Zwolle in Sabine Parish, Louisiana — The American South (West South Central)

Zwolle Railroad Depot

Circa 1914

Photographed by Dave W, May 13, 2022

1. Zwolle Railroad Depot Marker

Inscription.

Zwolle Railroad Depot. Circa 1914. , Zwolle owes its founding to the Kansas City Southern railroad entrepreneur Arthur E. Stilwell. He dreamed of building a railroad linking Kansas City, MO to the Gulf Coast. Stilwell sought investment capital from Jan De Goeijen, a Dutch coffee merchant, who financed much of the expansion through Arkansas and Louisiana. , The area destined to become Zwolle was settled by Native American, Spanish, and French families more than a century and a half before the arrival of the railroad. It was the hospitality of this community that moved De Goeijen to open a railroad station at this location rather than at Clyde, which was the trade center of that era. The Dutchman gave the town the name of his birthplace, Zwolle, Holland, and aided financially in its founding. , On July 14, 1896, Teofilo "T.” Laroux, a community leader and descendant of the early families donated 20 acres to the KCS for a depot and town to be built. Paul M. Potts, a prominent cotton farmer donated an additional 22.05 acres on Oct. 15, 1896. The Zwolle townsite was developed by the Arkansas Townsite Company and the official town charter was granted June 12, 1898. The original depot at the Zwolle Station opened Oct. 26, 1896 and served until the present depot was reconstructed in about 1914 by the KCS. The depot is linear, clapboarded building with gabled eaves and bungalow style brackets. The freight area, encompassing over half the depot, features a platform. and wide doors. The depot also consists of two beaded board rooms with a ticket window between them and a long freight and baggage area. , The advent of the railroad brought new prosperity to the town and altered its destiny. Zwolle's strategic location made it possible for the small town to flourish as a transportation center for lumber, oil and cotton production. Though no longer a functioning railroad depot, it remains significant to the history and posterity of the town. On Dec. 23. 1970, the Depot was gifted to the Town of Zwolle by the KCS. The depot was placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior on Aug. 7, 1989. In 2000, James Q. Salter made the depot his office while writing the town history book, "Zwolle, Louisiana: Our Story". The Zwolle Depot will forever remain at the heart of the town and in the hearts of the families that call Zwolle home.

Zwolle owes its founding to the Kansas City Southern railroad entrepreneur Arthur E. Stilwell. He dreamed of building a railroad linking Kansas City, MO to the Gulf Coast. Stilwell sought investment capital from Jan De Goeijen, a Dutch coffee merchant, who financed much of the expansion through Arkansas and Louisiana.

The area destined to become Zwolle was settled by Native American, Spanish, and French families more than a century and a half before the arrival of the railroad. It was the hospitality of this community that moved De Goeijen to open a railroad station at this location rather than at Clyde, which was the trade center of that era. The Dutchman gave the town the name of his birthplace, Zwolle, Holland, and aided financially in its founding.

On July 14, 1896, Teofilo "T.” Laroux, a community leader and descendant of the early families donated 20 acres to the KCS for a depot and town to be built. Paul M. Potts, a prominent cotton farmer donated an additional 22.05 acres on Oct. 15, 1896. The Zwolle townsite was developed by the Arkansas Townsite Company and the official town charter was granted June 12, 1898. The original depot at the Zwolle Station opened Oct. 26, 1896 and served until the present depot was reconstructed in about 1914 by the KCS. The depot is linear, clapboarded building with gabled

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eaves and bungalow style brackets. The freight area, encompassing over half the depot, features a platform. and wide doors. The depot also consists of two beaded board rooms with a ticket window between them and a long freight and baggage area.

The advent of the railroad brought new prosperity to the town and altered its destiny. Zwolle's strategic location made it possible for the small town to flourish as a transportation center for lumber, oil and cotton production. Though no longer a functioning railroad depot, it remains significant to the history and posterity of the town. On Dec. 23. 1970, the Depot was gifted to the Town of Zwolle by the KCS. The depot was placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior on Aug. 7, 1989. In 2000, James Q. Salter made the depot his office while writing the town history book, "Zwolle, Louisiana: Our Story". The Zwolle Depot will forever remain at the heart of the town and in the hearts of the families that call Zwolle home.

Erected 2018.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical date for this entry is October 26, 1896.

Location. 31° 37.864′ N, 93°

Photographed by Dave W, May 13, 2022

2. Zwolle Railroad Depot Marker

Rail side of the Depot.

38.612′ W. Marker is in Zwolle, Louisiana, in Sabine Parish. It is on Obrie Street (Louisiana Route 475) near South Main Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2419 Obrie St, Zwolle LA 71486, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Louisiana.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and in the Piney Woods.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

the Louisiana Purchase,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 11 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: St. Joseph Catholic Church (approx. 0.4 miles away); Zwolle VFW Memorial (approx. one mile away); Early Spanish Missions (approx. one mile away); Sons of Confederate Veterans (approx. one mile away); West Louisiana Veterans Memorial and Park (approx. 8.9 miles away); M60 Main Battle Tank (approx. 8.9 miles away); Servicemen who were Killed in Action (approx. 8.9 miles away); First Lieutenant Floyd J. Giblin (approx. 10.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Zwolle.

Also see . . . Zwolle Railroad Deport Listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

This resource is located in Sabine County, Louisiana. Areas of significance include: Transportation. The National Historic Places Register Reference Number is 89001041.

(Submitted on January 20, 2023, by Dave W of Co, Colorado.)

National Register of Historic Places plaque for the depot image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Dave W, May 13, 2022

3. National Register of Historic Places plaque for the depot

Credits. This page was last revised on January 31, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 20, 2023, by Dave W of Co, Colorado. This page has been viewed 919 times since then and 74 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 20, 2023, by Dave W of Co, Colorado. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.