The Hauntings of Oakland Plantation

Oakland Plantation; Emma Pattillo Collection: 0000.011.018

Before the invention and everyday use of the television, people would gather around the radio for news and entertainment. Well, in 1938, KTBS-AM aired a series called “Can They Return?” every Tuesday at 8 pm. On March 1, 1938, the hauntings of the antebellum house of Oakland Plantation on Sligo Road was the subject of the show.

At the time of the broadcast, Grace Pettet; her mother, Mrs. H.B. Harris; her daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Hughes, and their two children were the occupants of the home. Two days after the broadcast, an article written by Freddie Kolstad ran in The Times, providing a written account of the transmission from Oakland Plantation. The following are excerpts from the article:

“Attempting to answer the oft-pondered question, “Can they return?” several members of the KTBS staff visited the 100-year-old house Tuesday night and used it as the scene of their broadcast. The short wave transmitter set was installed in the wide hall of Oakland, and members of the station’s staff, accompanied by the occupants at the house, made a thorough tour of the structure, from front porch to cellar.

"Their trip up and down the narrow flights of stairs and through each room was broadcast over the transmitter and was tied in with a station broadcast from the studio in Shreveport. At the studio the story of old Colonel Sutton, who had built his own coffin at Oakland and had slept in it nightly for years before he died, was told. Emphasis was placed on the eerie footsteps heard at night that many believe to be the colonel’s tread as he haunts his former home trying to find some one to whom he may reveal the spot where he buried gold which he hid from the Yankees shortly before the Civil war.”

Legends of supernatural activity at the more than 180-year-old antebellum home have been spread over the past century. As legends go, the details are subject to change over the years, but for the most part, they share the same general points. The story told the night of the broadcast is perhaps, the most common legend told; however, this is the first version of the story I have heard that identifies the ghost as being Colonel Sutton.

Many believe that the hauntings of Oakland Plantation are the ghost of Dr. Skannal, who called Oakland Plantation home from 1844 until his death in 1876. It has been told that Dr. Skannal purchased his coffin years before his death and placed it in the attic, where he reportedly took naps in it. Dr. Skannal, many believed, was a fun-loving jokester when alive, and after his death, he continued playing practical jokes by haunting his old home.

Other stories are that Dr. Skannal murdered his wife and kept her body in the coffin, and the body was discovered only after his death. And some think that these hauntings are the specters of the young Skannal children that died at Oakland. Phenomena reported over the years include people waking up to find their covers stripped off the bed and in the corner of the room. The thermostat is adjusted to freezing temperatures. And of glass milk jugs falling over, and the rocking chair rocking with no explanation.

There are tales of headless horsemen and horses trotting through the vast hallway. There are sounds of footsteps in the attic, and chains scraping the floor. The radio knobs have been seen moving on their own, and items have been seen falling off flat surfaces. Objects will vanish moments after setting it down only to reappear later.

Other eerie happenings reported over the years are sightings of a woman in white. One account tells of a cold draft of air that moved through the library and resulted in the fireplace
lighting by itself. And the sensation that someone or something is breathing on your neck. While
more recent accounts involve finding all the kitchen cabinet doors opened, and a photograph was
taken, which captured the image of a ghost baby.

To see a model of Oakland Plantation and learn more about its history, including oral
histories that share personal accounts of some of these hauntings, visit the Bossier Parish
Libraries History Center at 2206 Beckett Street, Bossier City.

By: Amy Robertson

The First Bossier Parish Fair

 Every year in October, the State Fair of Louisiana comes to town, but did you know that Bossier Parish had its own fair?

W. B. Boggs looking east on East Palmetto Avenue, Plain Dealing, La.
Bryce Turnley Collection: 1997.062.332

W. B. Boggs issued the following invitation in The Bossier Banner on Feb. 23, 1893, “In accordance with a resolution of the Bossier Parish Farmers’ Union, at the January meeting, I hereby call a meeting of the citizens of Bossier parish and South Lafayette county, Ark., at Plain Dealing, on Saturday, the 11th day of Mach, 1893, at 10 a.m., for the purpose of organizing the North Bossier Fair Association.”

“Every citizen is cordially invited and earnestly requested to be present.”

Officials of the Bossier Fair Association were John M. Sentell, president, Dr. C. H. Irion, secretary, and Mrs. W. H. Scanland, treasurer. A week before the first fair in 1899, they distributed posters throughout the parish to advertise and provide information about the upcoming fair.

Advertisements ran in the newspapers for train tickets on the Cotton Belt Route to the fair, such as this one seen in The Times, “On account of Bossier fair to be held at Benton, September 12th to 14th.. Inclusive, the Cotton Belt Route will sell tickets at one and one-third fares, with minimum of 50 cents. Tickets on sale September 11th to 14th., inclusive, with return limit September 15th.”

Dr. C. H. Irion, c. 1900.
Bossier Parish Library History Center Collection: Ed 007.004

The first Bossier Parish Fair was held on Dr. C. H. Irion’s property in Benton Sept. 12-14. The following account of the opening day of the first fair appeared in The Times on Sept. 13, 1899.

“Benton, Sept. 12. - The opening day of the Bossier fair was a decided success. The weather was all that could be desired, the assembled multitude was in a fine humor, and everything passed off smoothly and pleasantly and to the entire credit of the management.”

“Dr. C. H. Irion, who has been the leading spirit in this enterprise, has worked incessantly since its inception, and his indefatigable efforts are bearing rich fruit. As superintendent of the fair he is here, there and everywhere, and in connection with his able and active corps of assistants, nothing is overlooked or neglected in any particular.”

“It was hoped and confidently expected that Governor Foster would be able to attend the opening day, but circumstances prevented it. Had the governor been here he would have met a reception that would have done his heart good.”

“Excellent music was furnished by a colored band from Shreveport,”

“The opening address, welcoming the people to Bossier’s fair and capital, was delivered by Mr. Rydon D. Webb, and was a happy effort that won for the speaker the enthusiastic applause of his hearers.”

“The people generally, as well as the farmers, are taking great interest in the success of the fair. Visitors are numerous and more are coming from all directions. Shreveport is already fairly represented and many more of her people are expected to-morrow.”

“The hospitable people of Benton are leaving nothing undone that will contribute to the pleasure and comfort of their guests.”

“It is expected that the crowd will be greatly augmented to-morrow. All who wish to have a really enjoyable time are cordially invited to be present. The fair continues for two days longer.”

Grandstand and racetrack at Plain Dealing c. 1910s, used during the Bossier Parish Fair.
Beulah Findley Collection: 1997.054.045

1941 Bossier Parish Fair Catalog and Premium List.
Marilyn B. Light Collection: 1999.020.025

The Bossier Parish Fair was a great success in the first couple of years. However, the third year was not so successful, and the endeavor was abandoned until 1906 when it was reorganized. From 1906 through 1941, the Bossier Parish Fair was held annually in Plain Dealing.

In 1905, the Shreveport Times took up the question, “why not a state fair for Louisiana?” The very next year 1906, the first State Fair of Louisiana was held in Shreveport, and once the Bossier Fair was over, the exhibits would be moved to the State Fair.

To learn more about the Bossier Parish Fair, visit the Bossier Parish Libraries History Center, 2206 Beckett Street, Bossier City.

Bossier Parish Exhibit at the 2nd annual Louisiana State Fair, 1907.
Mary Wheeler Corley Colelction: 2003.026.141

By: Amy Robertson

J. P. Keeth: A Story of Grit

J. P. Keeth store in Plain Dealing on South Cotton Belt St. c. 1906.
Bryce Turnley Collection: 1997.062.105.

James Pleasant Keeth, born Oct. 30, 1854, was a natural-born businessman. He began working at the age of 10 as a mail carrier from Collinsburg to Shreveport, a distance of about 26 miles. Then at the age of 14, J. P. Keeth began clerking for Bill Marks on the Red River near Collinsburg. Keeth wisely saved his money and entered the Fillmore Academy, where he remained until he ran out of funds to pay for his education. During that time, Bossier Parish did not have public schools and only those that could afford to pay received a formal education.

After J. P. Keeth ran out of money for school, he left Fillmore Academy and began working as a clerk for Sentell & Nattin, a mercantile store in the Collinsburg area. By the time Plain Dealing was chartered in 1890, J. P. Keeth was already an established merchant in the area. He owned a general mercantile store in downtown Plain Dealing. Over the years, his store was in four different buildings.

The first two J. P. Keeth storehouses were located on East Cotton Belt, but they were both destroyed by fire. The first fire occurred on Dec. 19, 1902, destroying eleven of the principal businesses of Plain Dealing, which was almost all the business portion of the town. The storehouse was valued at $800 and was filled with $8,000 worth of inventory, of which $2,000 worth was saved. Insurance covered only $2,950 of the loss, leaving the company with a $3,850 loss on its books.

The second fire happened on May 22, 1906, and again destroying a large portion of the business section of the town. This fire was believed to have been started by robbers that robbed the Kelly Bros. store and then set fire to it. This time J. P. Keeth had $5,000 in inventory that was destroyed, and the value of the storehouse was $1,000. Again, insurance covered a small part of the loss paying $2,000 and leaving the company with a $4,000 loss.

The third location of the J. P. Keeth merchandise store was located on the west side of the railroad tracks. The building was said to be Plain Dealing’s first hotel and had a sign outside of the building that read “Hotel and Feed Stable.” This location was not ideal as it often flooded, leaving the store surrounded by water.

The J. P. Keeth store in Plain Dealing. The building was built 1888 and housed the first hotel in Plain Dealing. This picture was taken in 1906 and the flooding shown here in the downtown area was a common occurrence until 1961 when the three dams were constructed. Bryce Turnley Collection: 1997.062.013.

On Nov. 7, 1907, it was announced in The Bossier Banner that “Mr. J. P. Keeth has contracted with Mr. John Hill for the erection of an eighty foot brick store just in the rear of the one just finished for Mr. S. H. Cochran. The store will face on Palmetto Avenue. Verily our little town is putting on city airs.” In 1908 he moved into its fourth location, where he continued to serve the community as one of its leading merchants.

J. P. Keeth store, c. 1910s, in Plain Dealing located on the southwest corner of S. Lynch Street and E. Palmetto Ave. (Left to Right) Ben Keeth, J. P. Keeth, Johnnie Nuckolls, and T. Benton Bixler.  Bryce Turnley Collection: 1997.062.102.

Keeth ran an ad in The Bossier Banner on July 26, 1917, to announce the expansion of his mercantile business. According to this advertisement, J. P. Keeth now had three stores and one warehouse. He was currently leasing “the two Purcell Brick Stores, just across the street and next to the Plain Dealing Bank, and have opened their doors to the thrifty buying public. The old stand will be devoted to the display of my mammoth stock of Dry Goods, Shoes, Hats, Notions, etc. In one of the new stores my customers will find a full stock of Groceries and Feed Stuffs, and in the other Furniture.”

Less than a month later, J. P. Keeth died suddenly on Aug. 14, 1917, at his home shortly after his evening meal. His nephew, James Benjamin Keeth, succeeded him in the family business and J. P. Keeth’s mercantile store began operating under the name of J. P. Keeth Estate Store. In 1919 the Grocery and Furniture stores were sold to a new firm, Harrison, Purcell & Company.

On Jan. 8, 1920, an announcement in The Bossier Banner that the J.P. Keeth Estate Store was reorganized and began operating “under the name of The Keeth Company, with Mr. C. R. Keeth of Hosston, as President; Mr. J. B. Keeth, of Plain Dealing, Vice-president and Manager, and Mrs. Mollie S. Keeth, of Plain Dealing, Secretary and Treasurer.”

The exact year that the Keeth mercantile company closed is not clear. However, according to James B. Keeth in his book Benjamin Franklin Keeth: A Family History, “the store lost money, and it was eventually sold to the bank.”

To learn more about the Keeth family or Plain Dealing history, visit the Bossier Parish Libraries History Center, 2206 Beckett St., Bossier City.

By: Amy Robertson

Levi Strauss & Co. Chooses Bossier City

Levi Strauss (before 1902)
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Levi_Strauss_1.jpg

During the 1960s and 70s, the growing popularity of the casual look rapidly increased the demand for blue jeans. This fashion movement provided Levis Strauss & Co. with a period of rapid growth as the blue jean became more than a working man’s jean. During this period of rapid growth, Levi Strauss & Co. opened many plants throughout the United States. In the fall of 1969, it was announced that Levi Strauss & Co. would open its first plant in Louisiana.

The location for Levi-Strauss’s 32nd plant was right here in Bossier City on a five-acre site on Airline Drive near Douglas Drive and Melrose Ave. Groundbreaking for the 28,000 square-foot facility took place on Mar. 16, 1970. The Bossier City Industrial Development organization built the building and leased it to Levi Strauss & Co. The Cherokee Construction Co. of Shreveport expected to have the construction completed by the beginning of Aug. that year. The initial cost of the plant was approximately $180,000 and it contained $500,000 worth of machinery.

Job posting in the Shreveport Times, 1970.

Why did Levi Strauss & Co. choose Bossier City? Well, according to an article in the Bossier Banner-Progress published Nov. 27, 1969, “A spokesman for Levi Strauss said that the success of the Labor Registration Drive conducted by the Bossier Chamber of Commerce influenced the company’s decision to locate in Bossier City. The Labor Registration Drive was held with much enthusiasm through out the area with help from Plain Dealing, Haughton, and Benton. Some of these towns had volunteer men and women who maintained a registration desk for one week. Many of the churches and other organizations in the area also helped. The efforts registered over 13,000 persons.”

This “pilot plant” was expected to initially employ about 300 people, mostly machine operators with some office personnel and manual labor positions as well. Long-term goals for a permanent facility predicted employment estimates as high as 2,000. Initial plans for the Levi plant was to produce Levi’s pants for women, a marketing campaign known as Levi’s for Gals that launched in 1968.

Job posting in the Shreveport Times, 1971.

On Sep. 25, 1970, it was announced in the Shreveport Times that the Bossier City Levi Strauss & Co. production plant would officially operate as part of the firm’s Levi’s for Gals division starting on the first of Dec., along with the Tyler and Corpus Christi, Tx. plants. “Walter A. Haas, Jr., Levi’s president, said the move is an important step in the company’s divisionalization program and will help keep pace with LfG’s rapid expansion in the women’s sportswear field.”

In the Oct. 5, 1973 issue of the Shreveport Times, the Bossier Industrial Foundation and city officials announced, that Levi Strauss & Co. would cease operations in Bossier City, and Sondra, Inc. of New York City would take over the production facility with its ladies ready-to-wear line. In the same article, the writer states, “Expansion plans call for Sondra to increase the size of the operation on Douglas Drive by 25,000 to 30,000 square feet and hire 150 new employees, which will increase the annual payroll over the Levi total by some $250,000.”

Throughout its history, manufacturing has always contributed to the economic growth of Bossier Parish. With October being Manufacturing month it’s a great time to visit the Bossier Parish Libraries History Center to learn more about these and other manufacturers that operated here.

Tri-State Oil Tool Co.: 45 Years of Success

Tri-State Oil Tool Co. was established in Bossier City on Dec. 1, 1945, co-owned by Gary H. Burnham of Longview, TX and Earl P. Sawyer of Hamburg, AR with only seven employees. They were a general oil field machine shop specializing in cleaning wells and correcting other problems in well drilling.

In six short years, the company grew “from a modest beginning to one of this area’s leading oil tool service and supply companies,” according to “officials of the firm.” According to Burnham, they carried “a complete line of squeeze, acidizing, and fishing tools, well testing tools, both formation and casting: all sizes of washover pipes, and several types of drill pipe equipment with tool joints.”

In 1951, they moved into their new headquarters one-quarter mile east of Benton Rd. on Highway 80. Here, they had “a 250-foot frontage as compared with the old 55 feet” giving the company a larger building, more storage space, and parking. They had a large fleet of cars and seven trucks offering their services to the Ark-La-Tex around the clock.

Tri-State Oil Tool Co. new headquarters, plant, and pipe yard built in 1951. Photo taken in 1959.
Collection ID: 2000.036.001-2.

By 1953 they boasted five branches throughout Louisiana, Texas, and Arkansas. They had a staff of 90 highly skilled employees divided among plants in Lafayette, La; Beaumont, Kilgore, and Corpus Christi in Texas, and Magnolia, Ar. They did not limit themselves to work only in the Ark-La-Tex. They also provided their services as far north as Canada, as far east as Florida, and as far south as the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Cameron Parish.

In September of 1954, Tri-State Oil Tool Co. announced that they had perfected a new fishing tool. “The Tri-State Special Washover Drill Collar Spear is installed inside the washover pipe at a desired point so that it may be screwed into the fish before the rotary shoe reaches the stuck point. After the joint is securely tightened the working string is turned about one-eighth turn to the left and lowered. This operation releases the tool from the control bushing and washover operations may proceed with the comfortable feeling that when the fish is washed free it will be securely and safely caught.”

Tri-State Oil Tool Co.'s new Washover Drill Collar Spear.  

“Another interesting and time saving feature of this new tool is that the spear may be released and lowered to the control bushing and wash pipe laid down before having to do the usual difficult stripping job.”

“The remarkable efficiency of this new tool has been proven on many jobs under adverse conditions for such companies as Penrod Drilling Co., Phillips Petroleum Co., Hunt Oil Co., of Texas, Lion Oil
Co., and many others.”

Over the years, Tri-State Oil Tool Co. became a leading oil tool service and supply company not only for the tri-state area but for the country. For 45-years they remained an essential part of Bossier City’s economy; until 1990 when they merged with Baker Hughes International of Houston and relocated its corporate headquarters to Houston, Tx.

To learn more about the industries of Bossier Parish, visit the Bossier Parish Libraries History Center at 2206 Beckett Street, Bossier City.

By: Amy Robertson