By Jessica Gorman 

A couple weeks ago, we took a look at a lake that was almost built just north of Highway 79 along Cooley Creek before the plan changed and that lake was moved north of Minden on Caney Creek. 

In January 1936, the opening of the Land Utilization Department offices in Minden renewed hope that the lake would be built. Over 100 men were employed to clear the site for the new lake, but the project was not without its obstacles. Farmers living in the area had applied for assistance from the Resettlement Administration. The objective of resettlement was to provide struggling farmers with the opportunity to move to more productive land. This land had to first be obtained by the government, but those purchases had become more difficult than anticipated due to the oil and gas activity in the area. Landowners were, of course, wary of selling land that may prove to be valuable in the way of minerals. 

Mr. Fritz Spencer expressed his concerns to the Minden Lions Club. 

“The land situation has changed in the past year,” stated Mr. Spencer in his talk. “A few years ago, Webster Parish land could be bought for a song. Now the land is either leased for minerals, or not suitable for resettlement.”  

Mr. Spencer stressed the importance of providing farmers with property that would give them the best advantages for farming. 

“I don’t want to just ‘move’ a family,” said Mr. Spencer. “What I want to do is find land that these persons may be able to make a living on.” 

To encourage landowners to offer their land to the program, changes were implemented making land with mineral deeds eligible.  

Work continued on the lake project. Over 300 workers had been employed to convert more than 500 acres of land that had suffered the effects of erosion into a lake whose primary purpose was the conservation of water. A sawmill had been constructed and timber from the site was milled for use in constructing a recreation hall and cabins. Sand for the beach was taken from an onsite gravel pit. New roads were constructed along the north and west sides of the site. Work was expected to be complete by the following June. 

By January 1937, the upper dam had been completed and the spillway only lacked concrete. Heavy rain filled the lake to a depth of 11 feet in some places. In March, C.C. Barnard, an engineer on the project, put the first sailboat in Webster Parish into use on the lake. Work on the lower dam began the following month and by July, the lower spillway was ready for concrete. It was expected that the coming autumn rains would help to fill the lakes. The upper lake was soon stocked with bass and trout from the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries at Natchitoches.  

In the beginning, the lake was referred to by names such as the Resettlement Lake or the Government Lake. In May 1938, the public was invited to submit their suggestions for a permanent name. I have yet to find any follow-up information concerning submissions, but as we know, the lake was ultimately named for Caney Creek. 

On Labor Day 1939, Caney Lake officially opened to the public. Over 3000 visitors were reported during the first few days. The site offered four different cabin types, a recreation hall, swimming, fishing, boat rental, bath house, concessions, and the sale of fuel and bait. The lake quickly became a popular destination for company parties, church outings, picnics, campouts, family reunions, and more.  

(Jessica Gorman is Executive Director of the Dorcheat Historical Association Museum, Webster Parish Historian, and an avid genealogist.)