How Barksdale Boulevard Got Its Name

1931 ariel view of Barksdale Field and Bossier City. Philip and Vickie Hardin Collection 2011.053.001

It was the fall of 1932 when Barksdale Field became operational. The excitement of it coming inspired the idea of changing the name of the main street in Bossier City, which was at that time Cain Street. That spring, the suggestion was made, prompting the following article to appear in "The Planters Press" with a call to action.

"A suggestion was made to us the other day regarding the possibility of having the name of Cain Street changed to Barksdale Boulevard from the Traffic bridge to the entrance to Barksdale Field. This seemed a good suggestion and we are taking this opportunity of passing it along to the people of Bossier for their consideration.

"As we see it the change would serve a multiple usefulness. It would first of all definitely designate what is now Cain Street as the direct means of approaching Barksdale Field. It would locate the main street of Bossier as no other method could. And the name has a euphony which the present name of the street cannot be said to enjoy.

"When plans are complete there will be a wide boulevard from the Traffic bridge to Barksdale Field. The road will be widened, and we hope lights installed to make the highway well lighted throughout its length to the entrance of the field. This is the logical direction of growth for the business district, the new bridge notwithstanding, and we hope that Cain Street merchants realize it. It is our hope that the Bossier City Lions Club will sponsor this project, and that whatever steps that are necessary be taken to have this change effected – provided, of course, that it meets with the approval of the people of the town."

Opinions appeared in "The Planters Press"; some in favor and some not in favor of the name change. One person wrote, "We believe that Cain Street should be re-named Barksdale Boulevard. What better name could there be for the street that leads directly to the Third Attack Wing Site, Barksdale Field? And believe me that field will be the show place of this entire country when it is completed."

Another person opined that "Some citizens of Bossier want the street to keep the name of Cain. Others want it Barksdale Boulevard. While I personally think it should be Barksdale Street. It is in no way a Boulevard. Why should the citizens and officials go to the trouble of mis-naming their main street? The good people of this city should come forth and speak their mind. They are the owners, the taxpayers and the right goes to them. If the people are fundamentally convinced of their belief let them come forth and convince others of the soundness of their opinions and see their ideals realized."

The Bossier City Lions Club answered the call and quickly sent petitions out to merchants and residents of Cain Street. The petitions returned with signatures of practically every merchant and resident on Cain Street and several other influential citizens. Then, the Lions Club took the name change request and the petitions to the Bossier City Town Council during a special meeting. The ordinance passed, and "In view of the unanimity of this petition the council felt that their action was following the will of the people."

After the ordinance passed, another article appeared in "The Planter Press" revealing that "the Boulevard leading from the center of the flying field to the Coushatta highway has already been named Barksdale Boulevard; then by linking the Coushatta highway and Cain Street to this, making it a boulevard all the way form the traffic bridge to the center of the airport…."

The article also presented the following idea: "Now if the city of Shreveport would change the name of Lake Street from Marshall on to the Traffic bridge to West Barksdale Boulevard it would complete the link from the business center of Shreveport to the flying field in Bossier parish." The notion of re-naming Lake Street to West Barksdale Boulevard never came to fruition.

To learn more about Bossier City history, visit the Bossier Parish Libraries History Center, your leading source for Bossier Parish History. We are at 2206 Beckett Street, Bossier City. Can't come in, call 318-746-7717 or email history-center@bossierlibrary.org with your request. Be sure to follow us @BPLHistoryCenter on FB, @bplhistorycenter on Tiktok, and check out our blog, http://bpl-hc.blogspot.com/.

By: Amy Robertson

Bossier High School Band Goes to Chicago

1950 was an exciting summer for the Bossier High School band students. They were selected to represent Louisiana in the Lions Club International convention parade as Louisiana’s official Lion band for the second year in a row.

The trip was an 8-day, 2,000-mile tour of the middle United States in three Continental Trailways buses. The average cost for the 85 member band was about $45 per member. Louisiana Lions Club District Governor Walter Johnson presented a $1,500 check to defray the expenses to the international convention, and the Bossier City Lions Club gave an additional $2,500.

One of three National Trailways buses used to transport the Bossier High School band to
Chicago for the International Lion Convention, 1950. Barbara McKenzie Collection: 2018.045.001

In a “Planters Press” article, details of the band’s trip appeared as follows:

“With the heartiest wishes of the entire community for a delightful trip, the Bossier City high school band will leave for Chicago to participate in the program of the International Lions convention.

Harold H. Ramsey

“This was announced by Harold H. Ramsey, director, who had the 85 band members place their equipment including instruments and luggage, at the high school Thursday afternoon in order to have everything in readiness for the departure from the school.

“‘Anyone not aboard the buses at that time will be at home reading post cards while the rest of the band is in Chicago,’ warned the band director. But, of course, there will be no occasion for cards to be mailed any of the 85 band boys and girls.

“Here is what the band members took on the trip:

“One small camera, one towel, one wash cloth, tooth brush, comb, one cake of soap, handkerchiefs, underwear, tee shirts, shoes (no more than three pairs, including band shoes), socks, (at least one pair of white socks plus others to wear en route).

“Boys should take these items:

“Two gray shirts, one white shirt (sport type preferred), two dress shirts, one or two ties, one or two pairs of gray trousers, one suit or suitable sport outfit to be worn for special entertainment or in church, two or three tee shirts.

“Girls should take these items:

“Two gray shirts (or blouses), one or two gray skirts, one white blouse (sport type), one or two dresses, one ensemble suitable for special entertainment and Sunday wear, two or three tee shirts and shorts.

“Uniforms: Will be handled by committee.

“As pointed out to the members of the board by Director Ramsey they are on this trip ‘representing Bossier high school, Bossier City, the Bossier Lions Club and the State of Louisiana during the entire trip…’ ‘so act like ladies and gentlemen at all times. This means your department MUST BE above reproach at all times,’ Director Ramsey stressed.

“‘You are asked not to play pin ball games, slot machines or similar games of amusement which touch on gambling at any time during the trip.’

“J.W. Naremore, cashier of the Bossier Bank & Trust company, is in the party as its official banker. Deposits were made with him on Wednesday, and, as announced, there will be no deposits taken from students at any other time. He will be available each morning when those with deposits desire to make withdrawals.

“Besides Director Ramsey and Banker Naremore, the following representatives of the Lions club, which is financing the trip, are in the party: H.L. Parker, Ira Harbuck, and Kenneth Greene, assistant band director. There is a chaperone, a trained nurse.

“En route to the convention the band will stop at Paducah, Ky., overnight. They will have accommodations at the Palmer House in Chicago, arriving there Sunday. They will take part in the convention’s opening ceremonies, will be in the street parade and in other music features, including one in honor of Elmer Stewart, Shreveport nominee for the international board. On the way home the party will visit Evanston, Ill., and the Shiloh battlefield at Nashville, Tenn, with last stop at Savannah, Tenn.

“They will return to Bossier City July 29. (Should read July 22.)

“This is the second such trip for the Bossier City band, the first having been last year to the Lions convention in New York. They traveled by bus on that trip. Both were gifts from the Bossier City Lions club in appreciation of the school band’s services to the community.”

The Bossier High School Band placed fourth at the convention, competing against entries from nearly 30 nations and every part of the United States. Over the past 80-years, the Bossier High School band has performed and competed throughout the United States and Canada, marching in parades across the nation, including the 1960 Sugar Bowl.

Learn more about the history of local high schools and school bands by visiting the Bossier Parish Libraries History Center, your leading source for local history. We are located adjacent to the Central Library branch at 2206 Beckett Street, Bossier City. Whether you want to learn about local history or research your family history, we are here to help.

By: Amy Robertson

A Lifetime of Fighting Fires

Plain Dealing Fire Chief Harold Purcell, 1984. Source: The Plain Dealing Progress 

For over fifty years, Harold Purcell of Plain Dealing served his community as a volunteer firefighter. He started volunteering for the department in 1934 as a young man, and by 1941 he was appointed as chief. In an interview, Purcell recalled boyhood memories of a fire that was fought when a bucket brigade passed water from a ditch to a store located at the old S and S Grocery site. He also remembered when Plain Dealing got its first fire hydrants around 1929.

Before the town got its first real fire truck in 1946, Purcell remembers them using a pickup truck which was also used for collecting garbage. If a fire call came in while the truck was making the garbage collection rounds, the trash was dumped in the street, and the call was answered.

Plain Dealing Volunteer Fire Department's first real fire truck. Kneeling is L.M. Harville. The front row (L to R) is Seth  Arnold, Bill Harville, Clayton Manning, Howard Wheeler, and fire chief Harold Purcell. The back row (L to R) is Elmer Spears, Henry Wheeler, Carol Butler, Bub Goodwin, and Oscar Harville. Maurice McCall Collection: 2000.064.003.

Members of the department were expected to show up for every call, and if they didn’t, they had to pay the price. Sometimes that meant the other members would go wake him up to make coffee for the entire crew. Other times it meant holding ‘kangaroo court,’ where the absent member would be found guilty and sentenced to buy the rest of the crew milkshakes. This happened to former Mayor Leon Sanders when he was a member of the volunteer fire department.

Over the years, the alarm sounded when a fire call came in evolved. In the early days, it included the firing of guns and ringing church bells. When Purcell joined the department, the town Marshall, O.C. Coleman would receive a call from the telephone operator and sound the alarm, a shrill electric siren attached to his automobile. When he retired in 1986, firefighters were alerted to a blaze by a phone system and a City Hall alarm.

The fire at the Bell Hotel was the first fire call answered using the first real fire truck, a 500-gallon pumper. Luckily all of the hotel occupants escaped the two-story building. The nearby buildings were saved, but the hotel was not rebuilt. When Purcell retired, the department had two pumper trucks and a tanker.

Purcell started keeping a record of fires in 1953. By 1986 his records indicated that 457 fires have occurred in the Plain Dealing city limits and 1,235 out of town, all falling under the responsibility of Plain Dealing’s volunteer fire department. During that time, some of the major blazes were the Legion Hut in 1955; Plain Dealing High School in 1963; Carrie Martin High School in 1968; First Presbyterian Church in 1970; Stacy’s Restaurant in 1985, and the tragic fire in 1983 when seven people died.

At the end of each year, the volunteer firefighters had an annual supper around Christmas time, at which checks were passed out. The volunteers were paid a small amount of money for each fire call answered. At Purcell’s last supper with the department, before retiring, he was presented with a plaque with an inscription that read “Loved by all the citizens of Plain Dealing,” under that, it read “In appreciation for 49 years of service as a volunteer fireman, 1938-1987.” Mayor Leon Sanders read a proclamation at the dinner declaring Purcell chief emeritus for life.

In researching the Plain Dealing Volunteer Fire Department, this writer discovered that Purcell actually began his service as a volunteer firefighter in 1934. According to an article in “The Plain Dealing Progress,” Oct. 3, 1934, which named him and others as newly selected members of the department. The plaque presented to him should have read, “In appreciation for 53 years of service as a volunteer fireman, 1934-1987.”

By: Amy Robertson

Bossier City Pioneer Becomes First Mayor

Ewald Max Hoyer

In 1893, Bossier City was an unincorporated community with only a handful of families living here. That's the year that Ewald Max Hoyer of Marine, IL moved to Bossier City with his wife Minnie, formerly Bassenberg, of St. Louis. They settled on a farm, and he began buying cattle.

Barely qualified as a hamlet, those living in the community lived without electricity, gas, and a water system. Hoyer and the other residents would have to drive their buggies over to Shreveport to purchase a barrel of drinking water for 50 cents from a place called Curry Springs. By 1902, he tired of this, so he drilled the first deep-water well in Bossier Parish.

Hoyer and other pioneers of this city worked to build up their small community. Hoyer was a prominent businessman owning and operating a thriving dairy business with his brother Charles in Bossier City since 1893. By 1903 they built the largest dairy barn in North Louisiana, owned 100 cows, and by 1907, they were selling nearly 7,500 gallons of milk per month.

Advertisements from the Bossier City Land and Town Company repeatedly appeared in local newspapers in 1904. These ads were selling the growth potential of Bossier City and referring to it as East Shreveport to connect itself to the much larger and well-known city. In addition, they held auctions for over 700 lots in which they offered free transportation to and from the sale from the Shreveport end of the bridge. They also provided free barbecue and music.

Some of the attractions they advertised were the plans for a toll-free traffic bridge to cross the Red River and the promise that Bossier City would soon become incorporated. And, they already applied to the parish legislature for an election to remove the parish seat from Benton to Bossier City. They even selected the site for the courthouse in the center of the property that was being auctioned.

And to sweeten the pot, they also offered the chance for any adult attending the auction to win one of three lots. And a round trip railroad ticket to the World's Fair, St. Louis Exposition would be given to the person whose purchases aggregate the largest amount. With the coming of the VS&P railroad, the growth potential was there, and the community members wasted no time in the work required to build their community.

1907 was an exciting year because all of their work paid off as Bossier City was incorporated and proclaimed a village by Governor Newton Crain Blanchard. In his proclamation, he appointed Hoyer as the first Mayor of Bossier City, based on the recommendations of leading businessmen in Bossier City and Shreveport.

That same year Bossier City's first city hall was built with Hoyer's money for $1,200 on a lot donated by William McCormick. He also advanced money to cover expenses of the new government, which the village later reimbursed. Hoyer was instrumental in securing federal funds to build the toll-free traffic bridge across the Red River. The first elections in Bossier City took place in 1909, where Hoyer was re-elected to serve a second term as mayor. The first school and the first Baptist church were built during his second term.

Hoyer never received a salary for his service as mayor. When his wife became ill, he left office, and they moved to Shreveport. And even after moving to Shreveport, Hoyer continued his interests in Bossier City, building several subdivisions. During the Great Depression, he recalled things were tough, but he held on to his belief in Bossier City's growth.

Hoyer was there when Governor John M. Parker made Bossier City a town in 1923. And, twenty-eight years later, he was there when Bossier City was proclaimed a city in 1951 by Governor Earl K. Long. Hoyer was 88 years old and was honored at Bossier Cities celebration of becoming a city. He reminisced about the sparse community he moved to in 1893 and how he watched it grow from a handful of families to over 15,000 residents.

By 1950, Bossier City was designated as the "Fastest Growing City in Louisiana." When Hoyer died in 1957, the estimated population was 25,000. Bossier City's current estimated population is over 68,000, and we are the 6th largest city in Louisiana. Hoyer and other hard-working pioneers that were not afraid of investing their time, energy, and money would be proud to see this great city today.

To learn more about Hoyer or Bossier City history, visit the Bossier Parish Libraries History Center, the leading source for Bossier Parish History. We are at 2206 Beckett Street, Bossier City. Can't come in, call 318-746-7717 or email history-center@bossierlibrary.org with your request. Be sure to follow us @BPLHistoryCenter on FB and @bplhistorycenter on Tiktok.

By: Amy Robertson

Bossier Arts Council - Bossier's Virtual History Tour

Learn about the history of Bossier City's Municipal Building, which now houses the Bossier Arts Council, in this video. This video is part of our grant-funded project from the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities.

Our video series, called "Bossier's Virtual History Tour", gives us the opportunity to showcase twelve of the fascinating historic sites around our parish. Dr. Cheryl H. White, Professor of History at LSU-Shreveport and Director of Academic Initiatives for the Spring Street Museum, shares her wealth of local history knowledge in this video series. Funding for these grants has been provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and administered by the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities (LEH) as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act economic stabilization plan. Additional funding provided by the Union Pacific Foundation.

Bossier Arts Council

The Month In Bossier Parish History

 July: Through the years!

Jul.5, 1921: Weekly news from 100 years ago

· A dance was given at Alden Bridge.

C.1900’s: Fourth of July Dance at Alden's Bridge.

1997.054.012 Findley Collection

1997.054.118 

1997.054.012   

 

· Jack Lusk, W.E. Swindle, Barton Purcell and Joe Flowers spent the weekend in Plain Dealing.

C.1900’s: Jack, May, Clyde and Leon Lusk, children of Jake Lusk of Plain Dealing, sitting on donkey with painted scene behind.  Side of card reads: "Jack, May, Clyde, Oklahoma      Leon Lus---"

1997.062.101 Turnley Collection

 

· Vashti and Pauline Bounds were victors of Miss  Sadie Ritter.

C.1900’s: Vashti Bounds Ham and Pauline Bounds Welch

2012.059.063

 

· Alden Bridge was keeping Dr. J.B. Hall busy.

· Audrey and Emma motored to Alden Bridge.

C.1930’s:  Audrey Strayhan and unidentified man (possibly Gilford E. Boggs)

2002.025.024    Dunford Collection

 

· Nearly everyone who had a car went to Alden Bridge to celebrate the 4th of July.

 

July 7, 1925: New Bossier Officials go into office. 

The Shreveport Journal
01 Jul 1925

According to one historical source, it was during the term of Bossier's fifth mayor, Thomas Hickman, that many outstanding community improvements were accomplished. Among those improvements were a new city hall, a fire alarm system, the dedication of Barksdale Boulevard and the opening of the first city park.

Hickman, who served from 1925 to 1937. was described as being diligent, faithful and intensely interested in Bossier City.

He was born in Fillmore on Nov. 4, 1872.

As a young man, he worked on Red Chute Plantation, and later was employed in the real estate business.

On Dec. 10, 1902, Hickman married Della Hickson. The couple had one daughter Hickman is best remembered for what he allegedly said upon moving the mayor's office from a small wooden shack by the levee to the new city hall: "This is really too fine a place for the people of today, but not good enough for the people of tomorrow."

If Hickman had predicted Bossier's movement upward with his remark, Bossier's sixth and oldest living mayor, Hoffman L. "Hop" Fuller, certainly witnessed the city's new growth.

1997.042.055 Stokes Collection

July 25: Happy National Workaholic Day!

10-26-02, Abb Lewis Knighten, "The carpenter and handy man"  He is doing work on the Hughes house.

2019.016.188 Bossier Rest. Foundation Collection

 

C.1900’s:  "It’s been a hard day!” Young man asleep in chair outside

0000.001.019

 

Apr.1971: Unidentified man sitting at desk while looking through papers.

2016.037.465 Moore Collection

 

Home delivery, or rural free delivery, of mail did not start in Bossier Parish until 1907. The postal carriers are delivering mail in Plain Dealing about 1910. The bags on their shoulders are saddlebags and are being put onto their horses.

1997.054.054 Findley Collection

 

C.1900’s: Panoramic photos  Men watching a tractor pull a road scraper/grader.  A mule and walking scraper stand to one side and other teams stand on the other side.  North Cotton Belt Street prior to 1914. Left to right - Masonic Lodge, Plain Dealing Cooperating Farmers Union, Unknown, Unknown, Unknown, F.R. Gattett Store, A.L. Beaumont Jeweler.

1997.062.014 Turnley Collection

 

         1945: Jenny Clement Creamer at the Gulf Station on East Texas Street at the foot of the Texas Street Bridge in the 1940s, Bossier City. The Station was later called Kirkland's Tut Gulf Service in 1961.

1998.081.095 Young Collection

 

1956: Henry Jackson cutting timber.

2002.035.243 McKim Collection

C.1950’s: Vera Carrington at The B.F. Café, "Suzie Q's" Burgers and Fries.

2000.045.023 Shaver Collection

 

Jul.31, 1958: Miss U.S.A. comes home! 

Upon the arrival of her home town, Miss Eurline Howell all so known as Miss U.S.A and Miss Louisiana, receives the "Key to the City". 

The Shreveport Journal

Shreveport, Louisiana

31 Jul 1958

 

On the left is Ms. Eurline Howell, Miss Louisiana and Miss USA 1958, and on the right is Ms. Anita Thomasson. She had a dazzling smile, blue eyes and long, honey-blond hair. She spoke with a soft Dixie drawl and was a true Southern Lady. One official wrote "You will fall in love with her as soon as you see her."

Photo likely taken on "Eurlyne Howell Day" - July 31, 1958. Eurlyne was presented with the key to Bossier City (she is holding the key in photo) by Mayor Jake W. Cameron.

1998.047.203 Bossier Chamber of Commerce Collection

 

On the left is Ms. Eurline Howell, Miss Louisiana and Miss USA 1958, and on the right is Ms. Anita Thomasson. She had a dazzling smile, blue eyes and long, honey-blond hair. She spoke with a soft Dixie drawl and was a true Southern Lady. One official wrote "You will fall in love with her as soon as you see her."

Photo likely taken on "Eurlyne Howell Day" - July 31, 1958. Eurlyne was presented with the key to Bossier City (she is holding the key in photo) by Mayor Jake W. Cameron.

1998.047.203 Bossier Chamber of Commerce Collection

 

Maude Bryan and Earline Howell (also spelled Eurlyne or Arline). Ms. Howell won the title of Miss USA in 1958 and had roles on television shows "Maverick" and "Sunset Strip"

2003.023.020 Bryan Collection