Forgotten Communities, Strader, Tangipahoa Parish Parish, Louisiana Submitted to the USGenWeb Archives by Sandra McLellan, Dec., 1999 Special thanks to Jim Perrin for donating it to the archives. ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ HISTORIC PONCHATOULA Forgotten Communities By JIM PERRIN Strader This 19th Century lumbering community was located at Owl Bayou two miles north of Pass Manchac. In the 1890s, Leonard (b. Ca. 1849-d. 1893) and Edward Strader (1863-1947) began logging the abundant tidewater red cypress in the area around Owl Bayou. They milled their timber and shipped lumber by rail and by ship across the lakes. The Straders sold their operations to the Owl Bayou Lumber Co., which continued lumbering activites in the area. A post office was established at Strader in 1893, but was discontinued in 1895 and the mail transferred to Akers (Manchac). The population of Strader between 1897 and 1901 was estimated to be about 200- 250 persons. The post office at Strader was re-established in 1901 and operated until its final termination in January, 1918. By the time the 1920 Census was conducted, there were less than 20 people listed as residents of Strader. Over the years, the swamp has reclaimed the Strader community, leaving little evidence that it had once been a thriving lumber mill town. Anyone having information, photographs, or documents on the people, places and events that have shaped our community are invited to communicate with the author, Jim Perrin, at 14187 Randall Ave., Hammond, LA 70403