Your donations were critical to
saving this Cajun cultural icon.
Your donations were critical to
saving this Cajun cultural icon.
Picture of drawbridge before it
was damaged (circa 1945)
Always considered a romatic spot,
our thanks to Sammy and Lenore Hayes (October 2, 1999)
for their wedding picture.
Several proposals and weddings
have been on this bridge.
Lorrain Bridge was closed in 1998 Here is
how it looked in 2002.
Ends removed in 1998.
2004 NEWS--Lorrain
Bridge is completed
Visit Lorrain Park and see the Memorial Sign
http://www.classicdoors.com/laserproducts.htm
2003 NEWSBids were open and received at the last meeting of the 2003 Police Jury for
the reconstruction of the bridge. Calcasieu Parish Police Jury for unaminously
voting to award the extra $28,000 needed to meet the low bid out of their
general fund and F.Miller & Sons for providing this bid. Construction
is expected to begin from 30-60 days from January 9, 2004. Projected construction
time is approximately 3 months.
A celebration is planned at Lorrain Park upon completion.
Walmart's at Nelson in Lake Charles presented $1000 grant towards Lorrain
Bridge. Check was presented by Patsy Nell Richard, employee of Walmart's to
Pauline Poole, President of TLBA at the Lorrain Bridge site (Jan. 2004)--check
was sent December 2003..
Presentation of state grants June 29th at the Lorrain Bridge Festival and
at the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury Meeting on Thursday, July 31 by
Senator Gerald Thenuissen & Representative Dan "Blade" Morrish
was almost $199,000!!!
Calcasieu received $133,760 and
Jeff Davis received $50,000 and $15,000 from Louisiana Rural Development Funds
for Lorrain Bridge.
Jefferson Davis Tourist Bureau awarded a $10,000 matching funds grant presented by Sara Klump at the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury Meeting on July 31, 2003.
Lorrain Bridge Association presented a
$45,000 Grant towards the refurbishing and replacement of Lorrain Bridge
The following agenda was approved by the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury:
Calcasieu Parish Police Jury
Regular Meeting--August 7, 2003
Page 2
12. Consideration of approval of the Public Works Committee Report dated July 31, 2003. Said Committee;
(12.1) Recommended that the following provisions be approved with reference to the repair and rehabilitation of the Lorrain Bridge at a total estimated cost of $334,000 (Police Jury District 10):
(12.1.1) accpetance of a grant in the amount of $133,760 from the Louisiana
Rural Development Program;
(12.1.2) acceptance of a grant in the amount of $45,000 from the Lorrain Bridge
Association for the projet and adoption of a resolution of appreciation to
the Association for their dedication and generosity;
(12.1.3) approval of a Joint Services Agreement between the Police Jury and
Jefferson Davis Police Jury related to the sharing of the remaining costs
to repair and rehabilitate the Lorrain Bridge as follows:
Calcasieu Parish Police Jury 50% of the remaining costs ($77,620+-)
and maintenance of 50% of the bridge
and west approach an the engineering
and administration necessary for the
construction of the project.
Jeff Parish Police Jury 50% of the remaining costs ($77,620+-)
and maintenance of 50% of the bridge
and east approach.
(12.1.4) authorize the Prish Engineer to advertise for bids for the project.
AGENDA NOTE: Jeff Davis Parish Poice Jury secured an additional $65,000 from the Rural Development Program, and $10,000 from the Jeff Davis Tourist Bureau to help fund their share.
Appearing before the Committee with reference to this matter were: Representative Dan Morrish, Senator Gerald Theunissen, Ms. Pauine Poole of the Lorrain Bridge Association, Mr. Ray BeBee of the Jefferson Davis Parish Police Jury, and Ms. Sarah Klump of the Jefferson Davis Parish Tourist Bureau. A resolution of support for the project, adopted by the Board of Directors of the Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitors Bureau, was introduced by Mrs. Treme, Police Jury liason to the Bureau. Mr. Manuel and Mr. Breaux expressed their appreciation to all who made the project possible.
THE LORRAIN BRIDGE FESTIVAL
Lorrain
Bridge 2003 Royalty
Thanks to Lamar Advertising, Mr. Stone, in Lake Charles we had 2 billboards for the Lorrain Bridge Festival. Chad Smith was the artist. The gentlemen putting up the billboards in Jennings (Hwy 26 at Curves) and Lake Charles (McNeese Street east of Foret's) are Joseph Laurent and Brandon LeBert.
Thanks to all participants and donors, especially the large group of individuals from Jeff Davis that shared their time, donations, and talents.
$48,020.21was our new total as of July 31, 2003.
$45,000.00 grant presented to CPPJ July
31, 2003
--check given August 11, 2003 from The Lorrain Bridge Association
Saturday, June 28th
5 K Run (Lake Area Runners) at Lorrain Park, Hayes, LA 8 AM
We had 63 participants from as far as Florida. They also came by bike!
Sunday, June 29th at Burton Coliseum
Lake Charles, LA
Ronnie Fruge was our MC
Ronnie Fruge's "Lorrain Bridge Song"
Appearances by the
Mardi Gras Revelers
Car & Truck Show on grounds--Fantastic!
(Thanks to Wesley Blanchard and the Idlers Car & Truck Club)
W & L Trail Ride (started Saturday, overnight to Sunday--Awesome!
Thanks to Mr. Lee Adam Landry and Jeff Miller, President
We want to thank the Cajun Country Fire Station Attendants Gautier Road for their hospitality at lunchtime to the W & L Riders on their way to the Burton Coliseum for the Lorrain Bridge Festival.
Festival Program:
10:15 Opening Ceremony w/Mardi Gras Revelers
10:30 Lil' Chenier Playboyz
11:30 Auction
12:30 Kadillacs
2:00 Anatoo, Cajun Humorist
2:30 Chris Gray and Graywolf
4:00 Auction by Johnny Guinn
Grant Presentations by Senator Gerald Thenuissen & Representative Dan
Morrish
5:30 Damon Troy
7:00 Closing
Lorrain Bridge was selected by the
Louisiana Preservation Alliance to be one of the
Ten Most Endangered Historical Sites in Louisiana
Thursday, May 8, 2002 at Magnolia Mound Plantation
in Baton Rouge, LA.
Present to hear the announcement was
Jimmy and Bernardine Martin,
Hal and Gaynel Hebert,
Pauline Poole and her grandson, Andrew.
The Greater Lake Charles Rotary Club is applying for a $1000 grant
Jeff Davis Bank, Dan Eason, donated $500.
Car & Truck Show in April cleared $2961.75
Iowa Rabbit Festive Booth brought in $581.
Walmart's (Hwy 14, Lake Charles) presents $1000 grant for Lorrain Bridge.
Gaynel Hebert & Pauline Poole accept $1000 grant (dated Dec. 2004)
to The Lorrain Bridge Association| on January 8, 2003 presented by Yvonne
Myers from
Walmart's, Hwy 14, Lake Charles, LA
(Photo courtesy of Bengt Lindell, editor was in the Welsh Citizen)
Mrs. Istre's Students display photos and research of Lorrain Bridge
and other endangered historical sites of Calcasieu Parish
at McNeese State University Library from Jan. 27 to Feb. 28, 2003.
THIS was an AWESOME DISPLAY!
Mrs. Kathie Istre's gifted program of 4th and 5th grade students displayed their research and photographs at Dolby Elementary School in Lake Charles, LA. Mrs. Istre received a grant through the National Park Service to study endangered historical sites in Louisiana. The Lorrain Bridge was one site visited and photographed. Their pictures were AWESOME! Their grant was $3500 which allowed Mrs. Istre to purchase 6 digital cameras. The student were able to photograph and exhibit enlarged photos of their research experience. The Lorrain Bridge Association provided t-shirts as an appreciation gift. The display is now part of McNeese State University Archives.
Articles from Cajun Life and Times (European Edition) by Laraine Bridges:
Editors Letter (Issue 29, July-September, 2002)
The hardcopy magazine has a picture of the original bridge in 1907 and an
article.
Articles from KPLC TV News--global link:
(Click on the article below--type Lorrain Bridge in the search box, then click
on the article)
"Lorrain Bridge Gets Restoration" by Theresa Schmidt (July 31, 2003)
"Lorrain Bridge 'Fish Off'"by Greg Rankin (September 8, 2002)
"Lorrain Bridge Fundraiser" by Greg Rankin (April 27, 2002)
"Lorrain Bridge Fundraiser Set" by Theresa Schmidt (March 21, 2002)
"Citizens Try to Save Lorrain Bridge" by Pam Dixon (January 10, 2002)
Articles in the Lake Charles American Press:
"Calcasieu to Pay Extra Bridge Costs Lorrain Bridge" by Jeremy Harper (January 9, 2004)
"Lorrain Bridge Pageant Winners" by Pamela Fontenot (July 17, 2003)
"JDPJ Lorrain Bridge" by Doris Maricle (July 10, 2003)
"Seen on the Scene" by Lisa Burns (June 30, 2003)
"Local Results" by Cassie Meaux (June 30, 2003)
"Lorrain Festival" by Scott Rogers (June 30, 2003)
"Park Closure" by Jeremy Harper (June 26, 2003)
"Housing Assistance" by Scott Rogers (June 20, 2003)
"What's Ahead" by Cassie Meaux (June 19, 2003)
"Calendar" (May 25, 2003)
"Lorrain Bridge Festival" by Scott Rogers (May 20, 2003)
"Tourism Beauty Pageant" by Heather King (May 14, 2003)
"Lorrain Bridge" by Scott Rogers (May 14, 2003)
"Lorrain Bridge Car Show" (March 28, 2003)
"Lorrain Bridge" by Gail Norris (February 21, 2003)
"Vanishing History" (January 26, 2003)
"Top 10 Local Stories" (January 1, 2003)
"Lorraine Bridge Art" ( November 20, 2002)
Articles from the Lake Charles American Press by Scott Rogers:
"Calcasieu Jeff Davis Bridge Restoration" (October 11, 2002)
"CPPJ will apply for a grant to repair Lorrain Bridge" (September 27, 2002)
Article from the Lake Charles American Press by Brett Downer:
"Calcasieu Preservation Society" (September 29, 2002)
Articles from the Lake Charles American Press by Jeremy Harper
"Calcasieu to Pay Extra Bridge Costs Lorrain Bridge" (January 9, 2004)
"Marquee: Saving a landmark: Lorrain Bridge Festival features music,
food, and fun"
(September 13, 2002)
"Lorrain Bridge" (September 5, 2002)
"Lorrain Bridge Association is more than 1/4 of the way" (August
10, 2002)
Articles from the Lake Charles American Press by Sunny Brown:
"Lorrain Bridge Meeting" (August 8, 2002)
"Lorrain Bridge Meeting" (July 7, 2002)
"Lorrain Bridge Meeting" (May 28, 2002)
"Thank You--People Helping People" (May 24, 2002)
"Lorrain Bridge" (May 8, 2002)
"Lorrain Bridge Fundraise"r (April 26, 2002)
"Bell City Old Timer's Reunion at Lorrain Bridge Fundraiser" (April 21, 2002)
"Lorrain Bridge effort needs support" (March 16, 2002)
"Lorrain Bridge Meeting" (March 14, 2002)
"Lorrain Bridge Meeting" (February 27, 2002)
"Morrish will answer questions today about Lorrain bridge" (1/30/02)
"Southwest Louisiana Migration Sensation festival plans to visit Lorrain BridgeMost Endangered Historic Sites" (1/20/02)
"Jeff Davis Police Jury (Lorrain Road)"
"Lorrain Bridge" (1/12/02)
"State official to discuss Lorrain Bridge today" (1/10/2002)
"Residents organize to determine how to save Lorrain Bridge" (12/15/2001)
"Lorrain Bridge subject of meeting today" (12/13/2001)
"Police Jury Defers Action to Tear Down Lorrain Bridge" (12/07/2001)
"Loved, but neglected, span faces destruction" (12/02/2001)
Article from Jennings Daily News:
Front Page Article on Sunday, January 13, 2002--Lorrain Bridge
(There have been many articles in Jennings Daily News--check for upcoming articles. These are not available on the web.)
Articles from The Welsh Citizen are not available on the web. Many have been written. They are also helping by selling t-shirts for The Lorrain Bridge Association.
Minutes of the meetings (Microsoft Word
Documents):
Second meeting of The Lorrain Bridge Association 1/10/02
Third meeting of The Lorrain Bridge Association 1/30/02
Fourth meeting of The Lorrain Bridge Association 2/27/02
Fifth meeting of The Lorrain Bridge Association 3/14/02
Sixth meeting of The Lorrain Bridge Association 4/11/02
Seventh meeting of The Lorrain Bridge Association 5/29/02
Eighth Meeting of The Lorrain Bridge Association 7/10/02
Ninth Meeting of the Lorrain Bridge Association 8/8/02
Tenth Meeting of the Lorrain Bridge Association 9/05/02
Eleventh Meeting of the Lorrain Bridge Association 10/17/02
Twelfth Meeting of the Lorrain Bridge Association 12/11/02
Thirteenth Meeting of the Lorrain Bridge Association 1/23/2003
Fourteenth Meeting of the Lorrain Bridge Association 3/13/2003
Fifteenth Meeting of the Lorrain Bridge Association 3/27/2003
Sixteenth Meeting rescheduled for 4/13---4/03/2002
Sixteenth Meeting of the Lorrain Bridge Association 4/13/2003
Seventeen Meeting of the Lorrain Bridge Association 8/5/2003
Eighteenth Meeting of the Lorrain Bridge Association 3/15/2004
Nineteenth Meeting of the Lorrain Bridge Association 6/10/2004
Twentieth Meeting of the Lorrain Bridge Association 12/5/2004
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