February 2016 – All Things Sabine

A home of historic value and great area interest

Recently, we shared a photo of a keen old home in DeSoto Parish. The photo, of a once majestic home in Keachie which is still quite charming in its own way, had been taken earlier this month by Wanda Williams. Williams captured the photo while she was in the area on Super Bowl weekend, shared it with us. I knew the house was special… I had seen it and admired it for, oh, almost 20 years… And I have watched it fall into sad disrepair over the last many years (the states of disrepair of the house becoming progressively worse in rapid motion over the last two or three or four years). The roof of this historic property was recently renovated by our friends over at blueladderroofingindy.com which had done my fathers roof a few years ago. But I did not expect the interest this photo of the house would quickly grab

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A must visit if you like big old whales, high bluffs… Oh, and plenty of varied history too

I admit the following: I recently visited the Grand Ecore Visitor Center in Natchitoches Parish primarily to see the big old whale skeleton and the super high bluff looking towards the Red River.

But I saw so much more. Though the view and the big old whale definitely were my favorites.

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Photos from a 1940s informational guide promoting Leesville, Louisiana

Without further adieu, following are some photos from a guide that appears to be from the 1940s featuring Leesville, Louisiana (Vernon Parish).

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From charming and nostalgic to a far lesser place; and so often the future of an old home is a tough call to make

What was once a charming and nostalgic step back in time is now a depressing look at the toll time and neglect can take.

There once was this magnificent house in Florien, Louisiana (southern part of Sabine Parish). A beautiful, stately home… Once practically considered a mansion in the tiny village. The home became known, quite aptly, as The Dover House.

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On this site stood a female college…

Reverend A. N. Backus dreamed of it.

Wealthy planter T. M. Gatlin provided financial backing and donated the land on which to build it.

And in 1857, it officially opened its doors.

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“The Best of the Bass Anglers”

While searching for something totally unrelated at the Sabine Parish Library, I came across rather fascinating articles on a local fisherman who apparently has been quite the celebrity in the fishing world.

The first article is from The Shreveport Times, entitled “The Quiet Champion” and dated June 2004; while the second is from Louisiana Conservationist, entitled “The Best of the Bass Anglers” and dated September 1981.

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Wild and Wide Open… The showboat Harry Lee was once “one of the roughest spots” on the Sabine River

Photograph of the Steamboat Harry Lee - later to be the Showboat - docked across the Sabine River on old Highway 90. Used as a gambling establishment in the late 1920s. Photo from Portal to Texas History, crediting Heritage House Museum, Orange, Texas. — Photograph of the Steamboat Harry Lee – later to be the Showboat – docked across the Sabine River on old Highway 90. Used as a gambling establishment in the late 1920s. Photo from Portal to Texas History, crediting Heritage House Museum, Orange, Texas.

Some people know of it. Most do not. It was the Steamboat Harry Lee, a steamboat which once was docked on the Sabine River and was used as a gambling establishment.

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Treasure lost, or distant hope? The lonely, lovely house on the summit of island at Hodges Gardens

Split level house with wide open spaces and plenty of glass to see the beautiful landscape

In West Central Louisiana, in the middle of a 225-acre man-made lake at a State Park named Hodges Gardens, there stands a remarkable, gigantic house… seeming deserted, empty and lonely. Atop the peak of an island, the house seems to stand proudly as testament to its once glory, and yet simultaneously slouching, a bit ashamed of the shape it is now in.

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Photos shared from Miller’s Store (later Castleberry’s) of Toro Community

Castleberry's Store in the 1980s — Castleberry’s Store in the 1980s

Update to Miller Store of Toro: If these walls could talk

After reading the previous article on the Miller Store, aka Castleberry’s, Janell Fitts Richards shared some great photos of the store (it was Castleberry’s when Janell was young, and was operated by Mrs. Castleberry who was the daughter of previous owner Mr. Miller).

“My mom remembers this store from her youth (she was born in 1924),” Janell explained. “It was Castleberry’s when I was young. I took my children there in the early 80s and it was a museum of all the old items that had been used in the store.”

These photos are so great, and I know will be appreciated by many. Thank you for sharing them with us, Janell!

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