Gothic Jail
201 W. First Street, Deridder, Louisiana

Added to the National Historic Register in 1981. 

These imposing buildings were completed in 1915. Celebrated in the traditions and song "The Hangman's Jail", the lockup was the location of a double execution in 1928. The jail and courthouse are connected by a tunnel used to transport prisoners out of public view. The jail is closed for renovations. The courthouse is open Monday-Friday 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

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http://photos1.ghostweb.com/dlil62.html

http://usgwarchives.net/la/calcasieu/block/ludington.htm

http://itsphotography.wordpress.com/

http://www.laspirits.com/historicallocations.html

Fresco-Rural Free Delivery
204 West First Street, DeRidder, Louisiana
( 337) 463-7263

Mural in fresco style depicts rural West Louisiana in the 1930's. The mural was completed in 1936 by Conrad Albrizio, dean of the American Fresco artist. The mural occupies the south wall of the old post office located across the street from the courthouse on West First Street. The building is now used by Beauregard Community Action Association. Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. and is open to the public to view the mural.

currently at RAD...
"Vera Moses and Students"

Real Art DeRidder Arts Cooperative

108 West First StreetDeRidder, Louisiana

RAD Gallery Hours:
Tuesday-Friday 11-5, Saturdays 11-3
realartderidder.org

Beauregard Parish Library
205 South Washington Ave, DeRidder, La.
Tel: 337-463-6217
http://library.beau.org/

The Beauregard Parish Civic Center Covered Arena is a unique and modern complex that consist of a main arena, secondary or warm-up arena and 300 stalls. The warm-up arena and stalls are connected to the main arena by a 48 X 92' covered alley way. The complex has a total of 3.74 acres under roof. The arena is home to year around rodeo excitement and fun.

SEE DATES FOR ALL UP COMING RODEO EVENTS FOR THE YEAR

MENNONITES of Beauregard Parish

Mennonites, in order to escape Kansas dust storms and extremely cold winters, migrated to Louisiana in 1937. Beauregard Parish became one of two sites of Mennonite settlements in the state of Louisiana. One of the first Mennonite settlers, Albert Smith, (1903-1986). Literature published by the Longbell Lumber Company had circulated in the Kansas area that described Louisiana as a land of opportunity. The pictures depicting the pine trees and lush Satsuma bushes were enough to lure Smith to the area. Personal inspection of the land assured Smith that for $3.00 an acre and no property tax, 80 acres of DeRidder soil had a future for him. Mennonite families, numbering 22, moved to Beauregard Parish to live the quiet life in what is now known as the Mennonite settlement south of DeRidder. The promotion of agriculture and dairy farming in Beauregard Parish can be greatly attributed to this Mennonite settlement. The Mennonite people are visible to some degree. The outsider who drives through a Mennonite settlement can not help but recognize them by their farms, furnishings, simplicity in dress, automobiles, fields and gardens. The women are noted for their baking and quilts, fetching in the hundreds of dollars.

Merryville High School
7061 Hwy 110 W, Merryville, LA 70653
(337) 825-8046 * Fax (337) 825-6443

"Home of the Mighty Panthers"

WORLD WAR II - DeRIDDER ARMY AIR BASE

Tribute to those who lost their lives while training in WW II Beauregard Parish Airport (WW II DAAB). Serving Beauregard Parish and surrounding areas is Beauregard Parish Airport, 3,968 acres, a legacy of World War II. Units assigned to the DeRidder Army Air Base (DAAB) were 423rd and 424 Reconnaissance group and 409 and 417 Bombardment Group. It is said that L20, B17, B25, B26 and P51's were maintained at the base. Practice bombing range was located near Merryville. While serving their country, 35 men lost their lives in training accidents in the area of the WWII facility. To memorialize these airmen on May 12, 2000, a historical highway marker was erected adjacent to the Beauregard Parish Airport, south of US Hwy 190. The airport's colorful history is evidenced by the guest book. It contains Kevin Costner's signature, one of several stars and VIP's to use the Beauregard Parish airport. Other guest flying into the airport have included Mark Chestnutt, a Mexican ambassador to the United States.
The airport continues to host military exercises which include parachute jumps by Fort Polk personnel. Today it operates as the largest general Aviation facility that is located in the state of Louisiana.

General Patton

WORLD WAR II - LOUISIANA MANEUVERS
Battlefield of Louisiana

The Louisiana Maneuvers (August - September 1941) were the prelude to the greatest war the world has ever seen, World War II, and led to the birth of Camp Polk. The maneuvers were called the "Big One" because it involved upwards of a half million men engaged in simulated combat. It included 19 Divisions and was the largest such military exercise ever held on the US Continent.
After Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939, the act that started WWII, some of America's leaders recognized the possibility of American involvement in a general war. Military expansion was under way and the Army began looking for suitable places to hold large military exercises. The Army was impressed with the hundreds of square miles of relatively unpopulated countryside in Louisiana. Assigned the task of finding a suitable training area for the gigantic maneuvers, General Leslie McNair and Colonel Mark Clark actually took a Louisiana road map to lay out the assembly and maneuver area. It encompassed over 3400 square miles and extended from the Sabine River, east to the Calcasieu River and north to the Red River.
The maneuvers were a trial run for war battles between two armies and were judged by such top Army officers as Major Gen. George Patton, Gen. Krueger, along with Col. Dwight Eisenhower and viewed by the US Army's top General and Chief of Staff, Gen. Omar Bradley. Gen. George Marshall said before the end of the exercise: "I want the mistakes made down in Louisiana, not over in Europe. If it doesn't work, find out what we need to make it work."
Louisiana was the proving ground for the coming age of mechanism, tanks against the horse cavalry. It also tested how the horse cavalry could cope on this "Modern" battlefield. Each morning, sick call was held for the horses as well as for the men. After the "Big One," other Louisiana maneuvers were held through 1944.

OLD & NEW CAMPGROUNDS Cemeteries, circa 1825

From LA 112, one mile east of Sugartown, turn south at the Sugartown Pentecostal Church, and follow signs, Sugartown.

Old Campgrounds is the oldest document able cemetery in the Southwest Louisiana (Imperial Calcasieu region). It served the American settlers who attempted to claim the northern portion of the disputed "Sabine and Rio Hondo" (No Man's Land) region, the boundary which was settled by treaty in 1819. Many of the earliest graves are unmarked due to deterioration of the wooden head boards and crosses, but what remains is a tribute to those early settlers. A memorial plaque and a nature trail are located at the Old Campground Cemetery site.

The new Campground Cemetery is about 60 years younger than the older cemetery and contains a considerable collection of turn of the century monuments.

PINE GROVE Cemetery, circa 1900

Hwy 112, 13 miles east of DeRidder. On Leo Garner Road, two miles west of Sugartown on Hwy. 112, drive 1-1/2 miles north on Leo Garner Road. Cemetery is located behind a small whitewashed church meeting house on the east side of the road.

Louisiana cypress cribs protect graves in Pine Grove Cemetery from weather and depredations of varmints. These shelters protected early graves from weathering and depredations of wild animals. Once commonly found in rural cemeteries in this part of the state, these may be the last ones remaining in the state.

Former DeRidder CCC Camp located at site of Beauregard Electric Cooperative (beci)

CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS (CCC)

Roosevelt's New Deal

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was the child of poverty and neglect, but it lived in honor and died because of World War II. It was a pseudo military operation and taught skills for a lifetime. In addition to vocational education, there were obvious benefits such as discipline, work habits and proper relationships.
To attack the depression, the CCC was created by the Unemployment Relief Bill under its founder, President Franklin D. Roosevelt. By executive Order 6101, dated April 5, 1933, the Emergency Conservation Work was officially activated which became the Federal Security Agency in 1939.
The CCC's twin aims were to alleviate the critical unemployment situation among American youth and to curtail the destruction of America's natural resources. A typical CCC camp consisted of 12 wooden buildings; mess hall, four barracks with capacity for 50 men, officer's quarters, garages, tool houses, supply building, and bath houses. Such camp existed on the east side of DeRidder, Louisiana, at a site where the present Beauregard Electric Cooperative, Inc. (beci) is located on Highway 171 South. Men, mostly 17 and 18 year olds, received vocational and on-the-job training at the camps. Thousands completed elementary and high school and illiterates were taught to read and write. Locally, mechanics classes were taught which trained Dan Dugas for a vocation that was useful to him throughout his working years. Locals who had signed up and were assigned to the DeRidder camp were: Teddy Eaves, Louis Burge, Owen Slaydon and Dan Dugas. All worked 8 hour days, 5 days per week for $30. per month. At the time, cigarettes could be bought for 14 cents a pack and theater tickets sold for about 15 cents. Inasmuch as young men were needed in the armed forces, World War II led to the termination of the CCC. On July 2, 1942, some six months after the Pearl Harbor attack, Congress enacted legislation that provided for the disbandment of the CCC. Thus, the Corps was officially dissolved on June 30, 1943. By then, almost 3 million men had gained experience in the CCC program. Supervisors, who were Regular Army or Reserve Officers, had gained invaluable experience in organizing and training men that would serve their country well during the war.

337-725-4055

WE'VE MOVED!!! 1/8 MILE SOUTH OF ORIGINAL BUILDING!  4 MILES NORTH OF RAGLEY
OVERPASS! AND WE HAVE WHOLE PECANS!!!

You may remember our family from Thib's Pecan House. We are carrying on the
reputation of southern hospitality and specialty items. We are owned and
operated by members of the original Thibodeaux family. With that being said, we
would like to invite you to stop by our new store located at 12220  Hwy 171
Longville ,La 70652, we are 1/8 mile south of the original building ,stop try
some of our delicious cream & butter fudge. We  have many different kinds of
candied pecans. We have  other specialty &  Sugar Free candies. We make
customized gift baskets for all occasions, & have holiday tins that we can fill
with any candied pecans. No order is too big or too small, for individuals or
companies. We  ship all over the U.S. We look forward to seeing you soon.

GOVERNOR SAM HOUSTON JONES

He served as Governor 1940 to 1944. Son of Merryville was Sam Houston Jones, who slew "the giant" that was the Long machine.
The son of Beauregard Parish was born 1897, the son of Robert Jones and Susan Frazar Jones in a log cabin in the piney woods of Merryville. Before he finished high school in DeRidder, he made up his mind to go to the State University and study law. Not only was Sam Jones born in Merryville, he grew up in DeRidder and married a DeRidder girl, Louise Gambrell Boyer.   He succeeded in transforming the government of Louisiana from its scandals and spoils system to one which embraced civil service. His campaign against a political machine that held sway over Louisiana politics for 12 years, attracted national attention. Sam was the youngest member ever, age 21 to be named to the Louisiana Constitutional Convention. He fought many battles for poor people without pay and he would give his own money to help those who needed funds. Beauregard Parish is proud of its son, Sam Jones, Governor and elder statesman, whose outstanding contribution to his state was his fearless and long struggle for honest and clean local and state government. 
Sam Huston Jones State Park located off of Hwy. 378 south of Moss Bluff was named after him.

Knighthood granted to Lt. Robert Blankenship

The citizens of DeRidder are indeed proud to have been served by a Mayor, remembered as "the KNIGHT" - Sir Robert.

Some of the metals he was awarded

S I R   Robert Blankenship

How many cities can boast of having been served by a Mayor who had the distinctinction of being knighted by the government of Holland. Ironically, the city of DeRidder (de ridder), being of Dutch origin, translated, means "the knight." DeRidder did indeed have as their Mayor (the knight), Robert Cleveland Blankenship, between 1962 and 1970.
Beauregard Parish is rich in World War II military history. This history of WW II era, includes Mayor Bob Blankenship, who gallantly served his country and is remembered as being a hero in every sense of the word.
Mayor Blankenship entered military service in Georgia. In 1942, just one year after war had been declared, his tour of duty brought him to Camp Claiborne, which was initially set up as a tent camp in Central Louisiana. The camp which did not survive as a military installation was closed in 1945. The site is presently identified with a Louisiana Historical Marker.
On September 20, 1944, near Holland, Lieutenant Blankenship received one of his two Silver Stars for Valor. His unselfish service was recognized after he conducted a river crossing of the Waal River, and subsequently single-handedly destroyed an enemy machine gun position, silenced a sniper by use of hand-to-hand combat, and helped to neutralize a flack wagon with hand grenades.
Lieutenant Blankenship put his heart and soul into serving his country. Along with his two Silver Stars, he also received one Bronze Star and five Purple Hearts.
Never did Bob Blankenship imagine that he would be awarded the highest decoration granted by the Government of Holland to a foreigner, which was the induction into the Military Order of the Knights of William. For his gallantry, he was Knighted and assigned the name of "Sir Robert".
With the climax of his military tour of duty, his honors did not cease. He was selected as the "Man of the Year" while he lived in Alexandria, Louisiana. In that same year, 1951, he was further honored by being chosen "Citizen of the Year" in Rapides Parish. In 1962, Sir Robert received an award for "Citizen of the Year" from the city of DeRidder. For his outstanding performance, the Louisiana Association of Municipalities selected him "Mayor of the Year" for the State in 1968.
His distinguished Military Service combined with his exceptional involvement in civic and veteran's affairs are a credit not only to himself, but the City of Deridder, also the State of Louisiana, as well as his country.

Chris "Red" Cagle
Football Hall of Fame

Born May 1, 1905 in DeRidder, Louisiana.
He attended Merryville High School, Louisiana Collage in Lafayette, La. and United States Military Academy.
He played professional football for five seasons. His positions were Halfback and Quarterback. His jersey number was 12. He was with the New York Giants from 1930 to 1932. In 1933, he and fellow former New York Giants player John Simms Kelly became co-owners of the NFL's Brooklyn Dodgers franchise. Cagle played for the team in 1933 and 1934. Dan Topping bought Cagle's half of the team in 1934.
 He passed away on December 26, 1942 (aged 37) In New York, NY.
He was inducted into the Football Hall Of Fame in 1954

Longville's Doris Anita Coleman
Louisiana Hall Of Fame
Female Athlete

Longville High School 1957 - 1961
Hazel Walker's Arkansas Travelers 1962-1965
Inducted into Louisiana Hall of Fame 1993
No one has broken the basketball scoring records set by Doris Coleman at Longville High (1957 - 1961). A three-time Class C all-starter, Coleman earned 4,147 career points and 1,636 in one season. Her efforts rank second overall and fourth for a single season nationwide.
Coleman holds numerous nations prep free-throw records - most made in a career, 1,147; most made in a season, 391; and most made per game in a season, 10.6.

She went on to play professionally with Hazel Walker's Arkansas Travelers.

DeRidder's  Chris Cagle 
Famous Country Singer

Chris Cagle was born November 10, 1968 in DeRidder, Louisiana
Signed with Virgin Records in 2000, Cagle made his debut on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs ) charts with the single "My Love Goes On and On", the first single from his debut album Play It Loud. The album, which was certified gold in the United States, also produced the Top 10 hit "Laredo" and "I Breathe In, I Breathe Out", his only Number One hit.

Play It Loud was followed in 2002 by Chris Cagle , released on Capital Records. Also a gold album in the U.S., it produced the Top 5 hits "What a Beautiful Day" and "Chicks Dig It". Anywhere but Here, his third compilation, followed in 2005 and produced the #12-peaking "Miss Me Baby". A fourth studio album, titled My Life's Been a Country Song, was released in 2008, and its lead-off single, "What Kinda Gone", peaked at #3 on the country music charts in early 2008. Overall, his albums have accounted for thirteen singles, of which all but one have charted.