Rails tie school to community - Natchitoches, LA
Posted by: 
WalksfarTX
N 31° 45.491 W 093° 05.413
15R E 491456 N 3513636
History of the first depot in Natchitoches which was located near the Jefferson Street entrance to Northwestern State University.
Waymark Code: WMQYC3
Location: Louisiana, United States
Date Posted: 04/14/2016
Views: 2
Article in the Natchitoches Times Section B, Page 1
Leopold Caspari is remembered as the man instrumental in the founding of the State Normal School and the Natchitoches Railroad.
In 1884, Caspari and other citizens of Natchitoches bought the Bullard Mansion, a large school building erected by the Society of the Sacred Heart and 107 acres. In an act of generosity, the civic-minded leaders transferred the property to the state of Louisiana. The school opened as State Normal School (now NW State College).
It was extremely difficult for Normal College students to get in and out of Natchitoches. In order to encourage the youth of the state to attend this school, it was necessary that some mode of transportation be provided for them.
Caspari undertook the formation of the Natchitoches Land and Railway Company, which was incorporated on Nov. 23, 1885. In June 1887, an ordinance was introduced that levied a five-mill tax for 10 years as a grant to the Natchitoches Railroad Company. After the ordinance was adopted in August of 1887, work on Railroad began.
The nearest railroad to Natchitoches was the Texas & Pacific located in Cypress. Though only 11 miles away, this amounted to a considerable distance in a time of poor roads and vehicles that were literally horse powered.
The new short rail line was tapped into the T&P railroad, making it accessible to all points.
Caspari serve as president and general manager from its organization until the “TAP” was sold to the T&P Railway Company in 1900.