The GazetteFebruary 15, 1939 Bernice Grammar 4-H Club The Bernice Grammar 4-H Club met February 7, 1939. The house was called to order by the president, the roll was called, and the minutes were read and adopted. Mr. Kennedy gave us our 4-H Club year books. He explained the contents of the book to us. … Continue reading 4H Club News
Bernice
Bernice
The GazetteJanuary 4, 1939 J. W. Bennett was a visitor to Farmerville Tuesday. Many students of L. S. U. visited home on the holidays, also students from Ruston Tech and Dodd College. From L. S. U., Doyle Nolan; from Polytechnic, Misses Rosalind Lindsey, Evelyn McGee, Virginia Colvin. Mr. and Mrs. Van Salley of the Salley … Continue reading Bernice
Mrs. Morton Writes Short, Interesting History of the Town of Bernice from Its Foundation Nearly Forty Years Ago
Written by Mrs. C. J. Morton The GazetteFebruary 22, 1939 The site where the town of Bernice now stands was originally a huge forest known as "the big woods." There large virgin pines stood and it was only natural that the lumber industry looked upon this site, together with those that surrounded it with a … Continue reading Mrs. Morton Writes Short, Interesting History of the Town of Bernice from Its Foundation Nearly Forty Years Ago
Education in Bernice
First Baptist Church of Bernice
Bernice Historical Society People and Places First Baptist Church of Bernice In 1909 J.M. Melton wrote a history of the First Baptist Church of Bernice for the history of the Concord Association. In the 1970’s Inez Colvin wrote an extensive history of the First Baptist Church of Bernice. Numerous accounts from the early Bernice newspapers … Continue reading First Baptist Church of Bernice
The J. W. Heard House
Bernice Historical Society People and Places The J. W. Heard House This beautiful home which has recently been restored to some of its earliest magnificence was added to the National Register in 1994. The architecture of the home is a combination of Queen Anne and Colonial Revival. The home dates back to the earliest days … Continue reading The J. W. Heard House
Physicians in the Earliest Years of Bernice
Bernice Historical Society People and Places Physicians in the Earliest Years of Bernice Introduction: A 1939 article on the history of Union Parish states “Dr. George Carroll was the first physician to take up residence in Bernice. He was shortly followed by Doctors Dendy and Garland.” The census of 1900 ( the first taken in … Continue reading Physicians in the Earliest Years of Bernice
The Garland House
Bernice Historical Society People and Places The Garland House A few weeks ago some friends of mine passed through Bernice headed North on 167 and later commented to me on the beauty of the newly restored Heard House (more on that in a future article) and wanted to know the story behind it and the … Continue reading The Garland House
Baseball – Part Two
Written by Cathy Buckley The following article appeared in the Ruston Daily Leader in the early 1930’s The next few lines talk about the end of Shiloh and the coming of the railroad to Bernice. Spalding balls were used for as long as can be remembered. Baseball bats were also of official make. Uniforms were … Continue reading Baseball – Part Two
Baseball – Part One
Written by Cathy Buckley Take Me Out to the Ball Game Baseball seems to have always been a favorite sport among the small towns of Union Parish. In the mid 1880’s a traveling evangelist who often spoke at tent revivals in the parish made this remark about the game –“if I had a dog and … Continue reading Baseball – Part One
Crime in Union Parish
Unknown NewspaperDecember 28, 1907 Alleges Enemies Burnt Him Out Editor of Union Herald Bernice Louisiana after losing all his Newspaper Outfit comes to New Mexico G. G. Crichet, former editor of the "Union Herald" of Bernice, is in the city on his way to the Mesilla Valley with his wife who comes to New Mexico … Continue reading Crime in Union Parish
G. E. Lindsey Has Five Gins Located In This Section
The GazetteOctober 5, 1939 G. E. Lindsey of Bernice has long been an active businessman in that section. Starting in 1901, Mr. Lindsey entered the mercantile business. He became associated with the firm of Gray, McDonald & Lindsey. In 1906, Gray dropped out of the firm and in 1908 the business became G. E. Lindsey … Continue reading G. E. Lindsey Has Five Gins Located In This Section
Confederate Veterans Annual Reunion
The Gazette September 2, 1903 The Confederate veterans of Union Parish held their annual reunion last Thursday at Bernice. The occasion drew people from all the surrounding country, making one of the largest gathering of the kind held in the parish for a number of years. The veterans assembled at the Baptist church, where they … Continue reading Confederate Veterans Annual Reunion
A Shootout on the Streets of Bernice
Written by Gene Barron On April 20, 1908 Sheriff John W. Taylor and his Chief Deputy, James M. Underwood were called to Bernice in response to a shootout. The shooting occurred when Charles J. Morton, along with his wife, Anna, and their son, Charles Hester Morton, stepped from the coach of the northbound Rock Island … Continue reading A Shootout on the Streets of Bernice
Bernice Dots #31
Bernice Historical Society Bernice Dots #31 By Cathy Buckley In the early 1960’s the Bernice Industrial Development Corporation was developed in Bernice with the hope of attracting new businesses to help the town grow. Dr. W.C. Reeves served as president of BIDCO during its earliest years and the group sported a membership of 85 members … Continue reading Bernice Dots #31
Bernice Dots #30
Bernice Historical Society Bernice Dots #30 By Cathy Buckley In April of 1957 an organization was formed in Bernice that is still alive and well 61 years later. The Bernice Garden Club was formed in the home of Mrs. W.C. Reeves with 49 ladies present. The first motto of the club was “Gracious Living Through … Continue reading Bernice Dots #30
Bernice Dots #29
Bernice Historical Society Bernice Dots #29 By Cathy Buckley Union Parish Leader Dies In December of 1952 Bernice resident G.E. Lindsey died after a lengthy illness. Lindsey was only nineteen years of age when his family moved to the newly created town of Bernice in 1900. As a young man of only 20 he … Continue reading Bernice Dots #29
Bernice Dots #23
Bernice Historical Society Bernice Dots #23 By Cathy Buckley The air war against Germany led by the 8th Air Force dropped almost 5,000,000 bombs and destroyed almost 16,000 enemy aircraft. A Bernice pilot would go down in history as being the American who shot down the last Nazi fighter plane on April 25, 1945. Hilton … Continue reading Bernice Dots #23
Bernice Dots #19
Bernice Historical Society Bernice Dots #19 By Cathy Buckley In July of 1934 the town of Bernice honored the memory of the first two Bernice soldiers who died in World War One with the organization of an American Legion post named the Reagan/St. John Post. The first commander was Mark Price, Jr. with James T. … Continue reading Bernice Dots #19
Bernice Dots #18
Bernice Historical Society Bernice Dots #18 By Cathy Buckley I believe this winter I saw the temperature drop to 5 degrees at my house. However on February 8th of 1933 Bernice posted a temperature of 4 degrees accompanied by snow and a stiff north wind. Housewives in Bernice awoke to find their once flourishing vegetable … Continue reading Bernice Dots #18
Bernice Dots #17
Bernice Historical Society Bernice Dots #17 By Cathy Buckley 1930’s Part Two The year 1932 began with an inconvenience for those traveling south to Ruston. Due to construction and high water the Bernice-Ruston highway was closed to traffic and if you wanted to go the 22 miles to Ruston you had to take a … Continue reading Bernice Dots #17
Bernice Dots #16
Bernice Historical Society Bernice Dots #16 By Cathy Buckley 1930's Part One The year 1930 began with the good news that the town population had grown since the last census of 1920 and the town now sported a population of 975 people; a fact Mayor Talbot attributed to the town not being dependent upon … Continue reading Bernice Dots #16
Remembering the “Peddlers”
Pearl Harris I wonder if any of you older people remember when peddlers used to come to the countryside to sell their wares. When I was small we lived pretty far in the country and when we would see a person walking down the road with a pack on his back - or maybe riding … Continue reading Remembering the “Peddlers”
Bernice Dots #13
Bernice Historical Society Bernice Dots #13 By Cathy Buckley Fire once again struck the town of Bernice in the summer of 1923 when The Heard Hotel was destroyed. This building was originally known as the Moore Hotel and was built in 1900, making it one of the oldest buildings in town. Originally the property of … Continue reading Bernice Dots #13
Brief History of Corney Creek Festival
Good Ole' Corney Creek Cookin' Bernice, Union Parish, Louisiana Corney Creek Festival was started in Bernice, Union Parish, Louisiana in 1976. Today it is one of the most unique and well-know festivals in Louisiana. Lack of funds and the desire for individuality prompted the originators to capitalize on the bountiful heritage and natural resources of … Continue reading Brief History of Corney Creek Festival
Bernice Big Eight
Ike Futch provided us with these great pictures from Bernice.
Bernice Dots #7
Bernice Historical Society Bernice Dots #7 By Cathy Buckley An early history of Bernice published in a catalog prepared for Bernice High School in 1909 states this fact: “Bernice has always taken a deep interest in the education of her children and from the very beginning she has fostered private and public schools. Soon … Continue reading Bernice Dots #7
Bernice Dots #5
Bernice Historical Society Bernice Dots #5 By Cathy Buckley The first business establishment in Bernice was located in a tent and run by a man named Nelson. The first sale made in that store was a box of matches purchased by R.T. “Uncle Dick” Moore. Shortly afterward Will Martin of Shiloh operated a general … Continue reading Bernice Dots #5
Bernice Dots #4
Bernice Historical Society Bernice Dots #4 By Cathy Buckley In mid December of 1899 the village of Bernice was incorporated with J. T. “Jake” Crews as the first mayor. The first marshal was W.H. McLaurin and E.C. Colvin, A.H. Henderson and E.B. Robinson made up the first town aldermen. The new railroad town was … Continue reading Bernice Dots #4
Bernice Dots #3
Bernice Historical Society Bernice Dots #3 By Cathy Buckley Prior to the sale of lots in Bernice each block had been divided into 20 business lots and 8 residence lots. At the end of the auction a total of 207 lots had been sold ranging in price from $25 to a high of $270 paid by … Continue reading Bernice Dots #3
Shiloh to Canaan 
You must be logged in to post a comment.