News & Events

Images of America: Claiborne Parish

The Herbert S. Ford Museum has released a pictorial history book, Images of America: Claiborne Parish, containing 232 vintage photographs of the parish. These books are available at the museum for $20.00 per copy or may be ordered by mail at: Ford Museum, P. O. Box 157, Homer, LA 71040. If ordering by mail, please include $2.50 per copy for mailing expenses.

Supplemental Information

Because captions for photographs in the book had to be limited in length, there were instances where relevant material was omitted from the book. The museum is using this website to publish additional facts which may be of interest to readers. As new information comes to light, we will be updating the website. We encourage our readers to contact the museum with any additional information about the photographs. Especially needed are identifications of many persons in the school and sports photographs. The museum is also seeking other photographs not published in the book. Contact us at or (318) 927-9190 to submit material.

Book owners: We recommend printing a copy of this information and placing it in your book.

Explanation: For each caption below, the book’s page number is followed by T (top photo on page) or B (bottom photo on page) where there are two photos per page.

Chapter 1 - A Beautiful Legacy

9   Claiborne Academy at old Athens was incorporated on March 12, 1836 by an 18-member Board of Trustees. On March 13, 1837, the Louisiana legislature granted an appropriation of $1,000 annually for 5 years, provided free instruction was given 10 indigent children. Difficulty was experienced in getting a building ready, and in 1838 an additional appropriation of $1,500 was made to assist in building the school. The following year Providence Missionary Baptist Church, located south of Athens, moved its place of meeting to Claiborne Academy. Within a short time many church members drew their letters and moved away. When old Athens was selected as the parish seat in 1846, the academy building and a large area of ground were donated for parish seat purposes by John Wilson, one of the trustees of the defunct academy. A flowing spring was a consideration in the selection of this site. No parish courthouse was ever built at old Athens. Parish records were maintained in the school building. Arson was suspected in the fire that destroyed the building. The fire was probably an attempt to destroy some of the records or to aid the cause of those citizens who wanted the parish seat moved to a more central location in the parish. In 1850 the grounds were reconveyed to Wilson by the police jury, and he was also granted $150 in consideration for the burning of his school house.

10T  A gutter pipe ran halfway down the corner column, then over to a cistern that collected rainwater from the courthouse roof. This water was used to fight fires until a water system was installed in 1913. At the left is a gazebo-like structure which sheltered a water well.

17T  The lowest temperature recorded in official Louisiana state records is minus 16 degrees at Minden, Webster Parish on that same date (February 13, 1899). Perhaps Homer should be the record holder with two reliable local newspapers registering a temperature 1 degree lower than Minden.

17B  Half of the weathervane arrow atop the courthouse was broken off during a severe rain and wind storm on the afternoon of July 24, 1924. The weathervane was repaired two weeks later.

Chapter 2 - The Iron Horse

27T  The L&NW and its sister company, the Wellsville, Addison & Galeton (WAG), a NY to PA shortline railroad, were the last two railroads in the US to replace their wooden boxcars with steel boxcars.

Chapter 3 - Reading, ‘Riting, and ‘Rithmetic

33   This school building was erected following a midnight fire on January 1, 1904 that destroyed the Haynesville High School. Insurance money of $1,000 was used to replace the burned building.

35T  Near the end of the Civil War, occupying Union cavalry used the Homer Male College as a feed stable for their horses. Following the war, serious consideration was given to demolishing the building due to the damage caused by Union troops.

36T  Husbands’ names of 1913 Homer High graduates in CAPITAL letters: from left to right, (seated) Bessie Bonner McCOY, Sarah Meadors THOMSON; (standing) Ida Langston McKNIGHT, Mary Tooke, Ruth Meadows FORD, Ida Knighten, Sunshine Johnson NESBITT, and Rubie Flynt HARRIS.

38B  1921 Summerfield School: front row, 6th from left, Martha Hightower; second row, 6th from left, William C. “Bill” Hightower. Can you identify the other pupils?

39T  Walnut Grove School was located off the White Lightning Road (LA Hwy 146) about 6 miles from Homer. Students about 1915 are: 1 Ruby Owens, 2 Mary Alice Watson, 3 Margie Jennings, 4 Margaret Keener, 5 Wyman Walker, 6 Odessa Bridwell, 7 Credis Bridwell, 8 William Bridwell, 9 Azalee Owens, 10 Beulah Pixley, 11 Olney Taylor, 12 Willa Mae Pixley, 13 Gener Peterson, 14 Annie Belle Owens, 15 Puel Wilson, 16 Vardeman Walker, 17 Gertrude Wilson, 18 Roy Owens, 19 Melvie Pixley, 20 Jennie Maude Bridwell, 21 Tom Pixley, 22 Marie Owens, 23 Albert Pixley, 24 Clara Pixley, 25 Lucile Dawson (teacher), 26 Annie Easterling, 27 Deco Bridwell, 28 Eula Taylor, 29 Dewey Tate, 30 Prentis Owens, 31 Hugh Gandy, 32 Leonard Owens, 33 Odessa Taylor, 34 Gilbert Owens, and 35 Ada Peterson.

43T  Can you identify this school and its location?

47T  The St. John School building burned in 1945, prompting consolidation of St. John School and Homer Colored High School.

Chapter 4 - Go! Fight! Win!

55   Herbert Ford was one of 20 members of the American Expeditionary Forces (A.E.F) who met in France in 1919 to found the American Legion. Desmore Nelson was the quarterback of the 1907 and 1908 Homer High School football teams.

56T  The 1907 Homer High football team is posed in front of the Methodist Church. Team members are, from left to right, (first row) Sam Kerlin, right end; John DeLoach, right tackle; Hugh Wilder, right guard; Charlie Kirkpatrick, center; Yandell Wideman, left guard; Atwood Gibson, left tackle; and Carl Cameron, left end; (second row) Harry Fortson, right halfback; Enos McClendon, fullback; Era DeLoach, left halfback; and Desmore Nelson, quarterback; (third row) Joe Kirkpatrick; Herbert Ford, halfback; and James McClendon. Enos McClendon is not wearing a tie; he has a nose guard hanging from his neck. Herbert Ford did not make the trip to Haynesville; he stayed home because of a sore throat.

56B  Can you identify the 1907 Haynesville football players? There are 13 names listed and only 12 players pictured.

58T  The instructor was Mrs. T.F. Wilbanks, wife of the football coach.

58B  The 1928 Homer High football team was coached by T.F. Wilbanks. He had coached at LSU before coming to Homer for the 1923 season. The L&NW special train also stopped at Athens & Gibsland for passengers. Team members (with positions listed for 1st team) are, from left to right, (first row) Blanchard Garr; George Robinson; Bill Tompkins; Hamp Moffet; Ernest “Son” Smith; John David Auld; Guy Carroll; Aylmer Adkins; Frank Tindall; and Phillip Fincher; (second row) Kenneth Gentry; Hugh Cameron, right end; Robert Camp, right tackle; Earl Tompkins, right guard; Cassie Bass; Hoyd Brock, center; Ben Cameron, right halfback; Tom Bickham, left end; Carroll Kendrick, fullback; Buster McMurry, quarterback; Edgar “Bulldog” Higgins, left halfback; and Charles Knox, left guard; (third row) Seals Abercrombie; Lamos Fulmer; Joe Robertson; Ed McClung; Floyd Williams; Elmer Adams; Ellis “Red” McKenzie; Jake Cameron; Lawrence Thompson, left tackle; and Cage Adkins. Ben Cameron was selected first team All-State. The State Championship trophy, with a full-size silver football, was displayed around town in store windows before being placed in Homer High’s trophy case. The Homer Athletic Association presented 14 boys with gold footballs, with the words, “Champions--1928,” inscribed on them. Boys receiving a football were: Hoyd Brock, Charles Knox, Earl Tompkins, Robert Camp, Lawrence Thompson, Hugh Cameron, Ben Cameron, Tom Bickham, Buster McMurry, Kenneth Gentry, Edgar Higgins, Ellis McKenzie, Carroll Kendrick, and Cassie Bass. Do you know where one of these gold footballs is located?

59T  The 1929 Ruple Hornets football team members are, from left to right, (first row) Gaynell Tinsley, Ray Hollenshead, Bill Bo Polk, L. Camp, George Heard, Ralph Elmore, Bill Ruple, Dale Tinsley; (second row) Clyde Hollenshead, Cecil Manry, Bernard Walker, Charlie Drew Thomas, Mack Heard, Billy Robinson, Dale Elmore, O. Fletcher; (third row) Principal Albert G. McKee, L. Bates, Travis. Camp, Olan Land, Melvin Thomas, Harold Hollenshead, and coach Manning Durham.

60B  The 1923-24 Haynesville girls’ volleyball team: back row, 4th from left, is Katie Ware.

61T  The 1936 Summerfield basketball team members are, from left to right, (first row) unidentified, Bill Murry, Claude Gully Jr, ? Sayers, Thelton Tanner, Edgar Hightower, and ? Sayers; (second row) Jimmy Smith, Byron Brown, Wilford Hightower, Emmet Mitchum, James Lee, Joe Burley, and Coach Buck Sims.

62B  The 1920 Homer High football team members are, from left to right (first row), Malcolm “Pete” Menefee, left end; Russell Smith; Jim Olive, right tackle; Boyce O’Bannon; Ozzie McClung, left guard; Wilbur Moreland, center; Leslie Gill; Gaston Baucum, right end; and Jack Ryan, right tackle; (second row) Principal W.C. Boone; Albertus DeLoach, tackle/halfback; John Nick Brown; Edgar Osborn, right halfback; Moses Robinson, left halfback; Tom Baker, quarterback; and coach John Moore. Other players (not pictured) mentioned in game articles: Reuel Coleman, right tackle; Henry Turner, right guard; H. Childs Martin, fullback; Arthur Hall; and Frank Moore.

65T  Do you know the 1922 Haynesville-Minden game score?

71T  The first officers in charge of the Homer-Haynesville Country Club were Luther Beene (Haynesville), President; J.R. Madden (Homer), Vice President; A.H. Southern (Haynesville), Vice President; and J. Melton Oakes (Homer), Secretary/Treasurer.

73B  The 1945 Homer High football team members are, from left to right, (first row) Billy Gentry, Ab Atkins, Ed Michael, Harold Tanner, David King, Jackie Woods, Joe LeSage, Charles Dickens, Andy Fisher, Billy Rowell, James Robert Michael, George Meadors, James Aubrey, Hutto Tabor, and George Emerson; (second row) Fergie Ebarb, Jack Robertson, Bobby Smith, Jack Kimbell, Frank Harkness, Billy Hightower, Oscar Camp, Walter Woods, Leo Cook, Harold Baker, Dick Fortson, Bobby Hamil, J.R. “Snap” Oakes, Bobby Simmons, Dillard Aubrey, Stuart Butler, and Gene Loval.

74T  The 1955 Homer Oilers baseball team members are, from left to right, (first row) batboys Tommy Townsend and Derwood Thomas; (second row) Jim Pace, Jim Bathea, Gordon Maxwell, Ray Rogers, and Curtis Kimbro; (third row) Tommy Virgets, Jack Goodwyn, Dan Brown, Bobby Newton, Al Doggett, and Billy Ray Suggs; (fourth row) Jody Barnette, J.C. Sells, Bud McDonald, Paul Dean, Charlie Rugg, and manager Paul Thomas.

74B  The 1957 Homer Pelicans “Iron Men” team members are, from left to right, (first row) Billy Thomas, Deryl Ackley, Tommy Owens, Eugene “Buddy” Pixley, Buddy Barker; (second row) G.W. Zachary, Ronnie Terry, Kenneth Hood, Gladney Davidson, Jimmy Andrews, and Charles Lewis; (third row) Ray Wilkins, Fred David Miller, Herman Coleman, John Wayne Odom, Ray Weaver, Bobby Flurry, and Sammy Camp.

Chapter 5 - The Enduring Flame

80B  Husbands’ names of females in CAPITAL letters: from left to right, (first row) Edgar Fortson, Grace McFarland, Charlie Fortson, Inez Aubrey MOORE, Dickson Shelton, Jim Oakes, ? Winston, and Dora Fortson BRIDGES; (second row) unidentified, Rev. H.M. Garnett, Bernice Kerlin BRAGDON, Jemmie Nelson GLADNEY, two unidentified, Thomas Nix, Dan Knighton, Sue Braden KNIGHTON, Iris Kerlin PALMER, Will Dormon, Ada Mae Kimbell, and Aubyn Harris.

Chapter 6 - Black Gold

90B  This photograph was taken on May 18, 1920.

95T  Perhaps these two men are not promoting oil field safety after all. It appears more likely that they are using phony bandages on one of them to entice passing customers to buy some of the postcards with oil field scenes that are displayed on panels and piled high in their suitcase. The sign between the men states “Look HOMER Oil Field Postcards 10¢.” They’re just out to get a share of the Homer Oil Boom bonanza.

95B  Haynesville won the football game by a score of 28-0.

100B  This photograph was taken on September 25, 1923.

101  Both photographs on this page were taken on January 18, 1920.

Chapter 7 - Remember When

108B  In the late 1800s the storefronts around the Homer square were shaded with ornamental chinaberry trees, as seen in this photograph. The great drought of 1896 killed some of the trees. The surviving trees were killed by the great freeze of February 1899. New shade trees had to planted with the arrival of spring.

111T  Homer won the football game by a score of 20-0.

112T  Dr. Gibson’s office was located in the building to the right of his Sanitarium. 116T The 1901 Haynesville group: from left to right: (first row) Dr. Shack Waller, Luther Yates, Mack Foster, A.L. Brown, Buck Phipps with daughter Bernice; (second row) Dr. Lee Waller, L.P. Dawson, Chester Taylor, S.B. Baucum, Judge Ben P. Edwards, John Dawson, Bee Reynolds, Hugh Miller; and (third row) Marl Morgan, Neil Baucum, Perry Baucum, Shelvey Baucum, S.E. Rankin, Elmer Evans, Henry Sherman, and a cotton buyer named Hightower. At the back left is Luther Beene.

127T  1910 Summerfield men: 2nd row back, next to man on the far right is Ed. C. Hightower (in light coat). Can you identify the other men?