By Sherri Taylor
Journal News Editor

More than forty years ago, before anyone had heard of the lowering level of the Sparta Aquifer, a few astute people in Union and Lincoln parishes came together and decided North Central Louisiana needed a large recreational lake. The area was crossed by several streams that emptied into the Ouachita River by way of Bayou D'Arbonne. Corney Bayou intersected D'Arbonne at a place called Forks Ferry, a hot spot for fishermen from miles around.

"As you drove into Farmerville before Lake D'Arbonne was built," said Stein Baughman, retired pharmacist in Farmerville, "when you topped the hill, Highway 33 was lined on both sides with cypress trees." The highway crossed over Bayou D'Arbonne, a wide stream surrounded by sloughs of brackish water during the wet season. Most of the land was covered with brush and trees. A portion of the old road is still used by fishermen as a pier.

The civic organization given the most credit for pushing the building of Lake D'Arbonne is the Jaycees. They promoted the idea, talked to their Congressmen and legislators. At the time, Earl K. Long was Governor of Louisiana. Rumors persist to this day that promoters of the lake presented the governor with a two carat diamond stick-pin to encourage his support for their project. Others credited with bringing the project to reality were the Union Parish Police Jury, the Farmerville Lions Club, then mayor of Farmerville Clyde Williams along with many others.

In 1956, the lake was authorized by the Louisiana Legislature through Act 9 giving developers $3 million to begin the work.\par }{\plain Studies reported that "The D'Arbonne bottom was uniquely suited for the construction of a large lake," in an article by James T. Davis in a regional magazine.

Local businessmen along with civic leaders went to nearby television stations, plugging their idea to anyone who would listen.

"Actually, the only opposition we received came from people who didn't want to turn loose of family estates that would be flooded by the lake," said Carlton White, retired newspaper publisher and former mayor of Farmerville.

While the lake was largely a recreational development idea, it was ahead of its time stating that future water rights would be given to nearby towns in case of need.

The earthen dam with a concrete spillway was built by W.R. Fairchild at a cost of over $2 million but the final cost of the lake was nearer to $7 million with all expenditures included. There were 100 miles of shoreline covering 15,250 acres. The lake was built under the direction of the Louisiana Department of Public Works whose director at that time was Lorris Wimberly and later Claude Kirkpatrick.

Those who were in Farmerville at the time remember that most of the land flooded consisted of swampy bottomlands with very few houses. Those who owned land were well compensated and later realized how valuable their remaining land surrounding the new lake became to them.

The same magazine article quoted above showed that 1957 land values, before the lake was built in the soon to be flooded areas amounted to $20-$40 per acre. As the time for the lake to be opened, values began to rise. "Land values in 1961 within a limited area around the lake rose to $550," Davis reported.

Juel Chappell lives today on the banks of D'Arbonne beside Forks Ferry, where fishermen still put their boats into the water.

"We had to walk in here to look at this lot," she remembers, since no roads had been built yet. "My husband and I bought two lots for $750 each."

They built their house in 1963, before the gates were shut and completed their pier.

"People used to laugh and say, 'What are you going to do if the water doesn't come up to your pier,'" she recalls. In 1964 the gates were closed and Lake D'Arbonne quickly filled with water.

While Lake D'Arbonne is one of the most beautiful lakes in north Louisiana, she is no lady. Her waters can ravage shorelines when there's a little too much rain north of her.

"Our neighbor was going to build a seawall, because the lake kept tearing at their lawn," Mrs. Chappell said. "We told him to build it deep and sturdy. Well, when he finished, it rained and the next morning, his seawall was floating in the lake."

For anyone who would like to build a home on the lake today - and there are a few lots left, Kent Antley of Century 21 in Farmerville knows the price.

"For a restricted lot, people will now pay $50,000," Antley reported. "For an unrestricted lot, where someone might place a mobile home, and there are just a very few of these, the price is $20,000 to $25,000."

While the lake was of great benefit to the town, developers made a lot of mistakes. After all, they were really the first to build a large lake in north Louisiana. They left too many trees standing, for one thing and the channel was not clearly marked. Development around the perimeter remained primitive until 1993 when the Lake D'Arbonne State Park opened.

"We lacked some planning," White said. "In fact, we're still discussing building a road across the spillway to connect that end of the lake."

The new lake was dedicated in October of 1963 with Governor Jimmie Davis cutting the ribbon. The invocation was given by an elderly clergyman who broke up the crowd - inadvertently - by saying, "We are here to dedicate this dam project."

One lifelong resident of Farmerville remembers the early days of Lake D'Arbonne.

"I was going to college in Ruston," said John Preaus, now owner of Preaus Motor Company, the authorized Ford dealer in Farmerville. "As you came across the lake into town on Highway 33, you could just see a few lights from homes that had been built along the lake. Today, lights from homes line the lake as far as you can see."

And many of those who built homes there commute to work in Ruston, Monroe or other towns in the surrounding area. Business in town is brisk and traffic is often bumper to bumper on the Main Street.

"We love it," said Preaus. "See that traffic signal out there? When people stop for that, they are looking at our vehicles. It's free advertising."

Does it work?

"I can't tell you how many people have pulled into our lot with a boat hooked to their vehicle, looked at cars and then come back to buy from us," said Joe Preaus.

Doug Cardwell, owner of Tri Lake Marine and RV in Ruston said, "We get about 25% of our business from people using Lake D'Arbonne." That include sales of boats, service and parts.

Everyone agrees that building the lake was a wonderful project but they believe it still hasn't reached its potential to bring in business and people to the parish. Population figures from 1960 show a steady rise for Union Parish. In 1960, census figures read 17,624. In 2000 they counted 22,771 inhabitants, making Union one of the few north Louisiana rural parishes with a growing population.

"Merchants are now beginning to reap the benefits," said Baughman. Part of the reason for that is the beautiful new 655-acre park that has 20 vacation cabins and a lodge that sleeps 48, RV spaces, playgrounds, bike trails and hiking trails.

Lake D'Arbonne has become an economic engine for Union Parish. Tax Assessor Terry Baker said there are 1,270 homes around the perimeter of the lake with a total value of $41,407,800.

"Building around the Lake continues and a new subdivision is also in the works," Ms. Baker said. Tax revenues are up, businesses continue to prosper and the people of Farmerville are proud of the fantastic view of Lake D'Arbonne that borders their small town in North Louisiana. And the town is not through yet. Upgrades, additions to the park and other ideas to make D'Arbonne even more of a tourist destination are still being considered. The town of Farmerville continues to use their main attraction, Lake D'Arbonne, to build their economy and bring business and people into Union Parish.

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