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Showing posts with label History. Show all posts
Showing posts with label History. Show all posts
Friday, December 12, 2014
Growing up, my father’s photography studio was located in
downtown Lake Charles in a historic building from the early 1900s. I spent many summers there helping in the
office, answering phone calls and assisting in photo shoots. My brother and I would even play hide and
seek when we were kids. Those old homes
have lots of hiding spaces!
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| The historic Locke mansion located at 929 Broad St. in Lake Charles, La. was built in 1910. Photo by www.monsoursphotography.net |
After my dad bought the home in the early 1980s, they did
some renovations and found some pocket doors.
In the pocket doors, they found newspaper articles stuffed within the
walls from the 1800s. I always thought
that was so cool and I think that’s what started my fascination with the
Charpentier Historic District. Charpentier
is French for carpenter, by the way!
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| Learn more about the Charpentier Historic District at www.visitlakecharles.org/historic. Photo by Marty Solis |
Recently, the Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention
& Visitors Bureau developed a free Lake Charles Historic Tour App. It brings the Charpentier Historic District
to life through a guided tour of the 40-block area of homes in the National
Register of Historic Places. You can
choose a 30 Minute Tour, One Hour Tour or Ghost Stories Tour.
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| 1911 Historic City Hall has a permanent exhibit on the Great Fire of 1910 and is featured on the One Hour Tour. Photo by www.lindseyjanies.com |
The haunted legends tour, or Eerie Calcasieu Tour, as it is
named in the app, has some pretty crazy stories included. There’s even a video that captures some great
stories of the local ghosts. There are
also videos on the Great Fire of 1910, Lake Charles Architecture and the
History of Lake Charles.
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| The Eerie Calcasieu Tour features haunted sites throughout Lake Charles. |
The app promotes social network sharing and even allows the
user to create a post card from the district. It's available in multiple languages and Closed Captioning, which is great if you have friends from other countries who are visiting and would prefer to experience the tour in their native language.
Download the free app in your app store by searching for “Lake Charles
Historic Tour.”
Learn more about the
Charpentier Historic District at www.visitlakecharles.org/historic.
Check out this quick video about the Lake Charles Historic Tour App.
Friday, May 23, 2014
M
emorial Day in Lake Charles offers several ways to pay honor to those who have fought for our freedoms. One way is to visit the Avenue of Flags at the Graceland/Orange Grove Cemetery.Casket Flags line the drive through the cemetery in honor of fallen men and women. These flags were donated just for this day and special memoriam. The flags will be on display from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Memorial Day. In addition to the memorial flags, the Avenue of Flags also features a history circle where replicas of eight previous United States flags are flown.
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| Avenue of Flags. Photo by www.monsourphotography.net |
At the Veteran's War Memorial Park by the Lake Charles Civic Center, you can see a particularly heroic story of a soldier who paid the ultimate price to save others.
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| Photo by www.lindseyjanies.com |
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. 1st Lt. Fournet, Infantry, distinguished himself in action while serving as rifle platoon leader of the 2d Platoon, Company B. While advancing uphill against fortified enemy positions in the A Shau Valley, the platoon encountered intense sniper fire, making movement very difficult. The right flank man suddenly discovered an enemy claymore mine covering the route of advance and shouted a warning to his comrades. Realizing that the enemy would also be alerted, 1st Lt. Fournet ordered his men to take cover and ran uphill toward the mine, drawing a sheath knife as he approached it. With complete disregard for his safety and realizing the imminent danger to members of his command, he used his body as a shield in front of the mine as he attempted to slash the control wires leading from the enemy positions to the mine. As he reached for the wire the mine was detonated, killing him instantly. Five men nearest the mine were slightly wounded, but 1st Lt. Fournet's heroic and unselfish act spared his men of serious injury or death. His gallantry and willing self-sacrifice are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
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| Douglas Fournet's son, Bill Fournet, looks into the face of his father. Photo by www.lindseyjanies.com |
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| Photo by www.lindseyjanies.com |
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| Photo by www.lindseyjanies.com |
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| Photo by www.lindseyjanies.com |
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| Photo by www.lindseyjanies.com |
Monday, March 24, 2014
*Adapted from www.movoto.com
and Mitchel Broussard
Lake Charles mixes
small town charm, exciting nightlife and outdoor adventure into a combination
that will have you packing before you finish reading this list.
1. This Town Doesn't Stay Down
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| www.monsoursphotography.net |
Lake Charles has been around for
centuries, but it's the town that almost wasn't after a devastating fire back in 1910. But these people are made of strong stuff. They rebuilt and bounced
right back. Now the city is a booming industrial educational center.
2. Who Needs Vegas When You Have Lake Charles?
3. Lake Charles Has ALL The Golf
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| Gray Plantation on Louisiana's Audubon Golf Trail |
Southwest Louisiana has a total of five
public courses for fulfilling all of your ESPN-fantasy needs. There are also a
handful of family putt-putt courses for everyone else.
4. You Can Take A Deep Breath
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| Brenda LaFleur |
The Creole Nature Trail, colloquially
known as "Louisiana's Outback," is one of the first official scenic byways in
the country. The 180-mile driving tour offers fishing, boating, bird watching,
and even crabbing. Tours are open year round so the views and wildlife are
constantly changing.
5. The Best Snacks You've Never Had
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| Jeff Benoit, B&O's Kitchen and Grocery |
This may sound a little off-putting at
first, but hear me out: Boudin is made of pork meat, liver, rice, onions,
parsley, and seasonings like salt, peppers and garlic powder. It's delicious,
and a staple in Lake Charles along the Southwest Louisiana Boudin Trail. Soon
to be one of your favorites.
6. Two Words: Mardi Gras
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| www.lindseyjanies.com |
7. But Don't Worry, Lake Charles Still Has Class...
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| Spring Art Walk |
The galleries in Lake Charles are
constantly shifting around their art to make sure you're never bored. The
Historic City Hall Arts & Cultural Center showcases exhibits from around
the world, and of course local artists' work too.
8. Learn About History
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| DeQuincy Railroad Museum |
9. A Pirate's Life For Lake Charles
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| www.contrabanddays.com |
10. You Can Still See Men In Tights Here
 |
| Cameron Durham |
The Lake Charles Civic Ballet is just
what the doctor ordered for those looking for a night of high culture in southern
Louisiana: The classical music (by the Lake Charles Symphony), the ridiculous
costumes-they even put on a ballet version of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed
Reindeer" last December.
11. You'll See A Larger-Than-Life Relic Of US History
The USS Orleck had her glory days back
in the 1800s and served in Vietnam and Korea, but nowadays she's a constant
reminder in the Calcasieu River of the dedication of the armed forces. The ship
also turns into a haunted ghost ship every Halloween, which is pretty much
about as terrifying as it sounds.
12. This City Will Have You Dancing All Night
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| www.lindseyjanies.com |
13. It's Even Produced A Few Famous Musicians
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| Joshua Ledet at the Burton Complex |
14. The Grocery Stores Aren't Like Yours
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| Sausage Link |
See a wide range of Louisiana-grown rice available
to the public, an assortment of hot sauces, the roux section, and a variety of
different meat and seafood sold. Local
grocers stuff chicken and pork chops with boudin, sausage and other tasty delicacies.
Lake Charles also has a glowing
admiration for farmers and all of the fruit, veggies, jams, spices, soaps, and
other goodies they make. The city hosts two farmers markets that run weekly for
most of the year, where you can find what you need and discover stuff you
didn't even know you wanted.
15. Lake Charles Throws The Rule Book Out The Window
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| www.monsoursphotography.net |
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
It’s not hard to find beauty in Lake Charles, particularly if you are interested in history or architecture. Just take a stroll through the Garden District, down Kirby or Pujo to see classic examples of Southern architecture, such as The Arthur L. Gayle House, with its symmetrical windows and colossal Doric fluted columns, complete with balustered balcony.
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| A beautiful home in the Historic District of Lake Charles. |
Many of the structures and magnificent homes were actually built by carpenters during the lumber boom when the “Michigan Men” came to the area during 1800s. They brought with them the tall and angular style of construction that mirrored the Victorian tastes popular in most of America at the time. This style contrasted with the existing galleried cottages popular in the rest of the State, and it coined the term, “Lake Charles Architecture,” landing the Charpentier Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places.
While in the area, you may also want to visit the Historic Central School, now serving as home to the Arts and Humanities Council of Southwest Louisiana, Art Associates Gallery, the Mardi Gras Museum of Imperial Calcasieu, the Lake Charles Symphony, the Children’s Theatre and the Black Heritage Gallery.
While we enjoy the amazingly beautiful places of that era, what will be left for future generations to attribute to our time? We don’t need to venture far from these exquisite dwellings to experience the revitalization of the downtown district. With layers of patterned brickwork and iron streetlamps, not to mention a lively atmosphere with many businesses such as Pujo Street Café, Stellar Beans and Luna Bar & Grill featuring local art on the walls or live music.
The City of Lake Charles wishes to preserve the historical atmosphere of the downtown area, encouraging businesses to restore historic structures and construct new structures that complement the existing architecture. Examples of this focus on historic preservation include the Charpentier Historic District, 1911 City Hall, and Central School, which serve as artistic and cultural centers for the community.
This seems to present the perfect mesh of old and new, creating a perfect setting for locals and visitors alike.
Quote from: http://www.cityoflakecharles.com/department/?fDD=7-0
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