CLICK HEREÂ for printable PDF
version of this map and list of places
Leesville National Register Historic District
and a few places outside the district
and a few places outside the district
- 1 –Â Booker-Lewis House – 1905
- 2 –Â Ward House – 1920s
- 3 –Â Cain Motor Company
- 4 –Â Dreamland Theater – 1915 / 1920s
- 5 –Â Red Hound Building – 1917
- 6 –Â Vernon Bank – 1904
- 7 –Â Merchants & Farmers Bank – 1928
- 8 –Â National Hotel – 1907
- 9 –Â First National Bank – 1907
- 10 –Â U. S. Post Office – 1936
- 11 –Â Vernon Parish Court House – 1910
- 12 –Â Lyons Building – 1907
- 1-11 –Â Gallery One Ellleven
- 13 –Â Leesville Hotel – 1907
- 14 –Â Lyons-Stelly Home – 1900
- 15 –Â Smart Plantation Home – 1858
- 16 –Â Museum of West Louisiana – 1900s
- 17 –Â Wingate House – 1904
- 18 –Â Ferguson House – 1890s
- Anacoco –Â Holly Grove Methodist Church – 1835
1st National Bank – 1907
Built in the style popular for large commercial buildings at the beginning of the 20th century, the lower floor housed the First National Bank and several retail stores. The upper floor was occupied by an opera house, known as the National Theatre. The bank closed during the depression but the Opera House continued to present traveling Vaudeville shows, symphony orchestras and opera companies for many years. After the Sliman family donated the building to the parish, the interior was renovated for use as the Vernon Parish Courthouse, although the exterior has been completely preserved.
Built in the style popular for large commercial buildings at the beginning of the 20th century, the lower floor housed the First National Bank and several retail stores. The upper floor was occupied by an opera house, known as the National Theatre. The bank closed during the depression but the Opera House continued to present traveling Vaudeville shows, symphony orchestras and opera companies for many years. After the Sliman family donated the building to the parish, the interior was renovated for use as the Vernon Parish Courthouse, although the exterior has been completely preserved.
Booker-Lewis House – 1905Â
The Booker-Lewis House and Restaurant, located at 102 East North St., offers a graceful balance of elegance and country charm. Built in the Queen Anne Colonial Revival style, the house retains many of the original windowpanes and all of the original Louisiana yellow pine door casings and floors. It was built in 1905 for Mr. H.T. Booker, a bookkeeper at the Nona Mills Lumber Company.
The Booker-Lewis House and Restaurant, located at 102 East North St., offers a graceful balance of elegance and country charm. Built in the Queen Anne Colonial Revival style, the house retains many of the original windowpanes and all of the original Louisiana yellow pine door casings and floors. It was built in 1905 for Mr. H.T. Booker, a bookkeeper at the Nona Mills Lumber Company.
Dreamland Theater – 1920s
The original theater at this site was an open-air theater called the Aero-Dome. There were no walls – the roofed area was surrounded by a fence. In the 1920s, the building was re-modeled into a Moorish movie palace with Spanish tile, twisted columns and niches on the second floor facade, and called the Dreamland. Later renamed the Vernon Theater, this movie house played movies from the years of Tom Mix to those of Jane Fonda before it closed and was reopened as Celebrations, a hall currently available for parties and special occasions.
The original theater at this site was an open-air theater called the Aero-Dome. There were no walls – the roofed area was surrounded by a fence. In the 1920s, the building was re-modeled into a Moorish movie palace with Spanish tile, twisted columns and niches on the second floor facade, and called the Dreamland. Later renamed the Vernon Theater, this movie house played movies from the years of Tom Mix to those of Jane Fonda before it closed and was reopened as Celebrations, a hall currently available for parties and special occasions.
Leesville Hotel – 1907
This hotel had thirty-five guest rooms and was the latest in high style when built in 1907. Combining Mission and Classical styles, the hotel originally had a large, two-story porch with Roman columns in the center of the main facade. Built in a combination of Mission and Classical style, the hotel originally had a large, two-story porch, with Roman columns, in the center of the main facade. As was the custom with hotels, located on the first floor in front of the main entrance was a brass compass. The infamous Bonnie and Clyde were among some of its most notorious guests.
This hotel had thirty-five guest rooms and was the latest in high style when built in 1907. Combining Mission and Classical styles, the hotel originally had a large, two-story porch with Roman columns in the center of the main facade. Built in a combination of Mission and Classical style, the hotel originally had a large, two-story porch, with Roman columns, in the center of the main facade. As was the custom with hotels, located on the first floor in front of the main entrance was a brass compass. The infamous Bonnie and Clyde were among some of its most notorious guests.
Lyons Building – 1907
The Lyons Building, located at 115 South 3rd St., is Italianate in style. The flat roof, imposing cornices, and arched windows combine to form one of Leesville’s oldest and most elegant buildings. It is remembered by many as the location of both the famous “Happy Hour Cafe” and the office of Dr. I. O. Winfree, a dentist who practiced for over 50 years in the same location. In fact, several of the windows on the upper floor still bear Dr. Winfree’s name. Lyons Building – 1907
The Lyons Building, located at 115 South 3rd St., is Italianate in style. The flat roof, imposing cornices, and arched windows combine to form one of Leesville’s oldest and most elegant buildings. It is remembered by many as the location of both the famous “Happy Hour Cafe” and the office of Dr. I. O. Winfree, a dentist who practiced for over 50 years in the same location. In fact, several of the windows on the upper floor still bear Dr. Winfree’s name. Lyons Building – 1907
Lyons-Stelly Home – c. 1900
The Benson H. Lyons House (c. 1900) is a large Queen Anne Revival style residence with prominent Eastlake features. The double wraparound gallery which outlines three sides of the home is bedecked with elaborate woodwork which makes this one of the most pretentious homes in Vernon Parish
The Benson H. Lyons House (c. 1900) is a large Queen Anne Revival style residence with prominent Eastlake features. The double wraparound gallery which outlines three sides of the home is bedecked with elaborate woodwork which makes this one of the most pretentious homes in Vernon Parish
Merchants & Farmers Bank – 1928
The distinguished Merchants and Farmers Bank building is built in the English Revival style. Hallmarks of this style are corner quoins and classical architectural devices such as the egg and dart molding across the main facade. The bank originally had a bronze clock on the front and still has its beautiful white marble counters.
The distinguished Merchants and Farmers Bank building is built in the English Revival style. Hallmarks of this style are corner quoins and classical architectural devices such as the egg and dart molding across the main facade. The bank originally had a bronze clock on the front and still has its beautiful white marble counters.
National Hotel- 1907
The National Hotel was lavishly decorated. The original building featured a two story gallery on the front to welcome visitors. The lower floor held the lobby, a variety of offices, and a restaurant in the rear which opened onto Courthouse Street. Guest rooms were on the upper floors.
The National Hotel was lavishly decorated. The original building featured a two story gallery on the front to welcome visitors. The lower floor held the lobby, a variety of offices, and a restaurant in the rear which opened onto Courthouse Street. Guest rooms were on the upper floors.
The U.S. Post Office – 1936
Built by the W. P. A. (Works Progress Administration) during the Great Depression, the U.S. Post Office is built in the Art Deco style. Above two of the windows in the main facade are bas-relief sculptures which herald the advent of air mail. Inside the lobby is another bas-relief sculpture depicting a farmer leaning against a hoe and his wife, seated reading a letter. The interior sculpture was created by a New York artist, Duncan Ferguson, who was first brought to Louisiana by Huey Long to start the art school at Louisiana State University.
Built by the W. P. A. (Works Progress Administration) during the Great Depression, the U.S. Post Office is built in the Art Deco style. Above two of the windows in the main facade are bas-relief sculptures which herald the advent of air mail. Inside the lobby is another bas-relief sculpture depicting a farmer leaning against a hoe and his wife, seated reading a letter. The interior sculpture was created by a New York artist, Duncan Ferguson, who was first brought to Louisiana by Huey Long to start the art school at Louisiana State University.
Vernon Bank – 1904
The Vernon Bank was located in the large commercial building built in 1907 by George R. Ferguson of Nona Mills Lumber Company. The bank portion of the building had a Romanesque style facade with arches over the windows and a corner entrance with a Corinthian column. During the 1950’s and 60’s the facade was replaced with tile, although this has since been replaced using windows and siding which are very similar to the original.
The Vernon Bank was located in the large commercial building built in 1907 by George R. Ferguson of Nona Mills Lumber Company. The bank portion of the building had a Romanesque style facade with arches over the windows and a corner entrance with a Corinthian column. During the 1950’s and 60’s the facade was replaced with tile, although this has since been replaced using windows and siding which are very similar to the original.
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 | Wingate House – c. 1904 The Wingate House, a Queen Anne Style structure located on West Harriet Street, is a private residence which is on the National Register of Historic Places. |
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 | Holly Grove Methodist Church – 1835 Holly Grove Methodist Church was founded in 1834, and is believed to be the oldest protestant church in continuous operation west of the Mississippi. It is a simple frame church which characterized much of rural Louisiana at the turn of the century. |
| Directions from Anacoco LA (Highway 171) Located about 4 miles South of Anacoco. Turn West on Holly Grove Road and proceed 1.4 miles to Holly Grove Methodist Church. |  |
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| The new church sits across the road from the original | |
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| Source material: Photographs/Map by Frank Dutton / Toledo-Bend.Com – Text information directly from and/or paraphrased from Vernon Parish Tourism Commission brochures & website –Â https://www.VentureVernon.com | |