April 5th found us spending 2 nights near Minden,
Louisiana at the Beaver Dam campground in the Caney Lakes Recreation Area of
the Kisatchie National Forest, the only National Forest in Louisiana. Its
604,000 acres are spread over five Ranger Districts from central to north
Louisiana.
We had a nice campsite on Caney Lake, but severe
thunderstorms and tornado watches kept us from exploring the forest. We were,
however, able to visit the “Germantown Colony and Museum”.
Here is a quote from the web:
“The Germantown Colony was founded by a group of Germans who
originally belonged to the utopian Harmony Society but took issue with the
society’s demand for celibacy. So a fraction of members led by their
charismatic leader, Bernhard Müller aka the “Count de Leon,” splintered off and
went to form their own slice of religious paradise.”
You can read more about Count de Leon and the history of the
colony here:
If you look closely at the cabins you will notice there isn't any "chinking" between the logs. These spaces were covered from the inside with boards on leather hinges. During the hot Louisiana summers these boards could be lifted up to allow circulation. Most of the leather hinges have rotted away long ago and the boards are now nailed in place.
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| Campsite on Caney Lake |
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| View of museum from colony |
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| Our guide and painting of Count de Leon |
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| Museum |
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| Museum |
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| Museum |
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| Museum |
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| View of colony from museum building |
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| The original well is lined with field stones and still has water |
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| Inside the home of Countess de Leon |
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| Exterior of Countess de Leon house |
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| Communal kitchen |
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| Communal kitchen |
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| Communal kitchen |
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| Bell for calling the faithful |
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| Typical rope strung bed |
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| Blacksmith shop |
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| Many of the people form the colony were born in Germany |
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