Hayes, Louisiana
Encyclopedia
Hayes is an unincorporated community
located in the southeast corner of Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana
, United States
It is part of the Lake Charles
Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
According to the 2000 United States Census, the town has a total area of 4.55 square miles (11.8 km²). Median household income ($14,844) is significantly lower than US average ($56,604). The population is primarily white, and mostly married couples. The average house value ($32,500) is significantly lower than in the Lake Charles metro area as a whole. The median age is 40.0. There are 205 men and 213 women. The median age for men is 37.8 while for women the median age is 40.6. Hayes Library is located there.
Cattle could be kept here without supervision because the area was bounded on the east by the Lacassine Bayou, on the north and west by swampland, and on the south by marsh.
In 1832 Thomas Hayes moved into Dugas Pasture and became the first while settler there. He married Mary Ann Foreman of Andrus Cove, and they settled near the Lacassine Bayou.
'The next settler was William Holland who was born in Tennessee in 1809.
William Holland, pioneer and father of nine children, established a school in what was now becoming known as Hayes, (for Thomas Hayes, the first settler.) Using a team of oxen, he moved an old slave cabin onto his properly, and he hired his friend Tom Cannon as the teacher.
The next settler in Dugas Pasture was a widow with seven sons and one daughter. In 1854, Mrs. Bazeline Derouen of New Iberia bought a piece of property from the U.S. Government, near the Lorrain settlement. On her property, the first Methodist church was established in 1898. It was a simple, one-room structure with a small, foot-operated organ. The first pastor was the Rev. Robert P, Howell. Prior to that, as far back as 1835, Methodist circuit riders had come into the area on horseback and held meetings in the Hayes and Holland homes.
In 1905, after the railroad came to Hayes and the population shifted, the Methodist congregation decided the location was out of the way, so Bill Cox loaded the church building on a logging wagon and moved it to its present site in Hayes.
Francois, Louis, and Eugene Lorrain came from France and settled in the Hayes area in 1860, in what was known as the Lorrain Settlement.
The Lorrain Settlement had a brick mill, sugar mill, grits mill and sawmill which operated before steam boilers and used two men with cross-saws to work the mill.
Louis Lorrain also built a school in the settlement about 1860 and hired a teacher from France named Pierre Lenoir. The school was kept open by Paul Lorrain, who hired Marcelne Goodeaux as a teacher. She boarded with the family. Other teachers were Glady Kinsey and Miss Dicarlo. Then the school was moved to Hayes and early teachers there were Helen Bienvieu. Veva Stribling (Thom), J.R. Logan, Irma Howarton and Misses Freeman, Landreneaux, and Roy.
There was a post office at Lorrain around 1880, with mail brought up the bayou by Schooner. Mrs. Aueline Lorrain was the Post Mistress.
Another family moved into the Hayes area in 1885; Ophelien Primeaux, grandfather of Eloi Primeaux.
In 1875, the first Gibbs made his appearance. Mr. and Mrs. George Gibbs moved to Hayes from Lowry and opened a general store, with living quarters upstairs. Kinney Gibbs was manager of the Island Plantation near Hayes which was owned by the Rice Plantation and Canal Company.
Others settling in the area in the earliest days included families named Brown, Atkinson, Moore, Mitchell, Duhon, Verrett, Lemelle, Andrus, and Trahan. Followed, after the turn of the century, by Gossett, Morgan, Gravelle, Carmouche, Fruge, Kent and Walker. Groups of northern farmers were brought down by J.B.Watkin's extensive advertising of the "Garden of Eden" in the Deep South.
This area remained isolated for many years. Midwives delivered most of the children. A Cherokee Indian "medicine woman" used concoctions prepared from herbs and plants to treat everything from snake bites, to toothaches. The first doctor, Leroy Lambert, did not come until 1916.
The Louisiana Western Railroad, through Lake Charles
, Holmwood, Bell City, Hayes, and Lake Arthur
was completed in 1904. Overnight, Hayes became a thriving little community. Toliver Hayes, son of the original settler, sold the rights-of-way and a depot site to the Railroad Company and 40 acres (16.2 ha) of land to be used as a town site. Thus, the name of Hayes became permanent for the area.
March 1906, a new saw mill was established called Hayes Cypress and Lumber Co. and was started by Frank Dearborn and Jesse Thom. Less than two years later, J.M. Nugent, of Alexandria, LA purchased controlling interest.
A rice mill was built and a post office opened.
In March 1911, Felix Hebert became postmaster after the resignation of Hayes’s first postmaster, Solomon Hayes. Jesse Leo Thom was postmaster for 20 years until his death in 1948. Evelyn Hayes, niece of the first postmaster, served through 1981.
A small school near the big "S" curve on the edge of Hayes was believed to have been established in 1895.
1906 By a vote of 42 to 1 the Hayes precinct prohibits the sale of liquor making Hayes a dry town.
1910 The first public school, under the supervision of the Calcasieu School Board, was opened.
1923 Marked the beginning of the “Lafitte Cut-Off Old Spanish Trail” highway project, extending from New Iberia to Lake Charles, via Abbeville, Kaplan, Gueydan, Lake Arthur, Hayes, and Holmwood. On the elected committee to represent Hayes in this highway project was J. W. Gardiner. By July 1925 only 3 miles (4.8 km) on each side of Bayou Lacassine remained incomplete.
1930 Talking and sound picture equipment was installed in the Magnolia Theater by Felix Hebert, owner. Mr. Hebert reported to the Lake Charles American Press he was convinced that Hayes, with a population of only 80 persons, is the smallest town in the U.S. to have this up-to-date type of entertainment. With no electric lines, a private power plant was established to run the Theater.
1934 oil is discovered
1938 electricity was brought into Hayes
1941 Hayes Elementary school has 140 students
1944 The Hayes Library opened on April 10, 1944. It was located in Martin's Store and Mrs. Emma Martin was the first Branch Manager.
1946 Natural gas plant is established
1947 First PTA is organized with Mrs. Elias Lorrain as President.
1948 Gas heating system is installed in Hayes School
1950 Researcher Eloi Primeaux documented 300 registered voters among the 1,200 people living in Hayes.
1953 St. Daniel Catholic Chapel is dedicated and named in honor of Father Daniel Habetz.
1955 The Hayes Branch of the Calcasieu Parish library celebrates the use of a new building. The new building is owned by Miss Evelyn Hayes, local postmaster and Mrs. Horace Hebert is local librarian.
1968 Hayes Water System is incorporated. First board of directors are Alvin Hebert, Gaston Dubrock, Clyde LaCombe, Joseph Primeaux, DW LaCombe, Ancil Hayes and Simon Breaux.
1969 Clarence Theriot, 42, is named principal of Bell City High School after serving 15 years in Hayes Elementary School as principal and teacher.
1971 January 4 Consolidation of Hayes and Bell City Schools. Gaston Dubrock, acting principal at Hayes Elementary, is made assistant principal and half-day teacher at Bell City.
On average, the warmest month is July with an average high of 91 °F (32.8 °C).
The highest recorded temperature was 105 °F (40.6 °C) in 2000.
On average, the coolest month is January with an average low of 41 °F (5 °C).
The lowest recorded temperature was 11 °F (-11.7 °C) in 1951.
The maximum average precipitation occurs in May with average rainfall of 6.06 inches (15.4 cm) and the minimum average precipitation occurs in February with average rainfall of 3.27 inches (8.3 cm).
2009 OASDI beneficiaries for Hayes, La - 70646
Social Security refers to the federal Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) program.
In 2009 beneficiaries total was 150. The breakdown of this total is:
Retired workers 70, Disabled workers 20, Widow(er)s 30, Spouses 15, Children 15
Monthly benefits are $141,000. The breakdown of this total is:
Retired workers $73,000, Widow(er)s $28,000, Aged 65 or older $95,000
culture and retains a unique dialect of the Cajun-French language and numerous other cultural traits that distinguish them as an ethnic group.
The cuisine of the region, Cajun cuisine, is one of the most famous regional cuisines in the US.
]
Boat Launch: Lorrain Park has a public boat launch allowing access into the Lacassine Bayou. Two wharves are available at the launch site. A fish cleaning area is also provided for the convenience of park users.
Camping: This park has tent camp sites and nine (9) RV camper sites with electricity available. A dump station is available for RV campers.
This park is located at the foot of Lorrain Bridge. Because of its unique design and construction, Lorrain Bridge is in the National Register of Historical Sites. The site was acquired in 1894 and the bridge was constructed around 1895 as a wooden type draw bridge. In 1920, it was re-constructed, still as a wooden draw type bridge. It was damaged in 1950, repaired in 1951, and in 1955 the draw bridge portion was disabled. The bridge remained open and connected Calcasieu Parish and Jeff Davis Parish until it was closed to traffic in March 1998. Due to joint efforts of the Lorrain Bridge Association, the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury and Jeff Davis Police Jury, the bridge was rebuilt and opened to traffic on July 1, 2004.
Hayes Park
]
The Hayes Park includes a swing set, swing safety surround, trash bins, picnic tables, a walking trail, landscaping, and playground equipment for small children. It is located behind the Calcasieu Parish Library-Hayes Branch.
In February 2010, the Bell City FFA was awarded a grant from the Lt. Governor's Learn and Serve Commission to construct the park. The FFA teamed up with several community partners for the project, including the Calcasieu Parish Ward Recreation Board.
Hunting and Fishing
Hunting is concentrated on ducks and Specklebelly geese. Hunting in Bayou Lacassine and area rice fields can be found within a 5 minute drive from Hayes. There are many hunting packages available to a visitor from area hunting guides.
Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge
- Lacassine Pool, photo a 16000 acres (6,475 ha) freshwater impound and major feature of the refuge, is at the end of Illinois Plant Road, 4.5 miles (7.2 km) south of Highway 14 and 3 miles (4.8 km) south of Hayes.
Hunting and fishing are two of the most popular refuge activities. A nature drive, foot trails, and observation towers are available year-round. Bird watching is also very popular, with a bird list available at the refuge. Most wildlife species found on the refuge are those indigenous to the marshes of coastal Louisiana. Nesting colonies of wading birds, alligators, mink, otter, and raccoon are found on the refuge.
ABT Tournament
Local tournament where sportsmen may fish any public body of water within 25 miles (40.2 km) (driving) of the registration site which is located at Aucoin's Cajun Restaurant in Hayes. During the 2009 tournament the regulation was set to allow 3 bass, 11 in (27.9 cm) minimum catch and release with a penalty for any dead fish. These fish were released back into a local public body of water by the tournament director. Most of the fishermen entered in the tournament fished Lacassine pool. During the spring that year, there were 2 stringers of 18 lb (8.2 kg) weighed in by fishermen targeting fish by sight fishing.
Up and Coming Outdoors
This open fishing team tournament takes place in March starting at the registration site, Aucoin's Cajun Restaurant. Teams can fish any public body of water within 15 miles (24.1 km) of Hayes.
Lorrain Bridge Queens and Kings Pageant
2010 marked the eighth annual Lorrain Bridge King and Queen’s Pageant held annually in June.
As per state law, the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury has the authority to appoint special districts, boards, commissions, etc. for the purpose of providing specific services for a designated area within the Parish. Each of these districts and boards governs its own activities and has its own budget.
Special districts for Hayes:
Fire Protection District No. One of Ward Two (located on Galley Rd, Hayes), Gravity Drainage District No. Nine of Ward Two, and
Community Center (Parks) / Recreation District No. Seven of Ward Two.
Elected Officials
Justice of the Peace (Ward 2) and Constable (Ward 2)
The 2000 Census recorded 207 adults in Hayes over the age of 25. Of those, 121 are high school graduates or higher and 8 had Bachelor degrees or higher.
and Joe Bonsall
. DeRouen hosted a radio show on KLCL for many years. DeRouen died on January 4, 1988. In 1990, the Lake Charles chapter of the Cajun French Music Association inducted DeRouen into its Hall of Fame.
Rufus Thibodeaux
, at six years old, started playing guitar. By twelve, he was also playing fiddle, and at thirteen he was playing regularly at dance jobs. In 1950, he started playing for Jimmy Newman and recorded his first single "Diggy Liggy Lo" in Nashville. In 1970, Rufus recorded with Newman the first song in Cajun French to become a gold record, "Lache Pas la Patate". He has written 12 songs including "Forever in Your Eyes" and "Tela's Waltz". He is the recipient of numerous awards such as induction into the Louisiana Hall of Fame, CFMA Hall of Fame, Fiddler of the Year, and the Award of Excellence in 1998. Rufus was born in Ridge, La. on January 5, 1934 and later moved to Hayes, La. After 40 years in Nashville, Rufus returned to Louisiana and joined Rodney Miller and Cajun Born Band.
Louisiana crawfish are usually boiled live in a large pot with heavy seasoning (salt, cayenne pepper, lemon, garlic, bay leaves, etc.) and other items such as potatoes, corn on the cob, onions, garlic, mushrooms.
Aucoin’s Cajun Restaurant, Hwy 14 - Kizzy Aucoin Sanford, owner. Aucoin's offers live Cajun music every Friday and Saturday night and serves gumbo, steaks, boiled crawfish, crabs, all seafood and lots more! (formerly Harris’ Seafood – Harris and Susie O’Blanc, owner)
Faith Christian Fellowship, 7769 Georgia Avenue
Hayes Full Gospel, 7683 Highway 14
Lorrain-Derouen Cemetery
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 the southeast corner of Calcasieu Parish, 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...
It is part of the Lake Charles
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Lake Charles is the fifth-largest incorporated city in the U.S. state of Louisiana, located on Lake Charles, Prien Lake, and the Calcasieu River. Located in Calcasieu Parish, a major cultural, industrial, and educational center in the southwest region of the state, and one of the most important in...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Lake Charles metropolitan area
The Lake Charles Metropolitan Statistical Area is a metropolitan area in the Acadiana region of southwest Louisiana that covers two parishes - Calcasieu and Cameron. According to a 2009 Census estimate, the MSA had a population of 194,138. It is also part of the larger Lake Charles-Jennings...
.
According to the 2000 United States Census, the town has a total area of 4.55 square miles (11.8 km²). Median household income ($14,844) is significantly lower than US average ($56,604). The population is primarily white, and mostly married couples. The average house value ($32,500) is significantly lower than in the Lake Charles metro area as a whole. The median age is 40.0. There are 205 men and 213 women. The median age for men is 37.8 while for women the median age is 40.6. Hayes Library is located there.
History
In the beginning, Hayes was known as Dugas Pasture or “La Savanne des Dugas" named for a cattle grazer from Andrus Cove who discovered this bountiful pasture land.Cattle could be kept here without supervision because the area was bounded on the east by the Lacassine Bayou, on the north and west by swampland, and on the south by marsh.
In 1832 Thomas Hayes moved into Dugas Pasture and became the first while settler there. He married Mary Ann Foreman of Andrus Cove, and they settled near the Lacassine Bayou.
'The next settler was William Holland who was born in Tennessee in 1809.
William Holland, pioneer and father of nine children, established a school in what was now becoming known as Hayes, (for Thomas Hayes, the first settler.) Using a team of oxen, he moved an old slave cabin onto his properly, and he hired his friend Tom Cannon as the teacher.
The next settler in Dugas Pasture was a widow with seven sons and one daughter. In 1854, Mrs. Bazeline Derouen of New Iberia bought a piece of property from the U.S. Government, near the Lorrain settlement. On her property, the first Methodist church was established in 1898. It was a simple, one-room structure with a small, foot-operated organ. The first pastor was the Rev. Robert P, Howell. Prior to that, as far back as 1835, Methodist circuit riders had come into the area on horseback and held meetings in the Hayes and Holland homes.
In 1905, after the railroad came to Hayes and the population shifted, the Methodist congregation decided the location was out of the way, so Bill Cox loaded the church building on a logging wagon and moved it to its present site in Hayes.
Francois, Louis, and Eugene Lorrain came from France and settled in the Hayes area in 1860, in what was known as the Lorrain Settlement.
The Lorrain Settlement had a brick mill, sugar mill, grits mill and sawmill which operated before steam boilers and used two men with cross-saws to work the mill.
Louis Lorrain also built a school in the settlement about 1860 and hired a teacher from France named Pierre Lenoir. The school was kept open by Paul Lorrain, who hired Marcelne Goodeaux as a teacher. She boarded with the family. Other teachers were Glady Kinsey and Miss Dicarlo. Then the school was moved to Hayes and early teachers there were Helen Bienvieu. Veva Stribling (Thom), J.R. Logan, Irma Howarton and Misses Freeman, Landreneaux, and Roy.
There was a post office at Lorrain around 1880, with mail brought up the bayou by Schooner. Mrs. Aueline Lorrain was the Post Mistress.
Another family moved into the Hayes area in 1885; Ophelien Primeaux, grandfather of Eloi Primeaux.
In 1875, the first Gibbs made his appearance. Mr. and Mrs. George Gibbs moved to Hayes from Lowry and opened a general store, with living quarters upstairs. Kinney Gibbs was manager of the Island Plantation near Hayes which was owned by the Rice Plantation and Canal Company.
Others settling in the area in the earliest days included families named Brown, Atkinson, Moore, Mitchell, Duhon, Verrett, Lemelle, Andrus, and Trahan. Followed, after the turn of the century, by Gossett, Morgan, Gravelle, Carmouche, Fruge, Kent and Walker. Groups of northern farmers were brought down by J.B.Watkin's extensive advertising of the "Garden of Eden" in the Deep South.
This area remained isolated for many years. Midwives delivered most of the children. A Cherokee Indian "medicine woman" used concoctions prepared from herbs and plants to treat everything from snake bites, to toothaches. The first doctor, Leroy Lambert, did not come until 1916.
The Louisiana Western Railroad, through Lake Charles
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Lake Charles is the fifth-largest incorporated city in the U.S. state of Louisiana, located on Lake Charles, Prien Lake, and the Calcasieu River. Located in Calcasieu Parish, a major cultural, industrial, and educational center in the southwest region of the state, and one of the most important in...
, Holmwood, Bell City, Hayes, and Lake Arthur
Lake Arthur, Louisiana
Lake Arthur is a town in Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 3,007 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Jennings Micropolitan Statistical Area...
was completed in 1904. Overnight, Hayes became a thriving little community. Toliver Hayes, son of the original settler, sold the rights-of-way and a depot site to the Railroad Company and 40 acres (16.2 ha) of land to be used as a town site. Thus, the name of Hayes became permanent for the area.
March 1906, a new saw mill was established called Hayes Cypress and Lumber Co. and was started by Frank Dearborn and Jesse Thom. Less than two years later, J.M. Nugent, of Alexandria, LA purchased controlling interest.
A rice mill was built and a post office opened.
In March 1911, Felix Hebert became postmaster after the resignation of Hayes’s first postmaster, Solomon Hayes. Jesse Leo Thom was postmaster for 20 years until his death in 1948. Evelyn Hayes, niece of the first postmaster, served through 1981.
A small school near the big "S" curve on the edge of Hayes was believed to have been established in 1895.
20th Century time-line
1903 Toliver Hayes transferred to ME Shaddock land for First Baptist Church of Hayes.1906 By a vote of 42 to 1 the Hayes precinct prohibits the sale of liquor making Hayes a dry town.
1910 The first public school, under the supervision of the Calcasieu School Board, was opened.
1923 Marked the beginning of the “Lafitte Cut-Off Old Spanish Trail” highway project, extending from New Iberia to Lake Charles, via Abbeville, Kaplan, Gueydan, Lake Arthur, Hayes, and Holmwood. On the elected committee to represent Hayes in this highway project was J. W. Gardiner. By July 1925 only 3 miles (4.8 km) on each side of Bayou Lacassine remained incomplete.
1930 Talking and sound picture equipment was installed in the Magnolia Theater by Felix Hebert, owner. Mr. Hebert reported to the Lake Charles American Press he was convinced that Hayes, with a population of only 80 persons, is the smallest town in the U.S. to have this up-to-date type of entertainment. With no electric lines, a private power plant was established to run the Theater.
1934 oil is discovered
1938 electricity was brought into Hayes
1941 Hayes Elementary school has 140 students
1944 The Hayes Library opened on April 10, 1944. It was located in Martin's Store and Mrs. Emma Martin was the first Branch Manager.
1946 Natural gas plant is established
1947 First PTA is organized with Mrs. Elias Lorrain as President.
1948 Gas heating system is installed in Hayes School
1950 Researcher Eloi Primeaux documented 300 registered voters among the 1,200 people living in Hayes.
1953 St. Daniel Catholic Chapel is dedicated and named in honor of Father Daniel Habetz.
1955 The Hayes Branch of the Calcasieu Parish library celebrates the use of a new building. The new building is owned by Miss Evelyn Hayes, local postmaster and Mrs. Horace Hebert is local librarian.
1968 Hayes Water System is incorporated. First board of directors are Alvin Hebert, Gaston Dubrock, Clyde LaCombe, Joseph Primeaux, DW LaCombe, Ancil Hayes and Simon Breaux.
1969 Clarence Theriot, 42, is named principal of Bell City High School after serving 15 years in Hayes Elementary School as principal and teacher.
1971 January 4 Consolidation of Hayes and Bell City Schools. Gaston Dubrock, acting principal at Hayes Elementary, is made assistant principal and half-day teacher at Bell City.
Climate
Residents of Hayes always stay aware of the possibility of evacuations during the official hurricane season from June 1 to November 30.On average, the warmest month is July with an average high of 91 °F (32.8 °C).
The highest recorded temperature was 105 °F (40.6 °C) in 2000.
On average, the coolest month is January with an average low of 41 °F (5 °C).
The lowest recorded temperature was 11 °F (-11.7 °C) in 1951.
The maximum average precipitation occurs in May with average rainfall of 6.06 inches (15.4 cm) and the minimum average precipitation occurs in February with average rainfall of 3.27 inches (8.3 cm).
Demographics
2000 United States Census Demographic Profile Highlights| General Characteristics - for 70646 | Number |
|---|---|
| Total population | 418 |
| Male | 205 |
| Female | 213 |
| Median age (years) | 40 |
| Under 5 years | 21 |
| 18 years and over | 307 |
| 65 years and over | 59 |
| White | 405 |
| Black or African American | 4 |
| Asian | 1 |
| Other Race | 3 |
| Two or more races | 5 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 7 |
| Average household size | 2.65 |
| Average family size | 3.24 |
| Total housing units | 200 |
| Owner occupied | 138 |
| Renter-occupied | 20 |
| Vacant | 42 |
| Social Characteristics | Number |
| Civilian veterans ( 18 years and over) | 15 |
| Disability status (5 years and over) | 93 |
| Male, Now married, except separated (population 15 years and over) |
57 |
| Female, Now married, except separated (population 15 years and over) |
67 |
| Speak a language other than English at home (population 5 years and over) |
103 |
| Economic Characteristics | Number |
| Mean travel time to work in minutes (workers 16 years and older) |
38.7 |
| Median household income in 1999 | $14,844 |
| Individuals below poverty level | 78 |
2009 OASDI beneficiaries for Hayes, La - 70646
Social Security refers to the federal Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) program.
In 2009 beneficiaries total was 150. The breakdown of this total is:
Retired workers 70, Disabled workers 20, Widow(er)s 30, Spouses 15, Children 15
Monthly benefits are $141,000. The breakdown of this total is:
Retired workers $73,000, Widow(er)s $28,000, Aged 65 or older $95,000
Culture
Hayes has a strong CajunCajun
Cajuns are an ethnic group mainly living in the U.S. state of Louisiana, consisting of the descendants of Acadian exiles...
culture and retains a unique dialect of the Cajun-French language and numerous other cultural traits that distinguish them as an ethnic group.
The cuisine of the region, Cajun cuisine, is one of the most famous regional cuisines in the US.
| ] |
Outdoor Recreation
Lorrain Park]
Boat Launch: Lorrain Park has a public boat launch allowing access into the Lacassine Bayou. Two wharves are available at the launch site. A fish cleaning area is also provided for the convenience of park users.
Camping: This park has tent camp sites and nine (9) RV camper sites with electricity available. A dump station is available for RV campers.
This park is located at the foot of Lorrain Bridge. Because of its unique design and construction, Lorrain Bridge is in the National Register of Historical Sites. The site was acquired in 1894 and the bridge was constructed around 1895 as a wooden type draw bridge. In 1920, it was re-constructed, still as a wooden draw type bridge. It was damaged in 1950, repaired in 1951, and in 1955 the draw bridge portion was disabled. The bridge remained open and connected Calcasieu Parish and Jeff Davis Parish until it was closed to traffic in March 1998. Due to joint efforts of the Lorrain Bridge Association, the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury and Jeff Davis Police Jury, the bridge was rebuilt and opened to traffic on July 1, 2004.
Hayes Park
]
The Hayes Park includes a swing set, swing safety surround, trash bins, picnic tables, a walking trail, landscaping, and playground equipment for small children. It is located behind the Calcasieu Parish Library-Hayes Branch.
In February 2010, the Bell City FFA was awarded a grant from the Lt. Governor's Learn and Serve Commission to construct the park. The FFA teamed up with several community partners for the project, including the Calcasieu Parish Ward Recreation Board.
Hunting and Fishing
Hunting is concentrated on ducks and Specklebelly geese. Hunting in Bayou Lacassine and area rice fields can be found within a 5 minute drive from Hayes. There are many hunting packages available to a visitor from area hunting guides.
Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge
Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge
Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge is located in Cameron and Evangeline Parishes in southwestern Louisiana, was established in 1937 by Executive Order No. 7780 as "a refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife." The refuge is nearly in size, including leased from the Cameron...
- Lacassine Pool, photo a 16000 acres (6,475 ha) freshwater impound and major feature of the refuge, is at the end of Illinois Plant Road, 4.5 miles (7.2 km) south of Highway 14 and 3 miles (4.8 km) south of Hayes.
Hunting and fishing are two of the most popular refuge activities. A nature drive, foot trails, and observation towers are available year-round. Bird watching is also very popular, with a bird list available at the refuge. Most wildlife species found on the refuge are those indigenous to the marshes of coastal Louisiana. Nesting colonies of wading birds, alligators, mink, otter, and raccoon are found on the refuge.
ABT Tournament
Local tournament where sportsmen may fish any public body of water within 25 miles (40.2 km) (driving) of the registration site which is located at Aucoin's Cajun Restaurant in Hayes. During the 2009 tournament the regulation was set to allow 3 bass, 11 in (27.9 cm) minimum catch and release with a penalty for any dead fish. These fish were released back into a local public body of water by the tournament director. Most of the fishermen entered in the tournament fished Lacassine pool. During the spring that year, there were 2 stringers of 18 lb (8.2 kg) weighed in by fishermen targeting fish by sight fishing.
Up and Coming Outdoors
This open fishing team tournament takes place in March starting at the registration site, Aucoin's Cajun Restaurant. Teams can fish any public body of water within 15 miles (24.1 km) of Hayes.
Lorrain Bridge Queens and Kings Pageant
2010 marked the eighth annual Lorrain Bridge King and Queen’s Pageant held annually in June.
Government
Voting Precinct: 262As per state law, the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury has the authority to appoint special districts, boards, commissions, etc. for the purpose of providing specific services for a designated area within the Parish. Each of these districts and boards governs its own activities and has its own budget.
Special districts for Hayes:
Fire Protection District No. One of Ward Two (located on Galley Rd, Hayes), Gravity Drainage District No. Nine of Ward Two, and
Community Center (Parks) / Recreation District No. Seven of Ward Two.
Elected Officials
Justice of the Peace (Ward 2) and Constable (Ward 2)
Education
K-12 attend Bell City High School, Bell City, La.The 2000 Census recorded 207 adults in Hayes over the age of 25. Of those, 121 are high school graduates or higher and 8 had Bachelor degrees or higher.
Musicians
Wallace DeRouen was born on May 3, 1929 in Hayes, Louisiana. DeRouen is a Cajun music guitarist and has played with Phil MenardPhil Menard
Phil Menard is a French Cajun accordion player. He lives in Lake Charles, Louisiana with his wife Georgie. He played with the Louisiana Travelers featuring Ivy Dugas. The band made the song Heritage Waltz famous.-References:...
and Joe Bonsall
Joe Bonsall
Joseph Sloan Bonsall, Jr. known professionally as Joe Bonsall is a member of the Oak Ridge Boys, since 1973 and an author...
. DeRouen hosted a radio show on KLCL for many years. DeRouen died on January 4, 1988. In 1990, the Lake Charles chapter of the Cajun French Music Association inducted DeRouen into its Hall of Fame.
Rufus Thibodeaux
Rufus Thibodeaux
Rufus Thibodeaux was an American Cajun music fiddler.Thibodeaux played guitar from age six and fiddle from age twelve. He played in local dance halls at 13, and joined Julius Lamperez's Cajun band in 1949. He worked extensively as a studio musician for J. D...
, at six years old, started playing guitar. By twelve, he was also playing fiddle, and at thirteen he was playing regularly at dance jobs. In 1950, he started playing for Jimmy Newman and recorded his first single "Diggy Liggy Lo" in Nashville. In 1970, Rufus recorded with Newman the first song in Cajun French to become a gold record, "Lache Pas la Patate". He has written 12 songs including "Forever in Your Eyes" and "Tela's Waltz". He is the recipient of numerous awards such as induction into the Louisiana Hall of Fame, CFMA Hall of Fame, Fiddler of the Year, and the Award of Excellence in 1998. Rufus was born in Ridge, La. on January 5, 1934 and later moved to Hayes, La. After 40 years in Nashville, Rufus returned to Louisiana and joined Rodney Miller and Cajun Born Band.
Restaurants
Poole's Boil N Go, 7710 Crochet Road – Warren Poole, owner. Serving boiled crawfish, when in season. Beyond Louisiana crawfish are often called crayfish or crawdads. Crawfish are harvested locally between December and June, but March, April, and May are the peak months.Louisiana crawfish are usually boiled live in a large pot with heavy seasoning (salt, cayenne pepper, lemon, garlic, bay leaves, etc.) and other items such as potatoes, corn on the cob, onions, garlic, mushrooms.
Aucoin’s Cajun Restaurant, Hwy 14 - Kizzy Aucoin Sanford, owner. Aucoin's offers live Cajun music every Friday and Saturday night and serves gumbo, steaks, boiled crawfish, crabs, all seafood and lots more! (formerly Harris’ Seafood – Harris and Susie O’Blanc, owner)
Churches
First Baptist Church, 7718 E Highway 14Faith Christian Fellowship, 7769 Georgia Avenue
Hayes Full Gospel, 7683 Highway 14
Cemeteries
Hayes Cemetery- oldest known grave-site Thomas Hayes 1809-1870
Lorrain-Derouen Cemetery
- oldest known grave-site Natalie Derouen 08 Mar 1824 - 15 Mar 1868