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American Press
2 days ago
- General
- American Press
The Informer: Courthouse dome eludes exact engineering details
The octagon-shaped dome atop the Calcasieu Parish Courthouse — pictured on June 12, 1977 — is 32-feet wide and about 25-feet tall. The top of the flag pole pedestal adds another seven feet. (American Press Archives) For years, the assumption in Lake Charles was that the green dome atop the Calcasieu Parish Courthouse was solid — and tarnished — copper. Turns out, it's not. The question of how a solid copper dome that is 32-feet wide could have been lifted onto a three-story building in 1911 led to a startling discovery in 1977. Wesley Guidry, a draftsman with the parish's engineering office, found old photostatic copies of the courthouse's original blue prints 48 years ago and found drawings of steel beams in a hollow dome. 'The blueprint showed that the inside of the dome was made of an arched ribbed construction and steel braces were angled under the roof to give support to the dome,' Guidry told the American Press for its June 12, 1977, issue. Guidry took it upon himself to climb inside the dome to see firsthand if the steel braces were solid copper. To his surprise, he found tin. Guidry said the arched construction and metal underneath the copper roof gives both shape and support to the dome. He also said the shape of the dome is deceiving to those looking at it from ground level. It's not round, it's octagon-shaped. Guidry told the American Press the only recorded data on the historic landmark are the blueprints, he said. The dome was built by piece work. Thin sheets of copper, varying in size, were pieced together side by side without any overlap, he said. 'Inside the dome, there are cat walks that the men stood on when they were laying the copper sheets on top of the tin framework,' Guidry told the American Press. He told the newspaper he believes the seams of the copper sheets were soldered together. Guidry said its about 25 feet from the roof of the courthouse to the top of the round part of the dome. An additional seven feet is added by the flag pole pedestal. The shiny copper dome that was put in place in 1911 eventually tarnished over the years and turned pale green. Salt in the air oxidized the copper and turned it into sodium sulfate. Calcasieu Parish Administrator-Engineer Rodney Vincent told the American Press in 1977 that to clean the dome and restore its natural shine would cost a 'tremendous amount of money.' Vincent said at one time the Police Jury 'fancied' the idea of shining up the copper dome. 'But the estimates received were more than the Police Jury could afford.' The courthouse is a replica of the Villa Cora in Vicenza, Italy known as the Rotunda and was added to the Federal Register of Historic Buildings in 1989. The east front has a large Roman Doric portico with four high columns rising to a pediment at the roof line. There are north and south wings. A white colored balustrade runs along the edge of the flat roof.
American Press
29-05-2025
- General
- American Press
Historical walking tour focuses on the story of Lake Charles
Lake Charles' first City Hall was constructed in 1903. Before that, city council members met at homes, hotels or the second floor of the city's then-fire station at the corner of Iris and Cole streets. (American Press Archives) T he Imperial Calcasieu Museum is stepping beyond its walls to highlight and preserve Lake Charles' rich history this weekend. Starting at 2 p.m. Friday, ICM will host the first of three guided historical walking tours through Downtown Lake Charles. The 'Story of Lake Charles: Historical Walking Tours' will bring the city's history to the forefront in the locations of landmark events. The tours offer locals and tourists alike an opportunity to learn about landmark events and showcase influential figures who helped shape Lake Charles into what it is today. Ashley Royer, interim executive director, said the tours are a continuation of ICM's undertaking to preserve the area's history and culture, and will allow the museum to take this mission out of the confines of the building and into the area it honors. 'It is a way to take them out and about and just travel within the footsteps,' Royer said. The museum, which has operated since 1963, has curated the tour using precious — and scarce — primary sources such as Maude Reid's scrapbooks, as well as oral histories and input from area historians, to script the tour. Anna Alamond, an ICM creative specialist, will serve as docent for the tour. Royer said the walking tour is a chance for people to hear the accurate history of Lake Charles in a digital world of misinformation. 'If you imagine 20 years ago, everything's in the newspaper, everything's in a paper format, and we've moved to a digital format and part of it is that we're losing,' she explained. 'There's been mistranslations of the history that's going out.' History requires one to look backward and forward. And this is an important practice, Royer said, especially considering recurring themes the area is experiencing. The 1910 fire consumed the downtown area, but Lake Charles became a more developed city after the tragedy. Now, Lake Charles is in recovery from an onslaught of natural disasters, coupled with a pandemic. 'We think it's important because it's not just knowing what happened before, but what's happening currently,' Royer said. 'And I think it's important that history is a two-way street. You have to look back and forward. 'And there are just some really unique individuals who played a part in our development. I feel like you should know their stories.' The tour begins and ends at the Historic City Hall Arts and Cultural Center, 1001 Ryan St., and will last about two hours. Two more guided history tours will be offered in June. Tickets can be purchased on ICM's website. The cost is $20 for adults and $15 for seniors, military and children. Children ages 4 and younger admitted free.
American Press
17-05-2025
- General
- American Press
The Informer: Opening of port brought rejoicing to Lake Charles
Ships crowd the docks of the Lake Charles Port on Oct. 27, 1930. (American Press Archives) 'Only once before in the history of Lake Charles — Armistice Day, Nov. 11, 1918 — was there such general and genuine rejoicing in the city,' reads the Dec. 3, 1926, American Press. 'And never before has any one achievement meant so much to the popular mind in Lake Charles as are the formal port and water opening ceremonies here today.' Lake Charles had been a port of call since the early 1800s for sailing vessels navigating the shallow river to pick up cargoes of lumber. The Intracoastal Canal connecting the Calcasieu and Sabine rivers was later completed in 1915. It was 20.5 miles long and 12 feet deep, with a 90-foot bottom width. In 1922, voters in Calcasieu Parish approved a $2.75 million bond issue to deepen and widen the Calcasieu River from the Intracoastal Canal to Lake Charles. The intent was to provide a navigation route through the Intracoastal Canal to the Sabine River and to the Gulf of Mexico. From their, the vision became larger. On April 1, 1925, commissioners met with representatives of the three rail lines serving Lake Charles —Southern Pacific, Kansas City Southern and Missouri Pacific — to discuss facilities and the role the rail lines would play in the future of the Port of Lake Charles. A special election was called for July 7, 1925, for $500,000 to build wharves, docks, warehouses, railway facilities and elevators for use in connection with the construction of the port. On Dec. 3, 1926, the dream became a reality. The American Press said trains, yachts and tug boats brought delegations by the hundreds from distant cities just to partake in the opening festivities. Long before the 9 a.m. ceremony began, Lake Charles began to hum with activity and music from 'the finest bands in the South,' including the Magnolia Refining company group from Beaumont, Texas, and the Centenary Cadets from Shreveport. Gov. Oramel Simpson and representatives of Gen. Edgar Jadwin, who was then chief of Army Engineers in Washington, D.C., were among the celebrated guests. 'The day opened clear and crisp with not a cloud in sight to dampen any one's aspirations and enthusiasm, and on schedule time formal ceremonies began with the grand parade from the Kansas City Southern deport at 10:20 a.m.,' the newspaper reads. 'From that hour on during the remainder of the day, one big event has followed another with a swiftness and magnitude that have eclipsed any celebration ever before attempted in Lake Charles.' Mayor Henry J. Geary presided at the opening of the formalities and introduced the Rev. R.H. Wynn, pastor of the Broad Street Methodist Church, who gave the invocation. 'After delivering the address of welcome in which he extended the keys of the city and of the port to the distinguished guests and to the visitors, Mayor Geary expressed greetings on the occasion, which he said is the outstanding epoch in the history of Lake Charles.' Nearly 100 years later, the Port — more formally, the Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District — accounts for a large percentage of local economic revenue and more than $34 million in annual Lake Charles tax revenue. It covers more than 200 square miles in Calcasieu Parish and operates 5,400-plus acres.
American Press
29-04-2025
- Sport
- American Press
One last run
As a sophomore, Reese Reyna hit the tournament-winning home run for McNeese. (American Press Archives) A s she rounded the bases, her feet seemed to barely touch the ground. It was a Saturday afternoon two years ago, and with each step, the fans at Joe Miller Field grew louder and louder. Then-sophomore McNeese Cowgirls shortstop, Reese Reyna, ran toward her teammates who were circling home plate. As her right foot landed in the middle of the plate, the day's drama ended and a wild celebration ensued. That was the last time the Cowgirls hosted a postseason game. Reyna had won the game and the tournament, sending McNeese back to the NCAA Tournament for the third straight time. 'I do remember that, but there were a lot of other plays and players that did big things which led up to that moment,' Reyna said. 'But it was fun.' Reyna's two-out blast over the fence in left in the bottom of the eighth was just the second hit on the day for McNeese, which won 1-0 over rival Southeastern. Two years later, Reyna and the Cowgirls are back home, hosting one of the two four-team pods that will determine which teams advance to the title series. They will open play Thursday against eighth-seeded East Texas A&M at 3 pm. 'It's exciting to be back playing a tournament at home,' said Reyna. 'We love playing in front of our fans. They always support us.' Reyna is getting one final chance at making an NCAA Regional after the Cowgirls won their fourth straight regular-season title last weekend. She is the only player in Southland Conference history to have accomplished that. 'I have been blessed to be here for four years,' Reyna said. 'It has been great to be a part of this program and this community.' Now in her final games at McNeese, Reyna is wiser than she was two years ago, and she's become a leader of the team. She still plays the same way, though. 'She has matured, and that has been fun to watch,' said McNeese head coach James Landreneau. 'To see how she has grown not just in softball, but in life, has been very rewarding.' As a freshman, the 5-foot-3 infielder from Santa Fe, Texas, played in 57 games, starting 53. She followed that up by starting all 61 games and hitting .309, earning a spot on the SLC's all-conference second team. Reyna was named the MVP of the postseason tournament as well, hitting two homers, including the one that clinched the title. Last year, however, she struggled after getting off to a slow start. Reyna finished with a career-low .252 average while starting all 51 games. 'I looked at my numbers early and was like, gosh, I should be more productive,' said Reyna. 'I started to press and felt like I wasn't helping the team.' Her coach, however, stayed with his shortstop. 'No one has ever questioned Reese's effort,' said Landreneau. 'She came here to play ball. I feel like last year she was trying too hard. 'She wasn't herself.' That's changed. 'I care more about the results of the team,' said Reyna. 'I'm not worried about my numbers.' Reyna will take a .308 average into the postseason with career highs in home runs (5) and runs batted in (29). And when she takes the field Thursday, she will be alone in fifth place at McNeese for most games played with 233, nine off the record. That alone shows her value and consistency. 'Since Reese first showed up on campus, we have been able to count on her to work hard, play the game the right way, and do little things that help us win,' said Landreneau. Don't be surprised if Reyna doesn't have another memorable moment for the Cowgirls' postseason.
