Rivers and Creeks

While Georgetown, Louisiana lacks a Wal-Mart and
McDonalds, Kisatchie National Forest is next door so
outdoor activities are plentiful. Fishing, hunting,
swimming are all minutes away. The first day of deer
season was considered an excused absence when I
was in high school, but only if you went hunting. The
following photos were taken on the same day following
several days of rain, so the water is high and muddy.

Bayou Bill
















Fish Creek is a meandering, spring-fed source of
recreation south of town. This is "Iron Bridge," a small,
shallow swimming hole where Elizabeth Barrett taught
me how to swim. A modern, safe, dull bridge has
replaced the old structure and it's intricate iron girders.

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Several miles upstream from "Iron Bridge" was the
"Kent Hole," considered the spot of choice by teenagers.
Located in a sharp, "L" shaped bend, it featured high
bluffs on one side, a small sandy beach on the other and
a rope swing for showing off. Several years ago the bluff
collapsed. The photo was taken facing upstream from
the bluff area.

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North of town is Little River. Way back when, this
river was a poster child for pollution. It is now
much cleaner. This shot was taken from the old
bridge facing downstream toward the "new"
US 165 bridge. In this case, "new" is a relative
term since the bridge was built in the mid '50's.
Georgetown is a couple miles to the right in this
photoe, while Tullos is about the same distance to
the left. A large lumber mill was located on the
right side of the river. There are accounts of
small steamboars navigating this far upstream.

Kisatchie National Forest

Images of Kisatchie National Forest

Those who grow up in the Georgetown-Tullos area take having a national forest next door as a matter of course. There comes a time when we realize not everyone is blessed with so much nature around them, but usually years after Santa Claus has been unbearded. A friend who lived across the street from me used to wake up early to go squirrel hunting behind his house. He always got home in time to clean both himself and the squirrels, and be ready to catch the school bus. On my side of the street, I'd wake up just in time to catch the same bus. Maybe that's why he became a general and I, well, let's just say, I didn't.

Bill Fullerton

Tullos, the Blues, and Junior's Juke Joint

The following photos and captions come from, Why Junior Loves the Blues, one of many great articles in, JUNIOR'S JUKE JOINT, http://www.deltablues.net/ the award-winning blues site of Tullos native and my friend, Junior Doughty.

Junior's Juke Joint is the sort of place where inquiring minds can learn the difference between a juke joint and a honky-tonk, what it's like to be in a bar shoot-out or a Druid wedding, the how-to's of bootlegging, why Nellie Jackson's wasn't listed on the Natchez tour of homes, plus a world of information on the blues, blues musicians, blues joints, and other things vital to a well-rounded education.

In the immortal words of Mr. T, I pity the poor fool who doesn't check it out.

Bayou Bill











Looking northward at the west side of downtown Tullos. The white steeple of the First Baptist Church pokes skyward in the far background. The now-roof-less building just beyond the pickup truck was Aaron Ashley's Western Auto Store. Just this side of the tree in the center once stood Monroe Masters's Bar. The bar's 1-hole outdoor toilet stood behind the bar. Just beneath the toilet's seat was the 6-inch casing of an abandoned oil well. I figure there's lots of coins, watches, jewelry, and even a few wallets located about 1,500 feet straight down.

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Looking northward at the east side of downtown Tullos. From front to back you see (1) the rubble of Russell's Dry Goods; (2) Jimmie Bardin's Pool Hall; (3) Ott Milam's Drug Store; (4) Martin's Dry Goods; (5) the white front of Huffman's Hardware; and, (6) the edge of Jack Jarvis's Pool Hall. Huffman's Hardware, now a church activity center, is the only building in use. The roof-less rear of Russell's Dry Goods contains shelves and racks filled with rotted clothing.

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This shut-down oil well, located in weeds about 100 yds from the Tullos Town Hall, once belonged to my father. Today, it would probably make about 1 barrel of oil a day, which would barely pay the electricity bill.

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Here's the remains of Moore's Bar. It's about to fall down. Amos and Clara Moore, dead now for several years, lived in a house to the right of the bar. On Sundays and from a closet in their living room, they bootlegged beer and pints and fifths of Old Charter and Old Crow whiskey. I think the thirsty ghost of Hank Williams sometimes glides through one of those broken plate glass windows.