"Hessmer Station, 1902"
In this 144-page book, you will find many stories, statistics, interviews, photos, maps, memories, comments, historical accounts, names worth noting, and best of all, if you are from Hessmer, you will feel the pride of the simple, gentle folks of an earlier era who made the village what it is today - a good place to live.
Before the coming of the railroad, the Avoyelles Parish community known as "Norma" had a population of some 800 residents in 1894. There was a school, a church, and many houses. The residents all knew one another in this quiet community and life was lived in an era that thrived on religion, closeness to relatives and friends, tending the fields, and lending a "coup de main" The settlement was named after Norma Jeansonne, whose wife, Cora Chaze Jeansonne, was the first postmaster.
But a German immigrant, William Edenborn of Shreveport, changed the course of life of the Norma residents in the year 1902. Edenborn was a railroad tycoon who bought right of ways for a railroad in Ward Four and beyond. One of those lots was sold by Celestin Villemarette on August 2, 1902, and was the first deed noting the lot as being at "Hessmer Station." Hessmer was named after Edenborn's mother and possibly his sister as well.
The coming of the railroad eventually spurred many to move from Norma to Hessmer, where mail was delivered, transportation to New Orleans was possible, produced could be shipped and businesses were established. The Village of Hessmer has been thriving ever since. The book will give you a great picture of the little village known as Hessmer.
To buy this book contact Arlene Flanders
by Phone: 318-563-8474
by E- Mail: Secondstation@aol.com
