Calcasieu Historic Preservation Society’s Lost Landmark Trolley Tour gave participants the chance to ride and reminisce last week. Starting at the Lake Charles Transit Center Pavilion, passengers boarded a Lake Charles city bus that stopped at the three 2015 CHPS Lost Landmark sites for the unveiling of custom cast metal historical markers.

A section of the route back in time included Railroad Avenue, the location of one of the city’s four lost train stations, the Southern Pacific. It is near the Amtrak passenger station, which uses metal braces salvaged from the old building.

“In its day, this street had a string of thriving businesses,” said tour guide and CHPS advocacy chairman Adley Cormier. “Much has changed over the 165 years that Lake Charles has been a city.”

According to Cormier, the point of the Lost Landmarks program is to preserve the history of significant landmarks that no longer exist. These landmarks are important to the telling of the city’s story since the founding. The group also works to mark and preserve existing historical landmarks.

Passengers disembarked at the restaurant Coyote Blues to remember the 1903 LaGrange High School. The current LaGrange school building on Louisiana Avenue was constructed in 1954.

The Louisiana Baptist Orphanage built in 1899 on Ninth Street because of the area’s wholesome, rural character was demolished long ago. But the CHPS Lost Landmark tells its story, as well as the history of how Landry Memorial High, St. Charles Academy and Sacred Heart High merged in 1970 to form St. Louis Catholic High School.

Lost Railroad Stations were marked at the Safety Council Building near the Transit Center Pavilion where the Missouri Pacific Terminal, circa 1892 once stood. The sign also contains history about the Southern Pacific station and the Kansas City Southern passenger terminal built in 1925 that replaced an earlier Union Station at Pryce and Front Street.

CHPS accepts suggestions for Lost Landmark sites. For more information about local preservation efforts, including the Lost Landmarks program, visit Calcasieupreservation.org.

The 1903 LaGrange High School was located on what is now Coyote Blues restaurant on Ryan Street. (Special to the American Press)