History of Lucknow and Moon’s Landing of Richland Parish Louisiana as published in Richland Beacon News-August 5,2004 Submitted by Dot Golliher ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** This article was published in the Richland Beacon News On August 5, 2004 and is an excerpt of a historical sketch that was first published in a 1963 edition of the Richland Beacon News. The original article was entitled , By the Boeuf with Beth. The author was Betty Gunby By the Boeuf with Beth The romantic names, Lucknow and Mhoon’s Landing, lured me to ward 6 this week. I am delighted that I went! I saw and learned more in my recent jaunts to the west side of the Boeuf that I’ve known in all the years we’ve lived close to Ward Six on the east side of the Boeuf. I’ve heard reference to Mhoon’s Landing from every “old timer” I talked with about Boeuf River. I had to see it. Sunday, I visited the Oliver Lowerys over at on Clear Lake and they took me to see Mhoon’s Landing. We took the gravel road that winds along the wooded bank of the river on one side, while on the other side of the road, beautiful fields of cotton, soybeans and corn are vivid green. On up the road, there on your left, you’ll see the remains of what was once a charming country home. The house was built during the Civil War by Dr. Lewis, the brother-in-law of Mrs. James. Mhoon’s Landing was not far from that house. At the landing place, we walked through tall weeds to the river. Here the Boeuf is low and muddy with a surprising visible current in the water”flow”. This popular landing of past years is now a quiet and peaceful place. I’d seen the location of Mhoon’s Landing and my curiousity was satisfied. From Mrs.Rowena Mulhearn Westmoreland, I learned this tender story. It was the birth of a little baby girl that prompted her father, James Mhoon to say,”Well, we’ve got luck now!” That was his comment when his brother became the father of a little girl. About that time, the post office was established by the Mhoon place. A name was needed. Elated with the arrival of the little girl,someone Said, “That’s it: let’s name it Lucknow!” You’ll find Lucknow on your Louisiana map today(1963). And in the National Archives and Records Service in Washington is this post office record: Lucknow, Richland Parish, LA. Established on July 1, 1898;Discontinued July 31, 1925. Postmasters; James A. Mhoon, Appointed July 8,1898;Armstead R. Kilbourne, June 11, 1918; Bertha B. Earle, January 17, 1920. When the Mhoons moved away, Carl Earle took over the post office and It was moved to his store on the edge of Clear Lake. I went to visit Mr.& MRs. Earle and asked if they recalled any amusing post office incidents. Mr. Earle told this one about the mail order business that was so popular at the time. A common occurrence would be an inquiry by a person asking if his package had arrived. After unpiling about 40 packages, the patron’s package would be found with a COD tag attached. Satisfied to find his package was in the post office, the patron would reply, “I’ll pick it up Saturday.” Now you know Mr. Earle didn’t think that an amusing incident then!. Before I left, Mrs. Earle took me for a visit to her beautiful rose gardens.And then to the brooder house where she has a battery brooder with flocks of different age guineas in each cage. My favorites were the cunning little baby ones in the bottom cage. Oh, the wonders of farm life.