The James family arrived in Bienville Parish in the late 1800s and settled first on land that I-20 now cuts a path through. Land belonging to Robert James covered hundreds of acres of prime forest and pastureland and is now the area where the relocated Parish Courthouse, auto plex and various gas stations/convenience stores sit.
Over the years, most of the James family moved out of the state and most of the land was sold. The remaining James heir resides in the historic James House in Arcadia.
Douglas C. James is the last James and has lived in Arcadia for over 50 plus years. He inherited the James house after the passing of his father and mother. He and his wife, Suzanne have worked tirelessly to renovate and return the Southern Craftsman Cottage to its original state. It has taken over fifteen years to complete, and now Douglas has retired and is ready to enjoy the next chapter in life .
The James House is a classic example of the style of architecture that is rare in the area.
The home is an eclectic blend of English Tudor Revival and the American Craftsman Cottage.
The elements of the Tudor Revival are evidenced in the steep pitched roof and entrance alcove that frame the round top Craftsman solid oak door with custom round top screen door with original hardware. With the original door and screen is an original carriage house exterior porch light. Supporting the entire house is a pier beam structure - not seen any more in modern homes. Hewn from hardwood logs and set in place on brick and concrete pillars, the home is solidly set in place.
Floors are double overlay with floor and sub-floor structures. The rooms are constructed with thick full hardwood 2 x 4s and planked walls with half-inch sheetrock and are wall-papered throughout.
There are ten-foot clapboard ceilings throughout the home. The additions added on in the mid-1950s that was a bathroom, and large bedroom/or den over the original garage. In the 1960s aluminum tin was added and aluminum windows were added in each room. The exterior doors to the side entrance are an original half multi-glass framed solid-oak door. All interior doors have original cut-glass doorknobs, with the exception of the front door that has a modern key entry.
Added in 2018, a wraparound wood decking porch and side pergola suitable for outdoor living or container gardening. In 2018 the large pin oak tree was removed. The yard now receives warm sunlight all year long and the oak tree now supplies kindling wood to the wood-burning fireplace that can easily be converted into natural gas log-fireplace.
The home is easily heated by natural gas wall units and cooled in the summer by window a/c units. If you're looking to escape frigid temperatures, waist-deep snow, or the dry desert-like conditions of the far west, you'll enjoy the mild weather of Louisiana, with longer warm months and a short cold weather season that might have a few mornings of heavy frost. To have snow in any significant amounts is a rare event and most businesses and schools close until the next day or the sun emerges, and things return to normal.
This area is a gardener's dream! Grow tomatoes in a traditional garden well into mid-October and begin setting your spring flowers in February and early March! There is little or no water rationing and even during the hottest part of the summer, you will be able to easily sustain your garden. Collection of rainwater is not necessary unless you prefer to conserve.
Louisiana receives a lot of rain! If you're from an area where you do not see many rain showers, prepare to be amazed! When it rains -- it will seem biblical! Not to worry, North Louisiana is well prepared for the summer showers, prodigious thunderstorms.
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