Beauregard Parish Courthouse facts for kids
The Beauregard Parish Courthouse is a historic building in DeRidder, Louisiana. DeRidder is the main city, or "parish seat," for Beauregard Parish. This courthouse was built in 1915. It was designed by the same people who built the Beauregard Parish Jail right next door. The courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 22, 1983. This means it's an important historical site.
Quick facts for kids |
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Beauregard Parish Jail
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 Location in Louisiana
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| Location | 201 West 1st Street, DeRidder, Louisiana |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1914 |
| Architect | Stevens and Nelson |
| Architectural style | Beaux-Arts |
| NRHP reference No. | 83000490 |
| Added to NRHP | September 22, 1983 |
Contents
Building the Beauregard Courthouse
The land for the courthouse was given to the City of DeRidder by the Hudson River Lumber Company. The local government, called the Beauregard Parish Police Jury, bought more land next to it. This land included a building from the First Baptist Church.
A company called Stevens-Nelson from New Orleans was chosen to design both the courthouse and the jail. Another company, Falls City Construction Company, started building in September 1913. Both buildings were finished in 1915. The total cost for both was about $168,000.
Exploring the Courthouse Tunnel
There is a special tunnel that connects the courthouse to the jail. This tunnel was built to safely move people between the two buildings. It was designed to keep everyone secure during these transfers.
Today, the tunnel is no longer used. The jail itself is currently empty. However, the jail is now open for tours! You can visit during the day on weekdays. Sometimes, there are even special lantern tours at night. Around Halloween, they often have a haunted house there.
The tunnel, though, is now completely blocked off. You can see a small part of it from the jail side. But it often has standing water inside, so it's not lit or usable anymore.
Why the Courthouse is Famous
The Beauregard Parish Courthouse is known for some interesting events that happened there. A long time ago, a trial took place in the courthouse. This trial led to two people being executed at the nearby Beauregard Parish Jail. Because of this, the jail was sometimes called the "Hanging Jail." After March 9, 1928, the courthouse became less known for these events.
Modern Updates for the Courthouse
The courthouse is now over 100 years old. It needed some important updates to keep it working well. These updates included adding a third courtroom. They also improved access for people with disabilities. This included upgrading the elevators to meet modern standards.
Other improvements involved fixing the sewer system. The outside of the building also got a "facelift." This included updating the courtyard and sidewalks. A new sprinkler system and fire alarm system were also installed for safety.
The Corne Lemaire Group was the architectural firm for these updates. Pat Williams Construction was chosen to do the building work. The local government had also bought a large building from the former First Baptist Church. This building is next to the jail. It has been updated to be used temporarily during the renovations.
