Historic Places: Salt Works, 1977, 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 8, 1977 Winn Parish Enterprise News-American Salt Works Yields Winn History Mrs. H. L. Bryant of the Bethlehem Community near Calvin has found that you can mix historical sightseeing and exploring for Indian pottery with outdoor recreation such as picnicking, fishing, and swimming. That's just what she and her family, joined by friends, did last week as school was out. They visited Drake Salt Works near Goldonna, but in Winn Parish, a few miles northeast of Calvin. It was great fun for all, she reported, but what's more, she had her best luck ever in uncovering Indian pottery and other artifacts at Drake Salt Works, on of Winn's most famous historic sites. Her finds included pieces of pottery from earthen bowls probably used in salt making, an arrow head, an Indian bead, Indian bread (used as we use yeast), Indian paint, a brick used for lining a fire pit in which to bake bread, and buckeye balls that Indians used for necklaces. Enjoying the outing at Drake Salt Works were Mr. and Mrs. Bryant and son Jeffrey, Tommy Spears of Calvin, and Jimmy Martin of Goldonna, also Dan LeBlanc of Gibson, Louisiana, others from Thibodaux, Louisiana, and some surrounding residents of Winn and Natchitoches Parishes. They swam, fished, had picnics, threw frisbees, played ball, and ran relay races. But digging out historic relics was Mrs. Bryant's chief recreation. "The springs that were curbed with hand hewn timber and the hollow logs that went into the vein of the springs may still be seen," she said. She says she has found many relics from salt-making days and these usually have gone into a collection used by her son, Jeffrey, in his study of Winn history at Calvin High School. Some pieces of the pottery found last week can be fitted together as part of a bowl. Some pieces have writing or art work on them. The pottery was made from clay and oyster shell mixed together and heated. Drake Salt Licks, the salt flats, were the scene of salt production beginning with the Natchitoches and Caddo Indians who lived in this area. Evaporation, leaching or boiling were methods of making salt, which was a valuable commodity in early history. Earliest reference to Drake's was made by Bienville in 1700. Enough salt was eventually produced to be used for trade and by 1816 it was transported to Natchez and New Orleans. Reuben Drake became interested in the works in the 1840s and tried deeper borings. He sank eight wells. The Civil War brought brisk demand for the salt and production increased. One reporter wrote a few years ago: "Near Goldonna, where Saline Bayou separates Winn and Natchitoches Parishes, the ruins of the Indian salt works dot a salt lake bed in summer like a sedge stubble." Mrs. Bryant is one Winn resident who believes Drake Salt Works is a historic treasure whose value should be preserved for future generations. She expressed the hope that some way may be found to establish a Winn museum where relics from Drakes and other Winn historical sites can be kept.