Huey Long, Sr.'s Historical Account of Winnfield, Winn Parish, LA
Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483


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>From the November 9, 1934 Winnfield News-American


Huey P. Long, Sr. Recounts Winnfield's Early Days at Rotary Club Wednesday


Rotarians were entertained Wednesday with an account of Winnfield's early days
by 
Huey P. Long, Sr., father of United States Senator Huey P. Long, who was the
guest speaker of the occasion.

Mr. Long, one of the oldest citizens of this section and who has been
affiliated with the progress of Winnfield and Winn Parish since he with his
family began residence in Winnfield in 1886, when there were but 20 houses
here recounted some of the interesting incidents in this section's development
relating in detail the fight to vote a tax  as an inducement for the Edenborn
interests to build a railroad through Winnfield.
  
"Uncle Hugh" as he is well known around here was among those opposing this tax
and gave as a reason for his opposition that it would be only a tap railroad,
meaning that it would not be a main line.  Every effort was made and all
pressure brought to bear to change him, but to no avail, he remained steadfast
in his contention.  Finally when the road was built it was a branch line from
Aloha to Winnfield, which has since been taken up when the Edenborn interests
were purchased by the Couches.

Two questions were of paramount concern to the people of the town and parish,
Uncle Hugh stated.  They were a main line railroad, and an all year crossing
through Dugdemonia swamp to the west.  Both have been witnessed by him,
together with the other dozens, yea hundreds of improvements that have marked
the years of progress.  

These and other important happenings were reviewed by Mr. Long, who still is
keenly alive to the march of things and is intensely interested in political
affairs.

President J. W. Mitchell announced that Tom Callahan, district governor of
Rotary, editor of the Daily Advertiser of Lafayette, will make his official
visit to the local club on the evening of November 21.

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