Vincent.  There is also a Pierre Vincent, a son-in-law of Jacob Ryan, whose children were taught with those of Ryan and Henry Moss in Ryan’s home when he lived in Rose Bluff near Bayou D'Inde.

            Dosite Vincent was born in Vincent Settlement in 1847 and the brother, Aladin, was born in 1849 on Bayou Guy.  The older one was engaged in stock raising until 1877 at which time he moved to Lake Charles and established a meat market.  He operated this for one year, and then returned to his stock ranch until 1883.  At that time he moved back to Lake Charles.

            For about two years he managed the Lyons House, a hotel on Ryan Street and at the same time operated another meat market he had established.  He sold these interests and went into the grocery business.  His store was on North Ryan Street.

            In 1877 this Vincent was elected secretary of the Police Jury and re-elected twice.  During his terms of office, he never missed a meeting and was never delayed with the minutes of the meetings.

            Aladin Vincent was 10 years old when his parents moved to East Texas.  He remained in that state until 1866 when he moved back to Louisiana.  That year he married Acema Perry and they began their life together with their one possession, a pony. 

            He “ran stock” for two years and then relieved the telegraph operator at Sassafras Island.  He had learned the trade by just hanging around in the office.  His relief work was supposed to be for 30 days but lasted five and one-half years. 

            During this time, he obtained the education denied him in his younger years. 

            By 1895, he, his wife and their son were living on 8,000 acres of land a few miles from Vinton.  He was a member of the Police Jury and prominently identified with the rice industry in the state.  He was also a state representative for three years and then became a state senator. 

WATKINS STREET

            “…the personification of a true and tried business man … quite, taciturn, unobtrusive …” was the description given by a New Orleans paper of the 1880s in an article about J. B. Watkins for whom the local Watkins Street was named.  The street runs from South Ryan Street to Lake Street. 

            The article stated the land purchases by Watkins who came to Lake Charles around 1882 from Lawrence, Kansas, amounted to $473,000.  Some of the land dealings were once investigated by a committee appointed by legislature with Senator Charles P. Hampton as chairman.  Members of the committee were Senator Coffrey, Representative Martin of Lafayette and S. O. Shattuck of Calcasieu Parish.  It was decided to visit a portion of the land connected with alleged fraud.

            Watkins gave the use of his steam yacht, the Xantho with Captain John S. Hawkins in command.  Accompanying them were Thomas Kleinpeter, parish surveyor; William Mayer, D. J. Reid, William D. Mearns and James Kinder.

            Petitions were circulated with signers stating they favored development of the country and did not appreciate any attempt to place obstacles in the way of advancement.  The question of fraudulent action was based on whether the lands were really state lands subject to overflow.  The matter was settled satisfactorily and all guilt was removed from Watkins. 

            Sometime later, he sold all his lands in Cameron Parish for $203,525.

            The early settler did much on his own to publicize Lake Charles and area places.  He entertained 21 editors representing large newspapers from Boston, Massachusetts to San Francisco, California.  He spent over $1,000.00 on one cent postage stamps to distribute thousands of pamphlets and circulars advertising the advantages and resources of  the area. 

            He encouraged the settling of farmers by offering the first 10 applicants who would meet his conditions 160 or 320 acres or the south half of any section of land owned by the company, North American Land and Timber Company, Ltd. of which he was manager, and not less then two or more miles from a railroad station for $5.00 an acre.

            The purchaser could take up to 11 years to pay.  As soon as the applicant had settled upon and improved the land, Watkins furnished the material to fence the remainder of the land and furnished him with 25 mares, 20 cows, 10 brood sows and 50 ewes and also provided for breeding of improved males, for one-half the issue.

            Other conditions were that the applicant must be an experienced, energetic farmer, honest, industrious and temperate, worth $1,000.00 or more and have plenty help in his own family to do all the work.  It is not known how many or if any one availed himself of this odd opportunity.

            In addition to his lands, Watkins at one time owned the steamer Ramos, a mail contract and cattle ranches.  During the freeze of 1886 he lost 500 head of cattle on the prairies.

            Watkins was the first manager of the land company and served from 1882 to 1896.  He was also one of the incorporators   of the St. Louis, Watkins and Gulf Railroad which connected with major lines in Alexandria.

            In the article in the New Orleans paper about Watkins, it was stated people should not be surprised if the name Calcasieu Parish were changed to Watkins Parish, because of the efforts of this early settler which were a benefit to the entire parish, not just the city which has a street named for him. 

WHITE STREET

             William Thomas White and his family moved to Lake Charles from McComb, Mississippi in 1890.  He had been in the furniture business prior to the move to this city.  He opened the White Furniture Company, Ltd. with ample capital for a complete stock of furniture, carpet and matting.  His son, James Louis (J. L.) was in business with his father.

            The salesrooms were located at 725 Ryan Street and the stock was of various styles and prices to satisfy the taste of all classes of people.  The merchants asked the customers’ opinion of the quality of the merchandise and the prices requested for each item. 

            The display in the store featured furniture for every room of the house and if a customer were furnishing a new home, the merchants laid the carpets and placed all furniture by the time the customer was ready to move in.

            Another son, Leon Charles (L.C.) White, born in 1889 purchased the business from his father around 1914 when the father retired and he and J. L. moved to Houston.  During the depression, L.C. closed the store, but reopened it in the 1930s. 

            A granddaughter of the elder White, Mrs. Polly Anna Dietz, remembers the second location of the furniture store was on Common Street.  She also remembers her farther using his big furniture delivery truck for hayrides for the orphans of the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home which had been moved here from Monroe.

            L.C. White and his family lived at 1013 Pujo Street.  Mrs. Dietz remembers the home had the usual high porch with the steps in the center, before her mother had it remodeled.  The home was purchased by L.C. White from his aunt.  The family lived there until Mrs. White’s death in 1980, and Mrs. Dietz sold the home the following year.  Her father and twin sister had died in 1964. 

            The interest of the Whites in the civic affairs of Lake Charles was evidenced after the old Williams Opera House was condemned as unsafe and closed.  J. L. White obtained a lease from Mathilde Miller in 1910 for the building of new theater in the 800 block of Ryan Street.  Over 100 firms and individuals contributed in amount of $10.00 to $450.00.  The new building was the Arcade Theater.

            The street bearing the name White runs north and south, crossing Winterhaler (Winterhalter) Street in Goosport and comes to a dead end about one block south of Winterhaler (Winterhalter).  North of that street it extends about one block to Interstate 10. 

WINTERHALTER STREET

            Winterhaler or Winterhalter Street is spelled with the “t” on the map but without this letter in other sources.

            He, Charles H. Winterhalter, was a mayor of Lake Charles in the early 1900s.  His major opponent in 1905 was William E. Petterson.  Both were running on a platform of progressive government and improvement to the city.  Before the election, the city council had made several improvements which helped Winterhalter’s campaign.  Even then, he won by only 14 votes.

            In 1907, when city assessments were over $3,532, 000.00, there were eight miles of street railing, 500 miles of bayou and river navigation which connected the city with many major cities.  There were also nine sawmills, three rice mills and three banks with capital and surplus of $500,000.00.  The mayor beat his opponent by 200 votes in the primary and 150 in the actual election. 

            In 1902, he was one of the men involved in forming companies to develop the oil industry.  Previously, he had served as secretary of the Pleasure Park Association when it was organized around 1894.

            Winterhaler Street lies in Goosport, just north of Lawrence Street and runs east from First Avenue to Carr Street.

WOMEN’S STREET NAMES

            There are not nearly as many streets named for women as there are for men nor is there as much known about them.  Nevertheless, they are worth noting.  Some of these are as follow: 

            Iris Street, running east and west in downtown Lake Charles was named for Iris Pithon Peake, daughter of Michael Pithon and wife of George Peake.

            Helen Street, also running east and west is in a quite residential section in the St. Patrick Hospital area.  It was named for Helen Knapp Fay, wife of Oliver J. Fay and daughter of Dr. S. A. Knapp.

            There was a Rachael Street near Sallier Cemetery on South Ryan Street, named for Rachael Ford, but it no longer exists.

            Both Ann and Lawrence streets, north of Broad in the downtown area were named for Ann Lawrence, wife of Thomas Bilbo.

            Touchy Street was named for Doris Pithon and the nearby street, Henry, was named for her son, Henry H. Touchy.

            Ethel Street, running from South Ryan Street to Sallier Street, was named for Ethel Burton, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Burton.  For several years he was a civil engineer and surveyor for that section of the city.

            The one-block street from Cleveland Street to Sixth Street which carried the name Stella, was named for Stella Williams, married to Joseph Basque.  It does not seem to exist today.

            Mary Street, now with the name Gill, was named for Mary Kirby Bunker, daughter of Samuel Kirby. There is a Mary Street in Goosport.

            There were also Weincke Street, between South Ryan and East streets, named for Malvina Sallier Weincke, wife of Thomas Weincke, and a Pearl Street in the St. Patrick Hospital area for Pearl Moss Vincent, wife of Ray Vincent and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph H. Moss.

            Running east and west between Westwood and Alvin streets is Woodruff Street, named for Mary Woodruff Knapp, wife of Dr. Herman Knapp.

            Robert J. Cessford, an early resident, had Cessford Street in North Lake Charles named for him and Martha Street in that area was named for his wife, the former Martha Nix.

BIG PLACES AND LITTLE STREETS

            One place to honor someone is Margaret Place, named for Mrs. Margaret Perkins, wife of Allen J. Perkins. 

            The Perkins home faced the lake and many residents took Sunday afternoon walks and photographed the many picturesque scenes.

            Perkins Grove, named for Allen Perkins, faced Ryan Street.  The property was used by the community for May Day celebrations, Fourth of July festivities with bands and speeches, barbecues and also for mass meetings.

            Walnut Grove, now the Lake Charles Dock property, was given this name because of the many huge walnut trees entwined with muscadine vines.  Families often picnicked there and children enjoyed swinging from the strong muscadine vines.

            In contrast in size, there was Ward’s Alley, no longer in existence, which ran from Pujo and North Court streets.  It was named for Daniel S. Ward.

            Park Avenue extends from Ryan Street to Shell Beach Drive and was originally Line Avenue.  It marked the dividing line between the properties of Mrs. Cora McCain and those of Allen J. Perkins.

            Wilson Avenue formerly called Allen Avenue, runs from South Ryan to the lake.  Griffith Street in that vicinity was named for Griffith Bayou and runs parallel with the lake.  The bayou was named for one of the early settlers and owner of an old mill.

            Mudgett Street, no longer in existence, honored Isaac N. Mudgett.  Another Isaac was Isaac Toomer, who was honored with Toomer Street being named for him.  The family was very active in social and industrial activities.

            Hamilton Street was named for Freeman Hamilton who homesteaded a 40-acre tract. The one-block street runs from Shattuck Street to the railroad. Nearby Blake Street was named for Mingo Blake.

            Mooer Avenue was named for Ruley C. Mooer, an early settler.  Both a school and a street were named for W. O. Boston, a leader in north Lake Charles.  Gieffers Street was named for Henry Gieffers, one of the early residents of that area. 

            The two-block Martin Street was named for William J. Martin and O’Brien Street running from First Avenue to Shattuck Street was for Jerry O’Brien.  Both were early settlers and leaders.

            Ackerman Street, running one block from Opelousas to St. John, was honoring Howard Ackerman, connected with the Lake Charles Rice Milling Company.  Bauer Street from Ackerman to what was then Rock Street, was named for George Bauer, a member of the same firm.  This street became John Street.  Bauer is remembered by “old timers” as an accomplished pianist.  

HOME NAMES

Several homes in the late 1890s were given names.

William Loree’s home was “The Rose Cottage.” After two years here, he had 35 varieties of roses plus 36 orange trees.

L. U. Kinney’s home was “Sunnyside”; S.A. Knapp’s was “The Three Pines” and H. H. Eddy’s was “The Three Oaks.”

There is another home, “Kingwood,” that of the lake Mr. & Mrs. Voris King, which is described in a brochure reproduced here.

“KINGWOOD”

Residence of Mr. and Mrs. Voris King

Prien Lake Road

Builder: A. M. Mutersbaugh

Architects:  Richard Koch and Samuel Wilson, Jr.

New Orleans, Louisiana

ABOUT KINGWOOD  

The house was designed in the style of the Louisiana plantation house of the 1830s period and built in 1941-1942 for the lake Mr. and Mrs. Alvin O. King on a beautiful wooded site overlooking Prien Lake.  The two story red brick house has a colonnade of six plastered Doric columns across the front and a smaller two story Portico in the rear.  The elaborately detailed cornice is of wood, painted white like the rest of the exterior trim, and all the windows have green blinds in the traditional manner.  The hipped slate roof slopes out over the Portico and is pierced by several dormer windows. 

The plan is also traditional with the entrance hall flanked by the living room and dining room.  The entrance hall continues through an arched opening into the rear hall where a graceful circular staircase rises to the bedroom area on the second floor.  Behind the living room, to the left of the stair hall, is a paneled library and in a similar position on the right behind the dining room are the kitchen and service areas. 

FRONT ENTRANCE

On entering the front door you will note the massive 4” mahogany door made of Philippine mahogany.  The chandeliers in the front hall and living room and dining room are from an early French home which was dismantled and brought to New Orleans in the 1700s.  They were in New Orleans homes until they were dismantled by Rothschild in New Orleans in the late 30s.  The hall also contains two small chairs which come from the Arthur Gayle and W. P. Weber homes.  The lamps on the tables are jade from the East Indies.

In the center of the hall on the left is the elevator and in back the winding staircase with the banister made of African mahogany.  In the back hall is a grandfather clock which is over 150 years old and stood for many years in the Charles Fay home.  The oak floors throughout the downstairs are covered with oriental rugs which were imported by Domburion of New Orleans. 

LIVING ROOM

The spacious living room to the left of the front hall contains a baby grand piano which was a thirty-year wedding gift to Mrs. Alvin O. King from her husband:  a hand-carved violin made for Voris King by S. L. Cline: a Dutch rocker brought to America by Father Hassink from Holland.  It was the property of his great-grandmother and is over one hundred seventy-five years old.  The matching settee, chairs and marble top table are early Provincial styling from Neiman-Marcus.  This also has a matching breakfront which contains a small collection of items collected by Mrs. Voris King. The display case in the northwest corner of the room was a wedding gift to Mr. and Mrs. W. P. Weber, which is over one hundred years old.  It has a secret writing desk below and displayed are the crown and scepter used by Voris King in both the New Orleans and Washington Mardi Gras Balls where he served as king.  The marble mantels in both the living room and the dining room were brought from homes in France in the 1700s and were in New Orleans homes until they were dismantled by Manheim in the 30s. 

DINING ROOM

The massive table in the dining room is sectional with one section on the west end of the room serving as a small table.  For banquet purposes this is the center section which makes into a table for sixteen.  This table, along with sideboard came from England.  The sideboard was converted from a wine keeper from an English pub.  The silver service on it is from Tiffany’s and was a twenty-fifth wedding anniversary gift to Mrs. Alvin O. King from her husband.  The epergne on the table with the matching candle sticks was a fortieth wedding anniversary gift to Mrs. King from her husband.  The built-in china cabinet has the silver punch cups which match a large punch bowl.  They are Mexican silver made and purchased by Alvin O. King in Mexico City.  The dishes are gold leaf and were from the George M. King family home.  The picture over the mantel is a work of Yorwaski, one of the foremost water color artists in America.

BUTLER PANTRY AND KITCHEN

The cabinet top and table top in the butler’s pantry and kitchen are made of monel metal and the floors there, as well as in the bathrooms throughout the house, are of tile furnished by Ducros, of New Orleans.  There are many cabinets and a spacious food pantry in the kitchen as well as a door which leads to the servant’s steps which go from the basement to the attic floor.

BASEMENT  

In the basement is the heating - air conditioning unit which was originally put in the house when it was built.  The basement also has self-contained water and food storage which can be used as an atomic shelter.  All pipes throughout the house are copper and all wire is in aluminum conduits.  There originally was installed and inter-com phone system that is not used today.  

LIBRARY  

Across from the kitchen is the library which is finished in wood paneling which was sprayed with acid to give it an aging look.  The light fixture is copper which is also aged from the acid.  The mantel is hand carved from Italy which was brought to New Orleans into a home and there dismantled in the milddle 30s.  The room is furnished in red leather furniture and many of the books are from the library of Captain C. A. McCoy, one of the oldest lawyers who practiced in Lake Charles in the early 1900s and was senior law partner of Alvin O. King.  The portrait of Alvin O. King over the fireplace was painted by Charlotte Robinson.  Hung on the door is a Japanese carving and on the mantel are two busts also from Java, made of teakwood.  On the mantel are two hand made Indian vases presented to Voris King by Bishop Walton, brought back from India.  The elephants in the room are from the collection of the late Mr. Dumont of New Orleans, one of the world’s most famous elephant collectors.  On the hifi are book ends presented to Alvin O. King when he was Governor of Louisiana in 1931. Underneath the stairs is a large storage closet.  To the right is a powder room and small tile bathroom.  

BACK PORCH  

The entrance hall and back porch are floored with New York slate.  On the back porch is a large wooden table made of cypress cut from the ground of Kingwood.  Of special interest is the 48” wide 2” thick cypress top of this table. 

MASTER BEDROOM 

            Upstairs in the master bedroom the furniture is French Provincial with the exception of the cheval.  This is a handsome full length mirror which is over one hundred years old and is from the old LeBleu home. It is said that Jesse James used this mirror many times when he visited that home while passing through Lake Charles.  The two back bedrooms have an entrance to a large spacious screened porch which has a tile floor.  The master bedroom has a large tiled bath with two large closets and off of the hall to the right is a large walk-in master closet.  To the immediate north of the master bedroom is the master’s study.  In this is a desk which was owned by Mrs. Alvin O. King when she was a child, a gun rack which was presented to Voris King and which holds a number of the guns of his collection.  On the wall is a small picture which was painted by Willie Lee Voris King.  To the west of this is a small room which contained the master linen closet and in the hall stands a scale which is from the office of Dr. T. H. Watkins, one of Lake Charles’ early physicians.

            In the hall on the north side of the house is a Dutch chain weight alarm clock which was presented to Voris King by Father Hassink. This came from Holland and is over one hundred fifty years old.  The small chest is of camphor which came from Hong Kong and was presented to Voris King by Colonel H. G. Morris. There is a nest of tables in the hall which are hand-carved from India.  Also a teakwood chest on one of them that came from China and given to Mrs. Alvin King by Mrs. Sam Jones.  On top of this is a Fiji Island carving of the head of King Beaudeane.  The small desk in the hall is rosewood.

            GUEST BEDROOMS

Both the front and back bedrooms on the west side of the house are spacious and have modern French mahogany furniture. Each has two large closets with private tile baths, with the one on the south side of the house having a glassed-in needle shower.  On the top of the staircase is a large closet which contains Voris King’s gun collection which has much history as well as much value.  Each of the guns has a history in the making and developing of America.  

            STRUCTURE

            The home was built 4’ off the ground and not on a slab as might be supposed.  The frame is poured cement over welded steel with each of the floors being one foot thick of solid concrete.  All of the brick on the outside of the house is oversized brick which was furnished by Buck’s Brick Yard. The roof is Vermont slate furnished by Favrot Roofing Company of New Orleans.  All of the lumber in the house came from Powell Lumber Company.  The steel was furnished by Jones & Laughlin.  All of the hardware throughout the house is from Stauffer Eshelman, of New Orleans.  The millwork was done by Davidson Sash & Door Company.  The plumbing contractor was D. L. Johnson and all the electrical work was done by Mike Lanza.  The original painter on the home was L. B. Rodrigue.

            Construction on the home was started November 1, 1941 and was finished two years later, February 1, 1943.  The contractor was A. M. “Lonnie” Mutersbaugh and Samuel Wilson of Richard Koch and Associates were the architects.

            The grounds on which the home is built were purchased by George M. King in 1900 and later acquired by Alvin O. King after his death.

THE GREAT FIRE

            At about three o’clock on a Saturday afternoon, April 23, 1910 an employee of Gunn Book Store was sent outside by Mrs. Dick Gunn to burn some trash.  This small fire built by the boy is believed to be the nucleus of the most devastating fire in Lake Charles, a fire which raged for four hours and consummed 109 buildings over an area about two blocks wide and one-half mile long.

            Total damage from the fire was reported in the Lake Charles Daily American Press the following day, to be from $600,000 to $740,000 with only from $250,000 to $300,000 covered by insurance.

            A strong wind of near gale force swept over the lake and blew sparks from the trash to the Opera House next to the book store and fanned these into flames.  The boy who built the fire attempted to put it out while the manager of a soft drink stand next to the Opera House rushed into the book store to call the fire department.  His first call was to a wrong number.  The second attempt succeeded and the fire chief and fireman with two horse-drawn wagons, rushed down the brick paved street. But the fire spread so rapidly that by the time the firemen arrived flames had already leaped across Ryan Street to a meat market and the Catholic Church property.

            According to an eye witness, the buildings in the business district were constructed of heart-of-pine lumber with many buildings touching each other and some sharing the same wall.  With this much to feed on, the fire could not have been contained before considerable damage.  But even in the residential section where homes were farther apart flames attacked home after home.

            At first the fire traveled straight east but a shift in the wind sent the fire in two directions – south to the courthouse and east across Ryan and Bilbo streets, then down the length of Kirby Street.  Building after building burst into flames either from flying embers or from spontaneous combustion from the intense heat.  The fire’s irrepressible and violent freedom brought it to the Catholic cemetery on Common Street where it burned the cypress headstones.  But the cemetery was a barrier and in only one instance did the fire leap over to a house which burned down.  Firemen were preparing to dynamite the area towards which the fire advanced to deprive it from any more nourishment, but with the barrier of the cemetery and the calming down of the wind this was not necessary.

            In the beginning of the rampage, firemen, after stretching hose across Ryan Street, were forced because of the intense heat and heavy smoke to abandon the hose and were not even able to turn off the hydrants there.

            This caused a lessening of water pressure.  Adding to this difficulty was the loss of the fire house itself which went into flames along with the steam fire pump and 850 feet of hose which had been laid to dry after the hose was used to extinguish a mill fire that morning

            The city tax collector was on the roof of the Catholic convent watering down the shingles.  He fell off and was knocked unconscious.  He revived to find out the city hall was in grave danger so he rushed there to save what records he could before the building met with the same fate as other nearby buildings.

            More than 100 men were in the courthouse loading what records they could find into wagons and automobiles.  They continued to work even when the window cases of the two-story building began to smolder.  An eyewitness said the flames at that site were over 100 feet high.

            Another eyewitness said he was delivering something to the Mississippi-Pacific Railroad Depot when he heard a roar and turned towards Ryan Street but the smoke completely obliterated the street.  He rushed to his home, removed all the furniture from the house into the back yard, then sat on the roof with a garden hose to keep the roof wet. The fire did not reach his house and his mother said she had been wanting to give the house a complete cleaning.  Now was the time and with hired help the house was cleaned from one end to the other before any furniture was moved back into it. 

            Men not fighting to put out the fire were working to remove valuables from homes and stores.  However, the removal of a valuable at the Christian Church at Hodges and Iris streets proved to be an unwise endeavor.  Some men hoping to save the new piano recently purchased for the church moved it out but got only as far as across the street with it when the heat of the fire forced them to leave it and flee for their own safety.  The church was destroyed and so was the piano, but the piano was insured while it was in the church; it was not insured on the walk.  And one store manager and his assistant were so rattled they hastily filled a barrel with packages of Cracker Jacks, and ignoring the more costly articles in the store fled with the barrel.

            Word of the fire spread quickly to neighboring towns and out of the state.  With typical human weaknesses, such retelling was exaggerated until the Lake Charles disaster was worse than the fire of San Francisco a few years before and damage was so great that hundreds were housed in tents on the outskirts of the city.  Offers of help included the arrival of a number of firemen and a wagon from Beaumont, Texas and many telegrams of sympathy were sent to Lake Charles.

AFTER THE FIRE SCENES

FRONT VIEW OF THE COURTHOUSE

CITY HALL – CORNER OF KIRBY

CATHOLIC SCHOOL – CORNER OF RYAN AND KIRBY

            But outside help was not needed.  Owners of warehouses and other buildings offered free storage for salvaged articles and the Coast Guards were called in to patrol the area. 

            Not everyone was as charitable as these owners of available space.  A woman soon to be married, wanting to save her trousseau packed everything in a trunk which a man obligingly put in his wagon to take to safety.  The women never saw the man or the trunk again.

            Residents whose homes were not damaged took in the less fortunate.  The sisters and Academy boarding students where given refuge at St. Patrick’s Sanitarium until suitable temporary housing and school space were found.

            No one was killed in the disaster and the only injuries were to the fire chief and a few firemen.  The former twisted his leg in the beginning of the fire and limped throughout the remainder of the ordeal. 

            But there was loss of life.  A considerable number of canaries were in a room at the rear of the book store from where the fire originated and these were burned.  The heavy smoke was helpful for at least one problem.  According to eye witnesses mosquitoes before the fire were so bad that to deliver the mail, the carrier had to wear a mosquito bar over his head and face, long sleeves and gloves. 

            At the end of the fire two hotels, two churches, several boarding houses, some 30 business buildings and almost 60 residents were ashes or charred, blistered or melted remnants of themselves.

            Ironically, the secretary of the Louisiana Fire Prevention Bureau was in town earlier and had commended the city for its good fire department, paved streets and water supply.  The editor of the local newspaper had commented on his visit with this writing:  “Mr. Bloodworth’s benevolent desire is that we shall not find ourselves homeless some dark and stormy night and that we shall not wake up to find our selves burned alive …”

            One result of the catastrophe was an ordinance passed the following morning at an emergency session of the city council held in the Majestic Hotel.  This was that no temporary buildings would be allowed in the burned out area and that Lake Charles would rebuild the business district with brick and concrete.

Materials in Archives and Special Collections Department do not circulate.

Library Home Page | Archives Home Page | Archives Collection Page