Louisiana, Marksville Historical Markers Driving Tour Historical Markers
Series of over 100 markers of historic homes, buildings and sites in celebration of Marksville's Bicentennial in 2009. Markers placed by either the City of Marksville, Hypolite Bordelon Home Society, Marksville Chamber of Commerce or the State of Louisiana. Mostly a driving tour.
Large story and a half Acadian style residence built by Alfred Greenhouse and his wife Cecilia Bontempt. Greenhouse was a farmer, cattleman, landowner and hunter who often cared for cattle kept in the lowlands during the winter months. Indian . . . — — Map (db m117693) HM
Oldest commercial building site remaining in city. Built by Voinche, native of Paris, France. Later Victorian upper structure on only underground basement in city. Basement used to hide cotton from Union troops during Civil War. — — Map (db m98022) HM
Movie theater built in the Arts and Crafts style by the Mayer family. First known as the "Palace Theater". Home to "silent" movies and later "speaking" films until about 1975. High school commencements were held here prior to 1927. — — Map (db m98270) HM
Turn of the century Victorian home featuring Colonial influence. Wrap around porch with complete central hallway. Built by Dr. Aristide Barbin. Restored by Tucker Couvillon family in the 1950's and the Leon Satterthwaite family in the 1990's. — — Map (db m120982) HM
Raised Greek Revival dwelling with Victorian influence built in 1872 by Alfred and Elizka Bordelon. Occupied by direct descendants. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places. — — Map (db m122655) HM
Full two story Arts and Crafts dwelling with Colonial Revival facade. Built by Michel Bettevy, prominent local banker. Later home to Leroy Havard family and the family of Dr. Alton DeNux, former Mayor and State Representative. — — Map (db m120955) HM
Victorian dwelling Colonial influence. Built by Alfred Bordelon who practiced dentistry and law in Cottonport and Marksville. Built along northern edge of Spanish land grant of Francois Bordelon. — — Map (db m120984) HM
Arts and Crafts style house built by Judge Lester Bordelon. Features a large central hallway flanked by gracious rooms and beveled glass entrance. — — Map (db m120973) HM
Part of home built by Marksville's first mayor, Charles Brashear. Located originally at corner of Cappel and Monroe Sts. Later housed Bell's Tavern. In 1856, Adolph Lafargue opened a boys' school in building and published "The Villager" newspaper . . . — — Map (db m120887) HM
Arts and Crafts style house
Circa 1920. Built as a spec
House by T. James and
Zepher Newton Brouillette.
Purchased as rental property
in May 1934 by Ceran R.
and Eliza Zimmer Guillot.
Similar to the house next
door, but smaller in size. — — Map (db m121174) HM
Full two story dwelling built in classic Arts and Crafts style. Features tile roof, stained glass and original Arts and Crafts interior. Designed by Favrot and Livaudais of New Orleans for L. Jules Coco, prominent local merchant. — — Map (db m121066) HM
A Confederate military hospital was maintained in this area during the Red River campaign of the Civil War. Patients were housed in a Mr. Richaud's buildings on Monroe Street according to an 1864 newspaper account. — — Map (db m121012) HM
Organized in 1889 under the leadership of Rev. J.W. Womack of Beggs, Oklahoma. Rev. and Mrs. Womack opened the first private "colored" school in Avoyelles Parish. Rev. A.L. Holmes was pastor of this church for 37 years. — — Map (db m138654) HM
Author of History of Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana published in 1943. Was an Asst. Professor of Spanish and French at Louisiana State Normal College, Natchitoches, Louisiana. — — Map (db m121237) HM
The two story plantation home of Judge Ralph Cushman was near this site. Cushman died of yellow fever in 1855, and is buried in this cemetery which bears his name. Other family cemeteries which were founded during this period include the Cannon . . . — — Map (db m120388) HM
Modified Victorian and Arts and Crafts style home built by Albert Decuir, dairyman and farmer on Spanish land grant property of his ancestor, Francois Bordelon. Presently owned by Decuir's grandson. — — Map (db m120983) HM
Mule driven tramway. Flat cars on rails from Marksville to Red River, a distance of six miles. Carried supplies and produce to and from Ware's Landing on the river to a warehouse on this site. — — Map (db m120927) HM
Arts and Crafts style home built by Forest Dupuis, merchant and undertaker. Located on the grounds were a mortuary, "filling station", dance hall, and garages to house a horse-drawn hearse and family vehicle. — — Map (db m97845) HM
Fort De Russy, four miles north, potent Confederate stronghold defending lower Red River valley, yielded to land attack of General A. J. Smith's Union Army on March 14, 1864.
Lower Plaque
Dedicated June 13, 1954
By the Central . . . — — Map (db m97846) HM
Marcos Litche, a native of Venice, Italy and a traveling peddler, migrated to the Avoyelles Post c. 1794. Because of a broken wagon wheel, the pleasant environment, and friendliness of the Indians and local residents, he decided to stay in this . . . — — Map (db m99098) HM
A large Eastlake Victorian
one and a half story structure
with heavy Victorian ornamentation
stood on this site. Built by
Adolph Frank, German native.
Local folklore states that
Andrew Jackson stayed at an
earlier inn on this site. — — Map (db m122504) HM
Built by Alfred Dupuy for J. R. Smith. Later home to the Gardiner and Benjamin Laborde families. Full two story Victorian dwelling with upper and lower galleries. Strong Eastlake influence of both interior and exterior. — — Map (db m103560) HM
German prisoners of war were housed in tents in a barbed wire enclosure during the last years of World War II. They assisted in the maintaining of levees and harvesting of crops, and were expatriated after the war. — — Map (db m97649) HM
Arts and Crafts style house
Circa 1948. Rufus and Enola
Dupuy Guillory purchased the
property in April 1948 from
Tillman and Mabel Graham.
Perma Stone (faux stone) was
Placed on the exterior walls
and posts of the chain fence.
One of the . . . — — Map (db m121176) HM
Arts and Crafts style home built by Judge Phidias Gremillion. Is unique because it features a gabled roof. The wainscoted dining room is highlighted by a plate rail. — — Map (db m103700) HM
Frame structure with Greek Revival influence was built for the Black Catholic families of Marksville and staffed by the Holy Ghost Fathers. Rev. Fr. T.J. Nolan was the first pastor and this church was built by Rev. Fr. John Cooney. — — Map (db m117651) HM
Founded by
Rev. Fr. Nicholas Juderman
as a school for Black Catholic
children. Land donated by
Daughters of the Cross.
Funding obtained from
Mother Katherine Drexel,
founder of the Sisters of
the Blessed Sacrament.
Opened in 1917. First . . . — — Map (db m122502) HM
This c. 1820 Creole house is typical of the dwellings of early Avoyelles Parish families. The Bordelon family, who built the house, was one of the parish's pioneer families. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. — — Map (db m97631) HM
Ducote, a local attorney and former Mayor, practiced law from this Victorian brick and frame building at the turn of the century. — — Map (db m103692) HM
Two story brick mercantile store with Victorian embellishments features business quarters downstairs and living quarters upstairs. Mr. Printz, an Italian immigrant, began his career as a fruit peddler in Avoyelles Parish. — — Map (db m174211) HM
Classic Greek Revival home with heavy Colonial influence built by attorney, J.W."Buddy" Joffrion. Features a tile roof and spacious gardens. Designed by Favrot and Livaudais of New Orleans.Lower plaque: Joffrion House Has been placed on . . . — — Map (db m120928) HM
Left section of this building was built in 1899 and the right section was added in 1918 by Jules Coco, a local merchant. This building has housed general merchandize (sic) stores, a Ford dealership, photo studio, hat shop, record shop, . . . — — Map (db m122079) HM
Arts and Crafts two story brick building built by Dr. E. M. Laborde and Cliffe E. Laborde for commercial use downstairs and dental and legal offices upstairs. Tidewater Marine, Inc., founded here in 1956. — — Map (db m103567) HM
Victorian mercantile store built by Lewis P. Roy, Sr. Restored in 1984-85 by attorneys Tucker Melancon and Rodney Rabalais and certified public accountants Aloysia C. Ducote and Van P. Major. — — Map (db m103699) HM
First organized in 1896 at the corner of Waddil and Lee Sts. by Rev. C. R. Dellapine. Later moved to corner of Monroe and Ogden Sts., and to this location in 1947. — — Map (db m98179) HM
The Masonic Lodge was first organized in 1900 and chartered on February 12, 1901. The lodge moved to this two story frame Arts and Crafts style building in 1925. — — Map (db m122417) HM
Marksville is a ceremonial center with two earthen ridges enclosing seven mounds. Indians built these earthworks between 100 BC and AD 400. During that time, the site covered 200 acres and included other earthworks that are now destroyed. The . . . — — Map (db m97726) HM
Marksvillians enjoyed horse racing on a hard earth track located on this site. A wood grandstand existed for visitor seating. Begun by Dr. Aristide Barbin who also organized a baseball field and golf course in this area. Dr. Barbin played on the . . . — — Map (db m117463) HM
Small brick edifice with
Victorian influence built
by William Peterman,
native of Pennsylvania
and a railroad attorney.
He married Belle Bordelorn
and later moved his practice
to Alexandria. — — Map (db m121177) HM
A two and one half story Eastlake Victorian structure with twin turrets stood on this site. Built by Alfred Mayer. Served for many years as the city's main hotel and renowned throughout state for its French cuisine. — — Map (db m99100) HM
H. Molenar and J.A. Dalsuet photographed much of early Marksville and its early inhabitants. Most of the photographs that have survived were made by Molenar who had a studio on this site. — — Map (db m122654) HM
The Marksville Church of the
Nazarene was organized on
October 26, 1926 in the home
of Mrs. L.J. Coco. Rev. L.L.
Latham was the first minister.
This "New England” style
building has outstanding twelve
over twelve windows. . . . — — Map (db m122524) HM
Full two story frame structure housing a business and hotel. Property originally owned by Madame Marc Eliché. Purchased in the 1940's by Jules Moreau for a "pressing shop". Also housed a tractor dealership at one time. — — Map (db m121367) HM
A Spanish military post was established c.1780 in Marksville by Carlos de Grandpré, Civil Lieutenant Governor of the Red and Ouachita River Settlements to protect the Avoyel Indians from the encroachment of white settlers on Indian lands and to . . . — — Map (db m97870) HM
Founded by the Daughters of the Cross of Treguier, France in 1854 at Hydropolis (Cocoville), and relocated to this site after the Civil War. First Catholic girls' school in Avoyelles Parish. Later became co-educational. — — Map (db m122415) HM
Originally located in Hydropolis (Cocoville). Served as the chapel for the Daughters of the Cross and students at Presentation Academy. Later moved after the Civil War to Marksville and attached to the first St. Joseph Church. Moved to the grounds . . . — — Map (db m97771) HM
Built by L. P. Roy, Sr., prominent bank president, State Representative and local entrepreneur. Designed by Favrot and Livaudais of New Orleans in the Arts and Crafts style. Features a tile roof and much use of beveled glass throughout. "Sister" . . . — — Map (db m121196) HM
Site of general store and post office where Sam Bass mailed Solomon Northup's letter to obtain his freedom from being kidnapped into slavery. Northup was a free man of color living in Saratoga, New York and was hired to play violin in Washington, . . . — — Map (db m122414) HM
Founded by Rev. Fr. Jules Janeau in 1869 with worship in a Gothic frame Church. Replaced in 1926 by Msgr. Henry Van de Putten with this Romanesque structure designed by W. T. Nolan. — — Map (db m98023) HM
Congregation established in 1881 as a mission from St. James Church in Alexandria. Rev. W.S. Slack was pastor of the church on this site in 1902. — — Map (db m121239) HM
Rezin P. Bowie, brother of Alamo hero James Bowie, wrote, “The first Bowie knife was made by myself in the Parish of Avoyelles.” With this knife James killed Norris Wright in the famous Sandbar Fight near Natchez, Miss., Sept. 19, 1827. — — Map (db m98048) HM
One mile east is the Marksville prehistoric Indian ceremonial center. This site, occupied from 1-400 A.D., was related to the Ohio Hopewell Culture, and was noted for its elaborate trade networks and mortuary ceremonialism. — — Map (db m98269) HM
Lands granted to the Tunica tribe by the Spanish government comprise part of the present reservation. The Tunica-Biloxi Tribe is a fusion of the Tunica, Biloxi, Ofo, and Avoyel peoples. — — Map (db m97810) HM
Arts and Crafts style home built by Roy Watts and home to Carnot Dupuy for many years. Mr. Dupuy, a pharmacist, was mayor of Marksville in 1920 and also served on the School Board. — — Map (db m103559) HM
A two and one half story Greek Revival frame structure with upper and lower galleries stood here. Built by Edwards on land purchased from Marc Eliche'. Later owned by Judge Aristide Barbin. — — Map (db m98055) HM