A Free Guide to Leisure and Attractions Courtesy of The ...matchbin-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/public/sites/1127/... · Green Market Entering downtown his-toric Natchitoches, visitors

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A Fr e e G u i d e t o L e i s u r e a n d A t t r a c t i o n s C o u r t e s y o f T h e N a t c h i t o c h e s T i m e s S i n c e 1 9 7 0

Cane River Green Market

Page 2 HISTORIC NATCHITOCHES April 2011

II ns ide . . .ns ide . . .We have an app for that. . . . . . . Page 3

Cane River Heritage. . . . . . . . . .Page 5

Natchitoches Pecans. . . . . . . . . .Page 6

Tours. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 7

Maps, Walking Tours, NSU Tour and

Cane River Tour . . . . . . . . . Pages 8-10

Briarwood. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 12

Events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 14

Minor Basilica. . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 15

JazzfestPage 11

Sibley LakePage 16

Fort St. John BaptistePage 4

Caddo-Adai Indian NationPage 13

For more information on local history and events contact:Natchitoches Parish Tourist Commission

781 Front Street; Natchitoches, LA 71457 (318) 352-8072 or 1-800-259-1714

Web site: www.natchitoches.net

‘Historic Natchitoches’ is a monthly publication of The Natchitoches Times

Produced by News Editor Juanice Gray

To advertise in this publication contact The Natchitoches Times

P.O. Box 448Natchitoches, LA 71458

Cover Photo - Cane RiverGreen Market

Entering downtown his-toric Natchitoches, visitorsfeel transported to anotherera.

Traveling along bumpybrick roads reminiscent ofpre-asphalt travel, younotice ornate ironwork onthe bridges and shops,horse-drawn carriagesaround the historic districtand locals who smile andgreet you with a friendlywave. Welcome toNatchitoches.

Founded in 1714 by LouisJuchereau de St. Denis, thecity of Natchitoches wasoriginally established as aFrench outpost on the RedRiver to facilitate trade withthe Spanish in Mexico.

The fort, which was to bediscovered, was built some-where along the west bankof the Red River near a vil-lage of NatchitochesIndians, a Native Americangroup whose tribal namemeans “Chinquapin-eaters.”

At the time of the estab-lishment of St. Denis’ fort,navigation of the Red Riverwas prohibited by a massivelog jam that was broken upduring a flood in the 1830s.

Thus, the Red Riverchanged its course, leavinga 36-mile-long oxbow lake

called Cane River that runsthrough the downtownNational LandmarkDistrict.

Once a bustling riverportand crossroads,Natchitoches gave rise tovast cotton kingdoms alongthe river. Affluent plantersnot only owned charmingcountry plantations, butkept elegant houses in town.

The Red River’s abandon-ment of Natchitoches isolat-ed the community, preserv-ing its historic buildingsand the deeply-ingrainedtraditions of its residentsalong the Cane River.

Today, residents ofNatchitoches strive to bal-ance progress and industrywith preserving the integri-ty of the city’s colonial his-tory and rich cultural diver-sity.

With its French, Spanish,Native American, Africanand Anglo-Saxon influ-ences, Natchitoches main-tains a colorful palette ofethnic tradition, hospitalityand pride in the past thatresidents share with visi-tors.

The city is consistentlynamed among the top sixretirement locations in theUnited States by Kiplinger’sMagazine.

WWeellccoommee ttoo NNaattcchhiittoocchheess::Enjoy your stay in our historic town

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King and Queen Rooms • HBO • PoolFree Continental Breakfast

For reservations call352-6655 or 1-800-528-1234

April 2011 HISTORIC NATCHITOCHES Page 3

We have an app for thatAvailable for free in January

through Apple iTunes, theExplore Louisiana CrossroadsVisitor Guide Application(APP) will allow users to takeadvantage of the advancedcapabilities of the iPhone, iPadand iPod Touch user interface.

“The Explore LouisianaCrossroads APP will be an easy-to-navigate tool for both pre-tripplanning and to get informationwhile onsite at a variety ofrecreational sites in the area,”said Brandi Bradford lead parkranger with the U.S. ArmyCorps of Engineers. “It isintended both for visitors to theNatchitoches area, as well aslocal residents who may want toexplore more of the historic,natural, and recreational trea-sures that the Crossroadsoffers.”

Features of the ExploreLouisiana Crossroads applica-tion include:

-Quick access and Googlemap locations for all recreationsites, historic sites, dining,shopping, lodging, camping,boating, fishing and other activ-ities available to visitors com-ing to the La. CrossroadsRegion.

-Directions, details of what tofind at each site, hours of opera-tion, fees and other importantinfo to get visitors to any sitethey want to find.

-Historical and heritage

information about one of therichest historic areas of thestate.

-Auto and walking tourguides for the historic and nat-ural resource sites in the area.

-Quick access toNorthwestern State University,the City of

Natchitoches along with safe-ty information, emergency con-tacts and more.

-Quick dial from your iPhoneto contact all listings and linksto area Web sites.

-Links within each visitors’guide to other information andinteresting sites you may alsowant to see during your trip.

-Safety information for alltypes of recreation activitiesyou may want to try duringyour visit.

-Emergency contacts andother services that you mayhave need of during your trip,such as post offices, banks, hos-pitals and other services.

-History and significance ofthe Natchitoches region

-Directions, details andGoogle map locations for areasites

-Auto and walking tour ideas -Safety, service and emer-

gency contact informationA consortium of

Natchitoches organizationsjoined together to provide con-tent for this APP. Project part-ners include:

-Natchitoches AreaConvention and VisitorsBureau

-City of Natchitoches -Association for Preservation

of Historic Natchitoches -Melrose Plantation-Cane River Waterway

Commission -Cane River Creole National

Historical Park -Cane River National

Heritage Area -Natchitoches Area Chamber

of Commerce -U.S. Army Corps of

Engineers The APP is powered by

Nomad Mobile Guides(TM).For more information, con-

tact Bradford at 318-354-8770.

The Explore LouisianaCrossroads icon, above, willappear on iPhones after theapp is downloaded.

The Explore Louisiana Crossroads VisitorGuide Application is free and availablesoon through Apple iTunes. It allowsquick and easy pre-trip planning forplaces of interest within the state, includ-ing Natchitoches Parish.

Cane River Green MarketCane River Green

Market, Natchitoches' localfarmer's market, will openits season Saturday, April 30on the downtown riverbank.

The Green Market willoperate every weekendthrough Saturday, July 30.Hours are 8 a.m. to noon.

Local dignitaries, GreenMarket vendors and patronswill be on site on openingday at 10 a.m. to cut thegreen ribbon. Live musicalentertainment will be pro-

vided by The Back PorchBand. Children can partici-pate in Earth Day andspring craft activities.Members of the LakeviewHigh School FFA will con-duct a free demonstrationon how to grow your owngardens.

Besides fresh fruits, veg-etables and plants, cus-tomers can choose from aselection of "value-addedproducts" including fresheggs, baked goods, jams, jel-

lies, honey, fresh flowers,herbs and more.

Crafters will sell theirhand-made items such aswood-work, artwork, jewel-ry, stained glass, soaps, pot-tery and more.

Each weekend, specialevents and activities willinclude live music, demon-strations, children's activi-ties and more. The marketalso accepts Senior and WICvouchers. For more infor-mation call 352-CRGM.

Lakeview High School FFA will conduct a freedemonstration on how to grow your own gardens.

The commandant’s quar-ters are foggy with smokethat trails from the fire-place.

Next door, well-wornleather shoes wait next to asoldier’s bed and rumpledbedcovers in another beliea straw mattress beneath.If this place looks asthough the garrison hasjust stepped out, then thestaff at Fort St. JeanBaptiste have succeeded.

Named for a Frenchpatron saint, the fort’s orig-inal location is unknown,though it is believed tohave stood where the OldAmerican Cemetery istoday.

The fort that visitorstour today is a reconstruc-tion based on historicalrecords.

Though it’s hard for visi-tors to believe, nothinginside its walls is a genuineartifact from the 18th cen-tury--except, perhaps, theslowly weathering mud

that is mixed with mossand grasses to seal thewalls (what the Frenchcalled “bousillage”).

But the fort is not meantto be a museum of 18th cen-tury treasures. The goal ofthis State Historic Site is tointeract with visitors, let-ting them experience theculture of everyday life.

“We are moving towardsliving history,” saysInterpretive RangerDarren Vermillion. “Wekeep fires going in thehouses, bake bread… andbasically try to make thefort look alive.”

Vermillion says that partof their goal is to debunkthe stereotypes associatedwith the oldest town in theLouisiana Territory.

“Natchitoches was notthe back woods in the1770s,” he explains. “It wasa booming community.”

The French garrison sta-tioned at Fort St. JeanBaptiste had a double pur-

pose: keeping a close eyeon the Spanish at LosAdaes to the west andbeing a center for trade.The later boosted the econ-omy of the Frenchcolonists and became themain business of the garri-son. Good relations withthe Native American tribesalso encouraged the sol-diers to assimilate theirclothing styles and habits.

“The soldiers adapted toLouisiana woods,” saysVermillion. “They adaptedto Native American dressand wore their style cloth-ing, such as leggings.”

Vermillion and the restof the staff authenticatetheir costumes further byskinning, tanning andmaking their own deerskin coverings.

“I would say 50 percentof our clothing we makeourselves,” he says.

Fort St. Jean Baptiste isopen daily, except holidays,from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For

more information or tomake group reservations,

contact the site at 318-357-3101.


State Historic Site moves toward living history demonstrations

Step back in time at FFoorrtt SStt.. JJeeaann BBaappttiissttee

Tanning demonstrations occur throughout the year.

Black powder demonstrations are a favorite among visitors

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If I had to pick one defin-ing characteristic that hasshaped the heritage and cul-ture of our region more thanany other, it would have to beCane River. Early on, it madeour region vital and worthsettling.

And when the Red Riverchanged course it the 1840s, ittimelessly captured an entireculture.

But the world has movedon, and so have we. It’s amaz-ing how much has changed inNatchitoches over the past 20years. So many landmarkshave disappeared as theresult of our progress. But asthe song goes, we still havethe memories.

Obviously, I’d love to pre-serve both the landmarks andthe memories. And a new pro-ject I’m working on can aidthat goal, but I need yourhelp.

Over the course of thisyear, I will be writing aboutCane River heritage sitesthrough the eyes of a traveler.

These may be sites thathave, or used to have, impor-tant structures. Some willjust be sites of historical sig-nificance, such battle sites.Others may just be landformsthat set the course of our his-tory.

This series will loosely fol-low the Cane River HeritageTrail and scenic byway,which was researched andproduced by NSU HeritageResources graduate MelissaHagan through her workwith the Cane River NationalHeritage Area.

Now here’s where youcome in: Your help is impor-tant for identifying these sitesand filling in the gaps of their

history.This will be a collaborative

effort, using Google Maps topinpoint these heritage sites.So far, we have more than 20places identified for the“Cane River Heritage Sites”map, which you can view athttp://tinyurl.com/caner-iverheritagesites.

For those who haven’t usedit, Google Maps providessatellite and street-levelviews of the world. It alsoallows users to create cus-tomized maps, pinpointingsites and adding relevantcommentary, photos and evenvideo.

Hearing or reading aboutour heritage is one thing, butseeing it is quite another.This map has the potential tovisually demonstrate thewealth of heritage resourceswe have here, which will bebeneficial for many reasons.For example, it could be amedia-rich historicalresource for local organiza-tions seeking grants. It willalso be a good resource forattracting heritage tourists,since directions are built intoGoogle Maps.

If you’re interested in col-laborating on the map, con-tact me at www.natchitoches-preservation.com or send ane-mail [email protected].

Cane River: timeless route into our historyHometownHeritage

By Jeff Guin

• Recognized in 2007 as a Preserve America Presidential Award Winner

• Listed as one of the Ten Bargain Retirement Spots by U S News & World Report

• Named as a 2006 Great American Main Street Award Winner by the National Trust for Historic Preservation

• N amed as one of the 2005 Dozen Distinctive Destination in the United States by the National Trust for Historic Preservation

www.natchitochesla.gov


Nobody knowsNatchitoches better!

Visit our website:www.collinsandstamey.com

Collins & StameyR E A L E S T A T E304 College Ave. • 357-1262

Raymond and Bubba Metoyer openedBubba’s back in 1942. Back in the 50s and60s, Bubba’s juke joint operated a race-track, located directly across the roadfrom the juke joint.

The Ghana House is a small one-roomcabin of piece-sur-piece construction (logon log) with full dovetail joints at thecorners. The structure doesn’t have a ceil-ing; the space is open to the underside ofthe wood shake roofing.

Front Street is perhaps theoldest commercial area inthe Louisiana Purchase.Cane River which runsalongside the street wasactually the course of theRed River until the 1900’sand commerce was con-ducted river side. FrontStreet’s brick pavementand two-story buildingswith balconies trimmed inwrought-iron provide visi-tors with a genuine stepinto the past. It is a verypleasant drive with theriver on one side and thehistoric district buildingson the other.

The construction of theTexas and Pacific RailwayDepot in 1927 was the cul-mination of a social andeconomic odyssey to bringrail access to Natchitoches.After unwisely turningdown inclusion in a railline in 1881, the citizens ofNatchitoches negotiatedwith at least half a dozenlocal and regional railroadcompanies over severaldecades to build a spur linethrough the town.

Photos by Jeff Guin

Natchitoches Pecans, Inc.is where fine pecans aregrown.

Their 400 acre pecanorchard is located on a por-tion of the historic Little EvaPlantation in Cloutierville.

The mission atNatchitoches Pecans is sim-ple: provide the best prod-ucts and service to cus-tomers at the lowest pricespossible.

They take pride in provid-ing what they believe are thebest pecans, pecan candiesand gifts as well as an unsur-passed commitment to cus-tomer service.

Ordering direct from thegrower ensures customersreceive only the freshestpecans and pecan candies.

The online store isdesigned to provide a safeand secure environment tobrowse the product catalog.

If looking for some of thefreshest pecans for yourMom’s pecan recipe to make

delicious pecan pies, or aunique holiday or all occa-sion gift basket, simplybrowse the online pecanstore where you are sure tofind delightful selectionsthat satisfy every pecan crav-ing from simple to gourmet.

Natchitoches Pecansoffers in-shell pecans, natur-al shelled halves and pecanpieces, cracked, candied andcinnamon spiced pecans,pecan gift baskets or tins andmore.

Prices include deliverywithin the continentalUnited States.

Other items for saleinclude raw “natural”pecans, roasted saltedpecans, pecan meal, gourmetflavored pecans, pralines,pecan logs, sugar free pecantreats, Cane River sampler,Clementine for the holidayscollector tin, corporatepecan gifts, pecan oil, cook-books, nutcrackers, a specialblend of pecan coffee, rum

flavor sugar coated pecans,old fashion cane pecans witha natural cane sugar coatingand pure milk chocolate cov-ered pecans.

Natchitoches Pecans, Inc.is a family owned and operat-ed pecan orchard whereduties are shared in bringingthe crop to market, fromscouting insects, fertilizing,pruning and harvesting tominding the store each fall.

Mark Swanson sees to theeveryday operations whilehis wife, Julie, takes care of

Little Eva’s Pecan Store andthe mail order business.

Mothers, brothers, sisters,nieces and nephews all helpwherever needed.

Natchitoches Pecans takespride in having supplied theLouisiana Pecan FestivalCountry Store with top qual-ity fresh pecans for the past19 years.

The company was estab-lished in 1987 and has beensupplying the public withsome of the highest qualitypecans available.

Picture yourself sitting ona grassy bank with your feetgently dangling in the cool,clear water of the CaneRiver. You look up, the sun iswarm on your face, youshade your eyes and lookpast the river to see rows androws of pecan trees - theyseem to go on forever - greenand lush against the brightblue Louisiana sky. You aresurrounded by the pecanorchard of NatchitochesPecans.

Gift tins are available.

Pecan store at Natchitoches Pecans

Natchitoches Pecans: home of fine pecans


The Association For The Preservation of

Historic Natchitoches Invites You To Visit… Our National Historic Landmarks

Melrose Plantation Complex (Nine Buildings)

Open Tuesday - Sunday 12 pm - 4 pm Groups by Appointment

318-379-0055 16 Miles South Of Natchitoches

In Cane River Country

The NSU ContemporaryMusic Ensemble will pre-sent a complete perfor-mance of French composerErik Satie’s rarely heard“Vexations” in MagaleRecital Hall on the NSUcampus. The performancewill begin Friday April 8 at7:30 p.m. and concludeSaturday, April 9 at 5 p.m.

The NSU ContemporaryMusic Ensemble consists ofNSU students Brad Smith,Nathan Glassy, J. C. Bryant,Corey Joachim and NSUfaculty member PaulChristopher.

NSU studio art majorJeremy Jones and NSU fac-ulty member LeslieGruesbeck will provide art-work to enhance the perfor-mance.

Admission is free.Members of the audience

may enter at any time dur-ing the performance or stayfor the duration. Donations

will be accepted to supportthe work of the HubMinistry to help the home-less in theShreveport/Bossier area.

For more informationcall 357-5802.

Satie (1866-1925) is bestknown for his piano musicincluding “Gymnopedies.”Despite a lack of formaltraining, Satie anticipatedmany of the most importanttrends in contemporarymusic including minimal-ism and performance art

while influencing com-posers from ClaudeDebussy to John Cage.

Composed in 1893,Vexations consists of achorale melody based on an11 note tone row followed bytwo variations which isthen repeated 840 times. Byperforming the work at thesuggested tempo a completeperformance will lastaround 20 hours.

The work will be per-formed by a combination ofvibraphone, piano and cello.

Contemporary Music Ensemble

20 hour ‘Vexations’ concert on tap


Formerly the residence for10 Northwestern presidents,the Old President’s Cottagewas renovated for theAlumni Center in 1984.

Built in 1927of FrenchNormandyarchitecture,the buildinghas been des-ignated anationallandmark.

The historical significance of CaneRiver Country is undisputed. Because ofthis heritage, the federal government choseNatchitoches as the site for the NationalCenter for Preservation Technologyand Training. The Old Women’s

Gymnasium,Nelson Hall,has beenrestored forthe perma-nent head-quarters ofthe center.

The old 1884school building thatserved convent stu-dents is one of thehistoric structuresdedicated as a nation-al landmark. The oldcampus quadrangle where the originalcolumns stood was entered into theNational Register of Historic Places in

1980 under thetitle Normal HillHistoric District.

The archives of Watson Libraryand the Williamson Museum inKyser Hall exhibit historical hold-ings from the local and regional cul-ture. Contributions from citizensand historians represent archaeolog-

ical resourcesof Indian andantebelluminfluences.

NSUDemons playSouthlandConference footballat Turpin Stadium.Prather Coliseumhouses theLouisiana SportsHall of Fame withmemorabilia fromthe state’s mostprominent athletes.

Northwestern StateUniversity has been an importantpart of the Natchitoches communi-ty since it was established in 1884.Three columns ofthe BullardMansion that origi-nally stood on thegrounds, serve asthe unofficial sym-bol of the universi-ty. Chaplin Lakefurther enhancesthe historic campusthat serves morethan 9,000 students.

Northwestern’s students and facultyshare diverse talents in drama and artwith the community. The A.A.Fredericks Fine Arts Center regular-ly features performances by the

Natchitoches/NorthwesternSymphony Orchestra andtheatre department. TheHanchey Gallery oftenexhibits the best works ofits faculty and students.

Northwestern State University Tour

MELROSE PLANTATION, 1796, isa National Historic Landmark. Thecomplex includes the Big House,African and Yucca houses, weavingcabin and original home of primitivefolk artist Clementine Hunter. The

plantation is rich in history. and culture that began with MarieTherese Coincoin, an owner who was a freed woman of color.The cultural highlights of the site were furthered during theHenry years as Miss Cammie provided living quarters for writ-ers. Clementine Hunter, renowned folk artist, painted herewhile employed as a domestic servant. Her murals adorn thewalls of the African House and her work is displayed in agallery within the Big House. Melrose serves as the annuallocation for the Melrose Arts and Crafts Festival in June. Toursare available daily.

OAKLAWNPLANTATION,

1830, is the restoredhome of “SteelMagnolias” authorRobert Harling. Thisbousillage, three- storystructure displaysCreole architecture common to Cane RiverCountry. The 680-foot oak avenue is the thirdlongest in the state.

CHEROKEE PLANTATION,1839, is listed on the NationalRegister of Historic Places andwas the site of the famous Bossier-Gaiennie duel, that was fought onthe savannah at the rear ofCherokee. This restored raised cot-tage is an important Creole struc-ture and is often featured duringthe annual NatchitochesPilgrimage in December.

BEAU FORT PLAN-TATION, 1790, was builton the former site of FortCharles. It is an early

Creole-style home and features an 84-foot gallery andcovered rear patio. Many special occasions are con-ducted at Beau Fort.

OAKLAND PLANTATION,1821, now part of the Cane RiverCreole National Historic Parkcontains the finest examples ofCreole architecture. The firstcotton in the state was planted onthis plantation.

THE BADIN-ROQUE HOUSE is one offive structures of its type remaining in theUnited States and the only one of its kind inexistence in Louisiana. Badin-Roque is listedon the National Register for historic placesand has been nominated for NationalLandmark status. It is owned and maintainedby the St. Augustine Historical Society.

THE ST. AUGUSTINECATHOLIC CHURCH is locat-

ed at Isle Brevelle and was foundedand built by Augustine Metoyerand his brother Louis Metoyer in1803. St. Augustine Church is thefirst Church in America estab-lished and maintained by free peo-ple of color. In 1829, when it wasblessed as a mission, it was giventhe name St. Augustine in honor of

St. Augustine. It was blessed as a church parish in 1856, andat that time, had four missions attached to it: St. Anns onOld River, St. Joseph at Bayou Derbonne, St. Anns, SpanishLake and St. Charles, Bermuda. The church was used as afilm site for Steel Magnolias.

MAGNOLIA PLANTATION, 1830s,is one of only two National BicentennialFarms west of the Mississippi. Exceptfor the Big House, the complex is nowpart of the Cane River Creole National

Historic Park. The original walls and foundation were reused afterbeing burned by General Banks in 1864. The two and one-half storystructure has 27 rooms, including a Catholic chapel. The only cottonpress still in its original location is here along with the only row ofbrick slave quarters still standing in Louisiana. The Big House is openfor tours.

AAuuttoo TToouurr OOff CCaannee RRiivveerrAuto Tour

of theCane River



The AmericanCemetery repre-sents the manycultures andcountries thatinfluenced theoldest settlementin the LouisianaPurchase. The site is the original loca-tion of Fort St. Jean Baptiste.

Cane Country cavalier Louis Juchereau De

St. Denis foundedNatchitoches in 1714.Fort St. Jean Baptistewas the French outposthe commanded. A replicaof the fort was built andpresents frequent livinghistory programs.

Several organizations that contribute to civic and preservation interests in

Natchitoches have restored land-marks for use as headquarters.The Prudhomme-RouquierHouse was

renovated by the ServiceLeague of Natchitoches. The

Cunningham Law Office,below left, serves as headquar-ters for the Natchitoches Historic Foundation and is opendaily providing tourism information. The Lemee Houseis one of several properties maintained by the Associationfor the Preservation of Historic Natchitoches.

Front Street of Natchitoches boasts historic sites thatearned the oldest settlement in the Louisiana PurchaseNational Historic Landmark designation. Santa, and theChristmas Belles as helpers, greet guests during the holi-day season at the SantaClaus House on the river-bank. The Roque House, alsoalong the riverbank, was relo-cated to its present location.An example of Creole archi-tecture, the Roque House isconstructed of bousillage, amixture of Spanish moss,deer hair and mud.

Bells tollantebellum his-tories surround-ing the two land-mark churchesof ImmaculateConceptionCatholicChurch, left,and TrinityEpiscopalChurch, below.

The Natchitoches Parish OldCourthouse Museum, a branch of

the LouisianaStateMuseum, isopen as a cul-tural learn-ing centerthat pre-serves therich heritageof the entireparish.

Walking Tour of the Historic District

1. Tourism Information Center2. Bust of St. Denis3. Sompayrac Building4. Unter House5. Chez des Amís6. Washington Square7. Breazeale House8. Tauzin House9. Fitzhugh House10. Roque House11. Kaffie-Frederick Store12. Ducournau Square Townhouse13. Blanchard Building14. Prudhomme Building15. St. Denis Tomb Plaque16. Nakatosh Hotel

17. Old Opera House18. DeBlieux Building19. Kaffie House20. Prudhomme-Roquier House21. Tante Huppe House22. Chamard House23. Metoyer Townhouse24. Levy-East House25. Bayou Amulet26. Rusca House

27. Laureate House28. Steel Magnolias House29. Metoyer-Winbarg House30. Lemee House31. Steel Magnolias House32. Queen Anne House33. Green Gables34. Plauche House35. Steamboat House36. Nelken House37. William and Mary Ackel House

38. Fort St. Jean Baptiste39. American Cemetery40. Dismukes House41. Judge Porter House42. Fleur de Lis House43. Chaplin House44. First Methodist Church45. First Baptist Church

46. Trinity Episcopal Church47. Cunningham Law Office/

Chamber of Commerce48. Bishop Martin’s Residence49. Catholic Rectory50. Church of the Immaculate

Conception51. Old Courthouse Museum

53. New Courthouse54. Old Masonic Lodge55. Exchange Bank56. H.A. Cook Building57. Fort Claiborne Guest House58. Wells Home59. Rose Lawn House60. Wheelwright Inn61. The Blessed House

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Sally Field por-trayed M’LynnEatenton, thewarm-heartedbut iron-willedmother of ayoung bride.

Natchitoches residents were extras, includ-ing Norm Fletcher and Lori Tate. Fletcherand Tate played the bridegroom’s parents.

RobertHarling,author of“SteelMagnolias,”played theminister thatmarriedShelby andJacksonLatcherie.

DrumEatenton (TomSkerritt) shootsat the birdsprior to the wed-ding receptionfor his daughter,Shelby (JuliaRoberts).

Truvy’s Beauty Shop was trans-formed into a Christmas wonder-land as the city celebrated its annu-al ChristmasFestival. DollyParton’s quickwit andSoutherncharm shinein her role asTruvy Jones.

Robert Harling,author of “SteelMagnolias,”received a staron the St. DenisWalk of Honor.Each of the starsin the featurefilm received astar. Conferringthe award wasrenowned sports-man andNatchitoches resident GritsGresham.Much of thestory came from real life, based on the sacri-fices of Harling’s sister, Susan, and mother,Margaret, in his hometown of Natchitoches.

The Steel Magnolias House on JeffersonStreet was used during filming as thehome for M’Lynn and Drum Eatenton.It is now a bed and breakfast inn.

‘‘SStteeeell MMaaggnnoolliiaass’’ TToouurr

“Steel Magnolias” stars, from left, JuliaRoberts, Olympia Dukakis, Dolly Parton,Shirley MacLaine, Sally Field and DarylHannah, portrayed six remarkable friends inthe southern town of Chinquapin.

The actresses commented onthe strength of the charactersand the sense of communitythat drew them to their parts.Meeting many of the real-lifecounterparts of their charac-ters also contributed to theiracclaimed performances.

Produced by Ray Stark, “SteelMagnolias” was directed by HerbertRoss. Victoria White was the execu-tive producer and Andrew Stone wasthe associate producer.

1. St. Septemberine Catholic Church, LouisianaHighway 493 at Melrose, Shelby’s wedding.

2.Northwestern State University Field House, postgame interviews.

3.American Cemetery on Second Street betweenDemeziere and the railroad tracks, Shelby’s funeral.

4. Lemee House, 310 Rue Jefferson, Ouiser’s house.5.Steel Magnolia House, 320 Jefferson, Eatenton

house.

6. Trinity Episcopal Church, 533 Second St., Truvy’s church.7. Private home, 301 Rue Touline, Mrs. Robeline’s boarding

house.8. Chaplin House, 434 Second St., Aunt Fern’s house.9. Walk of Honor, corner of Second Street and Rue St. Denis.10. Blanchard Building, 700 block of Front Street, adjacent to

Ducournau Square, Truvy’s No. 2.11. Riverfront behind Roque House, 800 block of

Washington Street, Easter egg hunt.12. Private home, 515 St. Maurice Lane, Annelle and

Sammy’s home.13. Private home, 453 Henry Blvd., Truvy’s house.14. Brookshire’s, Dixie Plaza Shopping Center, 318 Dixie

Plaza on Keyser Avenue, shopping with Clairee and Ouiser.15. Natchitoches Parish Hospital, 501 Keyser Ave., baby’s

birth.16. Tauzin Plantation Home, 1950 Williams Ave., Clairee’s

home.17. Odalie Lambre-Gwinn House, 1972 Williams Ave.,

Shelby and Jackson’s house.

Twin sensations Dey andNite are looking forward toa little southern hospitalityas they appear April 15-16 atthe Natchitoches JazzFestival.

The NatchitochesJazz/R&B Festival will beon Natchitoches’ downtownriverbank April 15-16.

The event begins Fridaywith free live entertainmentfrom local favorites and1980’s Glam Rock tributeband, Butt Roxx. Saturdaywill kick off at noon withentertainment on twostages.

The Festival scheduleincludes Louisiana group“LeRoux”; one of NewOrleans’ most successfulfunk bands “Big Sam’sFunky Nation” and“Bluffet,” a Jimmy Buffetttribute act.

Food vendors will offerfestival food faire.

Attendees are encour-aged to bring lawn chairs.

Admission is free Fridayand will be $8 per adult, $4per student with I.D., andchildren 12 and under freeon Saturday if purchased inadvance. Ticket prices theday of the festival will be$10 per adult, $5 per studentwith I.D. and children age 12and under free.

Grammy nominated

Louisiana’s “LeRoux” willheadline .

LeRoux’s 1978 hit “NewOrleans Ladies” reachedbillboard chart heights soonafter its release. Fans lovedthe description of NewOrleans’ Bourbon Streetand bayou lands. “NobodySaid It Was Easy,” anothersmash hit, made LeRouxknown from Baton Rouge toWashington, D.C., wheretheir music has played for30 years.

LeRoux’s style combineselements from blues, R&B,funk, jazz, rock and Cajunmusic. They have recentlyadded former Toto singerKeith Landry to the band.With this addition, LeRouxplays the hit songs “Holdthe Line,” “Rosanna” and“Africa.”

The band will performSaturday evening before agrand fireworks show inconjunction with the cele-bration of the 100thanniversary of The Spirit ofNorthwestern MarchingBand.

The weekend entertain-ment lineup also includes

Hoodoo Papas, MatthewDavidson Band, ButtRoxx,Big Sam’s Funky Nation,Becky Birdwell, ExtremeCaution, JohnnyEarthquake and theMoondogs, Doc Couty andthe Natchitoches All-Stars.,

LaCour Trio and HardrickRivers and Rivers’ Revueand more.

Admission Friday is freeand Saturday admission is$10 at the gate.

For more informationabout the Jazz/R&B

Festival, call theNatchitoches AreaConvention & VisitorsBureau at (800) 259-1714, theoffice of C. RodneyHarrington at (318) 352-5900or visit the Festival websiteat www.natchjazzfest.com.

5335 Hwy. 6 West Natchitoches, LA 71457

Tel: (318) 214-0700 Fax: (318) 214-9721

• 25” Remote Control Expanded Cable TV with HBO, CNN, ESPN • Suites Include Microwave, Refrigerator and Coffee Maker • Complimentary Continental Breakfast • Shoney’s and McDonald’s Nearby • Free Highspeed Wireless Internet Service • Outdoor Swimming Pool • Non-Smoking Rooms • 24 Hour Front Desk • Queen Size Beds • Free Local Calls • Meeting Room • 70 Rooms

LeRoux

Johnny Earthquake and the Moondogs

Dey and Nite

Hardrick RiversHardrick Rivers is a localmusician who bringssouthern comfort in theform of smooth saxaphone.


Briarwod is not a man-made, well landscaped gar-den as such, but is in everysense a wild garden. Itsappeal is to botanists, horti-culturists and all of thoserare individuals interestedin studying and preservingnative plants indigenous tothe South.

Briarwood, home ofCaroline Dormon, waswilled in 1971 to theFoundation for thePreservation of the CarolineDormon Nature Preserve,Inc. It is maintained bydonations (tax-exempt) fromher many friends.

Briarwood consists of 120acres of almost-virgin forest,with magnificent trees tow-ering 100 feet tall. There aremore than 100 species oftrees and shrubs. Most ofthese are native to the tract,but others have beenbrought in from other partsof the South. For more than50 years Dormon collectedthe rare and unusual specieswhich are now growingthere.

Briarwood is available fortours lead by guides that areexperienced, who knew MissDormon and who, throughher encouragement, havecome to know and appreciateevery foot of this forest andits native plants.

It is open to the publicevery weekend in March,April, May, August andNovember. On SaturdaysBriarwood is open from 9a.m.-5 p.m. and Sundaysfrom noon -5 p.m.. Specialtours are by appointmentonly for groups of five ormore.

Fees are $5 per person,regardless of age, per visit.

Annual memberships areavailable for $10, lifetimememberships for $100, annu-al family memberships for$25. Members are admittedwithout a fee.

An Interpretive Center,opened by the Board of theFoundation for thePreservation of the CarolineDormon Nature Preserve, isnow open. The center will beused primarily to educatefuture generations of land-scape conservationists andwas made possible by a grantof the Coypu Foundation ofBaton Rouge.

A few of the rare andinteresting plants found atBriarwood include thePinckneya pubens,veryshowy, with bracts of a love-ly pink shade, native toFlorida, but thrives inBriarwood’s sphagnumbogs; Stinking Cedar —(Torreya taxifolia);Magnolias— complete col-lection of all native toSoutheastern U.S.; Hollies —a fine collection of natives;Wild Crabapples — a com-plete and unusual collection;Stewartia malocondendron— a large shrub with flat lat-eral branches, and three-inch white flowers with vio-let anthers. One specimen;Mountain laurels — lovelyevergreen with masses ofpink and white flowers;Native azaleas- a completecollection— white, pink, sev-eral shades of yellow andred. Rarest is a prunifolia,with red flowers in August;Star anise (IlliciumFloridanum) — a beautifulevergreen, thrives atBriarwood; Leucothose—several species; Hawthorns— a fine collection; Wild

plums; Ferns — an amazingcollection, in some placesgrowing in masses.

Special Features of inter-est include trails windingthrough native floweringshrubs and ferns. Ponds areone of Briarwood’s mainattractions, particularly asthey mirror the ancient longleaf pine, mountain laurels,the red-berried smilax andthe rare and showyPinckneya during May andJune.

The Orchid Garden islocated amid a mass of aza-leas by the little clear brookthat flows from the pond.The Bay Garden is probablythe foremost attraction atBriarwood. It was restored

to commemorate CarolineDormon’s pioneer efforts inhybridizing Louisiana iris-es. It is stocked with some ofthe finest and loveliest speci-mens donated by friends.This is a special project ofthe Louisiana Iris Society.

The Log House is a rusticand picturesque homedesigned by Miss Dormonand built from logs cut fromher own forest. It has origi-nal furnishings and reflectsher personality throughout.

A wildlife sanctuary isvisited by literally thou-sands of birds daily seekingand finding a bountiful sup-ply of food-bearing plantsand trees growing nowhereelse in the state. Other forestcreatures—squirrels, rac-coons, deer, an occasionalfox, etc — are also visitors inthis protected area.

Teacher, naturalist, con-servationist, horticulturist,artist, writer — a woman ofmany interests and achieve-ments, Dormon was the firstpioneer in conservation edu-cation in Louisiana. Shealmost single handedly pro-moted the establishment ofKistachie’s National Forestin Louisiana. She conceivedit, conferred with the U.S.Forest Service officials andstate officials, prompted thewriting and introduction ofan “Enabling Act,” whichmade it legal for the FederalForest Service to purchaseland in the state, recom-mended the area, and namedthe forest.

Briarwood is located innorthern sand hills ofNatchitoches Parish onLouisiana Highway No. 9between Saline and Campti.


B r i a r w o o d : Not your average backyard garden

Briarwood, home of Caroline Dormon, was willed in 1971 to the Foundation for thePreservation of the Caroline Dormon Nature Preserve, Inc.

Natchitoches’ March for Babies will be Saturday, April16 at the Downtown Riverfront. Registration begins at 8a.m. and the walk begins at 9 a.m.

Residents may register and create a team at march-forbabies.org or by calling 800-525-9255. There will befood and games for the family.

In addition to supporting medical research, the fundsraised through March for Babies are distributed to localcommunity organizations working to improve the healthof mothers and babies.

March for Babies

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Louisiana Pecans islocated on the site of theoriginal Little Eva PecanBarn that burned in May,1999. The historic traindepot that now housees theLouisiana Pecans retailgift business servicedNatches until the 1970swhen it was moved toDerry and served as a com-munity center in that area.It later lost its funding andwas eventually sold ont ehcourthouse steps.

The Depot became astorage building for localartist supplies until July1999 when it was pur-chased and moved sixmiles south to the east sideof Little Eva Plantationand restored.

The renovated, historicgem has been a nostalgicbackground for the pecanbusiness, as well asantiques, home décor andgift business.

We pride ourselves onhaving the best possible

pecan products available,only surpassed by ourattention to customer ser-vice and detail.

They fill each order,large or small, with thesame attention they woulduse in sending personalorders. Customers are veryimportant to them, andthey take pride in servingthem.

At Louisiana Pecans,visitors can find whole andcracked pecans straightfrom the orchard, shelledpecan halves in severalvarieties and sizes, pecanpieces and pecan meal.They have 17 gourmet fla-vored pecans includingsugar free flavors, saltedand naturally sweet. Inaddition, they carry pecanlogs, divinity, pralines andother southern pecan deli-cacies.

They offer a variety ofgift tins with an assort-ment of products as well asgift trays and gift baskets.

Their specialty is cus-tom gifts and can design agift to specifications ofprice and product.

In addition to pecans,they carry select pieces ofjewelry, trinket boxes andother collectables alongwith local art and gourmet

products nestled into theirantique showcases.

They ship year round.Hours are:

October: Thursday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

November andDecember: Monday-Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and

Sunday 1-5 p.m.Call 318-379-0980 or 800-

737-3226 or visitwww.louisianapecans.com.

The plantation is 4 milessouth of Cloutierville onthe east side of La. Hwy 1.Look for the red roof.


Louisiana Pecans: A taste of the south

Look for the bright red barn

Step back in time...at the Adai Indian Cultural Center

Have an exciting and fas-cinating historical educa-tional experience when youvisit the Adai Indian NationCultural Center only15 minutes fromN at ch i t o ch e s,open from 9am.-5 p.m.

Visit the8,000 squarefoot, all-weather air-conditionedand heatedc u l t u r a lcenter locat-ed on theb e a u t i f u lgrounds inthe AdaiIndian NationCommunity.

Travel north onInterstate 49, Exit 148, turnleft, drive 4 1/2 miles onblacktop La. Hwy. 485 whileenjoying the beautifulscenery of the countryside.

Feel the spirit of theAmerican Indian through

song and dance, ancientartifacts and a large collec-tion of arts and crafts.

Stroll the grounds visit-ing the historical

Indian dwellings fur-nished as they

were in the 1800sand early 1900sthat were occu-pied by AdaisIndian leadersand families.

Enjoy areabirds and squir-rels eating fromfeeders placedaround the cul-tural center.

E x p e r i e n c e“thunder of theland,” the spirit

of the buffalo herd grazingon the grounds of the cul-tural center. There werethousands of buffalo herdsroaming freely across theNorth American continentat the time of the firstEuropean occupation ofThe Americas.

Food Court serves visi-tors traditional All-American hamburgers,French fires, chicken sand-wiches, nachos, hot dogs,candy, soft drinks and more.


Local producer Daniel Graves released a DVD tour ofNatchitoches, available at the Book Merchant, Cane BrakeCafé, Georgia’s Gifts and Kaffie-Frederick Hardware.

Graves explains why he chose to focus on the oldest set-tlement in the Louisiana Purchase.

“I’ve studied the area’s history for over 20 years and stillcome across stories that are amazing. Basically everythingabout the town, from the colonial days to the present, is avery unique and unusual story of American history.”

A veteran documentary maker, his productions havedepicted Louisiana history during prehistoric times, theCivil War, the eras of the Long brothers, 20th century plan-tation life and numerous short works on individual inci-dents. He calls the new DVD a “meet-and-greet” production.

“There’s history. You can’t talk about Natchitoches with-out getting into its history, but there’s also some beautifulaerial footage and interviews covering questions visitorsand potential future residents ask most often.”

Produced in cooperation with City of Natchitoches, theprogram begins with a welcome by Mayor Wayne McCullenand shows the city from both sides of Cane River.

It includes interviews with tourism director Iris Harperand Main Street manager Leslie Smith. Also featured is aninterview with Dr. Randall Webb about NSU, an explanationof the National Historic Landmark District by chairwomanSharon Gahagen and a look at why the area is enticing toretirees by businessman Ed Dranguet.

Local producerreleases DVD tour of Natchitoches

Natchitoches, a DVD Tour can be purchased at the BookMerchant, Cane Brake Café, Georgia’s Gifts and Kaffie-Frederick Hardware.

AAAApppprrrr iiii llll 2222000011111111April 9, 2-5 p.m.

A Day Down River Northwestern State

University HeritageResources MastersCandidates present theirProject Theses to the CaneRiver Community. Thisevent will be in partnershipwith the Cane River NationalHeritage Area and the CaneRiver Creole NationalHistorical Park. Free admis-sion at Magnolia PlantationOverseer's House, Cane RiverNational Historical Park,5549 Hwy. 119, Derry, LA71416. For more informationcall (318) 356-8441.

April 10, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.Art & Hors d'oeuvres

Join the Natchitoches ArtGuild & Gallery as they host"Underwater Fantasy," theirnext Art & Hors d'oeuvressession. The session will beled by award winning artist,Jean O'Brien and her assis-tant Jo Lapeyrouse. Thepainting will consist ofacrylic paints on canvasusing a canned air techniqueinspired by Gary Jenkins.The painting features Koiwith coral on a colorful back-ground. Fee is $35.Reservations required; spaceis limited. At theNatchitoches Art Gallery,584 Front St. For moreinformation call (318) 352-1626.

April 15-16NSU Theatre Presents

"The Three Penny Opera" Based on John Gay's 18th-

century play "The Beggar'sOpera," "The Three PennyOpera" is a savage, bitingcommentary on bourgeoiscapitalism and modernmorality. Originally set inVictorian London, the bittertale is told of the predatoryoutlaw known as Mack theKnife. Located in A.A.Fredericks Auditorium.Tickets are $15 adults/$12seniors. NSU and BPCC stu-dents admitted free with cur-rent ID. For more informa-tion call (318) 357-4483.

April 16, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.Chili Cook-off

The NSU Criminal JusticeClub will sponsor their firstchili cook-off on the NSUFootball Practice Field.Entry fee is $75. Generaladmission is free. For entryinformation contact DonStewart at (318) 357-5818 orRusty Carroll at (318) 447-3176.

April 17, 11 a.m-2 p.m.Fort St. Jean Baptiste

Program Fort St. Jean Baptiste pre-

sents two special programs:one for parents and one forkids. "Spring Training:Soldier Drills for Kids."Children will have a chanceto enlist in the Fort St. JeanBaptiste Garrison.

Enlistment will requiredrilling, marching and drum-

ming. While the childrenare busy applying for the gar-rison, parents can enjoy"Flora of the Fort." Staffwill guide visitors throughthe grounds on a nature walkidentifying historically orregionally significant plantsand trees.

The Fort is located at 155rue Jefferson. Admission is$4 for ages 12-62. For moreinformation call (888) 677-7853.

April 21, 9 p.m.-1 a.m.Natchitoches-

Northwestern SymphonyOrchestra

The Natchitoches-Northwestern SymphonyOrchestra will present awork by Johannes Brahms atMagale Recital Hall. Thisconcert will feature AGerman Requiem, Op. 45,inspired by the death ofBrahms' mother in 1865, withtext from the holy scripu-tures. Tickets will be avail-able at the door. For moreinformation contact MarkayCunningham at (318) 352-6314.

April 29, 9 p.m.-2 a.m.Relay for Life

Relay for Life is theAmerican Cancer Society'ssignature activity. It offerseveryone an opportunity toparticipate in the fightagainst cancer. Teams ofpeople camp out and taketurns walking.

Relays are a 24 hour event.This event will be at theAthletic Facilities on thecampus of NorthwesternState University. Registeryour team today atwww.relayforlife.org/natchi-toches. For more informa-tion contact Judy Rachal at(318) 527-9694 or LindsayMaggio [email protected].

April 23Fifth Saturday Fly-In

The NatchitochesRegional Airport, located at450 Wallenberg Lane, willhost a 5th Saturday Fly-in.Food will be served.

For more information call(318) 352-0994.

has the decor and comfort of a Bed and Breakfastwith the convenience and privacy of a hotel

Church Street Inn

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Located in the Heart of the Historic District

Hodges GardenState Park willhave anE a s t e rS u n r i s eS e r v i c eE a s t e rSunday,A p r i l24, ont h e

LakefrontS t a g e .Members ofthe Centenarychoir will performwith members of churchchoirs from Natchitoches,Sabine, Vernon andBeauregard Parishes.Gates open at 4:30 a.m. and

will close promptlyat 5:45 a.m. to

prevent traf-fic from dis-

t u r b i n gthe pro-gram.

T h eprogramis free ofc h a r g e .

G u e s t ss h o u l d

take lawnchairs and

blankets.At the conclusion

of the service, the parkwill be cleared and the reg-ular admission prices willapply for the remainder ofthe day.

Festivities will kick offSaturday, April 23 at 1 p.m.with the annual Easter egghunt and duck races.

Other Saturday activi-ties include a geocachescavenger hunt and photoswith the Easter Bunny.

Geocaching is doneusing a GPS. A limitednumber of GPS units willbe available for those whodo not take their own.

Hodges Gardens StatePark is located on U.S.Highway 171 betweenMany and Leesville.

For more informationcall the Sabine ParishTourist Commission at256.5880.

The NatchitochesHistoric District has beennamed as one of the top fiveMost Romantic Main Streetsin the United States.

The announcement wasjust made by the NationalTrust for HistoricPreservation. The otherfour Most Romantic MainStreets include Middletown,Connecticut; Madison,Indiana; Franklin,Tennessee and Paducah,Kentucky.

The National Trust forHistoric Preservationsought the country’s mostromantic Main Street dis-tricts, seeking those placesthat offer unique experi-ences as well as atmosphere,history, charming streets forstrolls, wedding destina-tions, quaint B&Bs, specialhistoric spots and muchmore. After scouring thecountry, the National Trustfor Historic Preservation

chose Natchitoches as one ofthe destinations that meetsthis criteria.

“The NatchitochesHistoric District has longbeen considered a romanticdestination by visitors,”said Courtney Hornsby ofthe Natchitoches MainStreet Program. “With ourcharming Front Street,scenic Cane River Lake andbeautiful historic homesand bed and breakfasts, it isthe perfect location for aromantic evening or week-end getaway.”

Special emphasis will beplaced this year on promot-ing downtown Natchitochesas a premiere wedding desti-nation, particularly througha new water feature and gar-den area located in VirginiaBaker Park along the down-town riverbank. The projectis expected to be completedin May.


According to availablerecords, the history ofImmaculate ConceptionChurch began in 1717, orperhaps 1716, when theFranciscan, Fr. AntonioMargil de Jesus, walkedthe 21 miles from theSpanish Mission at LosAdaes to say Mass at theFrench military post inNatchitoches. Serviceswere also held in the homeof Louis Juchereau de St.Denis, commandant of thepost, and his wife, DonaManuela.

The present church wasbuilt in 1857; however, itwas not entirely completeduntil 1892 when BishopDurier added the dome onthe tower, constructed thepresent sanctuary and sac-

risties, added the altar andtile floor. The church wasrestored and redecoratedin 1955-56 when the frontvestibule and entrancewere added.

On the south corner ofthe church is a plaque com-memorating the first pub-lic religious service held inNatchitoches. The date isgiven as 1716; however,records now available give1717 as the date.

The Rt. Rev. Msgr. A.Piegay, Vicar General, andFr. A. Andries are buriedin front of the church.

All fittings and furnish-ings, except the pews, wereimported from France: themain altar, the hand-paint-ed Stations of the Cross,the Statue of Blessed

Virgin Mary over the mainaltar, the chandeliers andthe ladder located in thechoir.

The spiral staircaseleading to the choir isunique in that it has nocenter support. The wood-en Baptismal Font, beneaththe staircase, was hand-carved in France.

Bishop AugustinMartin, the first bishop ofthe Natchitoches Dioceseand his Vicar GeneralPierre F.Dicharry, areburied in the church nearthe side altars.

Across the street are theRectory and the OldSeminary built in 1855 tohouse and educate semi-narians.

The Bishop Martin

Museum is now locatedthere and is the depositoryfor early records, datingfrom 1724, and for churchartifacts including a silverbell dated 1836.

Back of the Seminary onTrudeau Street is the bish-op’s residence erected by

Bishop Martin. At one timea similar but larger edificewas directly across fromthe residence on the cornerof Second and Trudeaustreets, with a wide brickwalk between the two. Thislatter one is no longerstanding.

Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception

A Most Romantic M a i n S t r e e t Easter Sunrise Service

. . .A Natchitoches Tradition

Come join us and choose from our unique menu featuring ablend of Cajun and Cane river delicacies. We’re famous forour award winning MEAT PIES and delicious DIRTY RICEbut don’t forget our…

Red Beans & Rice With SausageFilet Catfish Platters

And Our Own Special CreationCane River Cream Pie

Breakfast Served • 352-3353 • Open Mon-Sat 7am - 7pm

Meat PieKitchen &Restaurant

622 Second St.Natchitoches, La.

5362 Hwy. 6 West Natchitoches, LA 1-800-228-5150 (318) 352-7500

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Famous NatchitochesMeat Pies Inc. (betterknown as NatchitochesMeat Pies) has been in busi-ness over 25 years; 20 ofthose at its current locationin Coushatta. Our manufac-turing facility is at 1414Industrial Drive and has18,000 square feet. Our retailoutlet and corporate officeis located at 620 Rush Street.

Natchitoches Meat Pie isa USDA inspected facilityand as such, has a HACCPprogram in place. Our com-pany produces bulk prod-uct, for the service industryand retail products for theend-user market. And nowwe are opening up our“internet” market with ournew on-line shopping.

For those who do notknow how to pronounce ourname it is “Na-Kah-Tush.”And why Natchitoches MeatPies is in CoushattaLouisiana? It is simple. Theorigin of the ingredients

(seasonings) of the piecomes from the quaint townof Natchitoches. Almostevery household has a fami-ly recipe that has beenhanded down from genera-tions. Just as one of ourowners had, it is his moth-er’s recipe that our compa-ny has used for years.

Of course there are twostories about the origina-tion of the NatchitochesMeat Pie...one is thatwomen would make thesepies for the husbands to goto the fields, a flaky doughsurrounding a filling ofmeat and seasonings waseasy to transport and easyto eat...the other is more col-orful and one that we partic-ularly like. It is said younglads on the streets ofNatchitoches would sell thepies. Little street vendors.We pay homage to theirmemory by using a younglad holding up a pie as ourlogo.

Meat pies come in two sizes and several varieties, includ-ing fruit and crawfish, to suit any palate.

About NatchitochesMeat Pies


Sibley Lake: fishing, swimming, skiing and boating

Sibley Lake is a munici-pal water supply and recre-ation area owned by theCity of Natchitoches andWater Works DistrictNumber One. Sibley Lakewas originally known asLake Terre Noie in 1875.Later, Lake Terre Noir wasdrained and remained aswampy, wooded area untilit was developed into awater source in the earlysixties.

Sibley Lake presentlysupports an excellent popu-lation of white crappie,channel catfish and largemouth bass. Recent creelstudies indicate eighty per-cent of the fishermen ofthe lake are fishing forcrappie. During themonths of February andMarch, large numbers of 1-2 pound crappie concen-trate in the shoreline areasof this 2,175 acre impound-ment.

Crappie are usuallycaught on live shiners andjig lures. After the springspawning period, the fishare usually caught in brushand tree tops placed in thelake by crappie fishermen.During the summer andfall, crappie are found sus-pended in the deeper partsof the lake.

Channel catfish are

caught during the spring inthe shallows on trotlines,yo-yo’s, and rod and reel,using cut bait and worms.Largemouth are caught dur-ing the spt-ing on arti-ficial baitson thenumerouspoints ands h a l l o wf l a t sthroughoutthe lake.

The prin-cipal diet of bass in SibleyLake are the numeroussmall shad and sunfish asso-ciated with the shallowwaters in the spring and

deeper water during thesummer, fall and wintermonths. Catches of hybridstriperbass are often report-ed during the spring and

s u m m e rwhen thefish areforging onshad ands u n f i s h .Sibley Lakesupports am o d e r a t eamount of

bluegill andredear sunfish. These sun-fish species are usually har-vested during April andMay spawning activity.

A two dollar ($2.00) recre-ational use license isrequired for personsbetween the ages of 16 and60. No persons shall fish,hunt, swim, boat, water ski,camp, picnic, or otherwisetrespass below the 116 footcontour on Sibley Lakeunless he has purchasedsuch a license. The recre-ational use license is validfrom July 1 to June 30 eachyear.

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Documents

A Free Guide to Leisure and Attractions Courtesy of The ...matchbin-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/public/sites/1127/... · Green Market Entering downtown his-toric Natchitoches, visitors