James Bayou / Ferry Lake School

This school existed for many years in the Ferry Lake community, approximately three miles west of Oil City.

Note: The stream that flows into Caddo Lake from the north along the Texas/Louisiana line has been referred interchangeably over the years as James Bayou, Jeems Bayou, or if you go far enough back, Jim's Bayou. A 1923 newspaper article about a pleasure trip to the area spells it James, but instructs the reader to "pronounce it Jeems if you want to ask directions." For consistency here James Bayou will be used throughout, with the exception of reference to the Jeems Bayou Hunting & Fishing Club that has been a fixture on the lake's shore for 100-plus years.


Area residents state the school stood near the 90 degree turn in the road now named for the school.


Source: Google Maps

The earliest found mention of a school in the area was in regard to the building being used as a polling place for a referendum held on the prohibition of intoxicating drinks in September 1895.


Shreveport Weekly Caucasian 19-Sep-1895, Page 8

Around this same time it was reported that Mr. S. M. Vardeman had been teaching at the school for several years.


1897-1898  teacher assignments included Miss Mary F. Cates, who later became Mr. Vardeman's niece-by marriage.


Times 19-Jun-1897, Page 8


For 1898-1899, Miss Jodie Stephens was appointed. Note S. M. Vardeman was by then at Walnut Hill.




The 1900 U. S. Census for Caddo Parish Ward Two listed D. Gussie Marshall, occupation "teaching," living with her parents 


1900 U. S. Census - Caddo Parish, Ward 2, Page 1 


Though the specific location in Ward Two is not identified, the following information about others appearing on the same page provides support that Gussie and her family resided in what is now the Ferry Lake area:

For 1902-1903, Gussie Marshall was assigned to James Bayou. Note Charles C. Phillips was assigned to "Scurry."


Times 08-Jun-1902, Page 6


The 1903-1904 assignments did not mention James Bayou; however C. C. Phillips was again assigned to Surry, this time spelled correctly. Surry, Ananias (originally a railroad whistle stop), and Caddo City were once separate communities that comprise present-day Oil City.

For several years no mention of the school was found was found until 1915, when Gottlieb David Lindenmeyer was assigned to "Plum Point." 


Shreveport Times 12-Sep-1915, Page 24


In 1916 a new school building is authorized to be constructed west of Oil City for the children of oilfield workers in the Ferry Lake area.


Shreveport Times 27 Aug 1916 Page 13


Lillian Alice Brock of Plain Dealing was stated to be teaching at the Ferry Lake School in a newspaper social column.


Bossier Banner 09-Nov-1916, Page 3


The following are subsequent teacher assignments for the school, by then named "Oak Grove." :

1918-1919.


Shreveport Times 22-Sep-1918, Page 8


1919-1920


Shreveport Times 18-Sep-1919, Page 9


1920-21


Shreveport Times 18-Sep-1920, Page 3


1921-1922


Shreveport Times 18-Sep-1921, Page 7


1922-1923


Shreveport Times 31-Aug-1922, Page 12


1923-1924


Shreveport Times 21-Sep-1923, Page 3


In Feb-1926 the school was used as a reference point for describing the location of a well being drilled in the area.




1927-1928.


Shreveport Times 03-Sep-1927, Page 3


1928-29


S T 19-Sep-1928, Page 12


1929-1930


Shreveport Times 28-Aug-1929, Page 7


1930-1931


Shreveport Times 31-Aug-1930, Page 10


 1931-1932


Times 23-Aug-1931, Page 23


1932-1933:

For the first time since at least 1918, Miss Sullivan was not listed. Per Charlie McKinney Fowler's memoir (see below), she returned to her family home in Tennessee.


Shreveport Times 30-Aug-1932, Page 6


1933-1934


Times 19-Sep-1933, Page 15


END OF AN ERA

For the 1934-1935 school year, there was no mention of the Oak Grove School. Charlie was assigned
to Gilliam, and Harriet to Oil City. Note Charlie's memoir (again see below) however does not mention Gilliam. She later also taught at OC.



Below are lists of known former teachers and students of the school. If you know of others in either category, please contact the author.


TEACHERS


Bauman, Jodie Stephens ( 1880-1900) Education unknown


Years taught: 1898-1900

Assigned to James Bayou for the 1898-1899 school year, she apparently continued for a second term, as a 25-Feb-1900 Blanchard social column mentioned that Jodie Stephens, identified as "one of our society belles," was "teaching at Ananias." She married Henry Bauman a letter carrier, in March 1900, however their union did not last long. Only 20 years old, she died of an unstated cause just five months later.


Bickham, Ruth Lee Tillotson (1908-2004) Centenary College
Years taught: 1928-1929

1928 Centenary College Yoncopin (yearbook)


Prior to coming to Oak Grove, Ruth had taught at Temple of Childhood, a private school in Shreveport.


Times 02-Jul-1927, Page 2

She later married Rance Bickham of Blanchard. Per the 1940 U. S. Census, she was living in Shreveport with her husband and daughter, Mary Frances.

Obit: Times 11-Aug-2004, Page 3B


Cook, Harriet Milford (1908-2000) Louisiana State Normal School (now Northwestern State University)

 Years taught: 1929- 1934


She was herself a resident of Oil City and attended school there. Below she is shown at college.





Below, Mrs. Cook as an Oil City teacher in 1951...


...and in 1965.



Per her obituary, she taught in Oil City (presumably including time at Oak Grove) for 42 years.


Fowler, Charlie McKinney (1911-2005) LSN

 Years taught: 1932-1934



Charlie was born November 24, 1911 in Rocky Mount, but her family moved to Hosston, LA when she was about two. She was the third child in a family of six. Her father, Marvin Garfield McKinney, was a farmer, and did well enough to send all the kids to college (though not all went). She was 17 in the fall of 1929, and afraid that she wouldn't be able to go because of the depression, but her father and mother Idelia (né Kendrick) managed to send her to La. State Normal, as Northwestern State University was called then. This is what she wrote:

My First Teaching Job


After attending college for two years, I received my certified teacher's certificate, qualifying me to teach elementary grades in Louisiana. Nearly all of my friends had to quit school after two years and go to work. Schools did not need any teachers and I could not find a regular position the first year after getting my certificate. However, I did work nearly all the time as a substitute teacher in the Hosston school. 


After several visits to the Caddo Parish School Board office, I was finally assigned a position at the Oak Grove School near Oil City. I took the place vacated by Miss (Jennie) Sullivan. She had been there for a long time and decided to retire and go back to her home in Nashville, Tennessee.


The teachers in those days were barely paid enough to live on. As a substitute, I was given $3.00 a day; as a regular, I was paid $5.00 a day. For one month's work, I received $100. Each year of teaching we received an increase of about $1.00 a day.


I had to do everything, no aides, no helpers, skimpy material to work with, but one thing was in our favor: we had very little discipline problems. From these small rural schools came some of the finest doctors, lawyers, judges, educators, and just plain, honest, hard workers who became leaders in our communities. And, I might add, these people were taught by my generation of "old fashioned teachers."

At one time the Oak Grove School had four or five teachers and a large number of pupils in grades one through six. This school was located near Caddo Lake, amid a group of oil field workers. These pupils were some of the nicest children I ever taught. I had no discipline problems and even though I had lots of work to do in planning studies for three grades, I really enjoyed teaching at the Oak Grove School.


After two years, the school closed its doors and all the students were bused to Oil City. I was transferred there to teach the sixth grade. There I remained for the next ten years.


While teaching in Oak Grove and Oil City, I boarded with Mr. and Mrs. (Samuel) Clyde (and Ruby Mabry) McKenzie. They were two of the kindest people I have ever known. Mr. Mac (as he was affectionately called) was crippled very badly with rheumatoid arthritis and became almost totally blind. He was in great pain all the time, but never complained. Mrs. Mac supported her family by milking cows and selling the milk and butter. She delivered it to her customers each morning and night. Also, she cooked wonderful meals and served breakfast, lunch, and dinner to sometimes as many as fifteen teachers and town people who had heard about her good meals. 


My roommate was a girl named Toppye Malone. She was a saleslady for the Dixie Mercantile Company in Oil City. It was through her that I met Clare (husband Max Clare Fowler), who was working at the Dixie; and who I later fell in love with and married. 


Contributor: Jan Fowler (daughter)



Harrison, Elmeary

 Years taught: 1923-1924


Hodges, (Mrs.) Grace

 Years taught: 1920-1921


Kerr, Lillian Alice Brock (1897-1965) Louisiana State Normal School

 Years taught: 1916-1917

A resident of Plain Dealing, Lillian attended Louisiana State Normal (now Northwestern State University) for at least a summer session. Teacher education requirements were less strict at that time and a bachelors degree was not required. A 31-May 1917 social column in the Bossier Banner noted her teaching in Oil City, though presumably was simply referring to the greater area, including Ferry Lake 
In the fall of 1917 she began teaching at Gates, in Beauregard Parish. Other schools mentioned in later years included Sardis, Dry Prong, and Rosepine. In November 1922 she married Frank P. Kerr, with reported plans for the couple to reside in Shreveport. They eventually relocated to Baton Rouge, where Frank worked as an electrician.


Obituary: Baton Rouge Morning Advocate 19-Apr-1965, Page 10-A

Interment: Resthaven Gardens of Memory and Mausleum; Baton Rouge, LA.


Lindenmeyer, Gottlieb David (1888-1956)

Years taught: 1915-1916

 Gottlieb apparently came from a well-to-do family shortly after his father's death, it was mentioned the elder Lindenmeyer's estate was the wealthiest in Wilkinson County, MS.

He was a fresh graduate of Mississippi College when appointed to the "Plum Point" school in 1915.


1915 Mississippi College L'Allegro, Page 48 

He received a Bachelor of Divinity from Crozer Theological Seminary in 1919, and a Master of Arts from the University of Pennsylvania in 1920. He also earned a Phd. from Pennsylvania in 1925.

In September 1920 he was announced as a new faculty member of the College of Marshall, now East Texas Baptist University. He later joined the the faculty of William Jewell College in 1925:



(Kansas City) Word And Way 09-Jul-1925, Page 12


In 1945 he was identified as a faculty member of the Allen Academy, and a preacher from Tennessee. By 1947-1948 he was teaching at East Mississippi Junior College.

G. D. Lindenmeyer
Professor Lindenmeyer passed away in 1956.

Interment: Memorial Park Cemetery; Memphis TN


Patterson, (Mrs.) J. D.

 Years taught: 1918-1920



Pitts, Gussie Marshall (1880-1932)


Years taught: 1900-1902

Per the 1900 census cited earlier, Gussie was living in Caddo Parish Ward Two with parents W. Thomas and T. Emma Marshall; and siblings Pearl and Giret (sp?).

In February 1905 Gussie (said to be of of Surry) married Albert L. Pitts of Vivian, He was said to be a "popular businessman," and she was mentioned "having acquired a liberal education." Shortly afterward they had a son, Robert.

Gussie Pitts Nos. 1 & 3 were drilled by the Gulf Refining Company in 1914, within the areas of section-township-range 19-20-15 and 20-20-15 respectively; located on the north shore of Caddo Lake opposite Mooringsport. Husband Albert died in 1920. and in 1927 she was identified serving on the board of directors of the Caddo National Farm Loan Association. Per the 1930 census, she and son Robert were farming in Ida. She passed away two years later.

Obit: Times 26-Feb-1932, Page 9

Interment: Forest Park Cemetery; Shreveport, LA (per obit)


Pitts, Mary Ford Cates (1879-1943) Education unknown

Year taught: 1897-1898

Mary Ford Cates Pitts (undated photo)
Source: Ancestry.com Contributor

Mary was originally from Flournoy, LA. In August 1898, she married Leland J. Pitts, a Mooringsport native. Leland was the nephew of an earlier James Bayou teacher, Samuel M. Vardeman (profiled below). The couple moved to Belcher, LA; where they raised a family. Mary apparently never taught school again.

Obituary: Times 28-Apr-1943, Page 8

Interment: Forest Park Cemetery; Shreveport, LA (per obit)


Sullivan, Jennie E. (1877-1961)

 Years taught: 1918-1932

 Miss Sullivan, who never married, was born in Tennessee. In 1930 she was identified living alone in the Ferry Lake area. After retirement she returned to her native area. where she was active in the Home Demonstration Club as well as in her church. By 1950 she was in a nursing home, though perhaps not bedridden, as she was later noted assisting in a vacation bible school in 1954. She passed away early in August 1961.

Interment: Sullivan Cemetery; Montgomery County, TN



Spiva, Cora Williams (1904-1983) Mansfield Female College, Centenary College

 Years taught: 1927-1928

 Cora was noted teaching at Mira in 1924, and received her bachelor of science degree from Centenary in 1928. She was listed among members of the Vivian High School faculty in 1952 and is pictured below during the 1954-55 school year.


 1955 Vivian High School Warrior (yearbook)
Obit: Times 02-Dec-1983, Page 14-A

Interment: Pine Crest Cemetery; Atlanta, TX


Samuel M. Vardeman (1843-1926)
A native of Georgia and confederate veteran of the Civil War, Vardeman married Sudie Hall in 1880. It was recorded that he sold a lot in the Allendale section of Shreveport in May 1890. In August 1895, he was mentioned to have been teaching at the James Bayou School for several years. Later 1890s newspaper articles identified him at different times as a resident of Frog Level (now Rodessa), and of Mooringsport.

He was referred to as "Professor" Vardeman, co-organizer of barbecue in Vivian attended by several Caddo Parish dignitaries of the day, in an account of the July 1899 event. In June 1903, he was appointed to teach at Walnut Hill. Below he was profiled as part of a piece about Vivian as an up-and-coming community in 1904.


Times 07-Jul-1904, Page 7

Per the 1910 U. S. Census, he and Sudie were living in Vivian, where he held the occupation of public school teacher. Later that year he was appointed postmaster at Myrtistown (later shortened simply to Myrtis) and served until 1914, when that post office was closed. Later mentions in the newspaper noted him as a Myrtis resident in 1915 (being ill) and in 1921 (identified as a farmer).


Obituary: Times 03-Apr-1926, Page 9

Interment: Greenwood Cemetery; Shreveport, LA


Westmoreland, Jewell Atkins (1902-1977) Louisiana State Normal

Year taught: 1920-1922

Jewell was assigned to the Mt. Gilead School (northeast of present day Oil City and southeast of Vivian) in 1919. Per the 1920 U. S. Census, she was living with her parents in Ida, LA; having the the occupation of teacher.

Obit: Longview (TX) News-Journam 23-Mar-1977, Page 8-A

Interment: Kilgore (TX) City Cemetery


Wimberly, Zelma Armstrong (1907-1988) LSN, Centenary College
Years taught: 1927-1928



 1925 LSN Potpourri, Page 53

Zelma received her two-year teaching diploma from Louisiana State Normal in 1924, and later her bachelors degree from Centenary in 1937. She taught at Oil City High in 1932. She was later noted teaching at Jewella Elementry in Shreveport in 1947, 1949, and 1951; and at A. C. Steere (also in that city) in 1956 and 1957.

 Obit: Times 27-Dec-1988, Page 14A

Interment: Wimberly Cemetery; Bienville, LA
Winstead, Lucy (1893-1980) 

 Years taught: 1921-1923

1924 Louisiana State Normal School Potpourri (yearbook), Page 144

In 1920 and 1925, Lucy was found to be teaching in Franklin Parish; and in Richland Parish in 1928 and 1929. The latter was apparently her home, as the 1930 census lists her as single with occupation of teacher residing there with her parents. By 1940 she was teaching in Delhi, where she apparently completed her career.


STUDENTS

Ard, Harold Dimple (1910-1998)

Boyter, Lucille Mooneyham (1908-1993)

Brown, Sarah A. "Sally" McNamara (1926-2000)

 Duncan, Betty Green (1927-2004)

Emmanuel, Mattie Mooneyham (1906-1984)

Green, J. W. (b. 1923)

McMillan, Willie Marie (1925-2000)

Mooneyham, Frank (1910-1999)

Mooneyham, Otis "Buster" (1919-2004)

Pinchera, Leona Mooneyham (1921-2014)

 Pinckard, Sylvia Ritter (1917-2001)

Sermons, Geraldine Ard (1924-2015)

Smith, Bertha Mooneyham (1919-1970)

Womack, Hillard (1908-1958)

 Woodell, Herbert "Hub" (1913-1998)


OTHER

Shirley Ard Tolbert started school in Oil City, but had older siblings who attended at Oak Grove, reminisced to daughter Christine Tolbert Webb that "Aunt Geraldine Sermons (Shirley's sister) did attend the Ferry Lake school and Mom (Shirley) has told me about the trail or path the children took. It started across the road from Mom's (Shirley's present day) house, went down behind the shop and back through the woods."


TODAY

Like Kool Point, another former area landmark nearby, the only visible reminder of the school's existence is a small sign.


Ferry Lake Road Looking West At Ferry Lake School Road


Special thanks to the following contributors:

Cindy Smith Alexander

Bessie Woodell Alford

 Alma Smith Deem

Peggy Green Fedd

 Jan Fowler

Shirley Ard Tolbert

Christine Tolbert Webb


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