Original newspaper manuscript submitted 2008-12-11. newspaper issue date not recorded here. Historical statements remain the author’s period account; Natchitoches Preservation Network links now use the revived Ning address.
Back in my journalism school days, I was taught that the word “unique” was overused to the point of meaninglessness. But it’s hard to think of a word more fitting for the old Kisatchie School in the southern part of Natchitoches parish. There’s simply nothing else like it in this area. Which makes this column bittersweet to write.
After years of struggling to raise funds for the school’s restoration, the Kisatchie Community Center group is realizing that today’s economy means no white knight will be coming to the building’s rescue. Not in time anyway. Given the structure’s size and rate of deterioration, it would need an army of them at this point.
Documentation as a Preservation Strategy
But there’s still some hope for Kisatchie School, and it lies in the power of every person reading this column.
Tamara Miller is the graduate student in NSU’s Masters of Heritage Resources program who has taken on documenting the building for her thesis project. She has done everything from cataloging architectural features to conducting oral histories with the school’s alumni. But there’s still much more to do to gain a complete picture of the building before we lose it.
A group has been created on the Natchitoches Preservation Network website called “Kisatchie Community Documentation Project.” There, you can find photos, research documents, information about what’s being done, and what’s still to do. If you’d like to join the cause or just monitor what’s being done, visit www.natchitochespreservation.ning.com and sign up for the group.
An Invitation to Contribute
You don’t necessarily need to go down to Kisatchie to help with the effort. Five hours of your time in the Cammie Henry archives might uncover a new reference to the building in an old newspaper or book. Or, you may be able to fill in some genealogical gaps from old yearbooks. Any effort is appreciated.
The building is located at the juncture of highways 117 and 118 in the Kisatchie Community. Just to clarify, no one should be going into the building without Tamara or a representative from the Kisatchie Community organization. It’s in a dangerous state of disrepair.
If you’re someone who cares about our history or preservation, this is a project worthy of your time. Consider it a goodwill gesture this holiday season. You may even learn something.
And if there’s a white knight out there reading this that can help save one of Natchitoches’ most historically significant treasures, we’re all ears!
What Remains
The 2008 call to document Kisatchie School was not the end of the preservation story. The school gained listing on the National Register of Historic Places in October 2022, recognizing its importance to rural education and the Kisatchie community. A rehabilitation feasibility study was prepared in 2023, documenting possibilities for renewed use rather than treating loss as inevitable. Those are substantial developments since the original appeal, although they do not establish that full restoration has been completed. National Register coverage (2024) · Rehabilitation feasibility study (2023).
Updated October 2026
Supporting Documents & SourcesView related reporting & supporting materials
| Related article | MAHR students document regional heritage |
|---|---|
| Related article | Kisatchie School in the preservation wish list |
Article Catalog CardView the manuscript record, provenance & surviving materials
| Artifact | Original newspaper manuscript. |
|---|---|
| Period | 2008-12-11 submission. |
| Institution | Natchitoches Times and Natchitoches Preservation Network. |
| Role | Columnist, interviewer, cultural heritage communicator. |
| Evidence | Original dated email submission. |
| Status | Archival restoration; newspaper print evidence not yet verified. |
Critical Questions + Add to the Record
Application here: The appeal to document Kisatchie School demonstrates that saving a building and preserving the knowledge associated with it are related but different responsibilities.
Know something that adds context, documentation, correction, or firsthand knowledge to this record? Keep this page open and copy its URL into the contribution form.
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