There are those who remember the Bogalusa of old, back when Bogalusa was the place to go in Washington Parish. If you ask some of Bogalusa’s older residents, they’ll tell you that Bogalusa richly deserved the designation “The Magic City” back when they were young and so was the town.
According to some histories of the time, by the early 1950s, the Bogalusa metropolitan area was flourishing, with more than 20,000 people. There wasn’t a lot of industry in the town, but the paper mill was large enough to employ a large segment of the town’s population. There was a Coca-Cola bottling plant and a large number of medium and small businesses. There was even a bowling alley.
  
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In retrospect, Bogalusa seemed to be Louisiana’s version of Mayberry, where kids could walk to school or ride a bicycle and everybody in town went to the football game on Friday night. Friday and Saturday nights were date nights, and most residents could be found in one of the many churches on Sunday morning.
Looking through old editions of the The Daily News and even farther back to The Enterprise, one can get a sense of what Bogalusa was like at the turn of the century – the twentieth century, that is.
Following is an article that was published in Bogalusa’s first newspaper, The Enterprise, on Thursday, July 1, 1915, just one year after Bogalusa was founded. You might find it interesting.
Bogalusa Recognized as One of the Most Progressive Cities in the Entire South
Bogalusa – The Magic City – is also known as the City Unusual. The progress of Bogalusa has been nothing short of phenominal (sic) and today is recognized as the only city in the south where Progress, Enthusiasm and Hustle is imbued in all our 11,000 happy citizens. Growing from a dense pine forest to a model city in less than eight years is the record of Bogalusa. And this growing has been steady and at times when conditions were far from normal. Besides having the World’s Largest Lumber Mill, the shops of the N.O.G.N., a million dollar paper mill, a large creosoting plant and scores of other smaller industries, Bogalusa lays claim to having the best schools and churches of any city its size in the country. Bogalusa is a different city and may be called a city of magnificent distances as the city has six business sections: Columbia Street, Richardsontown, Pleasant Hill, Northwest Bogalusa, Avenue B and North Bogalusa. There are three other residental (sic) sections to Bogalusa and the prediction is made, and we all know it is true, that in 10 years from today Bogalusa will be one of the best manufacturing centers in the south with a population of 25,000 or more.
The marvelous work that has been done in this community, in the building of the splendid city of Bogalusa, in the past nine years, has been due, to a large extent, to the many stockholders of the Great Southern Lumber Co. and the N.O. G.N.R.R. Co., who unfortunately do not live in the city and therefore are deprived of the many privileges that we as citizens of the city enjoy. To these people, scattered all over the United States and who by their faith in the men at (the) head of the Great Southern Lumber Co., and the N.O.G.N.R.R. Co., invested their money in these pine forests of Louisiana and who gave directions that the people who operated their plant should be surrounded by all the privileges that anyone living in a modern city enjoy, and who during all the depressing times that we have gone through in the last few years had so much faith in the ultimate outcome of the enterprise that they insisted on its continued operation even though sacrificing their own interests and sacrificing their timber in order that the people who are interested as employees might have steady employment and might not suffer the hardships that people living in other Southern lumber communities have had to bear, to these stockholders we owe a great depth (sic) of gratitude which the whole citizenship of the city of Bogalusa will very gladly repay to the very best of their ability during the coming years when it is hoped that general business conditions will be such that they will reap a proper return for their faith in Louisiana.
On September 14, 1905, a party of Great Southern Lumber Company officials left Covington, La., with a view of locating a site for a town somewhere between Slidell and Jackson, where a large saw mill would be erected. In the party were: F.H. Goodyear, president of the Great Southern Lumber Company; Mr. C. W. Goodyear, vice-president; Mr. W. H. Sullivan, general manager; Mr. F. J. Coleman, engineer; Mr. N.G. Pearsall, general manager of the N.O.G.N.R.R. The party arrived where the town of Bogalusa is now located on the morning of September 15, 1905, and found it a very attractive place for the location of a town, but were not satisfied on account of its being nearer to Slidell than it was to Jackson. It was then decided by the party to find a place which was suitable about 20 miles farther north. They found a place called Ten Mile, about 25 miles north of Bogalusa, but owing to the difficulties in purchasing the land at that place they decided to locate the town at the place which is now called Bogalusa. It took six months to name the town. All sorts of names were suggested until finally the name of Bogue Lusa was suggested, and inasmuch as the Government would not have two words in the name of a postoffice (sic), the two words were combined, making Bogalusa.
On Wednesday, February 7, 1906, the first tree in Bogalusa was cut down on the north side of the creek near Avenue B bridge, by J. L. McClendon, an old resident of this section, and on February 12th, tents were erected and carpenters, millwrights and construction men moved in and commenced the erection of a portable mill near the site of the present paper mill. There was sufficient timber on the site of the town to build the town, amounting in all to about fourteen million feet. It was first proposed to locate the saw mill plant north of the creek, but later on when Mr. F. H. Goodyear and Mr. A. C. Goodyear visited Bogalusa and looked the situation over again, it was decided to build the plant on the south side of the creek. This decision was reached on May 15, 1906. The town and plant were completed by November 1, 1907, but operation of the plant was not started until the first of September, 1908.
In the Park, within 50 feet of each other, are monuments erected to commemorate the life and service of Mr. Frank H. Goodyear, first president, and Mr. Charles W. Goodyear, second president of the Great Southern Lumber Company. To the wisdom and foresight of these two men and their associates, shareholders in the Great Southern Lumber Company, we are indebted to a large measure for the splendid town. Their instructions at all times to Mr. W. H. Sullivan, vice-president and general manager of the company, who designed and built the town and plant, were to make the town a good town to live in, giving the people good schools, churches, well arranged homes with electric lights, pure water, sewerage and all modern conveniences; to build good streets, good sidewalks, and to make the town so attractive that men who worked in lumber enterprise would be glad to live in Bogalusa.
As stated above, the city gets its name from the Choctaw name of the creek that runs east and west through the middle of the city. This stream is named Bogue Lusa, which in the Choctaw language means “Black Creek.” The combination of the two words “Bogue Lusa” into “Bogalusa” makes a very unusual name. No where in the whole world is there another place called Bogalusa. No where in the whole world has there been accomplished as much, with the same amount of money, with the same amount of energy, with the same amount of skill, as has been accomplished in this city. Wherever they are known, the people of Bogalusa are spoken of as a happy contented and boosting people and as a people who believe in the future of the city.
Comments
Edmond Chandler wrote on Oct 1, 2009 9:22 AM:
... DUCKS are UGLY when they are born... gradually they become beautiful SWANS!... BEAUTIFUIL, GRACEFUL, ADMIRED!
... BOGALUSA CAN ONCE AGAIN BECOME A BEAUTIFUL SWAN, FOlKS!
... clean, proud, with good schools, good effective city government, well-kept neighborhoods, ...
... a city sought by surrounding communities to imitate! ... a city envied for it's progress!
... a city where people will WANT to LIVE and RAISE THEIR CHILDREN!
... dare to make a difference. Dare to be different! "
Edmond Chandler wrote on Oct 1, 2009 8:38 AM:
... also, some help from the local prisoners?
... and volunteers? and residents/owners/tenants?
... as I write this, I'm looking at the house next door to me, abandoned, vacant, RUBBISH IN THE REAR YARD! (730 Avenue B), used by "druggies" at night!
... broken windows, etc. I have given this info to City Hall several times! ASKED FOR HELP.
... OWNER: Dee McClendon, 932 Ave. F, Phone: 732-2427
... HELP! "
Edmond Chandler wrote on Oct 1, 2009 8:32 AM:
" Look at the last sentence of the second paragraph. Is that not the longest sentence EVER!!! "
Sentence Structure aside, this is a really GOOD ARTICLE! It tells of a time when Bogalusa WAS GREAT! A CITY UNUSUAL!
This article has meat! Don't criticize the "messenger" for such detail.
Let's work to make Bogalusa The "City Unusual" once again, James.
GO BOGALUSA! "
James wrote on Sep 30, 2009 3:39 PM:
Edmond Chandler wrote on Sep 30, 2009 1:28 PM:
... PLEASE, no more excuses and negative remarks. Bogalusa needs some encouragement to once again become The City Unusual.
... Cities around Bogalusa are GROWING, folks ... Bogalusa CAN, TOO.
... DARE TO CARE AND GET INVOLVED!
... We need to begin NOW ... Paul Penton, when can we expect some help from you and the Nat'l Guard?
GO BOGALUSA! "
ew wrote on Sep 29, 2009 12:26 PM:
We who live in large metropolises live outside the city to seek refuse. Success and pride breeds success and pride. Examples must be set. "
Blindedeyes wrote on Sep 28, 2009 10:09 PM:
Blindedeyes wrote on Sep 28, 2009 8:39 PM:
former resident wrote on Sep 28, 2009 2:36 PM:
D Pounds wrote on Sep 27, 2009 5:42 PM:
AriesTaurus wrote on Sep 27, 2009 3:04 PM:
Edmond Chandler wrote on Sep 26, 2009 9:56 AM:
... NOW, folks, we are in year 2009, we must work with our resources and deal with issues in year 2009 ...
... Better education for our Youth ...
... PRIDE in our city.
... Attack the crime issue, drugs are at the root cause.
... Eliminate the "race card" ... we are all Bogalusa citizens, black, white, Asian, Hispanic ... WORKING TOGETHER FOR A BETTER BOGALUSA!
... Better LEADERSHIP in City Hall.
..... GO BOGALUSA! "
Edmond Chandler wrote on Sep 26, 2009 9:37 AM:
... Enough, already, of lamenting about the past. Look UP, folks ... SEE THE BRIGHT FUTURE OF BOGALUSA IN THIS CENTURY!
... USE THE PAST AS A REFERENCE OF what can be for the future of our Bogalusa!
... Change your thinking about the Magic City. See OPPORTUNITY, as I see OPPORTUNITY!
... I see OPPORTUNITY to make Bogalusa a PRIME EXAMPLE of what a small, southern town CAN BE NOW!
... GO BOGALUSA! "
Edmond Chandler wrote on Sep 26, 2009 9:25 AM:
We are not here to BASH City Hall, The Mayor, nor anybody else, folks.
It's all about a BETTER BOGALUSA!
It's about QUALITY OF LIFE HERE IN BOGALUSA!
It's about working to move Bogalusa FORWARD and UPWARD!
"Teamwork"
City Government PLUS citizens ... working together for a BETTER BOGALUSA for ourselves and our kids and their kids.
GO BOGALUSA! "
ew wrote on Sep 25, 2009 11:31 AM:
Things have to change from the current situation there. The ones who have left and achieved some success must return and demonstrate to the young people of Bogalusa how to succeed. Demonstrate the lifestyle we currently enjoy.
Only and only if our favorite sons and dauthers return to rebuild the city we once and still call home will it prosper. "
Edmond Chandler wrote on Sep 24, 2009 9:37 PM:
YES, "Q"... you are correct. HOWEVER, ATTITUDES can CHANGE.
One life-long resident and neighbor of mine said, "If you're not satisfied with Bogalusa, as it is, you can move away!"
He continued, "We are satisfied with Bogalusa just as it is"
IS THIS TYPICAL THINKING OF OUR RESIDENTS?
GO BOGALUSA! "
TastyFreeze wrote on Sep 24, 2009 8:06 PM:
Edmond Chandler wrote on Sep 23, 2009 4:27 PM:
I feel the same way about Bogalusa. "If it's good for Bogalusa, I'm for it" ...
GO BOGALUSA! GROW BOGALUSA! "
Edmond Chandler wrote on Sep 23, 2009 3:20 PM:
What I don't like is the GROSS NEGLECT that has been allowed to CHOKE the life out of Bogalusa, and I'm fighting City Hall and The Mayor and City Council to GO TO WORK AND REMEDY THIS PROBLEM.
We CAN with LEADERS! "
Q wrote on Sep 23, 2009 12:40 PM:
After I graduated college, I left La...and have never regretted my decision. I guess my view of Bog is out of a different lens than yours. You had the "joys of the 50's". I didn't...different side of the tracks
I come home several times a year to visit family and friends...but that's what my attachment is, nothing more. "
Q wrote on Sep 23, 2009 12:25 PM:
I was born/raised in Bogalusa. Fortunately, my family had the means and desire to expose me to more than New Orleans. At a very early age, I knew that Bogalusa was not the place I wanted to have a future. I realized there was a much bigger world outside, and I wanted to explore it.
Unfortunately, as the world has moved forward, it seems as if Bogalusa has moved backwards. There's no money channeling through, there's no promising future, and nothing for kids to do... i'm sure you've heard about idle hands "
Edmond Chandler wrote on Sep 23, 2009 11:42 AM:
Things in Bogalusa are changing for the BETTER!
This is cause for CELEBRATION, folks.
GO BOGALUSA! ... GROW BOGALUSA! ... LOVE BOGALUSA! "
jmcgrig wrote on Sep 22, 2009 3:07 PM:
Edmond Chandler wrote on Sep 22, 2009 11:10 AM:
... I have a dream... a reality dream ... My vision for Bogalusa is to see "her" restored to the splendor of her rich and vibrant past!
... Who will step forward and join in this movement to make Bogalusa the beautiful lady she was "way back then" ...
... YOU can make the difference, Folks ...
... ELECT "DOERS" to LEAD our city. LEADERS WHO PUT BOGALUSA ON THE FRONT BURNER FOR PROGRESS!
I hope that I am speaking for each citizen.
GO BOGALUSA! "
Edmond Chandler wrote on Sep 22, 2009 10:57 AM:
I like that description of Bogalusa.
What can I, we, you do to bring Bogalusa back to being "The City Unusual"?
ANSWER: We can be part of the solution to our many and varied problems... We can take pride in our Bogalusa.
We can elect BETTER LEADERS! LEADERS who share our concern for the downward trend of our Bogalusa.
LEADERS who will WORK to GROW a NEW BOGALUSA, better than ever in the past! "
Edmond Chandler wrote on Sep 22, 2009 10:39 AM:
To: "Q" Hope you change your mind. Bogalusa needs MORE good citizens who appreciate what she can be and to help make Bogalusa a beautiful Lady once again!
May I ask WHY you will only come back to visit?
... Bogalusa is waiting to regain her title of "Magic City" ... "
Q wrote on Sep 21, 2009 8:48 PM:
I even enjoyed my years in Bogalusa. But, I won't come back for more than a visit now. "
Edmond Chandler wrote on Sep 21, 2009 5:30 PM:
What are you passionate about, Ms. J?
... We want to see Bogalusa, your Bogalusa and our Bogalusa, GROW in quality of life!
... Thank you for your positive comments! "
Ms J wrote on Sep 21, 2009 12:05 PM:
Ever evolving wrote on Sep 21, 2009 9:17 AM:
Edmond Chandler wrote on Sep 19, 2009 11:38 AM:
MONEY is not the only issue. LEADERSHIP and INOVATION and BETTER MANAGEMENT OF OUR RESOURCES IS THE ANSWER, BOB.
People min City Hall who CARE enough to WORK for a better "Magic City"...
Lastly, A CHANGE IN ATTITUDES on the part of our citizens!
We CAN if we WANT TO!
TALK is cheap ... LEADERS are needed! "
Edmond Chandler wrote on Sep 19, 2009 11:32 AM:
Today, people are embarased to say, "I'm from Bogalusa" ...
My vision for The Magic City is to see the "MAGIC" put back into Bogalusa.
It CAN be done, Bob ... but it takes QUALIFIED, DEDICATED, LEADERS... HONEST PEOPLE who share our vision for a more beautiful Bogalusa! It takes PRIDE! (continued) "
Bob Lawrence wrote on Sep 18, 2009 2:34 PM:
Kids of all ages played a game called "Keep Away" in the early hours of darkness and even later. They ran all over town screaming and hollering. Little kids walked home from school without danger. Bogalusa's schools were best in the state. Great time to be a kid. "
Bob Lawrence wrote on Sep 18, 2009 2:24 PM: