By Jessica Gorman
Monday night’s Night at the Museum program featured Shed Road. That road was once literally covered by a shed constructed through the efforts of Judge John D. Watkins of Minden. The question was asked about whether Judge Watkins house was still in existence and as others answered, I became aware that there was some confusion about just which Watkins had lived in the house that stands at the corner of College and Richardson Streets, next to Minden High School.
Born in 1828, John Dyer Watkins came to Minden around 1850 taking the position of president of the Minden Male Academy. Of his five known children, only two lived to adulthood. These two sons were Lynn Kyle and John Thomas and both followed in their father’s footsteps becoming attorneys and judges.
So, who lived in the house on College Street? The elder Judge Watkins died in 1895, eight years before the house was built by his son, Lynn Kyle, in 1903. In April of that year, L.K. Watkins was in New Orleans arguing a case before the Louisiana Supreme Court when he received a telegram conveying the news that his home in Minden had burned. The New Orleans States praised his ability to continue in his duties despite the distressing situation.
Watkins had two cases that had been appeal to the Court. He left for New Orleans on the night of April 13th, a Monday. His wife, Gussie, had given birth to their fourth child, a daughter named Lynella, just two weeks before. Gussie and the couple’s seven-year-old daughter, Flora Glenn, were both ill at the time of Mr. Watkins departure.
On Tuesday morning, L.K. Watkins received a telegram from Gussie with the good news that Flora Glenn’s fever had broken, but his relief was to be short-lived. Unbeknownst to him, at about 10:30am, fire broke out in the Watkins home. It was suspected that the fire was started by a chimney and went unnoticed until it was too late. The home was a total loss.
Mr. Watkins was arguing a case when the news reached him by telegram. Reportedly, it only said that his home had burned with no word on his wife and children. He maintained his composure as he continued arguments and as he finished, word came that Gussie and their children were safe. L.K. took the first train back to Minden.
No time was wasted in building a new home for the Watkins family. Several months later, “the elegant home of Mr. and Mrs. L.K. Watkins was thrown open on New Year’s night when Miss Carrie Hightower entertained at a leap year party. This commodious and beautifully furnished house is especially adapted for entertaining, the entire lower floor being thrown into one.” This house is the Watkins House we are familiar with today on College Street next to Minden High School.
Another Watkins house once stood just down the street. The home of Judge, and U.S. Congressman, John T. Watkins was on the site now occupied by the Minden Church of Christ. That house was said to have been built in the 1880’s. When the L.K. Watkins home burned, Gussie Watkins and the children were brought to John T.’s house. Congressman Watkins died in 1925. His daughter, Melle Hays, inherited the house. By January 1942, it had been converted into apartments and housed four families. On the afternoon of January 8th, a water heater on the back porch exploded, setting fire to the house. It was a total loss.
Hopefully, that helps to clear up some of the confusion about the Watkins House, one of Minden’s landmarks listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
(Jessica Gorman is Executive Director of the Dorcheat Historical Association Museum, Webster Parish Historian, President of the Minden Cemetery Association, and an avid genealogist.)