McNeese State University - Log Yearbook (Lake Charles, LA)

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i Welcome to.. rowing from one small home, owned by Charlie and Catherine Sallier, on the shore of a lake to a city of 75,000-plus, the town known as “Charlie’s Lake’’ has become Lake Charles, the home of beautiful es- tates, Contraband Days and McNeese State University. Legend holds that pirate Jean Lafitte made the lakes and rivers of Southwest Louisiana his run- ning ground and the shores of Lake Charles a cache for his con- traband. It is also believed that these treasures remain hidden somewhere in our waters. The Lake City’s beginnings trace back to the 1760’s when the French settlers came to home- stead the area. The abundant sup- ply of pine and cypress provided a haven for those whose greatest need was food and shelter. The townspeople of Lake Charles showed great initiative in 1922 as they laid plans for a port on the lake. In 1926, Lake Charles was connected to the Gulf of Mex- ico by a 400 foot wide, 40 foot deep channel and became a port large enough to accommodate 13 ships at one time. The petroleum industries followed shortly there- after; these plants still provide several thousand jobs for area cit- izens. Even today, the ties to our past are very real. The Imperial Cal- casieu Museum, which houses an extensive historical collection, sits on the original site of Charlie Sal- lier’s old Cajun style cabin, along with the legendary Sallier Oak. The infamous Jean Lafitte is al- so far from being forgotten. Two weeks of every year, a renowned event known as ‘‘Contraband Days,’ are dedicated to a cele- bration of this part of our history. In recent years, local leaders have successfully drawn national attention to Lake Charles, thereby promising nothing but continued success for a legendary and de- termined society. Today, Lake Charles has much to offer: the charm of yesterday, the technol- ogy of today, and the promises of the future. ) City of Lake Charles 21

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THE PAST YEAR brought numerous changes to the face of a growing city. Old buildings, such as the Arcade, were cleared away; tourist attractions were renovated; and an all-out campaign was launched to spread the good news of Louisiana. is FEBRUARY 44-14 SW LA DISTRICT LIVESTOCK . SHOW 46 MARDI GRAS PARADES 26 BALD KNOBBERS MARCH 12-43 WALKFEST 19-20 H OBI REGATTA. ;T CALCASI! «75-27 WORNISH TRAIL FESTIVAL 26-27 SW LA KITE FLYING CONTEST 20 City of Lake Charles

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That good ol’ A. Se iid pe Bik ae? tag TIM SAVOY ahd-Annette’Brous telax to the harmony.of the ac- cordian. if vs oy sard THE LOUISIANA MARKET is a fine example of the tr adtionalyCajun, : a ue ¥ shop. ¢ . 5 rf F » - oy Se gn JOHM.PIPRE and Kevin Savoie are = sure¢to be careful when cuddling tag witha Céjurt tnascot. “ sae MN gd mien 5 ¢ ed yn Ea b nal er? 22 Cajun Life