Lake Charles Community Area Information

History

Lost in the dim reaches of time, the first settlers of this region were Indians, who were attracted to the numerous waterways, lush vegetation and ample game.  They called this area Quelqueshue named after the Indian Chief “Crying Eagle,” which was later changed to the French version, Calcasieu.  That name today designates the river and the parish.  Indian arrowheads and artifacts can still be found today, some by lucky children playing on the banks of rivers and bayous, others by more serious scholars digging in mounds and burial grounds.

The first citizens to settle in the present site of Lake Charles were the Barthelmy LeBleu family from Bordeaux, France, in 1771.  Soon thereafter, other French settlers came, both from Nova Scotia and New Orleans.  Among the first of these newcomers was Charles Sallier, who built his home on the shore of the lake. He gave his name to the lake and the community, originally called Charlie’s Lake. 

Charles Sallier married Catherine LeBleu, daughter of Barthelmy; however, their marriage did not prosper, but the community did.  Smuggling was a lucrative trade in South Louisiana in the late 1700’s and early 1800’s.  The pirate Jean Lafitte discovered this safe harbor with its intricate waterways for hiding his treasure, and consequently met the young Catherine LeBleu Sallier.

It is unknown what caused Charles Sallier to suspect that Catherine had been unfaithful to him, but one day, he shot her in a fit of rage.  Obsessed with grief and assuming his wife was dead, he took his own life.

And what happened to
Jean Lafitte?
  Some folks say that his spirit still
hovers over the dark waters of
Calcasieu guarding his vast buried
treasures of gold and jewels.

Catherine was not dead, however.  The bullet passed through her hand, which was held over her heart and struck an amethyst broach she was wearing, thus saving her life. Catherine never remarried, and lived in their little cabin by the lake until she died at the age of 75. The amethyst broach that saved her life is still in the Sallier family.

And what happened to Jean Lafitte?  Some folks say that his spirit still hovers over the dark waters of Calcasieu guarding his vast buried treasures of gold and jewels.  Legend has it that some of the contraband from these ships still remains in the area today.

Calcasieu Parish was created out of the western part of St. Landry Parish.  It was sparsely inhabited with only 2,000 people living within the 6,000 square miles referred to as Imperial Calcasieu, and not until 1852 did Lake Charles become the seat of Calcasieu Parish.  The town was incorporated in 1867 with a citizenry of about 400.  The first mayor was Jacob W. Ryan.

Significant growth began in the 1880’s when several dynamic men brought their ideas and dreams to fruition.  Captain Daniel Goos established a lumber mill in 1885, then built a schooner dock and promoted a profitable trade with Texas and Mexico. Dr. Seaman A. Knapp and Jabez Watkins brought the railroad, a link to a wider world, which beckoned settlers from northern states such as Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska. An era of new growth and prosperous times had begun for Lake Charles, and lovely homes were built on Pujo, Kirby, and other streets throughout the Garden District. The first public school opened in 1882 with 203 students. John McNeese, the first parish school superintendent was the man for whom McNeese State University is named.  The first bank, The Calcasieu Bank, and the first newspaper, “The American,” were established.

In the mid 1920’s, people of the town voted local bonds, which enabled them to dredge a deep water channel to the Gulf, build their own dock facilities and establish Lake Charles as a deep water port just 34 miles from the gulf.  Today, the blue waters of Lake Charles reflect a modern skyline.  Business, recreational, and industrial complexes line the shores of our 1,000-acre lake.

Lake Charles is a center for international commerce with its port, abundant oil and gas resources, sprawling petrochemical complexes and recently established aviation refurbishing facility. This attractive city is set in the midst of a “Sportsman’s Paradise.” 

It is said that many people come to Lake Charles for their work and stay for the fun.  It’s a city with big town facilities and small town friendliness.  With the romantic legends of Jean Lafitte, the warm Cajun hospitality and the blessings of its many natural resources, Lake Charles is aptly named “The Treasure City of Louisiana’s Gulf Coast.”