Churches: Las 'Ormigas Cemetery and Chapel, Sabine Parish Source: Sabine Index, Many, La., Nov 4, 1966 Submitted by: Carl Dilbeck carlrad@earthlink.net ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** Las 'Ormigas Cemetery and Chapel By Ann Matthews, Shreveport Journal Staff Writer NOBLE - A large portion of western Sabine Parish will soon be flooded by Toledo Lake. Because of this, a small part of this land, which was once the site of Las 'Ormigas Cemetery and Chapel, will be lost to future generations. But this summer, the cemetery was relocated near here, and the small chapel will soon join it as a museum of the history of the area. The project was started when the historic Las 'Ormigas Cemetery was moved here from its original place, 10 miles west of Converse. Father William J. Pierce, pastor of the church, said that the little chapel, located at the old cemetery site, will also be moved to house historic items. Las 'Ormigas was started around 1860, and the land for the cemetery was legally donated by Emory Phillips of Converse in 1881. Father J. M. Ledroux was pastor of Las 'Ormigas at the time. The property was donated on July 12, 1881. The cemetery was relocated at Noble by the Sabine River Authority and the Toledo Bend Project, in July 1966, and re-dedicated on Oct. 16. According to records, the oldest burial was that of Phillip Ouibra Paddie on Sept. 9, 1893, and the latest burial in the old cemetery took place in 1957. Las 'Ormigas, or "The Big Ants", has also been known as Round Lakes Church and Cemetery, because the former location was near Round Lakes. Because the original cemetery site will be flooded when Toledo Bend Dam and Lake are completed, the cemetery had to be moved. It is one of four cemeteries on the Louisiana side, which will be moved because of the project. According to Father Pierce, there is a federal law saying that anytime a state floods land containing a cemetery, the cemetery must be relocated. Upon completion of the dam and lake, the lake will be at the 178 foot level at the old cemetery site. The water will reach 15 feet on the road leading to the old cemetery, and 10 feet of water will cover the old gravesites. The cemetery was moved at a cost of $14,000, which was paid by the Sabine Authority of the Toledo bend Project. The project was started on June 27, and completed on July 9. It took six days to move the bodies, and re-inter them, and another five days for completion of the project, including recovering the old graves. Altogether, 180 graves were moved to the new site. Between 60 and 65 of these were unidentified. All the graves were relocated in the same order of arrangement as they were in the old cemetery. The new cemetery has space provided for relatives of the deceased, and future needs of the church. At the recent rededication ceremonies, a historic marker was revealed. The marker honors the unknown persons buried in the cemetery. Made of Texas granite called Premier Rose, the marker cost $400. Bishop Charles P. Greco, Bishop of the Diocese of Alexandria, blessed the marker at the event. Also, during the afternoon, a six gun and bugle salute was given by an honor guard from Fort Polk. Other activities included talks by Bishop Greco and other special guests. Las 'Ormigas Cemetery was moved by the First National Funeral Home of Homer, under the supervision of its manager, R. H. Brunson. George Hebert, representing Sam Collins, chief engineer for the Toledo Bend Project, was Toledo Bend Project supervisor for the moving of the graves. W. R. Jackson of Leesville, and E. L. Edwards of Many, were the lawyers on the case, and Judge John S. Pickett of Many handled the case. The first Las 'Ormigas Church was built sometime between 1860 and 1881. It was a log cabin, which burned. The second church building, a plank cabin, also burned. This building also was used as a public school., When the plank cabin was destroyed, the third structure, of lumber construction, was built in 1925. This is the chapel that is still standing, and will be moved to the new cemetery site, and renovated. In it will be put many objects, which tell of the religious history of this area. Some of the items already acquired for the new museum are a handmade communion rail (1920's), an iron wood burning stove (1920), a steamer trunk belonging to a former pastor of the church (1924), and the bell from the old St. Catherine's Catholic Church. Father Pierce said that he hopes to acquire other objects to be placed in the chapel and cemetery. To get to this new museum of religious and historic interest, turn west off U.S. Hwy. 171 at Noble, and proceed through town, passing the old Noble school (now St. Catherine's Church). The cemetery is just beyond the church. The chapel will be located at the edge of the cemetery.