By Anne McLean
Journal Correspondent

The Toma Lodge property in Ruston is a quiet forest sanctuary filled with stately trees, tall pines and flowering shrubs. Inside the property's borders one feels removed from the busy traffic of Highway 167 and the bustle of Ruston. Although this urban forest is currently being developed, it is not in danger of resembling the heavily commercial development that lies just south of its boundaries. Rather, a thoughtful development plan is in place to preserve the forest setting, while offering all the conveniences of modern living. In addition to clustered residential lots, portions of the property are slated for institutional and commercial development. Christ Community Church is the first institution to be housed on the estate.

Christ Community Church relocated to the property and constructed a campus, which opened in April of 2004 on 15 acres of Toma Lodge. From the outset the church members were drawn to the property for its unique natural setting and convenient, highly visible location. Dickie Love, Christ Community Church pastor, is firm in his commitment to integrate the church facilities into the landscape, for he knew that the Toma Lodge forest offered a sanctuary that would appeal to his congregation. "I am thrilled that Toma Lodge was not clear cut," he says. "We really wanted to build our church on a site that reflects who we are and how we live and worship. This property was a perfect fit and the timing of its availability was perfect." Indeed, Christ Community Church was long overdue for a new facility, as it had outgrown its former location in a converted dress shop building on Reynolds Drive.

With a careful eye towards preserving the forest, the church has around a number of ways to highlight its natural surroundings. The driveway meanders through the forest and around trees that the church selected for saving. It terminates in a series of parking areas, which offered a design challenge. "We hated to remove any of the trees," notes Love. Rather than one large lot, the church spread out its parking area and constructed grass islands in the lots that allowed some of the mature hardwoods to be preserved, Love comments on the benefits of that decision. "By spreading out the parking the campus maintains an intimate and welcoming feel. In addition, the trees offer cool shade on hot summer days." The significant set back of the church building from Highway 167 is another features that preserves the urban forest. Love says that visitors always comment on this feature. "People love that the church is integrated into the forest. It looks like its been on this site for years and years. People always say they appreciate that so many trees remain," said Love.

In addition to the physical placement of the church's facilities, members have found a number of ways to bring the forest into the building. The inside of the church features exposed laminated beams, an oak pulpit, and a 15-foot cross that was constructed from oak trees that had to be removed during the construction process. "It is special for us to have these beautiful elements in the church and know that our members helped to make them possible," Love remarks. "It is especially touching that a new use was found for trees that otherwise would have been discarded." One of the parishioners also designed small crosses and jewelry out of dogwoods that were felled, as well as an eight-foot pinecone Christmas tree created from cones found on the property, and which stands in the church foyer. Still, Love has a long-term goal to plant trees on the campus. "I know that removing trees was unavoidable for the construction of the church, but I have a dream to replace the dogwoods, trees, and shrubs," he says.

Dickie Love feels a special connection to Toma Lodge that extends beyond his job as church pastor. His grandparents, T.L. James and Maggie Hodges James, were the original owners the property. James was a prominent Ruston businessman and his wife Maggie came from a prominent Louisiana family which had an avid interest in the flora and fauna of Louisiana and North America. Maggie's brother, A.J. Hodges, for example, is credited as being a state pioneer conservationist. He and his wife, Nona Trigg Hodges, established Hodges Gardens, Park and Wilderness Area near Many in Sabine Parish, including a 4,700-acre experimental arboretum. Today, visitors can enjoy the 40 acres of gardens and a 225-acre bass fishing lake that comprises the sanctuary. Maggie inherited her family's passion for the outdoors, conservation and gardening. Together with her husband, she created a family botanical garden and extensive arboretum at Toma Lodge, which began with their purchase of the 15-acre tract of land that was formerly owned by the Chautauqua Society of Louisiana.

The Chautauqua Society was founded in 1874 with a simple goal: to provide educational enrichment to all in a picturesque outdoor setting. One might say that it was a sort of intellectual and recreational summer camp for families. The Chautauqua movement quickly spread throughout the United States and resulted in 45 states establishing Circuit Chautauquas which offered lectures, music, readers and plays in rural and small-town America. In 1891, the Louisiana Educational Association founded the Louisiana Chautauqua at a 15-acre tract of land on the outskirts of Ruston.

Northern Louisiana and the site in Ruston was specifically selected for the state's Chautauqua because of its gently rolling hills, forest scenery, and peaceful setting. Thos. D. Boyd, President of the Louisiana Educational Association, noted in a circular letter in April 1891, that Northern Louisiana was "noted for its healthfulness and pleasing rural scenery." Since the Chautauqua programs were held during the summer, this region also offered an escape from the oppressive southern Louisiana heat. The Ruston site encompassed a number of mineral springs, offering visitors an opportunity to take in the healing waters, and further promoting the site as a place for retreat and renewal. A two-story hotel, named the Chautauqua Springs, was erected along with cottages and an outdoor auditorium that held 2,000 people. Later a railroad station was built near the property and visitors came in great numbers.

The popularity of the Louisiana Chautauqua quickly spread and people from outside the state attended its annual programs. Many participants were said to have loved the "tonic effect of the pure pine air" while they gathered under the many mature trees that covered the Chautauqua property. William Jennings Bryan, the most popular of all Chautauqua speakers, lectured at the Louisiana Chautauqua.

The Great Depression marked the end of most of the Chautauquas, although a few managed to continue operating until World War II. The Louisiana Chautauqua went bankrupt in 1905 and the grounds and buildings fell into disrepair. The Jameses acquired the land and purchased contiguous tracts to make a total of 99 acres. The Jameses built a family retreat, named Toma Lodge (Toma is an integration of the names Tom and Maggie) on the estate and Maggie set about designing and planting her extensive gardens and arbors, which also included barns, greenhouses, and a muscadine grape arbor that was a project of Dickie Love's uncle Bill. For Love, the property holds many cherished memories. "I rode my first horse there, collected eggs from the henhouse, and I recall the unbelievable multitude and colors of my mammaws flowers. A staff of seven full-time gardeners were employed to maintain the family retreat, which included a magnificent rose garden and a pool. "We used to cut the roses from the garden and make arrangements for Christ Community Church. Besides spending most of my spare summer days at the pool, I along with many of my family members were baptized there. It is a special place for me," Love said. Love also notes that his grandparents were always involved in church and civic causes. "My granddaddy has a reputation of being involved in community endeavors and feeling the importance of church and spirituality," Love states. "Toma Lodge was my grandparents' favorite place in the world, and I feel a meaningful connection to them by being able to have the church here."

Following the deaths of Maggie and Tom, the T.L. James & Company, Inc., took over the management and maintenance of the estate, which began in 1964. James family members continued to spend summer afternoons enjoying the pool and the grounds were open to public viewing. Still, over the years the grounds slowly resumed to a more wild and untamed appearance. Trott Hunt, great grandson of James, bought Toma Lodge five years ago and initiated his development plan.

Hunt's plan for restricted development in conjunction with tree preservation aims to strike a balance between what can be two opposing aims. Urban forestry is not a new concept in the forestry field. The aesthetic and intrinsic value of trees to a community is emphasized, as opposed to the economic benefits of harvesting trees. Along with maintaining the beauty of a setting, trees have many important measurable benefits. They help control air pollution by converting carbon dioxide unto oxygen. They provide shade, help halt erosion, and filter out noise pollution. Studies have also proven that communities with healthy, mature trees tend to foster a feeling of neighborhood connectedness. On a larger scale, it is important to realize that people will have an ever increasing impact on the environment as the world's population grows. Urban forests offer one way to lessen this effect. City planners are reviewing and altering their development schemes. For example, the City of Fort Worth, Texas, recently banned clear cutting practices for developers and mandated the formation of a preservation committee to address the issue. Toma Lodge is an extension of Ruston's current urban forest, which encompasses the tree-lined side streets and open spaces that exist throughout the city.

The Toma Lodge development project began with thinning the forest. "Over the years the forest didn't receive the tending that it required. In addition to pines, my great grandfather planted some species, which were better suited to other climates, required diligent care, and they unfortunately suffered without it," Hunt recalls. He explains the timber harvesting profess. "First a development cut was conducted where the largest trees were harvested. Some were between 60 and 70 years old. Then damaged, deformed timber as well as trees with forked trunks were removed." Thinning took place to not only make way for development, but also to open up the forest canopy to the younger trees so that they could grow and mature. "I wanted to encourage the vibrant younger trees - to improve the quality of what was there while preserving a forest-like atmosphere," Hunt states. Damaged buildings were then removed, and roads were installed along with underground infrastructure. "We tried to save some of my great grandmother's planting. We moved a number of large azaleas. Some survived, while others couldn't handle the shock," Hunt explains. "When we began to dig, we found an extensive underground network of water pipes that were laid throughout the property to offer convenient watering stations for the plants." Hunt hopes that when construction is complete, Toma Lodge forest will be enhanced and yet serve modern needs. "I didn't want to change the look of the place. Upon completion I think that my extended family members, like new homeowners on the estate, will be happy with the results."

In fact, people are excited to be able to build their homes within this setting,. In addition to an urban forest, Toma Lodge is a gated community that features a neighborhood atmosphere. Sidewalks line the streets, the pool and tennis courts are available to residents, and the James Lodge building is now a community center. Pat Garrett, homeowner and Louisiana Tech English professor, was thrilled to build his home there. "I love being surrounded by some of these ancient and diverse species of trees," he remarks. "I had an arborist identify a sequoia that stand prominently in my front yard. It is a pleasure to have it grow there and to know that it was planted as a part of Maggie's project." Toma Lodge is personally significant to Garrett, "I grew up in Ruston and used to cut bamboo to make pole vaulting poles and was a lifeguard at the Toma Lodge pool. On a summer afternoon in 1960, I proposed to my wife at the pool, and now we are able to glimpse it through the windows of our home. I love being surrounded by these memories and family history," he says with a smile. Garrett's property also was a special place for Maggie James. She used to make daily visits to a secluded spot at the back of Garrett's property to drink tea. Hunt is pleased with how phase one of his development plan is progressing. Currently half of the residential lots have been sold, with each averaging one and one-half acres in size. Phase two development has yet to begin, and Hunt expects that it will commence sometime in 2005. It will include space for commercial development on the frontage areas and denser residential development within the estate. "It will be quite a challenge to maintain the forest atmosphere while developing smaller lots that will have higher density development that the parcels in phase one." However, Hunt appears prepared for the challenge. "Toma Lodge is a special place for me. My family history coupled with its significant state historical background make it a place that I want to preserve."

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