Eva Stewart Frazar and early DeRidder
According to Eva Stewart Frazar, whose family came to DeRidder near the turn of the century, "The largest pine in the world grew where DeRidder now stands - or so it is claimed by timber men who knew."
About the origin of the town, she says, "... the Kansas City railroad was built from Kansas City to Port Arthur - and came right through here about 1896. By 1898, the trains were running. The post-office was named Miersburg for the postmaster whose name was Miers. The railroad workers had used this spot for a camping place for the workmen - and people wanted to get near the railroad - so 160 acres (0.65 km2) of land was bought for the town site.”
"Immediately following the purchase of the town site, a ramble of rough houses were hurriedly built out of rough lumber... By 1898, the town consisted of nearly 300 people and a number of shack homes and a sawmill. C. Landry and Mr. George Heard had a hotel. There were about five small stores, besides. West Brothers had a Rouss Racket store on the east side of the track."
By this time DeRidder had a sawmill, and timber was the prime industry of the area. The Longleaf Pine was the primary tree used in the industry. In 1903, DeRidder was finally incorporated as a town.
