Bethlehem Community History, Winn Parish, LA
Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483
**********************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm
**********************************************


 




>From the May 13, 1938 Winnfield News-American


Bethlehem Community History Shows Marked Progress In All Activities

(By Mrs. R. E. Howard and Mrs. G. A. Chandler)

When Bethlehem Community was settled there were many wild animals such as
bear, deer, turkey, and others.

Among the first settlers were:  Bill and Wesley Cockerham, two or three
Duplissy brothers, Blake Greene Carter and James Carter. 

The first church was built of long with split log benches for seats.  It was
located where the Bethlehem Cemetery is now.  Later a rough plank house was
built on the opposite side of the road.  In 1927, the present building was
erected.  Rev. Spencer Ray and Rev. Terral were among the early pastors.

Our first schools were taught in the log church, then a small school house was
built nearer thehighway which was larger and a better building.  That was our
school system until the rural schools were consolidated and our children were
transferred to the village of Calvin, where we now have an approved high
school.  Some of our earliest teachers were Mr. Morgan, Mr. Hill, Mr. Hargis,
and Mr. Elliott.

Roads were poor for any mode of transportation.  They were very narrow and
rough which made progress very slow.

Our first post office established was near the church.  It was owned and
operated by a 
Mr. Watts, so it was given the name of Wattsville.  Some of our postmasters
following 
Mr. Watts were:  Jim Carter, Henry Elliott, Kaleb Durham, and George Burnum. 
In later years Calvin village was built and our post office was moved there,
the people going there for the mail until a rural route was granted from
Winnfield carrying the mail to the homes.

In the early days syrup making was done by a wooden mill, owned and operated
by 
Greene Carter.  The syrup was cooked in a large kettle, only a few gallons
being made at a time.  Cloth was made at home on looms.  The thread first
being spun on the spinning wheels.  In the earliest days the farmers had to
carry their cotton to market as far as Ruston, St. Maurice, and Arcadia on
wagons, and now we have improved cotton gins, trucks to haul on, markets near
home and other things to market besides cotton.  We have gravel roads,
improved cane mills, through our County Agent and other agencies.  We have
shipping points for our potatoes, tomatoes and other vegetables.  

Our community owes a lot of its progress to our Home Demonstration leaders who
have organized the home demonstration clubs throughout the parish.

(Submitted by Greggory Ellis Davies, Winnfield, Winn Parish, LA.)