Blanks, Louisiana
Encyclopedia
Blanks is the name of an unincorporated community
located in southwestern Pointe Coupee Parish
, Louisiana
, United States
.
. Mr. Blanks was a lumberman and part owner of the Bomer-Blanks Lumber Company. He had come to Vicksburg, Mississippi
from Lake County, Tennessee with his wife, Edith Roper Blanks, and daughter Bessie. Another daughter, Ruth was born to them at Vicksburg.
His partner, Edwin Jefferson Bomer was also a lumberman who had come to Vicksburg, Mississippi
from Brownsville, Tennessee
, along with his wife, Mosella Dearbra Anderson Bomer, and his two daughters, Lottie and Cherry. He built a three story landmark home at 2315 Cherry Street in Vicksburg, which later became the home of his youngest daughter, Cherry, and her husband, John Rundle Smith, an attorney in Vicksburg. Mr. Bomer also had a home in Blanks.
Edwin Bomer and Handsel Blanks began to purchase land in the Pointe Coupee area of Louisiana around 1910. The Bomer Blanks Lumber Company, Inc., had its beginning in 1912 with the building of their first sawmill. According to a family tradition, the two partners had a light-hearted argument about what to name the community that had developed around the sawmill, each insisting that it be named after the other. Apparently Edwin Bomer won the argument and in 1913 the community became known as Blanks. There was a railroad spur that had been named after the Bomers.
Lottie Anderson Bomer, the elder daughter of Edwin Bomer, married Arthur Neil Smith and by 1913 they built and operated a general store near their home in Blanks. This commissary handled fabrics, boots, toiletries, fresh cut meats, farm fresh vegetables and eggs for the new community of Blanks. Mr. Smith also managed the sawmill for the Bomer-Blanks Lumber Company. A post office was established in the community of Blanks in 1913, attached to the commissary, but it is no longer in operation.
The Bomer Blanks Lumber Company was a major industry in Pointe Coupee Parish in the lumber manufacturing field until 1928. In the peak years of its operations, the firm was engaged in the manufacture of cypress and hardwood lumber, with production running some 60,000 to 75,000 board feet per day and employed approximately 250 people. The late Edwin Jefferson Bomer was one of the co-founders and long Secretary and Treasurer of the company. The timber holdings were on approximately 16000 acres (64.7 km²) in Pointe Coupee Parish. In 1928 When the Bomer Blanks Lumber Company Inc. ceased its lumber manufacturing operations, Mr. Arthur Neil Smith acquired the firm's sawmill facilities and timber holdings on some of the land in the parishes of Pointe Coupee and St Landry and organized his own enterprise as the A. N. Smith Lumber Company of Blanks, LA. In 1931, he closed the big mill and erected a modern circular sawmill to meet the requirements of the time and over many years the firm continued its operation on a moderate scale. There is no sawmill at present. Bomer Blanks Lumber Company still functions today as a family holding company in the management of its vast holdings in land, farming and oil and gas development. Edwin J. Bomer died 12 Feb 1943 at Baton Rouge, Louisiana
. His partner, Handsel B. Blanks died 12 Apr 1939 at Fayette County, Kentucky
.
As a breeder of registered Brahman Cattle, Mr.Arthur Neil Smith had one of the finest herds in the state of Louisiana and served as President of the American Brahman Breeders Association. He also raised commercial beef cattle and was a member of the Pointe Coupee Parish and Louisiana Cattlemen's Association. Arthur N. Smith died June, 1968 at Blanks, Louisiana.
near the intersections of Louisiana Highway 976
with US 190
and Louisiana Highway 81
. The town of Lottie, Louisiana
, is located to the west, and Fordoche, Louisiana
, is to the north.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
located in southwestern Pointe Coupee Parish
Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana
Pointe Coupee Parish, pronounced "Pwent Koo-Pay" and , is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is New Roads. As of 2000, the population was 22,763....
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
History
The town is said to have gained its name from Handsel Burrow Blanks, of Warren County, MississippiWarren County, Mississippi
-National protected areas:* Theodore Roosevelt National Wildlife Refuge * Vicksburg National Military Park -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 49,644 people, 18,756 households, and 13,222 families residing in the county. The population density was 85 people per square mile...
. Mr. Blanks was a lumberman and part owner of the Bomer-Blanks Lumber Company. He had come to Vicksburg, Mississippi
Vicksburg, Mississippi
Vicksburg is a city in Warren County, Mississippi, United States. It is the only city in Warren County. It is located northwest of New Orleans on the Mississippi and Yazoo rivers, and due west of Jackson, the state capital. In 1900, 14,834 people lived in Vicksburg; in 1910, 20,814; in 1920,...
from Lake County, Tennessee with his wife, Edith Roper Blanks, and daughter Bessie. Another daughter, Ruth was born to them at Vicksburg.
His partner, Edwin Jefferson Bomer was also a lumberman who had come to Vicksburg, Mississippi
Vicksburg, Mississippi
Vicksburg is a city in Warren County, Mississippi, United States. It is the only city in Warren County. It is located northwest of New Orleans on the Mississippi and Yazoo rivers, and due west of Jackson, the state capital. In 1900, 14,834 people lived in Vicksburg; in 1910, 20,814; in 1920,...
from Brownsville, Tennessee
Brownsville, Tennessee
Brownsville is a city in Haywood County, Tennessee, United States. It is the county seat of Haywood County. The city is named after Jacob Jennings Brown, an officer who served during The War of 1812.-Geography:...
, along with his wife, Mosella Dearbra Anderson Bomer, and his two daughters, Lottie and Cherry. He built a three story landmark home at 2315 Cherry Street in Vicksburg, which later became the home of his youngest daughter, Cherry, and her husband, John Rundle Smith, an attorney in Vicksburg. Mr. Bomer also had a home in Blanks.
Edwin Bomer and Handsel Blanks began to purchase land in the Pointe Coupee area of Louisiana around 1910. The Bomer Blanks Lumber Company, Inc., had its beginning in 1912 with the building of their first sawmill. According to a family tradition, the two partners had a light-hearted argument about what to name the community that had developed around the sawmill, each insisting that it be named after the other. Apparently Edwin Bomer won the argument and in 1913 the community became known as Blanks. There was a railroad spur that had been named after the Bomers.
Lottie Anderson Bomer, the elder daughter of Edwin Bomer, married Arthur Neil Smith and by 1913 they built and operated a general store near their home in Blanks. This commissary handled fabrics, boots, toiletries, fresh cut meats, farm fresh vegetables and eggs for the new community of Blanks. Mr. Smith also managed the sawmill for the Bomer-Blanks Lumber Company. A post office was established in the community of Blanks in 1913, attached to the commissary, but it is no longer in operation.
The Bomer Blanks Lumber Company was a major industry in Pointe Coupee Parish in the lumber manufacturing field until 1928. In the peak years of its operations, the firm was engaged in the manufacture of cypress and hardwood lumber, with production running some 60,000 to 75,000 board feet per day and employed approximately 250 people. The late Edwin Jefferson Bomer was one of the co-founders and long Secretary and Treasurer of the company. The timber holdings were on approximately 16000 acres (64.7 km²) in Pointe Coupee Parish. In 1928 When the Bomer Blanks Lumber Company Inc. ceased its lumber manufacturing operations, Mr. Arthur Neil Smith acquired the firm's sawmill facilities and timber holdings on some of the land in the parishes of Pointe Coupee and St Landry and organized his own enterprise as the A. N. Smith Lumber Company of Blanks, LA. In 1931, he closed the big mill and erected a modern circular sawmill to meet the requirements of the time and over many years the firm continued its operation on a moderate scale. There is no sawmill at present. Bomer Blanks Lumber Company still functions today as a family holding company in the management of its vast holdings in land, farming and oil and gas development. Edwin J. Bomer died 12 Feb 1943 at Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...
. His partner, Handsel B. Blanks died 12 Apr 1939 at Fayette County, Kentucky
Fayette County, Kentucky
Fayette County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. The population was 295,083 in the 2010 Census. Its territory, population and government are coextensive with the city of Lexington, which also serves as county seat....
.
As a breeder of registered Brahman Cattle, Mr.Arthur Neil Smith had one of the finest herds in the state of Louisiana and served as President of the American Brahman Breeders Association. He also raised commercial beef cattle and was a member of the Pointe Coupee Parish and Louisiana Cattlemen's Association. Arthur N. Smith died June, 1968 at Blanks, Louisiana.
Geography
The community is west of Livonia, LouisianaLivonia, Louisiana
Livonia is a town in Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 1,339 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town is home to Livonia High School. The town's zip code is 70755...
near the intersections of Louisiana Highway 976
Louisiana Highway 976
Louisiana Highway 976 is a state highway in Louisiana that serves Pointe Coupee Parish. It spans in a south to north direction.-Route description:LA 976 begins at an intersection with LA 81 west of Livonia...
with US 190
U.S. Route 190
U.S. Route 190, also known as the Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway, is an east–west United States highway in Louisiana and Texas. It evolved from the shortest of intrastate routes in 1926 to a length comparable to a main Interstate Highway route, leading from the swamps and pine forests of...
and Louisiana Highway 81
Louisiana Highway 81
Louisiana Highway 81 is a state highway in Louisiana that serves Pointe Coupee Parish. It spans in a northwest to southeast direction. As with most odd numbered highways in Louisiana, it is considered to be a north/south highway...
. The town of Lottie, Louisiana
Lottie, Louisiana
Lottie is a town located in Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana , along U.S. Highway 190 near its intersection with Louisiana Highway 81. The population is 450...
, is located to the west, and Fordoche, Louisiana
Fordoche, Louisiana
Fordoche is a town in Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 933 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town's zip code is 70732.-History:...
, is to the north.