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I remember Rochelle in the latter part of its existence, and I attended school there is 42-45, grades 1-3.
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Who was principal at Rochelle school when it closed?
Do you remember any teachers?
Do you remember anyone buried in the Rochelle Cemetery? White? Black?
Workers on the mill pond?
Post Office workers?
Drug Store workers?
Hotel?
1. Mrs Wolfaulk
2 1st-Mrs L. W. Stuart
2nd-Adkins
3rd- Mrs Dickerson
4th-Mrs Able
3-Albert Evans Mrs Evans ( son Evans)
– P.C. Street (Civil War. Vet.) (white)
4.
5. Mrs. Carter ( Need More )
6.
7.
Joe
Do you rember the whistles? Begin work-Lunch break- return to work. The steam from the whistel could be seen from where we lived. The quarter whistel was shrill – the start and end was course.
The planer mill was a long shed with ROCHELLE L.A. on top. I assume the letters were made from long boards, but they were so bright I thought they were made from metal when I was from 3-6 Years old.
Was the barber really named Calhoun? His shop was near the ditch before the hotel. I think it cost a dime for kids hair cut.
August 27
The barber’s name was Calhoun and Dr. Scott was the doctor. My sister Marguerite May worked in the Post Office with Mrs. Jargarin. Charles Hannegin told me Marguerite would take the mail from the train after work and file th mail so family members could hear from their boys in war. Do you remember Rufus Rogers? Mr. Day? Tom Carr?
I moved with my family to Rochelle in August 1939 when my father, Leo Day Sr became manager of the Commisary. I began school in September. Mr J L Liggin was principal. Mr Erskine Willett was a Teacher and Basketball Coach. Mrs Woolfaulk was a Teacher along with several others. I liked living in Rochelle and even now, I always drive through the now “Ghost Town” and remember many things about the town and the people. I met Jewel Everritt soon after I moved there. She had lived in Rochelle most of her life. We were married in 1944 and we now live in Livingston Texas
Rochelle and the people will always have a place in my heart.
I lived next to J.C. Vincent and across the street from Nelda Lindsay. My friend Larry Rogers (Dad was Rufus Rogers and worked at the Commisary.) lived on the corner to the south about 3 houses. Bertha and Audi Janette Neal (Father: Lonnie, and Mother: Bessie) lived next door to the south. Malcolm Kendrick lived behind me and Mr. Dunn lived behind me on the Olden street.(As I refer to it. It came directly from the Hardwood Crossing and traveled West to the Ball Park. Later we lived in the Thompson house, (The one he moved to after his house burned.)It was directly across from the Letson house. The Letson hous was moved to Georgetown and Jr. Ursury now lives in it. Lee,Jr.,Hemphill(Started to school with him and never heard from him again.) lived across the street between the Lindasays and Donovans(later the Fred Neals). Maxie Joe Flower (Kirby was his Dad.) lived up the street about a long block on the corner (across the street from the Barrios house.) toward the Commisary. Bobby Bennet lived about two streets behind me and Bobby Gene Jinnings lived across from the Main Office building. Bobby Gene had a basket-ball court and taught me to play ball and squirrel hunt. There was not grass on his court as we kept it worn off.
I don’t remember the hotel in Rochelle, but do know that my parents were living there when I was born. My dad, Lonnie Neal and his brother, Fred Neal, were logging contractors. Mother waited tables in the hotel before I was born (1941) and then we moved into the house next door to the Mays which was across the street from the Lindseys. Jesse and Willie Mae Boyette lived next to the Lindseys or in the house after they moved. I never attended school in Rochelle, but do remember going with my mother to the Methodist Church. I was very young, but I vaguely remember the ladies sweeping and dusting. Mother also attended some kind of women’s meeting. Not sure what they were, but they would sit around and drink coffee and eat cake. My father had a serious accident in 1948. We moved to Winnfield in 1950. I had just finished the 3rd grade at Georgetown. By that time there were very few folks left in the town: Mr. & Mrs. May and Uncle Fred and Aunt Mary Neal. Uncle Fred and Aunt Mary moved that summer to Joyce (next door to the Letsons. I remember the lady who worked in the post office (not her name), and how she would let me and my sister Audie go across the street with her to either hang the mail to be picked up as the train went by or to pick up the mailbag that was thrown from the train. Not sure if this happened on the same day or same train, but to a 7- or 8-year-old, it was a big thing. We drove through there in 2004. For some reason, the roads seem so much smaller today than they did back then. How does that happen?….. By the way, I graduated from High School in Winnfield with Winston Guillote.
I remember one boy who had 6 toes on each foot.
I remember catching the school bus at the old commissary. I was in the 1st and 2nd grade at that time. The Bennetts lived in the house behind the commissary. Then we moved down onto the street that had the Catholic Church on the corner next to the highway At that time only the Mays and the Neals (Fred & Lonnie) lived on that street, and Joe May, Audie and I caught the school bus at that location. Judy and Joe Gates lived with their parents in a house across the tracks. Their dad worked for the railroad.
This Website is so exciting. Wish there was a way to get the word out to more people who lived and grew up in Rochelle. I’m sure there are a lot of exciting stories, tales etc. that we’ve not heard. I think my sister told me that one of the Thompson boys lives in Hodge/Jonesboro area. Tommy passed away last year. Norma Jeannette Boyette Rozelle lived in Winnfield at one time, as does some of Red Wilson’s children. I have a couple of pictures made there, but they are of my sister and me when we were very small and ugly.
Joe, tell me about the boy with 6 toes on each foot! Interesting.
I remember about the Mill Whistles in Rochelle. Chester Dunn, Father of Hornet Dunn and his siblings always blew the whistle. A quarter whistle at 6:45 AM for work to begin at 7:00 AM when he blew another whistel, then at 12:00 noon for dinner, another quarter whistle at 12:45 PM for return to work at 1:00 PM and finally the last whistle for qhitting time in the evening. A lot of folks never had a watch, they lived by the whistle. Rochelle was a good place to live.
Joe T (Tom) Day
Joe May has become a real good friend of mine in recent years. Way back when I was in School at Rochelle and then Selma, I was in the same class with Joe’s sister, Marguerite. At Rochelle in the 9th grade there were only 2 girls in the class, there was Marguerite May and Maurice Nugent. Marguerite was the smartest in the class and I seldom bothered to look anything up in the books, I just asked Marguerite. Back then, I just knew Joe and Marguerite’s little brother. Joe has since made a real name for himself and has been an important part of Georgetown. Thanks Joe.
Joe T (Tom) Day
I attended Rochelle Baptist church as a child and remember Bro. Dennis preaching fire and brimstone in his loudest voice. I used to crawl under the bench and Momma would pull me up and make be listen to Bro. Dennis. I attended Rochelle Methodist church with Grannie, Dad’s Mom, and do not remember the preacher’s name, just that he was a lot quieter than Bro. Dennis. My sister, Margureite, dragged me to church more than I wished to go at that time. She was very determined that I do something with my life, and I owe so much to her. She was an angel on earth and now in Heaven. I used to go to the Pentecostal Meetings on the old gravel NEEDMORE road and watch the pretty girls. Their church seemed to have more pretty girls than the others.
I learned to swim in the river at the old iron bridge site. I was pulled from the “deep hole’ in the river about a hundred yards above the old iron bridge site. I made it almost across the river and thought I could touch bottom and tried to stand up and could not touch bottom and was pulled out by Bobby Jennings and Bobby Bennett. I was also pulled from the river by Roland Rogers just above the first river bridge on hwy 165 when the water was over the road. We were wading in the water and a car came through the water and I steped off the edge of the road and went under the water. Roland reached over and pulled me out. I learned to swmin the river before I ever owned a swim suit. We went in “naked” and had to watch for people coming to the river to fish and picnic. I remember several times when girls came to the river and we had to stay under water until they left. I had a black and white bulldog and he always went with me when I was a boy. We rode our bycyles quite a bit and he would run ahead of us as we started to the river to swim. He would run and jump as far as he could into the water and swim in a circle and come back to the bank and sit and guard our clothes. One day he would not let Barber Calhoun get to the river to fish as he was guarding our clothes.
Where was the Baptist Church in Rochelle? It was probably not there when I was old enough to remember going. But Mother was Methodist at that time and that was where we went. BTW, I was christened in the Methodist Church; later I accepted Christ and was baptized as a ten-year old in Winnfield.
I remember going to the Pentecostal revival in Needmore. Can’t remember the lady that was the preacher but do know she lived in Tullos. She visited Mother and Daddy. I remember as a child being scared.
Marguerite May was a precious person and a good friend to my family. Mother and Daddy visited with her after she married Johnny and moved to Paxton.
Re; Questions from Bertha Neal Gates: The Hotel in Rochelle was a big white building and was in full operation when I lived there. It was on left side of then Highway 165 going north toward Tullos. I was just past Jimmy Calhoun’s Barber Shop. Several of the folks who worked at the Mill lived there. It was operated by Mrs Jimmy Keith. Mr & Mrs Jimmy Keith had a daughter who was real good friends with my wife, Jewel (Everritt) Day’s older sisters. The Company Bungalow was on same side of the Highway. This is where all the Company big shots stayed when they were in town.
Joe T (Tom) Day
Re; Questions from Bertha Neal Gates: The Baptist Church was right next to the Rochelle School. There was a fence between the School and the Church and there was a Graveyard behind the Church. I can name a few of the people buried there is anyone is interested.
Joe T (Tom) Day
In 1947 my aunt and uncle, Mary and Fred Neal, lived in the Company Bungalow. I can remember staying there and was so impressed that the “front bedroom” had a bathroom in it. I’d never seen a house with two bathrooms before. When this house was to be either torn down or moved (don’t remember which) they moved into the Letson house and we moved next door.
Answer to Joe May about people buried in Rochelle Cemetery. I know a few. Wimpy Lofton and his parents are buried there. Son Evans and his parents. Son was driving a Taxi and was taking a colored man to what we then called the colored quarters. As he attempted to cross the Railroad he was struck by the Train and killed. His passenger survived. Mr Bennet was the chief Electrician at Rochelle. He came from England. His brother came from England to visit with him and died while he was there and he is buried in the Rochelle Cemetery. More on next posting.
Joe T Day
People buried in Rochelle Cemetery continued. Clifford Thompson Sr aka Fat Thompson was the Father of Kenneth Ray, Clifford Earl, and Jim Thompson also had another child that died as a baby and this baby is buried in Rochelle Cemetery. This Cemetery was intact for many years but several years ago some Logging people came in there to harvest the trees and they ran their machines over the Tomb Stones and tore it all up. Now, it is so grown over with weeds and etcetera is it almost impossible to get around in it. Hope this helps Joe.
Joe T Day
Answer to Bertha Neal Gates about the Company Bungalow at Rochelle. I don’t remember the date but at one point in time,
Bill Young bought it and he and his wife and a son lived there for a while. Both are deceased now and the Bungalow eventually burned down. The son was the keynote speaker at the annual Georgetown-Rochelle-Selma annual School Homecoming a few years back. Wish I had more information, but hope this helps a little.
Joe T Day
joe about the part about sonny evans being buried in rochelle. i beleive he was taking two colored cooks home in the quarters (as was called then)and the colored preacher in tullos was riding with sonny down there. on the way back the train struck them at the olden crossing. killed was sonny,buddy lasyone,and the cockeran boy.
who were in the front with sonny. the preacher was in the back seat. the cooks worked for jd lasyone in tullos. if i am not mistaken.
The Clifford Thompson that I knew was the father of Kenneth, Clifford Earl, Jimmy and Tommy. Their mother’s name was Eunice. I played with Tommy (the others were older) and seems they had a daughter named Barbara, but could have been one of the older boys’ wife.
Anyway, from 1950 to 1959, I went to school with Tommy in Winnfield, and visited often at his house in Joyce with his parents.
Bert
The five o’clock passenger train left memories in most of the kids from Rochelle.
Some one would carry the mail bag across the hi-way and hang the mail bag on the pole near the rail-road. The engineer would blow the train whistel. Some one in the mail car would be standing in the open door(with an iron bar across the opening). The mail bag would be on the floor at the mans foot.The mail man would exten the hook-snatch the mail bag off the pole-swing it into the car -and kick the bag with the Rochelle mail out of the opening. Who ever was close to the mail drop would take the mail to the post office.
The passenger cars were almost always filled with soldiers.I often wondered how many made it back home.
Jimmie,
The iron mail post that held the mail bag for the train to snatch was pretty high (maybe 7 feet) and the mail clerk had to stand on a step ladder to secure the out-going mail to the hanger on the post.
Uncle Wayde Nugent
Uncle Wade took care of the school.
He was a kindly old gentelman. He needed some help getting a pole for a basket ball back stop so some of us third and fourth grade upper clas men helped him.
He rang the school bell for us. The bell was mounted to the right wall of the hall intrance.The bell had a cord attched to the trip leaver and was pulled fast or slow acording to the desire of the operator.
Does any one have any infomation of Uncle Wayde’s life after Rochelle?
Jimmie Guillotte
The street I lived on
The road between the store and the Day house reached out to Need More.Tom Car’s house was on the left side just passed the firat bend in the gravel road.Our street started in front of Tom”s house and went toward the River.Some of the people that lived on that street -right hand side were
Phellix Morgan
Jake Guillotte
Doug Evans
Johnnie Gibson (lost a little girl)
The Self family ( Doo-Boy still lives at Need Moree.
About four houses crossed the end of the street(names un-known.)
other side of street-some of the names remembered-
Youngblood ( I was told that some of the family still lived around Ball?).
Dave Griffen
Sellars Carolin-Glora and J.B. Still alive.Friends with the Johnson girl who livedon the hill across the branch from them.
Jimmie Guillotte
I remember going across the road with the lady (I think her name was Jernigan) to hang the mail bag. I thought she used a long pole to raise the bag up on the pole for whomever on the train to grab as they went by. Whatever this lady’s name was in later years she married a man from Tullos (Cliff Gorman)in later years. Cliff was married to my first cousin, but she was killed in front of her house in Tullos (the same highway that went through Rochelle–I don’t know the number)in 1965/1966.
More about the Post Office at Rochelle. Mrs Bertha Jernegan was Post Mistress all the time I lived there. One of my wife’s sisters, Inez Everritt went to work in the Post Office in 1934 right after she graduated from Selma High School and worked there until 1943 when she left and got married. There were some others who worked there at times. Hession Foster worked there when he was still in School in the 9th grade at Rochelle. Marguerite May worked there after I left Rochelle and there may have been some others that I don’t know about. Mre Jernegan was a widow lady and sister of Dr Scott. She had a son named Buck who was in my class at Rochelle. More on the next comment.
Joe T (Tom) Day
Rochelle Post Office and the Mail. I remember the Missouri Trains coming by doing about 70 miles per hour and snatch the mail from the hanger as they went by and kick the bag of Rochelle mail out as the passed. I remember one time when the guy on the train didn’t have the grabber just right and busted the mail sack and scattered letters for about a half mile, some even over on the highway. Several people got out and helped pick up the mail. Just a little excitement for Rochelle.
Regards to all: Joe T (Tom) Day
Hornet Dunn told me about a fire in 1906 that burned the mill. They moved the houses from the white section to the Black section and built new houses in the white section. The photo of the hardwood mill and lumber stacks show about 100 houses in the Black section. The town later developed the 2.5″ fire hydrants and buildings at the corners of the streets with long fire hoses for fighting fire. Volunteer members were recruited from the work force. Hornet was one of these volunteers.
Joe May
Hornet Dunn Interview
April 18, 2006 at Wake for Betty Jean Sykes Morris
Hornet is 84 years old at this time. His Dad lived to be about 92 and told him some of these facts.
Hornet told me the following:
1. Fire in 1906, burned mill, they moved the houses from the white section to the Black section and built new houses in the white section. The photo of the hardwood mill and lumber stacks show about 100 houses in the black section. The town later developed 2.5â€fire hydrants and buildings at the corners of the streets with long fire hoses for fighting fire. Volunteer members were recruited from the work force. Hornet was one of these volunteers.
2. Built several new houses in 1928 in the area of the Bouregois house. The Ezells, Leo and Louise, Albert and Zelma, lived in this house in the early 1940s.
3. Rochelle was named after a Doctor by that name.
4. Railroad trestle fire in 1928 and they rebuilt the trussel. Old pilings can be seen under the present trussel.
5. Town at one time was called “Head of Little River.â€
6. Distilled water was made in boilers. Lake was called “Water Lake†and laterâ€Nigger Lake.â€
7. Water was pumped from the river around the old T & G trestle, when it couldn’t be taken from the lake, to the yards for watering gardens, animals and for fire. A floating pump house enclosed the huge pump that took water from the river. “DC current†was generated at the mill and not only ran this pump but provided electricity to the whole town. Street lights and lights in the houses was included with this DC current. Yard hydrants had tremendous pressure and when turned on the water would come out in a strong stream.
8. Old railroad track that wound around the hardwood mill stacks went on and crossed the Little River and to the L & A. Train on track can be seen in Hardwood Mill Photo.
9. Trains ran together at Zenoria and killed 3 or 4 men. One smaller engine ran up under the larger one. Hornet saw a man hanging between the tinder box and the cab engine. He was black from grease, oil and fire.
10. He worked in the electrical area and was told he was to be cut 5 cents/ hr. and he told Mr. Bennett that they could cut the man taking his place, that he was going back into the service. He married a girl from Florida.
11. Train wreck at Rochelle Hardwood crossing happened in 194?. “Son†Evans was the driver of the taxi and Bunt King, and a 3 year old son of the Taxi driver were killed. They were taking the Black lady cook home from work at Tullos café, had let her out and was coming back across the tracks. A Black man with a cast on his leg was in the back seat and was not injured. The car was carried to the little metal house on the tracks.
12. Hornet went to school in Rochelle through 9th grade, that is all they had there, then went to Selma for the 10th and 11th grades. No 12th grade then.
13. They had a round house where the trains were turned around.
14. Log trucks went behind the ice house and next to the pine mill and to the inclined board area where logs were dumped into the mill pond.
15. Fire in 1906 was caused by opened fires used by workers to see how to work at night.
16. “Blind Tiger bar†was behind the hotel and down the street. They had one across the river and through the railroad trussel and on the hidge past the trussel.
I think I said that it was Mrs. Jernigan that married Cliff Gorman of Tullos in later years. …just talked with my sister, Audie Neal Brooks, in Shreveport and she tells me that lady’s name was Snooks or Snooky Dunn, and that she was a sister to Clara Bennett (wife of Heman Bennett). Note to Jimmy Guillotte: The Bennett’s lived at Joyce next door to the Clifford Thompsons. Audie thinks they are all deceased now. I remember Charles Reid, but don’t know anything about him. The Fred Neals are both deceased, so don’t have any contact with anyone in that area anymore.
Does anyone remember the name of Tom Carr’s niece who lived with them? I think her last name was Webb. She was a friend of my cousin Nelda Neal.
Bert,
Tom Carr’s grandkids were Rose Marie, Barbara, and Lynn Edward Webb. Lynn is deceased, Rose Harter lives in tullos, and I am not sure about Barbara, the youngest. I think Barbara was Nelda Lain Neal’s friend and Rose Marie worked with my sister Marguerite in the post office. Their Mother lived in Tullos and died about a year or so ago. Barbara was driving Mr. Miam’s (He came to Rochelle and bought scrap iron.) car when she had the wreck near the Maxwell Crossing and it crippled him. It seems to me it was 1949 Chev convertible. Clara Dunn was married to Heman Bennett who had only one arm and lost the other at the mill years before I knew him. He was Bobby Bennett’s dad, and his daughter’s name was Neighrafran(sp). All are deceased.
Joe May
Do any of you remember a Mrs. Burns? She and Mr. Burns had a son named Arthur. My parents lived next door to Arthur in Winnfield in the early 1960s. I believe he died sometime this year. Mrs. Burns was wonderful in keeping all the old Rochelle gang informed when there was news to be shared. They lived in Rochelle on the road that ran from beside the Commissary out through Need More. I remember going with mother to their house.
BTW, thanks for the information on the Bennett family. I had forgotten that Fran’s name was Negafran. They had a girl named Wanda that was my age.
There was another family there by the name of Curry. Miss Molly lived with her brother I think. I used to go to her house and practice my piano (I didn’t have one) on her old pump organ. That was really something. I was in the 3rd grade and signed myself up for piano lessons. A lady from Pollock rode the bus to Georgetown once or twice a week to give lessons. I would leave school and walk around to somebody’s house for lessons. And practiced at Miss Molly’s when I could. During my teen years I would visit her in Joyce. Don’t know what happened to her and her brother, or if they had any more family. I think she had cats too.
I remember Arthur Burns and Miss Mollie. She was the one the bull chased as she was picking black berries. I just talked with Doughboy Self about her family yesterday. Her dad kept a couple of cows and they ran out on the open range and came up at night for feed and milking. He had a bull and would lead it to the open area above the school so he could eat and bring him back on a lead. They were very engeric people. They lived on the corner across from the Judes.(Later the Jennings)
Joe,
I’m not positive, but I think my mother and Aunt Mary were with Miss Molly when the bull chased her. That was when we lived in the corner house across the road from you. Mother and Aunt Mary laughed about that incident all through the years. I also remember walking(running!!!!) through the woods to play with a Linda LaCroix who lived in the corner house on the Needmore road. She later came to Winnfield for a short time, and then moved on. Haven’t thought about her in a long time, but remember her daddy cautioned us about the panthers?? that were in the woods, so we would run. Not sure if that was true or if he was just trying to scare us. Whatever? It worked!
Bert,
I remember your Mother and Aunt Mary talking about the bull chasing Miss. Molly. Everybody knew Miss Molly. The panther that several people heard turned out to be a young cow. Tom Carr and a bunch of men found it in the woods on the other side of the river just after someone reported the panther screaming in that area.
Where is Nelda Lain Neal’s youngest son? I can’t remember his name?
Joe May
Audie Neal Brooks just gave me this information: Larry Fryar, Nelda’s youngest son, is based in Seattle, Washington but works on a ship between Alaska and Japan. He is not into electronics but does something with the ship’s engines.
And your mother and Alice Johnson (a black lady who used to help Mother and Aunt Mary) were with Mother, Aunt Mary and Miss Molly when the bull chased Miss Molly. Truth be known, he was probably chasing all of them. I don’t know where Alice and her family lived in Rochelle, but they, too, ended up in Winnfield. She and Mutt had several children, and we still see her daughter in Winnfield from time to time. When mother passed away in 1986 she was cooking at the restaurant in the Best Western Motel on West Court Street. Does anyone remember Ida Claunch? She worked for the Keiths at the Hotel in Rochelle and later around their store at the crossroads in Joyce. I don’t think she had children, but she was married. I do not know his name other than Mr. Claunch.
Ida Hodges Claunch was kin to Phyllis. She told Phyllis that Ida lived with Phyllis’ “Mamma” Maxwell and Thomas Richard Maxwell (Phyllis’ Grandfather Rich Maxwell) Ida was Thomas Richard’s niece. Ida stayed with Phyllis’ Mom when Ernestine would have a baby. Her brother was Sonny Man Hodges. Phyllis said she was the sweetest thing. Ida’s Mother was Aunt Emma Maxwell Hodges.
Tom Carr’s grandchild, Rose Marie Webb Hartner, lives in Tullos and her Mother is in the nursing home. I wrote earlier in this Blog that she was deceased but no, she is alive. Barbara Webb(married name not known.) is coming to vist Rose Marie soon, Thanksgiving, I think.
Joe,
Please ler Phyllis know that we all loved “Miss Ida” as we called her. She gave mother and Daddy a framed print of a castle or something when they got married and this hung on the wall in our living room. I think Audie still has it somewhere.
Hello all,
My grandparents grew up and also worked in Central and North Central Louisiana eventually settling in Pollock. My grandmother’s family did logging work in the Rochelle area when she was young. Do any of you remember Bertha Wheat Thornberg or Eugene “Tony” Thornberg? My grandmother had several brothers but I can only remember Herschel Wheat. She also had a brother who is buried in a cemetary near Rochelle. He had been killed in a bar fight. I don’t know much about either of their younger lives and would love to know if any of you knew them or anything about them or their families. My granddad took me and my siblings to Rochelle several times when I was a teenager and showed us where everything used to be. It was hard for me to imagine this place with nothing but grown up weeds and a few old building foundations was once a thriving community. It is ashamed all of the history that we let slip away.
I remember the mill in it’s last days of operation. My aunt Henrietta Blackshear lived at Needmore and I would stay with her every chance I had. I was fascinated with all the whistles and the steam from the boilers and kilns. I worked with Bobby Bennett at Joyce. His wife (Patsy Faye) was my wife’s aunt. Maxey Joe (Red) Fowler married my wife’s sister. He was a prince of a guy and we miss him. I worked with Arthur Burns and was one of his pall bearers. I went through the ninth grade at Georgetown and graduated at Winnfield (1960). I knew Audie Neal and Joe & Judy Gates. Also Charles Reid, Tommy Thompson, R.D.Wilson, Joe May, all the Maxwells and on & on. I wander around what is left of Rochelle every chance I have. I have an aerial photo of the pine mill looking toward Tullos (a different take from the one on this website). It’s fairly large. I retired from the Joyce mill in 2004.
Quincy,
I remember Bobby Bennett, Maxey Joe Fowler, Bobby Gene Jennings (His house was where I learned to play basketball as he had a ball goal and the dirt court was as smooth as glass because we all met up there to play every evening, Bobby Strange, C.B. Strange, John Henry Strange, Tommy Thompson, Larry Rogers, Roland Rogers, Clifford Earl Thompson, Jay Wiley King, Jimmie Guillott, Bobby and Melba Jane Bradford, Little Bub Wooten, Richard,James,Bud, Bobby Bruce, and Nelda Lain Neal, Richard and Mutt Kendrick, just to name a few who went to Rochelle school. Bert and Audie Neal lived next door to me and we correspond frequently. A Hemphill boy lived across the street from me when I started to school, maybe Harvey Lee(???).
I would love to have a copy of the picture of the old pine mill you referred to in your comments.
In the photo of the hardwood mill, notice the planer mill and lumber sheds in the upper portion of the photo. Also the commissary and the backwater from the river. I can remember hardwood lumber stacks all the way to the road that turned off 165 and went on by Dean’s store and through Georgetown (old 165). Harvey Lee Hemphill Jr. is retired and living in the Oakdale area. He is a first cousin to the LaFollette boys; Charles, Bobby, Billy & Grover (Hookum). Bobby LaFollette Passed away a few years ago. Charles lives at Hudson. Jimmy Guillotte and I had a good visit at Tete Johnson’s funeral. Jim and Bobby Bradford are my cousins. I knew Mr. & Mrs. Klaunch, the Keiths, Rufus Rogers. Doughboy Self, Doug Morgan Hornet Dunn and many of the Rochelle gang. Max Fowler was Director of Engineering for Great Plains Bag Mills (over several plants throughout the U.S.)
I was beginning to think that all who could respond had! I love reading the stories and remembrances of those of you who are older!!!!! than me. Has anyone heard from Roland and Larry Rogers. I’ve not been in Winnfield in quite a while, so don’t know if Roland is still there. When Audie lived there she knew everything about everybody (and probably still does). Does anyone remember Jesse and Willie Mae Boyette? Joe, they lived next door to the Lindsey’s who lived across the street from us when we lived next door to each other. Their daughter, Norma, is married to Curtis Rozelle from Winnfield where they still live. Norma is probably the same age of Margueritte May. The Boyette’s had two sons, but can’t remember their names.
We lived in three different houses (next door to the Mays; in a house that faced the highway (165 I think); and next door to the Letson House. The house that faced 165 was a corner house. I’m not sure, but I think the side street is where the Jennings lived. I remember the basketball goal.
The wagon pulled by horses delivered ice down the streets. The men had saws and ice picks to cut the ice to the amount the custermers wanted. When they used the saws we caught the ice shavings with our hands-that was a big thrill for us.(the first snow balls.)
The first ice boxes(not refrigirator)had a storeage section in the top of the ice box-that is where the block of ice was placed.When the ice melted , the cold water driped through a tube down to a catch pan in the bottom,provideing a cool drink of water.( a lot of people did not have an ice box).
There was an old colored man who pulled a cart down the streets calling(hot-to-malies(?) two in a shuck-one fell out but the other one stuck.( I don’t remember the price but it was probably a nickle each ).
Shoe shine just a dime-fifteen cents if you want to give it to me,was another call heard in Rochelle and Tullos.
The first airplane that I saw over Rochelle was a Piper cub. I think the owner was named Rhineheart.
The military planes were in large flights toward the end of W.W. two.There were four engine bombers with single engine fighters diveing down on them. I watched them as long as I could see themm. I decided that if I was going to fight I would rather be in the fighter.
The first B-36 flew over Needmoore about four years after the war ended.Later I would be comming home from hunting at dark and B-36s would fly over so high that white vapor would be streamingg from the 6 large engines.The propelers were pushing from the rear of the wings.In 1956 we were over FOrt Worth -the city lights were comming on and the sun was shineing on us.I looked out of the gun blister and tagging behindus was six vaper trails with sunshine lightning them up.
I thought of Rochelle and Need More.
Billy La Follette told me that Harvey Lee Hemphill Jr. lives in LaFayette, not Oakdale.
Fran Bennett (Thomas) had a daughter, Reba. She is employed at one of the loan companies in Winnfield.
Bobby and Fran Bennett had another sister, Wanda Faye. They are all deceased.
Hello.
My father Henry H. Tullos (Red) was born in Rochelle sometimes around 1925. His father was Hardy Tullos. Both are now deceased. I remember my grandfather talking about the rail-road and the dangers of logging around the area. I’m sad that Rochelle is now just a memory. Me and and two of my aunts, Gladys Tullos and Violet visited Tullos a couple of years ago. They were very disoriented since things had changed so much.
Mike Tullos.
A Christmas Memory! I remember Christmas, either 1948 or 1949, going into the woods across the street from our house and cutting a holly tree for Christmas. Don’t remember much else about that time, but do know that tree’s leaves could really stick (ouch). There were not many houses left at that time. Joe May’s house, our house and the home of the Fred Neals (formerly Mr. Letson’s house) were the only houses on our street. My family moved in 1950, as did the Fred Neals. Only the Mays remained. It was such joy to visit Mr. and Mrs. May and sit on their front porch. One time we actually had time to sit and visit.
Hello everyone, I see that many of you know my Dad (Bobby Gene Jennings). I have heard many of theses stories over the years from him, and oddly I remember many of the names that I see mentioned on here. I am very interested in learning more about the history of Rochelle. I truely hate that this place is now almost forgotten. I love to hear Daddy talk about all the old times there. He said that it was the greatest place to hunt and fish. We talked about it just the other day and I printed out the blog and took to him. I could tell he enjoyed reading everything, and I wish I could talk him into going over there with me. I took my family over there the other day and drove around. I plan to go back and do a little more looking around soon. I will post soon again, bye for now.
Brandon,
Jimmie Guillotte put up a flag pole and flag on the original site of the old one in the school yard.
Your dad’s house was about 75 yds East of the flag pole and directly behind old highway 165. Did Bobby
Gene tell you about Zipper,the red dog, who treed squirrels and would not bark? He killed lots of squirrels
with Zipper.
He sure did, we still talk about that dog all the time and also the one named Polly, do you remember her. He had some good times living in Rochelle. In fact as soon as some of this pollen clears the air and we get a chance, he and I are coming down to Rochell to just look around and talk about when he lived there. I came down a few weeks back and stood right there by the flag pole. I did not know that is where the school was at one time. Also Daddy told me about where his house was in reference to the cemetary and that there was a road that went behind the old Hotel and down to his house. I think I got that right anyway. I sure look forward to our trip, I am learning alot about the place already. If you ever get a chance drop me a line, my email at work is Brandonj@dynea.com that is the best place to reach me, it would be cool to hear more stories.
I just recently came upon this site. My dad, Billy Kees, lived in Rochelle for awhile. His father, my grandfather, Lem Kees, worked in the mill for sometime. I recognize Mr. Tom Day’s name as someone I believe I met a few years ago at he Georgetown/Selma reunion….I had taken dad to it. Anyway, I would appreciate any history anyone out there may have on Lem and Ida Kees, their boys Billy and Ray, and their days in Rochelle. Also, later on, they lived on Hwy. 500 out of Georgetown. On that same stretch of road lived my uncle Rogers (can’t remember his first name but his wife’s name was Jessie),my cousin O’Neal Kees, wife Dorothy and their kids, and my grandpa Lem’s brother, Isham Kees, and his wife Lizzie Mae, who was a teacher in the area. Also, uncle Isham’s other daughter Lois Greer and husband Eugene. My other set of grandparents was Maud and Dovie Davis, who lived on the other side of G’town, on 500 going toward Zenoria. I currently live in Natchitoches, LA. Please respond to dkees@cp-tel.net. Thanks…posted 5/22/07.
My Dad was born in Rochelle, LA in May, 1914.
His family moved to Shreveport when he was a small child.
The family names were Hankins/Oglethorpe.
We were always told that there was no town there any longer.
I didn’t realize it had been closed down so recently nor did I realize that it was a sawmill town.
My web site isn’t about Rochelle, LA nor is it about genealogy but I posted it anyhow since it is my website.
You can take it off and write this off if you like.
By larkjgb at 2008-05-02
I am so excited to find this site. My father Edward Ussery, Jr and Aunt Edith Ussery Braddock talk about Rochelle and how it used to be. I am anxious for them to read these comments and hopefully they will be able to add some more.
The lady that was the preacher at the Need More Pentecostal church was Mrs. Holland. Her husband’s name was Tom. Her 2 daughters were Nina Joy and Margie. I lived close by and used to go there a lot.
I guess I was the only one in Rochelle that went to the Catholic church. There was a family that came from out of town by the name of Vinyard that went to the Catholic church also. I think the priest was from Alexandria. Us 4 and no more.
I knew most of the people that lived there during the latter 30’s until probably the latter 40’s.
This is a picture of someone’s headstone atRochelle that I took recently. 6-2009
I saw the blog about Fred Bennett who was my Great Grandfather, Hal DePriest (also an electrician at the mill) was my Grandfather. I remember Rochelle as a small boy and the “Grand house” of my Great Grandparents. I also remember everyone moving to Joyce and enjoyed playing there with other people my age. I remember playing under the street lights at night. I am most interest in information regarding Bobby Bennett (BO?) and if his father was Ernest Bennett my Grandmother Gertrude’s brother and the son of Fred and Agness Bennett. I lived in Tullos and graduated from grade school there. We moved to Monroe in 1951 and I graduated from Neville High school in 1958.
I saw the train just after it hit the car. I was with my parents and GGParents on my GGP’s front porch when it happened and the sparks were flying every where. The cafe in Tullos was Stella’s Cafe and adjacent to the chev dealer. I remember the turn-around at the mill and the logs being placed in the pond near the trussel. My father took me to the locating of their house after Rochelle was gone and dug up two large piles of marbels he had buried there. I have been attempting to locate information about my uncle Ernest Bennett and his wife and children – last location was in Sheveport. Does anyone know if Bobby Bennett was also known as “BO”?
My mother Gussie Armstrong and father Herb DePriest met at the Salem School. My Grandfather Jack Armstrong was a foreman at the Salem mill.
Hello, I am Sandy and I live in Winnfield,. I am doing genealogy on Isophena Lucy McManus who married Albert Claiburn Maxey. They had a farm in
Georgetown. His land was from bear creek to hwy 165 today. Thanks,, Sandy Varnell
Mr. DePriest
Bobby Bennett’s dad was Heman Bennett. He had sisters named Fran and Wanda. Were you per chance serving on the U.S.S Lofberg in 1960?
Quincy,
Sorry it took so long to get back to the site and answer your question. Yes I was on the USS Lofberg from April 1959 – July 1962. I joined the John a Bole in July of 62 and left the Navy in December 62.
My e-mail is bdepriest@cox.net please feel free to contact me directly.
Bill
Hi, just wandered by. I have a Brooks Brothers site. Truly more information than you can imagine on the web. Wasn’t what I was looking for, but good site. Have a nice day.
Hi, my name is Bruce Freeman, I am Wanda Bennetts son, Bobby wasmy uncle and Fran was my aunt, Clara and Heman are my grand parents, sad to say but my mom (Wanda passed away last week), today was her birthday.
I just found this site and have found it intersting reading. I have always wanted to know more about Rochelle. My father, Hollis Mixon “Dude” White was born in Rochelle and grew up in Georgetown. He eventually owned Stella’s Wildcatter Cafe and a bar in tullos (he died in 1961). My grandfather and grandmother lived in Georgetown until they died: JOhn L. White and Susie Mixon White (died in 1962 and 1954 respectively). My aunt, Aline White Tully lived in Georgetown until her death (1991). Does anyone know anything about my relatives.
Would love to read anything about the history of Rochelle as well.
Love this page – remember my mother talking about some of these names. Her best friend was Lottie Barrios. Bert Gates mentioned in frame 32, Snooky Dunn being married and moving to Tullos. I don’t know about the man mentioned – she could have been married previously 🙂 – but when I knew her, Aunt Snooky was married to my Uncle T.J. (Thomas Jefferson) Adams. He grew up in Rochelle, the son of James Allen and Melissa Clara Wagner Adams. His siblings were Valrus, Beatrice, Myrtis, Wenzel, and Vivian Marie (my mother).
Love this site! I am the daughter of Bobby Bennett, grand daughter of Heman and Clara Bennett, great- grand daughter of William Dunn and Hornet Dunn is my great uncle.
I do remember that Snookie Dunn was married to T. J. and later to Cliff. My grandparents and parents spent many weekends playing Rook(cards) at their house. Aunt Snookie worked at the post office.
I remember my Dad, Bobby, talking about the old iron bridge and the swimming. Sadly, he passed away when he was only 53 years old, but worked at the mill in Joyce until the time of his death.
I graduated from Winnfield High School in 1975.
Thank you all for the memories!
Hi Rose
I remember you from the early days of my marriage. I am married to your first cousin, Patsy Ann Vines.