As I may have mentioned before, the Logan Mansion was built in 1897 by Lafayette Robert Logan, who was a beer and ice manufacturer. He displayed his wealth in every facet of his home which was designed by Shreveport architect, Nathaniel Sykes Allen. Adolphus Busch frequently visited Mr. Logan at his home when he would come to inspect the brewery in Shreveport. Mr. & Mrs. Logan did not have any children and when they passed away, the house was sold. Mr. Logan died in 1919 at the age of 74 and is buried in Oakland Cemetery, which can be seen from the house.
The house was sold in the same year to Wade Emerson Hampton, a conductor for the Kansas City Southern Rail Road. In 1918, Hampton had invented a drill bit that he sold to the oil industry for $100,000. He was lucky to be able to provide such a grand home for his wife and eight children. In 1926, he lost his fortune, most likely to his gambling addiction. Mr. Hampton participated in cock fighting and kept numerous chickens in the back yard. He abruptly dismissed his servants in 1926 and opened up the house as a boarding home to Mrs. Hampton's dismay. The 5,000 square foot home provided sanctuary to many families. Even the attic was used as living space for single female teachers. In the 1930's a young girl around 8 years old, one of the boarders, fell from the attic window to her death. When Wade Hampton died in 1952, the family sold the home to the church that sat behind the house.
The church used the house for various things including a homeless shelter and thrift shop for the next 20 years. It was in bad shape by the time the church was finished with it as they were unable to make necessary repairs. The owner of the car dealership next door had petitioned the city to tear the building down so that he could build a used car lot on the property. Jim Reeder bought the property in order to save it from demolition. The mansion then housed the KCOZ radio station and remained a radio station until 1999.
The house then sat vacant for six years. Vicki LeBrun longed for an old Victorian house, frequently stopping at the Logan mansion and peering in through the windows. She never dreamed that she would one day own the house, but in 2005, she and her husband, Billy, saw their dream come true. They had to renovate every room. It took many years as the LeBruns did most of the work themselves, but they persevered and were able to bring new life to the old house. Mrs. LeBrun has devoted herself to preserving not only the house, but it's history. In the foyer is a hauntingly beautiful drawing of the house that is on loan from one of the Hampton's great granddaughters. The picture was drawn/painted in 1899, two years after the house was built.
I wasn't able to find any photos of the Logans.
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| Wade Emerson Hampton |
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| Jim Reeder |
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| Vicki LeBrun |
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