Tour groups from area schools and communities visiting the LSUS Pioneer Heritage Center will soon have a way to beat the Louisiana heat.
The PHC broke ground on the Rotary Club of South Shreveport Centennial Pavilion on Friday.
The Pavilion, which will sit behind the General Store on the Pioneer Heritage Center grounds, will provide shade and fans for groups to enjoy lunch and other activities on the grounds.
“We welcome thousands of school kids each year to learn about the history of Northwest Louisiana by touring our seven historic buildings,” said Marty Young, Pioneer Heritage Center director. “This is going to be a great addition for us because it’s going to allow our tour groups to eat lunch here after their tours.
“We can also do some summer programming outdoors, have a recreational area, and allow student and community organizations to come over and hold meetings and events. We expect this to drive more traffic through our gates.”
The Pavilion came into existence as the Rotary Club of South Shreveport looked for a project to celebrate its 100th anniversary, which will occur this coming April.
The pavilion, which will encompass nearly 600 square feet, is expected to be completed by March.
Chapter president Bob Molloy said the idea came after Young delivered a presentation about how pioneers celebrated Christmas this past December.
“We first asked about historic buildings we could add to the Pioneer Heritage Center, but that was going to be cost prohibitive,” Molloy told the crowd of about 60 gathered for the groundbreaking. “But there was another Rotary Club that celebrated their 100th anniversary with a pavilion, and everybody agreed that it would fit perfectly for what the Center needs.
“We’re ecstatic that we can celebrate our anniversary this way and provide something that will benefit the Center and its visitors.”
The $90,000 pavilion is made possible because of the initial gift from the Rotary Club of South Shreveport along with additional funds from the LSUS Foundation and the PHC.
“This is truly a beautiful area of campus, and with the pavilion addition, it will be incredibly exciting for not only our campus but those visiting here,” Perdue said. “We have one mission, and that’s to support LSUS.
“This was an easy yes for us. The Rotary Club of South Shreveport could have chosen a number of different projects from all over the community to celebrate this milestone, and you chose LSUS.”
LSUS Chancellor Dr. Robert Smith said while the university’s primary mission is to prepare college students for their futures, education in all forms and facets is a focus.
“The Pioneer Heritage Center is such a great resource for the community because we can show people what this part of the country is like,” Smith said. “Marty brings in groups of school children throughout the entire year, and we’re really proud to have that as part of our mission at LSU Shreveport.”
Dignitaries donned LSUS hard hats and turned over dirt with golden shovels, but Young put a pioneer spin on the groundbreaking as well.
Using nails he forged in the log blacksmith shop, officials participated in a “nail driving,” a tradition when new buildings are raised.
His hand-wrought nails will be part of the pavilion’s structure.
The pavilion will also honor Samuel III and Bobbie Hicks, community pillars through many endeavors across Shreveport-Bossier and huge supporters of the Pioneer Heritage Center and its annual fundraiser luncheon “Authors in April.”
The Bobbie C. Hicks Super Professorship helps cover venue and speaker costs for the luncheon.
The Pavilion will mark the eighth historic structure that sits on the Pioneer Heritage Center grounds near the East Kings Highway entrance to campus.
The Pavilion will join the Thrasher House (log dogtrot cabin), the Caspiana House, a detached kitchen, a log single pen blacksmith shop, a doctor’s office, a general store, and a riverfront mission.
While tours can be scheduled via appointment, the gates fling wide open each year for Pioneer Day, which will occur Oct. 24 this year from 10-3 p.m.