Last week, my boss asked me if I had ever found any history or information on the town of Calhoun. I had to admit that I hadn’t. After much scrambling around, she found a short history that had been written by Louise Rhea Humble Terracina. I once worked with Louise and knew her as a very beautiful person, inside and out. According to Louise, It was founded circa 1882 and was named for Archie Calhoun, an area settler. In my hunt for info, I found the following account of the little town (here called Cahoun Station) in the Shreveport Times of October 6, 1889, just after Calhoun got going! Enjoy!
Calhoun Station, La.
“Have you any news? What is the news of your village? are the questions often asked of we Calhounites. When we visit a neighboring town, or meet a friend out of our village limits, (well, out in the country), ’tis often that we have to ponder to answer the question. We of course, know that there is some news that would interest some one, but we are ever weighing the ideas of some uninterested party, thinking, perhaps, that they might regard our information with a sneer.
The following is an answer to the question which often escapes our lips, “I don’t really know that I have any news of interest.” I presume you know that Mr. ______ and Miss _______ were married, etc. Consequently, those who are ever regarding the ideas of others, are unqualified for being a news-monger.
I was the recipient of a nice note from Pansy several days past, asking me to write a newsy letter at least semi-monthly to the Sunday TIMES. Now, that question, “What is the news of our village?” is to answer through the columns of one of our choice North Louisiana papers.
We will try to give those who may be interested, a brief sketch of our hamlet.
Calhoun seems to have one special attraction, the North Louisiana Experiment Farm No. 3. As this farm has been so well described by Vivian, of the Baton Rouge Truth, and, as many of our North Louisiana friends have visited this farm, I consider that my speaking of it would only be trying to repeat what has been said.
Most all places called town are apt to try to put on a few airs; and as most towns and cities have a Main street, so we will turn a public road which forms right angles with the Vicksburg, Shreveport and Pacific railway, not more than eight paces west of the depot, Main street. Now the situation of Calhoun might be described by some as being low, young hills, each dotted with two or three humble cottages, and one tiny hill. But I will say that her visitors will find going north up Main street from the railroad (after they step about seventy-five or one hundred paces) the mercantile establishment of Messrs. Bryan & Peery.
Next is the establishment of Mr. W.H. Andres, with its accommodating clerks.
Next, third and last in the mercantile line is the small, neat, well stocked store of Captain B.F. Chambliss. With Drs. Fuller and Brooks’ drug store, a neat depot with an obliging agent, and, O, I like to have forgot the printing office. Why, is that a printing office? I thought it was the residence of the florist – no, indeed, among those geraniums, vines, etc., you will find the Experimental Farmer office,k also the postoffice where Mr. L.C. Drew presides.
Heigho! I see Pansy arching her brows and saying: “Please remember that somebody else wants to speak.” I will say, in conclusion, that we are rather boastful of our school; that we have something between one hundred and two hundred white inhabitants, who meet at our Union church to attend prayer meeting and Sabbath school, each, ever week. Very truly,
A WELL-WISHER.
Ouachita Parish History Tidbits 