In the 75 Years Ago part of the Our Past column there is at times some group meeting at the Bel community building. Can you tell me where that building was located?
Sure can.
The building, known as the J.A. Bel home, stood at 527 Mill St., on the northwest corner of the intersection of Mill and Moss
streets.
Today, the house — minus the wrap-around porches — stands several miles to the east.
The home was built in the late 19th century by Dr. A.H. Moss, who acquired the land after its previous owner, Judge D.J. Reid
died.
When Moss moved to Texas, the house was bought by John Albert Bel, who was married to Della Moeling Goos, one of the children
of local pioneer and lumber magnate Capt. Daniel Goos.
Bel himself became a giant in the lumber business, and the house — originally a two-story Victorian topped with a cupola —
was eventually expanded into a grand Southern mansion.
Bel died in the house on Dec. 30, 1918, about two weeks after his son, Ernest, had died of pneumonia. Della lived another
15 years, dying in the early-morning hours of May 7, 1934.
After her death the Bel family granted use of the house to the city for 20 years “for and in consideration of the interest
which the Bel heirs have for the common welfare of the inhabitants of Lake Charles,” according to an
“No money consideration was involved in
the donation. However, the city is required to carry fire and tornado
insurance on
the property and it is stipulated that no part of the property may
be used for gambling, drinking or immoral purposes. ...,”
the story reads.
“Further, the ‘east bedroom,’ the bedroom of the late Mrs. Bel (Aunt Della) must ‘never be used for sleeping quarters.’ ”
The house was placed under the
supervision of the Enterprise Club and was used by it and several other
women’s clubs — the
Garden Club, the Junior Welfare League, the Medical Auxiliary,
United Daughters of the Confederacy and the Daughters of the
American Revolution.
It later served as a voting precinct and housed the local American Red Cross headquarters.
Mayor Tom Price, citing increasing maintenance costs, sought an end to the city’s lease arrangement in 1946, and the Bel family
took control of the house the following year.
When the reactivation of Chennault Air Base forced Boys Village — opened there in 1947 — to seek a new home, the Bel family
offered the youth program’s organizers the house at 527 Mill.
The house was dismantled in 1951 — by Boys Village residents and community members — and was reconstructed on a newly acquired
40-acre tract of land on U.S. 90 east of Lake Charles. There it still stands.
Online: http://libguides.mcneese.edu/archives.
The Informer answers questions from readers each Sunday, Monday and Wednesday. It is researched and written by Andrew Perzo, an American Press staff writer. To ask a question, call 494-4098, press 5 and leave voice mail, or email informer@americanpress.com