“From Greece To Minden, Louisiana, The Kalpakis Family”

“From Greece To Minden, Louisiana, The Kalpakis Family”

With Bill Kalpakis

 

Monday, October 9^th, Bill Kalpakis will tell the story of his parents and the legacy they left in Minden.  This will be the 59th oral history program for the Dorcheat Museum and the 66th museum event for Dorcheat Museum.

Bill Kalpakis stated, “Frank Arthur “Pete” Kalpakis immigrated to the United States through Canada around 1912-13.  His family lived in a Greek community on the western shore of what is now the country of Turkey.  He arrived in Minden about 1920-21.  He married my Mother, who had emigrated from Greece in 1920, in December 1925.  They had five children.”

“Pete” Kalpakis would establish several cafes and resturants in Minden, his most popular two being the HI-Way Café and the Bus Station Café.  The Hi-Way Cafe was located on Hwy. 80 across the railroad tracks from the train depot.  Kalpakis fed many WWII GIs passing through Minden on their way to training camps.  After he sold the Hi-Way Café around 1949, be bought the Trailways Café across from the present Webster Parish courthouse.  He ran that until his death in 1959.  Kalpakis was known for this famous “hamburgers” and chicken salad sandwiches.  Bill commented, “He taught me how to make a “mean” hamburger.”

“Pete” Kalpakis had very little formal education, but was determined to see that his children got the best education possible.  Four children went to college, two graduated with masters degrees and one with a professional degree.  This story will be about hard work and determination of a family that came to Minden with very little but made a lasting impression on many. 

Don't miss your chance to hear about some of our local history. The museum events will be held in the Media/Learning center at the Dorcheat Historical Association Museum, 116 Pearl Street, Minden, La.  Museum doors will open at 5:30 p.m., with first-come, first-serve seating.  Program begins at 6:00 p.m. Admission is free with potluck desserts and snacks welcome. 

For more information contact Schelley Brown Francis at 318-377-3002 or visit www.museuminminden.blogspot.com to sign up for the museum email blast. You can also find the museum on Facebook. To learn more about Webster Parish's rich history visit the Dorcheat Historical Association Museum located at 116 Pearl Street in Minden. Museum hours; closed on Monday, Tuesday-Friday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. (closed from 1-2 for lunch), Saturday CLOSED. The museum admission is free. Also open for special tours and rental by appointment.

Help Save Our History Fundraiser 2017

You Are Invited To Help Make History Happen

 

    Monday, September 11th, 2017, the Dorcheat Historical Museum will be hosting its 9th fundraising event since the 2008 opening of the parish museum. Last year the fundraiser was a huge success, and raised over $30,000.  Many locals attended that know how important the preservation of our history is to Webster Parish.

 

    Louise Baird Snook, Dorcheat Museum President complimented the following members; Becky Marvin, Janice Mourad, Cora Lou Robinson, Kay Elzen, Janet LaBruyere, Ann Harlan, Charlotte Martin, Dianne McGuire, Jo McCullough, Charlotte Jones, Mary Ann Hamilton, Lucy Adkins, and Rachel Miller.  All these ladies are museum board members and the female driving force behind the gala as well as the museum.  Not to be forgotten, for all their hard word to make everything run smoothly and the man power behind the museum are fellow board members; Marcel Vandenoord, Richard Campbell, John Agan, Dr. Roy Phillips, and Ben Baldwin.  These event organizers report that the 2017 fundraiser promises to be as exceptional as the past museum events, with the "Support Local History" theme set for this year.

 

    Guest will be thrilled with the variety of silent auction items and the great variety of wonderful cuisine. "We are so fortunate to have the support of so many people from far and wide. We are pleased with our progress and we know we couldn't do any of it without so many generous friends and supporters of the museum." stated museum director; Schelley Brown Francis.   

 

    Folk artist, Cora Lou Robinson, is in the process of painting yet another new original painting for this event. Robinson's paintings have been a highlight at the past auctions bringing in thousands of dollars each year for the museum. Everyone is looking forward to seeing her new 2017 piece.   This year the painting was to highlight the “Webster Parish Fair”, after much thought Cora Lou switched to "4^th of July at Turner’s pond". “After Memorial Day I was so moved by the patriotic things I was seeing that I wanted to paint what Minden was doing..... to honor those service people that gave the ultimate sacrifice, stated Mrs. Robinson.  For those that know Mrs. Robinson and her work “God and Country, Family and Friends” are always her number one themes.  Other artists have also contacted museum board members about donating original works; and museum members are thrilled with the response to help.

 

    Museum board members commented, “We can’t have a successful event or a successful museum without the help from so many local businesses and individuals.”  If you would like to attend or donate a service or item for the 2017 Gala event contact Schelley Francis at the Dorcheat Museum  318-377-3002 or visit at 116 Pearl Street.  Cost to attend is $25 per person.  Please mail in response by September 1^st, 2017.  We will be taking items for auction until Tuesday, September 5th. 

 

   Museum director Schelley Francis and museum archivist Mrs. Eddie Hammontree had the following comments to share, “The museum has had hundreds of visitors this past year from all over the country and overseas as well. The Dorcheat Historical Museum is a showplace for our area and especially our school children.  The museum has even been a place for other museum officials to gather advice and knowledge for their own museums.  Genealogy research has been a big part of what we have assisted with this year. 

 

     We have realized over the past few years that we needed to take a conservative stance on our spending to insure that the Dorcheat Museum will continue for many, many years into the future.    It took many years of hard work and perseverance to get to where we are today, we will never jeopardize that accomplishment.  Holding on to what we have built up since 2007 is the most important thing. We have had many people to be thankful for in this process.

 

      A museum is a living thing.  There will always be new and better ways to improve what we have now.  There will always be new items and history to unveil.  Every day more and more people are finding out about us.

 

      We still have many dreams for the future.  We are confident that our expansion project is something that will take place one day.  Money was raised to purchase the building in 2013.  A new roof and front were completed, as well as some items on the inside of this newest building.  We will treat this project as we did our original building project.  “We pay as we go” has always been our motto.  Plans for any renovations and upgrading of this building will take place as money is specifically raised for this long-term project. 

   

   When the Media/Theater room opened several years ago, it gave the museum an extra advantage of being able to offer the facility to others. We can now rent this part of the museum out for meetings, reunions and parties, plus we have the added benefit of the theater system for Power Point or video presentations."

 

   To sign up for updates visit the website at www.museuminminden.blogspot.com  you can also find us on our Facebook group and page.

  

“The Martins of Evergreen” With Charlotte Martin and R.O. Machen

“The Martins of Evergreen”

With Charlotte Martin and R.O. Machen

 

Monday, May 8^th, Charlotte Martin along with R.O. Machen will tell the rich history of the Martin Family of the Evergreen Community.  These two will be the 58th oral history program for the Dorcheat Museum and the 64th museum event for Dorcheat Museum. 

Charlotte will be telling the Martin history from her late husband’s perspective.  Arthur Dowd Martin became a part of the Martin family at 5 weeks old when he was adopted by Clara and Arthur Martin.  He was born in Shreveport and graduated from Evergreen High School in 1953.  Charlotte Smith Martin was born in Minden and graduated from Minden High School.  She became a Martin in 1956.  Most of their married life they lived in the Evergreen Community at A.D.’s old home place.  They raised three sons, Art, David, and Carlos who live and work in the Minden area.  They have 2 granddaughters, 6 grandsons, 2 great granddaughters and 2 great grandsons.  Charlotte enjoy researching and learning about family history. 

R.O. Machen R. O. Machen, Jr. was born in 1942 in Springhill, Louisiana.  R.O. moved to Minden when he was in the 5^th grade.  His father R.O. Machen Sr. became assistant superintendent of Webster schools that year which prompted the move.  A 1960 graduate from Minden High School and later graduating from Louisiana Tech in 1964 with a BS degree in Accounting.  His banking career began immediately after graduation when he went to work for Louisiana Bank in 1964 and Peoples Bank in 1967.  After 47 years in the Banking business he retired in 2010 from Gibsland Bank.

Married in 1979 to Barbara Fountain a Homer native. The couple has five children, 15 grandchildren and so far 3 great grandchildren - and looking ahead for many more.  Barbara works for the State of Louisiana in the Child Welfare Division and will retire in 2017.  

Don't miss your chance to hear about some of our local history. The museum events will be held in the Media/Learning center at the Dorcheat Historical Association Museum, 116 Pearl Street, Minden, La.  Museum doors will open at 5:30 p.m., with first-come, first-serve seating.  Program begins at 6:00 p.m. Admission is free with potluck desserts and snacks welcome. 

For more information contact Schelley Brown Francis at 318-377-3002 or visit www.museuminminden.blogspot.com to sign up for the museum email blast. You can also find the museum on Facebook. To learn more about Webster Parish's rich history visit the Dorcheat Historical Association Museum located at 116 Pearl Street in Minden. Museum hours; closed on Monday, Tuesday-Friday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. (closed from 1-2 for lunch), Saturday CLOSED. The museum admission is free. Also open for special tours and rental by appointment.

“Telling Tales Out Of School Again” with Carleton Prothro Minden’s Man of the Year 2017

“Telling Tales Out Of School Again” with Carleton Prothro Minden’s Man of the Year 2017

Monday, August 10^th, Carleton Prothro will take center stage once again.  Prothro will be the 57th guest speaker for the Dorcheat Museum and the 63^rd museum event for Dorcheat Museum.  This beloved man known by many as “The Colonel” and now Minden’s 2017 recipient of the Man of the Year Award, will be speaking on his many comical experiences in the Webster Parish school system.  This is certain to be an evening you don’t want to miss!  He packed the house in 2009 with his first talk! 

Prothro is a graduate of Byrd H.S. and the University of Arkansas.  He was married to Lois Price in 1957, and the couple has two sons: Carleton who lives in Danbury, Ct. and works for Bunge Corp in White Plains, New York and Lance who lives in Las Vegas, and is a geologist for Dept of Energy.  The Prothro’s have two grandchildren: granddaughter, Whitney, whom recently became employed by St. Jude, and currently lives in Pittsburg, Pa., and grandson, Hunt, who is a junior at Auburn University. 

Carleton’s career includes his military service of 27 years of active and reserve duty.  He retired in 1981, with the rank of colonel.  He is most known for his teaching career from 1958-1995 as teacher, counselor, assistant principal, and Title 1 coordinator.  It is this part of Prothro’s life that will be the focus of the evening.  The many pranks that have been played, memorable excuses from class, and tales of caught skippers will be told by one of Minden’s most beloved educators.  Always a smile on his face and a joke on his lips is what most people think of, when they think of this Minden icon.  His humor is sometimes questionable, but always brings a laugh to anyone within hearing distance. 

Don't miss your chance to hear about some of our local history. The museum events will be held in the Media/Learning center at the Dorcheat Historical Association Museum, 116 Pearl Street, Minden, La.  Museum doors will open at 5:30 p.m., with first-come, first-serve seating.  Program begins at 6:00 p.m. Admission is free with potluck desserts and snacks welcome. 

For more information contact Schelley Brown Francis at 318-377-3002 or visit www.museuminminden.blogspot.com to sign up for the museum email blast. You can also find the museum on Facebook. To learn more about Webster Parish's rich history visit the Dorcheat Historical Association Museum located at 116 Pearl Street in Minden. Museum hours; closed on Monday, Tuesday-Friday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. (closed from 1-2 for lunch), Saturday CLOSED. The museum admission is free. Also open for special tours and rental by appointment.

“A March Down Memory Lane with Neil Baker MHS 1956

“Night At The Museum”

 “A March Down Memory Lane with Neil Baker MHS 1956

Doors Open at 5:30

Come march down Memory Lane with Neil Baker at the Dorcheat Museum, Monday March 13, 2017. 

Neil was born in 1937 in Minden, Louisiana to Willis and Marie Baker.  Neil and his brother Lloyd grew up in the 1940s and 50s era.  To some this era holds a special meaning with many great stories.  Most of his 1956 Minden classmates remember Neil as a drummer at MHS and later on as a member of the teen band the Kats.  After high school Neil attended LA Tech, Kilgore J.C. and Stephen F. Austin State University.  It was while he was attending LA Tech that a new band, the Tunes, was formed. This band would also be made up of some Minden classmates.  The Tunes had much success and kept busy playing for local functions and college events for several years. 

It was at the Stephen F. Austin Campus in Nacogdoches, Texas that Neil would meet his future wife Ruth Grounds.  The couple married in 1962, made their home in Irving, Texas and raised two children.  Ruth was a school teacher in Irving before her retirement.  Neil retired from General Electric Company in 1994 after 28 years of service. 

Now is your chance to hear some great stories of a simpler time in Minden.  The 62nd “Night at the Museum” will take place Monday, March 13, 2017. 

Don't miss your chance to hear about some of our local history. The museum events will be held in the Media/Learning center at the Dorcheat Historical Association Museum, 116 Pearl Street, Minden, La.  Museum doors will open at 5:30 p.m., with first-come, first-serve seating.  Program begins at 6:00 p.m. Admission is free with potluck desserts and snacks welcome. 

For more information contact Schelley Brown Francis at 318-377-3002 or visit www.museuminminden.blogspot.com to sign up for the museum email blast. You can also find the museum on Facebook. To learn more about Webster Parish's rich history visit the Dorcheat Historical Association Museum located at 116 Pearl Street in Minden. Museum hours; closed on Monday, Tuesday-Friday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. (closed from 1-2 for lunch), Saturday CLOSED. The museum admission is free. Also open for special tours and rental by appointment.