Parish History: 1914 Parish Directory, 1939, 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: June 29, 1939 Winn Parish Enterprise 25 Year-Old Rural Directory Reveals Facts Of Interest 2040 Residents of Rural Winn Parish Are Registered in 1914 Directory by Henry Ford Killen There are many residents of Winn Parish and Winnfield who remember our parish and town twenty-five years ago, but there are many who have later become citizens here and do not know the changes that have been registered in a quarter of a century. A rural directory recently came into the office of The Enterprise, presenting names of all rural property owners and taxpayers in Winn Parish in 1914. In the front of the directory is the foreword: "This directory is brought to you by the professional, bankers, merchants, and business men whose names and advertising appear herein. I have found them to be live, energetic, courteous, gentlemen, who merit your patronage. You will find the book useful in many ways since it contains the name and property taxpayer in Winn Parish, as well as data concerning the four branches of the Postal Service, a weight table, a seed-planting table and other data. Ralph H. Evarts, Publisher" Many of the advertisers have gone out of business, others have grown and enlarged until today they have thriving businesses, and some of the towns from where the advertisements came have disappeared altogether. Decorating the front, as a part of a full page ad, is the picture of the Bank of Winnfield. At that time the capital amounted to the sum of $ 75,000 and the officers were B. W. Bailey, president; J. R. Heard, and G. P. Long, vice- president; and C. McGinty, cashier. Now J. R. Heard is president and C. McGinty is a stockholder. Mr. Long died a good many years ago. Max Thieme, now one of Winnfield's foremost automobile dealers, was the proprietor of The Winnfield Plumbing, Tin, and Sheet Metal Works. L. A. DeBray, father of Harold DeBray, was a photographer at that time. And today we do not have a permanent commercial photographer here. The Lorraine Market, which a few years ago was demolished by a tornado that struck Winnfield, featured a quotation: "Order your fresh meat by Parcel Post. Send money with Parcel Post Orders." Advertisers from Atlanta included C. H. Ferguson, general store, A. Bell, groceries and hardware, and Collier's Spot Cash Store. M. F. Collier is now a school board member from Ward Six. The prize for continual service goes to L. Rickerson, then agent for the L. & A. Railway, now agent for same. Tony Damico, as stated in his ad, sold dry goods, groceries, shoes, etc., and bought market products. Tony was located in a small building where Milams Department Store now stands. At the present, if you want to see Tony, you'll find him located in Alexandria where he operates the Post Office Fruit Stand. Fay and Grace, which 25 years ago were large logging camps have disappeared from the maps of Louisiana, with them going the Arthur Fort Cash Store located there. The Grand Leader, then one of the largest stores in town, ceased operation several years ago. C. L. Smith, rural mail carrier for Route Three, was the owner of a news, tobacco, and cold drink stand. Remember Jim San? And his faithful bulldog? In case you don't he was the Chinaman proprietor of The Chinese Laundry, where the collars, ties and shirts were expertly cleaned and ironed. Jim San was found dead in his shop, but the bull dog all but prevented entrance of officers. The Edenborn (La. Railway and Navigation Co.) Line was bought by the L. & A. Railway and no longer exists in Winnfield. Full page ads were inserted by R. F. Sharp, a jeweler, the Majestic Steam Laundry, the Winnfield Steam Bakery, and Gibson's Store. None of these businesses are operated today. The City Barber Shop remains yet, but has changed hands many times. Among the advertisers listed were: S. J. Rockhold, contractor, Durham and Campbell, General Insurance Agents, Daniels and Fitch, Blacksmiths, Lone Gunn, second hand goods dealer, and S. M. Riser, real estate dealer. Phoenix Drug placed 21 ads, W. M. Milam and Son, 20, and W. F. Dickerson, shoe agent, 14 different advertisements in the directory. There is a great contrast between the Winn Parish and Winnfield of a quarter of a century ago and that of today as shown by the directory.