Ferriday

HISTORY

The town of Ferriday is located on US Hwy. 65/85 at the junction of SR 28. It was formerly a 4,000 acre cotton plantation situated along the western bank of Lake Concordia. The plantation, named Helena, was a gift from Calvin SMITH, of Natchez, to his daughter, Helen, upon her marriage to William FERRIDAY. The family occupied the plantation from 1827 to 1894.

With the advance of the railroad, a town came into existence. Lots were staked out and sold in 1903-04, and the town was incorporated in 1906, the same year a one-room school house was built. Helena Plantation was converted for use as a terminal and workshop for the railways.  Corinne HUTCHISON became Ferriday's first teacher.

In it's earliest years, Ferriday was known as the "alcohol town."  The town streets and establishments were the scene of many frights, stabbings, killings.  This was partially due to the open gambling, but free-flowing bootleg whiskey was also a factor.  Prostitution thrived.  A Negro, named Rosie HESTER, ran several of the larger and better known houses of prostitution.

The one hospital, in Ferriday, was run by Dr. RATCLIFF with the assistance of two other doctors.  Dr. RATCLIFF lived across the street, from the hospital, to make himself readily available to tree one or more stabbing or shooting victim.

The local gambling industry expanded during the 1920's, when slot machines made an appearance.  They could be found in almost all stores.  At that time, Ferriday was still very much the frontier-type town.  The sidewalks were made of raised wooden planks, and cows and horses roamed freely through the unpaved streets.

Eventually the town was tamed by new arrivals desiring a more stable life, and a more desirable environment to raise children.  Businesses and churches sprang up, and a thriving timber industry began to develop. A cotton compress and storage warehouses, constructed in 1926, still stand.

The logging industry flourished.  Fisher Mill became one of the largest in Louisiana, producing wood for General Motors automobiles.  The term "Body By Fisher" was derived from the name of the mill.  The Louisville Slugger, a baseball bat used by Babe Ruth, and others, was also manufactured in one of the Ferriday mills.

Another burst of growth occurred in the 1940's with the discovery of oil. Active fields still dot the countryside.

The population of Ferriday never exceeded the 5,000 mark.  In recent years, the town has endured bad water, inadequate garbage disposal, and corruption, and yet it survived.  Today Ferriday is a pleasant and sleepy little town, suffering few side-effects from it's difficult earlier days.

PRESENT FERRIDAY

The library is located on Arkansas Ave., just east of Clayton Hwy (Hwy 65.) The City Hall is situated on the corner of Florida Ave., and 3rd. Street. The Ferriday Cemetery is located off of Levee Road, just west of Lake Concordia.

 

Roadside historical marker indicates that Hernando DeSoto died in the area. The marker reads: "Hernando De Soto - Intrepid Spanish conquistador who traversed half of North American, died near hear at the Indian village of Guachoya May 21, 1542. He was buried in the Mississippi River, which he discovered."

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The Ferriday Museum is located in this white structure on Hwy. 65, along with the Ferriday Chamber of Commerce.

The Lewis Family Museum (the home of Jerry Lee Lewis) is located at 712 Louisiana Avenue in Ferriday.  Tours are welcome from 1:00 PM - 8 PM daily.  Groups welcomed by appointment during regular or after-hours.  Adults $6.00, Senior Citizens and Children $3.50.
Write to:

Lewis House
712 Louisiana Avenue
Ferriday, LA 71334

Or telephone:  318-757-2563, or 318-757-4422

Bibliography -
Ferriday, Louisiana by Elaine Dundy;  Copyright 1991;  Published by Donald I. Fine, Inc - U.S.; General Publishing Company Limited - Canada;  ISBN 1-55611-144-4

 

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