Friends of DeRidder Elementary

Mission

The mission of Friends of Historic DeRidder Elementary, Inc. is to restore and revitalize the DeRidder Elementary School to provide a location for Educational, Cultural and Technological activities for the community and to preserve the architectural integrity of the building.

Old School

The former DeRidder Elementary School, or as some call it "the Old First Street School," is a handsome building at the corner of North Pine and First Streets in DeRidder.

Completed in 1940 at the original cost of $100,000 the school housed first through sixth grade classrooms and it was later expanded to include two more classrooms wings and an 1,100 seating capacity auditorium with stage and orchestra pit, dressing room, projection room and balcony.

The two story red building is known as the only art Deco school in the area and is considered to be historically significant.

DeRidder Elementary ended its last class the spring of 1980.

More details on the history of DeRidder Elementary can be obtained by contacting Pat Morris at 463- 5962 or E-mail "Friends" at: friendsd@hotmail.com

Meetings

"Friends" meet the first Monday of each month at 6:00 p.m. in the old principal's office at the school.

All meetings are open to the public.

For more information E-mail Friends at friendsd@hotmail.com