Natchitoches was established in 1714 by Louis Juchereau de St. Denis. It is the oldest permanent settlement within the borders of the Louisiana Purchase. Natchitoches was set on fire by Union soldiers who retreated through the town after their failed attempt to capture Shreveport. Confederate cavalry pursued the fleeing soldiers and arrived in time to help extinguish the flames before the town was destroyed.
On a sad note, Natchitoches was the site of the 1973 plane crash that claimed the life of Jim Croce. Croce had performed a concert on campus for Northwestern State University students at Prather Coliseum, but was killed less than an hour later in a plane crash headed to Sherman, Texas. The pilot may have suffered a fatal heart attack.
After a very filling lunch at Mama's, we wandered around the town a little while taking in the sights and headed back to the airport. When we arrived, we saw a very pretty clipped-wing Taylorcraft and talked to the owner for awhile.
Soon we were fueled up and headed home, to the West, into a setting sun on a very hazy day. Not the best part of the day, but the overall day was awesome. Great time with great friends.
Jack "Back in Texas" Fleetwood
