STORY BY SHEILA SMITH
Like most of South Louisiana, Jeff Davis Parish was once only bayous, fields and woodlands.
Comanche leader Chief Lacassine, for whom the Lacassine community was later named, led his people into those bayous because of its ample wildlife. Cajuns and other settlers slowly began staking claim in Jeff Davis, and completion of the Southern Pacific Railroad from New Orleans to Houston also helped bring in new residents and industry.
With most of the parish unsettled, the railroad placed stations every five miles along the track in the Jennings and Roanoke areas. The trains brought in northerners looking for a place to raise a family, grow crops and avoid the harsh winters of the northern regions.
In 1912, Jeff Davis became one of the last incorporated parishes in the state. Originally part of the expansive Imperial Calcasieu Parish, it broke away, and the parish’s communities began taking on a life of their own.
To understand where the parish is today, you have to know some of the history found in those communities.
WELSH
On Easter morning of 1910, six blocks of Welsh’s business district were destroyed by fire, with a total of 30 businesses reduced to ashes.
Thresherman at Old Time Rice Threshing in Welsh
Over 100 years later, this area remains the heart of the town, and is complete with bricked sidewalks, New Orleans-style street lamps, a veterans park, apartment complexes and a variety of unique boutiques.
While the downtown area reflects the architectural charm of Welsh’s early years, the town is working towards expansion.
The Jeff Davis Economic (EDC) and Tourist Commissions are working to secure a hotel for the interstate-side town, as well as new restaurants. The town’s board of aldermen recently approved submitting a letter to Imperial Calcasieu Regional Planning and Development Commission in hopes of receiving assistance in expanding the Welsh Airport runway.
Hudson Wright Courtyard in Welsh
EDC executive director Marion “Butch” Fox said a longer runway would attract larger planes, both private and commercial. She says the expansion would not only allow more companies and pilots to do business in the parish, but would also attract out-of-state hunters who travel.
In another bid to boost business, Welsh will soon extend three-phase power to the northern side of the interstate, which officials hope will lead the way for commercial development.
It’s not all business in Welsh, though. Bayou Lacassine winds through Welsh, and will one day be the site of a kayaking festival, according to town and tourism officials.
ELTON
Elton is perhaps best known as home to the 960-member Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana.
The tribe first came to Louisiana in 1797, under the leadership of Chief Stilapihkachatta (“Red Shoes”). In the 1880s, the tribe settled north of Elton at Bayou Blue, and have remained in the surrounding area since.
Veterans Memorial in Elton
The Coushatta are moving forward by celebrating their history. Tribal councilwoman Crystal Williams estimates 25 percent of the tribe is fluent in Koasati, the Coushatta language. In an effort to preserve that language, the tribe has its own language dictionary, language app and language programs through its Heritage Department and the Koasati Language Committee.
Children ages three and four who study at the Little Indian School on the Coushatta reservation learn Koasati through an immersion model.
More youths are also being taught the skills of making pine needle and cane baskets. There was a time when Coushatta women traded the baskets for food with Elton townspeople. Now, the popular baskets are sold at the seasonal Coushatta Farmers Market in Elton, and at some tribe-owned businesses, while many of the antique baskets are part of museum collections.
Other pieces of the past remain in Elton. The town is one of the few sites in America to feature a tiny, isolated brick jail that was built in 1927. Not far from that symbol of imprisonment is one of freedom: the Elton Veterans Memorial area, where the names of local heroes who gave their lives in battle are inscribed on hundreds of carefully placed bricks.
LAKE ARTHUR
The lake here has always provided the town with two important items: fun and finances.
Whether shrimpers are heading out to bring home a living, or a family is barbecuing on the beach, Lake Arthur’s action is usually found on the water.
Lake Arthur Park Boardwalk
The town’s popularity has jumped in recent years, as officials and volunteers have focused on giving the downtown area of Arthur Avenue a facelift, investing in the park, beach and lake.
Festivals and events like the summer Regatta, spring Riverfest, Boo on the Avenue, Art in the Park and more have drawn thousands of visitors to Lake Arthur. And officials have worked to add new attractions to the park, and to build up sand on the beach, which offsets the boardwalk that sprawls across the water.
Regatta LA Seafood and Steakhouse remains a big draw for Lake Arthur, with the eatery on the water and catering to all traffic — drivers, walkers, boaters and even pilots. In fact, the restaurant was considered an anchor project for the revitalization of the downtown area that began in 2011. Since then, several new businesses have found success on Arthur Avenue, and more tourists are taking a ride to the area.
But Lake Arthur remembers its roots. This summer, a new group called Lake Arthur Heritage Chroniclers was formed to gather, share, organize and digitize historical records, accounts and images from the town. The Chroniclers hope to one day have a small museum and write an updated record of town history. One of the group’s members, Allen Fitzgerald, has already written a book titled The History of Lake Arthur, which follows town events up to 1960.
FENTON
A community that still features the train depot and rice mill that were built in the 19th Century, the Village of Fenton was incorporated in 1951. Founder Silas J. Fenton operated the community’s first store and post office out of his home, then donated 240 acres for village use.
Fenton remains the smallest of the parish’s incorporated areas, but is certainly poised for growth, thanks to its proximity to U.S. Hwy. 165 and Interstate 10. The village will have a new fire station next year, as well as a crawfish-peeling facility that will create 40 jobs.
JENNINGS
It started as a pioneer outpost attracting settlers, but today, thousands of travelers pass through the City of Jennings each day via Interstate 10.
One of Jennings’ first settlers in the 1880s was Jennings McComb, a railroad contractor for whom the city was later named.
Houssierre Park in Jennings
Another founding father, Pennsylvania native T.C. Mahaffey, is said to have been one of the first people to see oil bubble on Evangeline property when oil was discovered in 1901 near the Jeff Davis parish line. The oilfields eventually became part of the Jennings-based Heywood Oil Syndicate, which brought a flurry of businesses, travelers and money to the city.
At the end of the 19th Century, George B. Zigler arrived in Jennings, poor and jobless. Zigler, along with his son and daughter-in-law, Fred and Ruth Zigler, were instrumental in Jennings’ growth. For over a century, the family and its Zigler Foundation have been responsible for, or deeply involved in, projects and businesses such as Jennings American Legion Hospital, Jennings Airport, the Louisiana Oil and Gas Park, Zigler Shipyards (which later became LeeVac Shipyards), Zigler Motors (known for decades now as Bubba Oustalet) and Zigler Art Museum, just to name a few.
Residents and officials are still building upon the success of the city’s founders and early families. City coordinator Dusty Chaisson said he is seeing more people become invested in Jennings’ future, but that the city is determined to preserve some of its past.
The city, along with the Jeff Davis Arts Council and Jennings Industrial Development Board, is working to turn historical hotspots into modern hangouts. The Strand Theatre on Main Street, constructed in the 1930s, is currently undergoing renovations. Soon, the building will have a new marquee, fresh paint on its walls, and an indoor facelift.
The Strand is not only a historical site in Jennings, but was also the location of the 1993 premier of the movie “Passion Fish,” filmed in neighboring Lake Arthur. Now, it’s home to monthly screenings of classic movies, plays and musical performances.
Just a block away from The Strand is Founders Park, where a six-week music concert series, Turn it up Tuesdays, is held in spring and autumn. Free to the public, the outdoor concerts draw hundreds to see acts like Leroy Thomas, Johnny Guinn and Rusty Yates for two hours of music and dancing.
A few steps south brings you to the Tupper Museum, with an expansive showroom featuring original items sold in the 1940s and prior. The museum recently turned one of its rooms into a Winnie the Pooh-themed playhouse.
The former Old Magnolia Gift Shoppe will soon be returning to the Tupper, as well, with an official launch date of Dec. 1. There, visitors will be able to purchase old-fashioned candy like Sugar Daddy, Cowtails, Neco wafers and Nik-L-Nips, and classic toys like the Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls, Woolly Willy magnetic drawing boards, and more. The proceeds from sales will benefit the Jennings Festival Assoc. and help them offer more events to locals.
“One of the top goals in my job is to make people aware of everything we have here, and I always meet locals who are surprised to learn the Tupper is a museum, or that you can catch a movie at The Strand, or enjoy a free concert at Founders Park,” Chaisson said. “I think if you make your locals happy first, that’s when the visitors want to come in.”
Chaisson was born and raised in Jennings, but was living in Tennessee until last year. He never knew much about the history of his hometown, he said, but as he learned more, he wanted to share that knowledge.
He also wanted to bring some of the sparkle of yesteryear back to the city. Inspired by photos taken on Main Street during the Christmas season of 1951, this year Chaisson and volunteers will be streaming garland and lights above the roadway, and outfitting Founders Park in holiday decor. The city’s annual Christmas festival, typically held at the Louisiana Oil and Gas Park, will move to the downtown area, and will be held on Dec. 3, with caroling choirs, a gumbo cook-off, a parade and marching bands.
“There was a time when the city celebrated everything on Main Street, so Christmas this year will be a nod to that, and hopefully inspire fond memories in our older residents,” Chaisson said. “But this is also a way to introduce the younger generations to our downtown area, and the history found here.”
THE PARISH TODAY
In its 104 years, the parish has grown slowly, yet steadily, and the pace has been picking up in recent years. Now, officials believe the parish is poised for a population and business explosion.
Oilfield industry woes have hit retail-heavy areas over the past year, but Fox says Jeff Davis is on an even keel.
“We have sales taxes down due to retail, but it’s not like what some areas in Louisiana are facing,” she says. “This parish has diversified into different economic drivers, like the cotton-spinning plant in Lacassine, Metalplate Galvanizing in Roanoke, and the Louisiana Spirits distillery in Lacassine. That has strengthened the type of economy we have in our parish.”
In fact, her office is currently working on two major deals concerning manufacturing and distribution, and the LNG site in Hackberry is already bringing benefits to the parish.
“We have a lot of service industry businesses calling us, looking for land and potential locations,” Fox said. “LNG has $40 billion worth of projects, and service companies want to be a part of that, but they aren’t finding the land they are looking for in Calcasieu. So we’ve been working with those companies as much as possible to show them available land, explain our tax structure, and show them how the EDC, Tourist Commission and Chamber of Commerce can assist them in coming to Jeff Davis Parish.”
While officials are anxious to bring in new business, Fox noted agriculture remains Jeff Davis’ biggest industry, and the one the EDC is most loyal to.
“We want this parish to grow, but not to the detriment of farming,” she said. “We want to keep our way of life. We don’t go after businesses that hurt the environment. We go after businesses that are compatible with what we have to offer.”
Preserving Jeff Davis’ culture is essential to providing for its future, she added.
“This is a way of life that sees kids spending their youth in 4-H and FFA, and hunting and fishing, and that’s a way of life that teaches them important skills,” she said. “We want to preserve that culture, but give our children more opportunities as they make their own way.”
And Jeff Davis students will see more opportunities available to them next year, when a $10 million, 50,000-square-foot Sowela campus opens next to Jennings High School. A culinary program will be based in the building, and Jeff Davis Superintendent of Schools Brian LeJeune has said the parish anticipates the new campus to attract even more dual-enrollment opportunities for high school students.
In addition to giving more students the chance to master skills before graduation, Fox said the Sowela campus will be a strong draw for manufacturing and distribution businesses.
“Sowela chancellor Neil Aspenwall is very business driven,” Fox added. “We can call him and say, ‘This is what we need to meet job demands,’ and he makes it happen. We know if we have industries here seeking workers with certain skills, our (high school) students, and adults who are furthering their education, can find skills (training) and knowledge right in our community.”
Just north of the new Sowela site, along La. Hwy. 97, is the Southwest Louisiana Veterans Home, which will see its own veterans cemetery in the future. Last month, Dist. 37 Sen. Dan “Blade” Morrish announced that an application for capital outlay funding had been submitted to the state for the project. The federal Dept. of Veterans Affairs also has the cemetery on a priority project list.
The estimated $8 million project would require the state to put up $800,000 to fund plans and engineering. The federal government would then reimburse that money, once the cemetery is approved. The capital outlay request is expected to go before the state legislature during its next regular session, in early 2017.
“It’s the perfect project, and I think it would help to open that area for future commercial development,” Fox added.
The City of Jennings hopes to one day construct a roadway between Virginia St., near the Jennings High School and future Sowela campuses, that would loop to the west near the veterans home, connecting to La. 97. Jennings Mayor Terry Duhon has said the road would open that portion of the city up to commercial development.
The three-lane expansion of La. Hwy. 97, completed in 2014, and the creation of Zigler Memorial Drive a few years ago, were part of that plan.
“But infrastructure requires a lot of money, so (the new roadway) is not something that can happen overnight,” Fox says. “Once that happens, I really feel like businesses are going to be rushing to come here, especially since the area eyed for development is right along Interstate 10.”
Interstate 10 is a major vein for the parish. While the heart of Jeff Davis is found in its rural sites, officials depend upon the interstate to bring in new opportunities — and money.
One of visitors’ favorite stops just off the interstate is the Gator Chateau, inside the Louisiana Oil and Gas Park in Jennings. There, 17 gators of all ages and sizes, as well as one elderly alligator snapping turtle named Pierre, reside in a pond enclosure that drew over 50,000 tourists from across the world just last year.
Known as the place to hold baby alligators, the chateau will soon get a facelift, which will allow it to draw an even bigger crowd.
The new chateau is planned to take up about 4,100 square feet, and the project will hopefully go out for bid in April of 2017. The Tourist Commission is hoping the project wraps before the end of next year.
“This is going to put our tourist information center into the same building as the gators, and put us even closer to the interstate in a larger building,” Fox explains. “We’ll have porches on the front and back of the building, so people who are passing can see what is going on, and see this nice place where they can relax from driving for a while.”
The baby gators will have their own sprawling aquariums for shelter, while the adult gators — and Pierre —will enjoy a new, larger pond in the climate-controlled building.
LACASSINE
Meanwhile, on the western edge of the parish, along I-10, Lacassine Industrial Park has been booming, and the community itself is bursting at the seams. With increasing expansion in neighboring Calcasieu, Fox said more people are making homes along the Calcasieu-Jeff Davis border.
Cajun man at Bayou Rum in Lacassine
In fact, Lacassine voters in the spring approved $4 million in bonds to acquire land and improve buildings and sidewalks at Lacassine High School. The school board accepted a bid on the purchase of the bonds in September. Superintendent of Schools Brian LeJeune says the explosive growth in Fenton and Lacassine led to the need for a campus expansion.
Lacassine RV Park opened earlier this year, and regularly attracts new business, especially from employees of the Hackberry LNG site.
Meanwhile, Louisiana Spirits, the home of Bayou Rum, welcomed over 30,000 visitors last year, and is now selling in 23 states, with no plans to slow down.
A non-incorporated area, Lacassine is certainly drawing tourists. Louisiana Spirits has been a huge draw for tour groups and interstate travelers, but those looking to experience Mother Nature also flock to the area, especially to see Lorraine Bridge, which is part of the parish’s scenic route, called the Flyway Byway.
The Flyway includes an off-road experience on the Nibblett Road Extreme Bike Trail, which stretches through the forested areas between La. Hwy. 99 south of Welsh and the Lorraine Bridge in the Lacassine/Hayes area. Even further off the beaten path is the Flyway’s “Blueway,” a waterway which meanders from the northeast corner of the parish along Bayou Nezpique southward through the Mermentau River, and up again via Bayou Lacassine.
Set between larger areas like Lake Charles and Lafayette, and the even larger cities of Houston and New Orleans, some might think Jeff Davis Parish’s towns and city would be lost in the shuffle. Fox disagrees.
“Our location is perfect, because it keeps us in the midst of the action,” she says. “We work with Lake Charles and Lafayette regularly, so we know what to expect to come our way on the interstate. This parish has grown a lot in the past decade, but in just a few years, we’ll have even more to offer.”
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