The Ford Museum's Exibits
The Herbert S. Ford Museum exhibits various periods in the history
of North Central Louisiana, from the pre-Columbian era to the turn of
the century.
(Images will open in a new window):
The Bells
The basement contains a
specially-constructed tree of bells that the late Mr. Ford collected
from throughout the parish region. The bells extend from the basement
to the ceiling of the first floor.
Before the invention of the telephone, bells were an important communication mechanism.
The Piano Collection
The
mezzanine contains a square piano that Isaac Murrell, the first
European child born in Claiborne Parish, purchased for his wife in
1853. Assembled in New York, the piano was shipped to New Orleans then
to Minden by barge and ox cart.
In addition to Isaac Murrell's piano, the mezzanine contains a player piano from the early 1900s and several other instruments.
The Folk Art Collection
One of the museum’s finest possessions is
a group of Rosa Wilder Blackman dolls. The museum is also home to other
folk arts from the early pioneers.
The Quilt Collection
The Museum features several
quilts from different eras. One quilt from the Summerfield Missionary
Society has over 700 names embroidered on it.
The Native Americans of Claiborne Parish
The last known Native American
inhabitants of modern-day Claiborne Parish were the Kadohadacho tribe
of the Caddo Indian Confederacy. The Kadohadacho tribe were related to
the Plains Indians of the Southwest rather than the Southeastern tribes
who inhabited most of Louisiana. The early European settlers shortened
the name to simply "Caddo." While no permanent settlement existed in
modern-day Claiborne Parish, the Kadohadacho tribe used the region for
hunting and mound-building.
Three cases exhibit Native American culture in the modern-day Claiborne Parish region. Arrow points, grinding stones, and pottery are among some of the artifacts exhibited.
A dugout canoe from the banks of the Sabine River is also on display. Bayou Dorcheat was the early lifeline of the parish, and canoes were an efficient way of traveling throughout the region.
The Pioneer Period Collection
During
the pioneer period, English and Scottish-Irish people migrated from the
Southeast region of the United States to escape debts or avoid the law.
Many other new settlers came in search of adventure or untouched
farmland.
John Murrell, his wife, and six children are believed to be the first pioneers to arrive in 1818. Most pioneers built crude log cabins with cypress roofs, barely sufficient to protect them from the sometimes harsh conditions of the region. Because they had to provide food, clothing, tools, and furniture for themselves, the early settlers were mostly self-reliant.
During this period, Military Road was constructed through northwest Louisiana. The road passed through Claiborne Parish, linking army posts throughout the region and eventually progressing into the Arkansas Territory. Also during this period, modern-day Claiborne Parish was formed from the northern portion of Natchitoches Parish. The parish was named after the first American governor of Louisiana, William C.C. Claiborne.
The Antebellum Period Collection
The second wave of settlers arrived
in Claiborne Parish during the 1840s and 1850s, primarily from Georgia
and Alabama. By 1860, the European population had doubled and the slave
population had tripled. Cotton production also increased by 765%. Farms
grew larger and slave labor became critical to maintain the crops and
livestock.
This area showcases some ways that settlers tamed the wilderness: a blacksmith shop used for making horseshoes, axes, chains, saws, and other metal items; a cradle Scythe for harvesting grain by hand; a large bag for picking cotton; and a large wooden wheel. Ben Langheld and James Miller built the wooden wheel to move wagonloads of corn into the barn corncrib, thus reducing the labor and time required to move corn.
Before the 18th Amendment (Prohibition) was added to the Constitution, many farms had stills for distilling alcohol. During the Prohibition era, many people continued to produce alcohol. These bootleggers or moonshiners called their product white lightening. Louisiana Highway 146 is called The White Lightening Road because the men who grated the road bed were in jail from making illegal alcohol.
The War Between the States Collection
In 1861, the Civil War reached Claiborne
Parish. Almost every home sent at least one soldier to the war. During
the war, Claiborne Parish served as a Refugee Center, receiving refugee
families from the Mississippi Valley and other regions. Though Union
soldiers did not enter the parish until after the war, many sons of
Claiborne Parish lost their lives during the war.
The flags of the Confederacy are displayed in this area, along with the original Judge's Bench from the Courthouse, and the Courthouse bell. Confederate guns and sabers are displayed in a case, along with a 1905 photograph of some of the last remaining Confederate soliders alive in the parish.
The Turn of the Century Collection
By 1900,
life in Claiborne Parish was changing drastically. The L&NW
Railroad, constructed in 1888, quickly led the parish into a period of
economic recovery. The growing economy allowed the Hotel
Claiborne—current home of the Ford Museum—and the Homer National Bank
to be constructed in 1890.
By 1917, oil exploration had begun, but it wasn’t until January 1919 that Consolidated Progressive Oil Company drilled a commercially successful oil well near Homer.
In addition to the original oil well near Homer, the Haynesville and Lisbon Fields produced many barrels of oil per day. By 1946, there were 785 oil wells and 46 natural gas wells in the parish. While the technology used to search and drill oil has become more sophisticated, oil exploration in the parish continues today.
A train bell from the first locomotive engine in the parish and train tickets from the Gibsland-Darley, Athens-Spring Lake, and Homer-Kerlin stops are among the items exhibited in this collection.
The Textile Collection
The textile collection holds several noteworthy items:
the Double-Harness Loom (circa 1830) from the Germantown colony near
Minden, the Knighton spinning wheel (circa 1862), and some early sewing
machines.
The F.C. Haley Education Collection
F.C. Haley was the Claiborne Parish Superintendent for 24 years—he
consolidated the parish schools from 72 schools to 10 schools in the
1970s. The Haley family sponsored this exhibit in memory of him.
Near the entrance to the exhibit, a large bell from the Homer Male College is displayed, along with photographs of the college. Founded in 1855 under the jurisdiction of the Louisiana Methodist Conference, the college offered Bachelors and Masters degrees in the Arts and Sciences.
Pen and ink murals depict school life in the pioneer period, along with books, photos, and artifacts of the early academy movement in the parish. Most notably, a photograph of Homer Male College graduate Col. James Nicholson is displayed. Col. Nicholson taught mathematics at Louisiana State University, serving as president of the university from 1883-1884 and 1887-1896. He wrote numerous mathematics textbooks, several of which were used by Harvard and Yale.
The Medical Room
During the 1800s, living conditions
were harsh for residents of Claiborne Parish. Measles, pneumonia,
malaria, yellow fever, typhoid fever, and tuberculosis were common,
causing high infant morality rates.
Doctors traveled many miles on horseback to treat persons suffering from disease or illness. Operations were often performed on kitchen tables by lamplight and payment was often made with farm products. This collection displays some early medical tools and books. Also, Dr. Nolan Wilson’s dental chair and foot-pedaled dental drill are displayed.
The Hotel Room
Because
of the economic boom of the late 1800s and early 1900s, the 25 rooms of
the Hotel Claiborne housed many visitors from all around the country.
Besides a bed, each room contained a washbowl and water pitcher on a
washstand.
The furniture in the Hotel Room belonged to Mrs. Herbert S. Ford, who lived to be 100 years old.
Many newly married couples came to the Hotel Claiborne on their honeymoons and traveling salesmen called drummers displayed their wares for local merchants to order.
Local parties were held in the upstairs parlors, complete with orchestras. During the 1920s, oil spectators and businessmen left the hotel with no vacancies.
Beautiful wallpaper lined the walls and faux bois finish was painted on the doors. Transoms above each door ventilated the rooms.
The David Wade Military Room
In honor of the town of Homer,
Lt. General and Mrs. Wade sponsored this United States Air Force
military exhibit.
Among the items on display are the General’s portrait and his flags, medals, and awards. Additionally, guns from the Ford gun collection and the Far East are exhibited.
Various weapons from World War I to the Vietnam Era are also on display, including a World War II Liberator—a rare pistol designed to be discarded after one use.
Also, the medals of Larry Sale—the most decorated Louisiana soldier of World War I—are on display. A smaller case holds Civil War artifacts, including $1.00 bills issued by Claiborne Parish.
The Trophy Room
The Trophy Room exhibits
enormous mounted animals brought back from Alaska and Africa by Mr.
C.B. Kitchens, owner and operator of the Kitchen Ice Company in Homer.
Mr. Kitchens wrote many humerous articles for the local paper, eventually writing and illustrating a book entitled “Trickem on Gooch Creek” in 1957.
One of Kitchens’ hobbies was working metal—he called his yard “Kitchens Sink,” and filled it with whirling windmills and humorous art.
The General Store Room
General
stores were an important part of life in the late 1800s and early
1900s. The general store in Homer sold everything from groceries to
iron cookware and plows, some of which are displayed in this exhibit.
The general store also served as the Post Office.
The Hotel Parlor
The Hotel Claiborne parlor is located at the front of the second floor and holds a piano, carpet, drapes, a chandelier, chairs, and desks. The décor was quite ornate, in line with the time period. The large door leading to the balcony was often opened, and hotel guests frequently sat outside in the evenings.
The Chapel Room
Though there was no chapel in the Hotel Claiborne, this exhibit
demonstrates the significance of religion to the early pioneers.
A large wicker basket from the First Baptist Church of Homer and the 1868 organ of the Arizona Methodist Church are both on display in this exhibit. Photos of Sunday school classes and baptisms are also displayed.
The Carriage Room
A Grimmet-Fortson carriage, acquired from the Pioneer
Hertitage Center at LSUS in February 1984, is on display in this
exhibit. A doctor from Bossier Parish used this carriage for
transportation.
The 1920s Oil Boom
Oil was
discovered in Homer in 1919, Haynesville in 1921, and Lisbon in
1936. Many changes were made in Claiborne Parish as a result of
the mules, men, and money brought in by this discovery.