Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

Place Covered: Lake Charles, Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 2010-04-09

Duration: 00:08:58

Subjects: History | FIRES | Great Fire, Lake Charles, La., 1910

Contributors:

• Whinham, Charlie Host
• Sanford, Shauna Host
• Whinham, Charlie Producer
• Woods, Virnado Photographer
• Gill, Linda Interviewee
• Gorham, Annabella Interviewee
• Doiron, Henry Interviewee
• Cormier, Adley Interviewee

This segment from the April 9, 2010, episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” features Charlie Whinham’s look back at the Lake Charles Great Fire of 1910. Whinham reports that the fire destroyed 109 buildings in downtown Lake Charles and left 5,000 people homeless. He interviews historian Linda Gill, who discusses the origin of the fire at the opera house, the path of the fire, and the efforts of the 100 people who helped fight the fire. Whinham also talks to Lake Charles residents Annabella Gorham and Henry Doiron about their families’ personal experiences of the fire. Lastly, Whinham interviews Adley Cormier of the Calcasieu Historic Society, who discusses the rebuilding of the city following the fire. Hosts: Charlie Whinham and Shauna Sanford