Spotlight On Leesville And Vernon Parish

Brad Goins Friday, August 22, 2014 Comments Off on Spotlight On Leesville And Vernon Parish
Spotlight On Leesville And Vernon Parish

Vernon Parish prides itself on its citizens’ habit of greeting tourists and other visitors with a warm welcome and old-fashioned hospitality. Such friendliness, in tandem with the relaxed, small-town atmosphere of the area, make it easy for visitors to escape the hustle and bustle of big city life.

Located in the heart of west central Louisiana, the landscape of Vernon Parish features rolling hills and forests of long-leaf pines. Creeks and bayous flow from the woods into picturesque lakes and reservoirs.

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Leesville, the parish seat of Vernon Parish, has a population of slightly more than 6,000. It’s probably best known as the site where Fort Polk and the Joint Readiness Training Center are located. One of the town’s mottos is “The Best Little Army Town.” Leesville, and surrounding areas, often become home for military families once their work at Fork Polk is done.

Because it’s located in such close proximity to a large military base, Leesville strives to offer all the amenities of a large community while at the same time continuing its traditions of community friendliness.

Leesville prides itself on having some of the finest outdoor recreational opportunities in a state that’s known for outdoor activities. As we’ll see, the Leesville downtown offers options for shopping, dining and regional art as well as a number of local watering holes.

Since its beginning, the Friends of Leesville Main Street have been a key force in efforts to revitalize Leesville’s historic downtown. The group places a particular emphasis on the Leesville Main Street Cultural District, which is, as we will see, the center of much artistic activity in Vernon Parish. (See the Leesville Main Street Facebook page for extensive, up-to-date information.)

 

Cuisine And Art

Leesville’s strong suit in dining is southern cuisine. Crawfish, deer sausage, hush-puppies and fried catfish are local favorites. At specialty eateries, highly trained and experienced chefs create “concoctions” that are designed to please the adventurous palette.

There are more than 50 dining establishments in Vernon Parish.

In addition to seafood and steak restaurants, there are venues that feature Mexican, Chinese, Japanese and Korean cuisines.

It’s clear that the movers and shakers of Leesville are serious about the downtown’s Historic District. Boutiques and other locally owned stores are enthusiastically promoted.

The display of regional art (particularly from Vernon Parish) is obviously a priority. Each of the venues listed below displays regional art:

— Leesville Cafe at 114 East Third St. Works on display are for sale. For more information, visit the café’s Facebook page.

— Gallery One Ellleven at 111 South Third St. also offers art classes. Read more in the Events section. The gallery also holds competitions for local artists. For more info, visit galleryoneellleven.org.

— Oak Pointe Aesthetics at 800 South Third St. Learn more at oakpointewellnesscenter.com.

— Sweet Thing Bakeshop at 203 East Lee St.

Art Events in the Cultural District include Spring and Fall Art Walks and the 2nd Saturdays series.

The Vernon Arts Council sponsors performances of opera, ballet, stage plays and national tours.

Community groups, such as the Vernon Parish Community Choir and the Vernon Parish Community Orchestra, perform several concerts throughout the year. And the Vernon Parish Library’s Musical Odyssey Series features musical performances year-round.

he Showboat Theatre at Fort Polk has hosted such big names as Charlie Daniels. The Showboat, which is bolstered by a large and active volunteer theater community, schedules four productions each year. Dinner shows are one of the performance options.

 

Festivals And Parks

Like most southern parishes, Vernon Parish has festivals and parades throughout the year. Probably the best known is Mayfest, a huge arts and crafts festival that’s complemented by regional food and music.

There’s also the West Louisiana Forestry Festival and Rodeo, Cajun Fest, Fall Fest, Heritage Day, Party in the Park, the Spring and Fall Artwalks, Slagle Trade Days, Bluegrass Festival, Camp ‘N Jam Week, the annual Mardi Gras Parade and Ball, Roses-in-the-Pines, the Christmas Parade and the Rodeo Parade.

The area is unusually rich in parks. In addition to the well-known and much-frequented South Toledo Bend State Park, there are the Liberty Garden, Dogwood Park, Leesville City Park, Myrtle Park, Magnolia Park, Anacoco Spillway Park, Covered Wagon Park and other park areas.

 

OUTDOOR RECREATION

Vernon Parish is one of several places in Southwest Louisiana that refers to itself as a “sportsman’s paradise.” Let’s see just why it makes this claim.

For fishers, there is, of course, the 65-mile-long Toledo Bend Reservoir. Toledo Bend is the site of a number of fishing tournaments.

There are also the Anacoco and Vernon Lakes. Frequently caught fish include bass, white perch, bream and catfish.

A number of campgrounds provide for fishers who want to stick around a while.

For more in the way of outdoor recreation, Tack-a-Paw Expeditions offers canoeing along Toro Bayou and the Sabine River.

A very unusual aspect of Vernon Parish recreation is the impressive variety of outdoor trails designed for various recreational groups. The list includes:

— Big Branch Trail (for horse riders, hikers and bikers)

— Ouiska Chitto Trail (for horse riders, hikers, bikers)

— Enduro Trail (for motorcyclists, off-road vehicles, horse riders, hikers, bikers)

— Fullerton Mill Trail (for hikers and bikers; note the interpretive historic bulletin board that includes current information)

— Ol’ Sarge Trail (for hikers; numerous interpretive signs describe the many species of native plants)

— Turkey Pen Trail (hikers, bikers, horse riders).

In addition to all these are the walking paths that can be found at several Vernon Parish parks.

Hunters can explore three wildlife management areas in Vernon Parish. They’ll find white tail deer, squirrels, rabbits, turkeys, ducks and other wild game.

Golf enthusiasts can play on the nine-hole Leesville Municipal Course, the 18-hole Warrior Hills Golf Course at Fort Polk and the fairways of nearby Emerald Hills and Cypress Bend Golf Courses.

There are several tennis courts in the parish.

Finally, a new Frisbee-golf course has been added to Myrtle Park.

 

TOP 10 ATTRACTIONS

For those who like to take the trip-planning or sight-seeing options, these attractions are frequently mentioned by visitors to the area.

 

1. The Museum of West Louisiana, which is located in the former Kansas City Southern Railway Depot on 3rd Street in Leesville, displays archaeological artifacts, logging implements, railroad memorabilia and other historical items. The museum is a short stroll away from downtown Leesville along the railroad tracks.

The museum tour is self-guided; however an attendant is on hand to answer any questions. Admission to this historical site is free.

2. The Fort Polk Military Museum features exhibits that cover major historical events ranging from the American Revolution to Desert Storm.

3. Kisatchie National Forest is popular with bird watchers. Those truly devoted to the hobby can look forward to catching a glimpse of the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker. Nature lovers can hike the low-land bogs, where they can observe the wild orchids and pitcher plants.

4. The Burr Ferry Breastworks is one of the best preserved Civil War ground works. (See the description in the History section.)

5. The Fullerton Mill Site in the Kisatchie National Forest is on the National Register of Historic Places. It contains foundations and other ruins of what was once one of the largest sawmill operations in the South.

6. The Talbert Cemetery at Cravens has 13 surviving wooden grave houses. The grave house tradition is still followed by families in the area.

7. The Holly Grove Methodist Church is the oldest protestant church in continuous use west of the Mississippi river.

8. Hodges Gardens State Park, located 20 miles from Leesville, includes 70 acres of formal gardens on three levels. There are three formal rose gardens. Fifty flower beds are altered according to the seasons. In addition to the walkways, there are waterfalls, a geyser, fountains, pools, a 7-mile scenic drive and other features.

9. Spreading out over four acres, Empire Point Gardens is a gardener’s dreamland. The garden contains more than 1,000 varieties of daylilies, 300 hydrangeas, 130 camellias, 200 hybrid varieties of native iris, and many types of Japanese maples, magnolias and other ornamental trees.

10. The Leesville National Register Historic District is located on Third Street

 

in the heart of the old business district. The crown jewel of the district is the historic 1910 Vernon Parish Courthouse — a classical revival style building topped with an elegant dome.

ALSO AVAILABLE

As you’re investigating the top attractions, keep in mind that several properties in Vernon Parish are on the National Register of Historic Properties. These include the Lyons House, the Smart Plantation House, the Dr. William Reid House, the Wingate House, the Ferguson House and the Booker-Lewis House.

Note that there are also a number of state historic markers located throughout the parish.

If the Top 10 attractions aren’t enough for you, consider a visit to the Third Street Market in downtown Leesville, which is located on Third Street between Harriet and South Streets. Patrons can enjoy locally grown fruits and vegetables; a variety of jellies, jams and salsas; and other items. The market is open 7 days a week from 7 am until vendors sell out. The most lively times are Tuesday 4-8 pm and Saturday 7 am-2 pm.

The Main Street Market now has a food vendor, which is available Tuesday 4-8 pm and Friday 11 am-2 pm.

Also of interest is the Parish Library, which has a children’s wing, a meeting room with seating for 100, a large collection of genealogy research items and local archives, public access to federal documents and internet access to holdings of university libraries throughout the state. The library is also a Federal Depository.

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EVENTS

Here’s a convenient listing of upcoming events in Leesville and Vernon Parish.

 

August 7

Art & 2 Gal’s Art Classes will take place 6-8 pm at the Gallery One Ellleven at 111 South Third St. Classes are offered on the first Thursday of every month.

Also, the Beauty of Vernon photo contest will begin on August 7.

 

August 9

The Farmers Market will take place 7 am-1 pm at 500 South 3rd St. This is considered the “main day” of the market. Vendors will offer fresh vegetables, fruits, canned items, handmade items, fair trade items, baked goods and other items.

 

August 11

The Vernon Parish School District and Fort Polk will present a Cafeteria Conversation from 5-7 pm Monday, Aug. 11 at North Polk Elementary.

Parents can meet with Vernon Parish principals and counselors to discuss the educational and extracurricular offerings of the district.

The event will feature booths and tables covering such matters as STEM Education (for skilled workers in science, technology, engineering and math); the Resiliency Program (skills for handling difficult situations); Military Family Life Consultants; the Military Student Transition Consultant; the educational component of the Fort Polk Progress program; and tutoring services.

August 15-17

Lily Orchid Days will take place at Allen Acres in Cravens. Charles Allen, author of books on Louisiana flora, will address guests. Allen will show patrons how to identify Louisiana flowers and where to find them. For more information, call 337-328-2252.

August 23-24

A Plant Identification Workshop will take place at Allen Acres in Cravens. Flower expert Charles Adams will teach participants how to identify as many as 300 different flowers. For more information, call 337-328-2252.

 

August TBA

The Jordan World Circus will come to Leesville in August.

 

September 19-20

The Slagle Trade Days will take place at the Slagle Center on Highway 8. Features will include gospel music, arts and crafts vendors, games and a concession stand. A special gumbo will be served on Friday night and red beans and rice on Saturday. For more information, call Juanita Bolton at 337-239-6849 or 337-208-6133.

For more information on events or any other matters, call the Leesville City Hall (337-239-2444) or the Vernon Parish Chamber of Commerce (337-238-0349).

 

HISTORICAL NOTES

On the west, Vernon Parish is bounded by the Sabine River. One of Louisiana’s major Civil War battles took place in this part of the parish.

Confederate soldiers erected an artillery site to guard against Union movements along the Nolan Trace. These earthworks, which became known as the Burr Ferry Breastworks, can still be seen and are considered to be among the best preserved Civil War earthworks in the South.

The area was also the site for one of the key events of World War II: the Louisiana Maneuvers. The Maneuvers, which took place in 1941, were designed to prepare 400,000 green troops for combat by having them fight for strategic points spread out over 3,400 square miles of Louisiana.

Troops were divided into two armies: the Red Army or Kotmk; and Blue Army or Almat, which included troops from Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee.

A primary concern of the Louisiana Maneuvers was to develop a defense against the much-feared Nazi tanks. The fact that the maneuvers took place in mid-Louisiana’s sub-tropical August may have meant that planners were hoping to prepare for combat in the Pacific Theater. The maneuvers were also notable for being the first occasion when C-rations were used.

Gen. Omar Bradley, who participated in the event, said local residents were so friendly to the soldiers that many invited the troops to live in their houses.

The famous exercises led to the establishment of Fort Polk, which was named for Confederate General Leonidas Polk.

Vernon Parish was created by the Louisiana Legislature in 1871. In previous decades, it had been part of the “neutral strip” — land that wasn’t governed because the U.S. and Spain couldn’t agree on the question of who owned the land. The neutral strip was, at the time, known as a center of loose and lawless living.

As the parish developed, so did robust timber and railroad industries.

The parish also had the unusual distinction of being home to two socialist communities, one of which was a Christian socialist community. The communities thrived, but were not able to outlast the Depression.

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