Editing Olla, Louisiana (section)

==History==
The Town of Olla is the oldest incorporated town in LaSalle Parish. Settled prior to the [[American Civil War]], the town of Olla was known as Castor Sulfur Springs, and a steamboat port on nearby [[Castor Creek (Little River tributary)|Bayou Castor]] was its original site. The area had a post office, general store, hotel, spa, and a dry goods and cotton storage facility.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thejenatimes.net|title=The Jena Times}}</ref>

Naturally-occurring sulfur muds and spring water made Castor Sulfur Springs a nationally known "health spa".{{citation needed|date=December 2021}}

In 1890, the Olla Military Institute, a private [[military school]] was established. The first faculty members consisted of Riley J. Wilson, Ms. Olla Mills, John Paul Jones, Missy Robertson, Rev. Elijah Bryant, and Bell Murphy. The school flourished for several years until 1899, when a fire destroyed the campus. At this time, a [[state school|public school]], Olla High School, was constructed to serve the towns of Olla and Standard. In 1950, Olla, Urania, and Tullos High Schools closed, and consolidated as LaSalle High School. The Olla Elementary School now sits at the former site of the Olla Military Institute and Olla High School.{{cn|date=March 2025}}

In 1891, the [[Louisiana railroads|Houston, Central Arkansas, and Northern Railroad]] came to what was then northwest [[Catahoula Parish]] and bought a 200-foot-wide right-of-way over which it would construct a railroad more than a mile away from Castor Sulfur Springs. Community leaders were faced with the possibility that their town would be cut off and decided that a railroad station must be constructed for passenger and commercial services to ensure the survival of Castor Sulfur Springs. Dr. Frank Mills, with the assistance of Mr. J.D. Adams, set aside 40 acres of land for a station and town-site. This transaction was recorded on February 9, 1891. When the new site was chosen and incorporation paperwork was submitted naming the new community “New Castor Sulfur Springs”, their request was denied.{{cn|date=March 2025}}

The legislature was not accepting new municipalities named in reference to springs, rivers, bayous, or creeks to avoid duplication and confusion. New Lebanon was considered as well as many [[Greeks|Greek]] and [[Biblical]] names, which were very popular at the time. After much debate, it was decided that the relocated community should be named for Olla Mills, daughter of Dr. Frank Mills and sister of Judge W.H. Mills, who were residents of Castor Sulfur Springs for many years. Ms. Mills was an accomplished, attractive, and popular young lady who was dramatically inclined and took part in all constructive community activities, who served with distinction as the head of the Olla Military Institute's English department. Miss Olla Mills, who later became Mrs. CC Young, died in 1901 and is buried in the Olla Cemetery.{{cn|date=March 2025}}

The Town of Olla was officially incorporated on August 1, 1899, with Dr. William V. Taylor III as its first mayor. In 1906, the Zeagler Family established and erected the Olla State Bank as the cornerstone of the downtown. Built in [[Romanesque Revival]] style, the bank's structure is said to be influenced by [[Louisiana]] native and architect [[Henry Hobson Richardson]]. The Olla State Bank served Olla and the surrounding region throughout the [[Great Depression]] until its merger with Southern Heritage Bank in 1980s. The Ernest Gray Gang as well as The Jimmy Yarrell Gang held up the bank in the 1930s.{{cn|date=March 2025}}

Olla is also the location of the only train holdup in Louisiana history. In August 1900, unknown bandits built a fire on the tracks north of Olla and forced the train to stop. The group then boarded and ordered the conductor to disconnect the mail and express cars from the train. The express safe was cracked, but the expected big money shipment from [[St. Louis, Missouri]] to [[New Orleans]] was not aboard. The robbers got away with less than $50.{{cn|date=March 2025}}

Near the site of the former Olla Military Institute, B.E. Zeagler of Olla and L.C. Nunn of [[Columbia, Louisiana]] organized and constructed the North Central Louisiana Fair or Carnival fair barns, and an equine racetrack stadium in 1912. Since its inception, the open space has served the parishes of [[La Salle Parish, Louisiana|La Salle]], [[Winn Parish, Louisiana|Winn]], [[Grant Parish, Louisiana|Grant]], and [[Caldwell Parish, Louisiana|Caldwell]], and it is now called the Olla Fairgrounds. Still host to an annual event every fall, it is one of the oldest continuously running fairs or carnivals in the United States. The fairgrounds also contains a modern rodeo arena that hosts the Olla Rodeo, sponsored by the local [[Kiwanis International]] club, annually.{{cn|date=March 2025}}

In 1910, the [[state of Louisiana]] split [[Catahoula Parish]] in half. The western half where the Town of Olla is situated became [[La Salle Parish]], named for French explorer [[René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle]]. An immediate struggle developed between the towns of Olla and [[Jena, Louisiana|Jena]] over the location of the parish courthouse. Jena was subsequently chosen as the La Salle parish seat because of its central location. Even without the prestige of being the parish seat, the early 20th century brought many changes to the Town of Olla. Olla's economy grew with the success of two large sawmills in the area – [[Henry E. Hardtner|Urania Lumber Company]] to the south and Louisiana Central Lumber Company located to the north, in Standard. Mr. G.W. McCartney purchased a dynamo to bring electric lights to Olla. Residences were also piped with natural gas. The town took another step forward when Mr. Sam Shamblin opened a silent movie house. The Community Talking Picture Company of [[Shreveport]] sold Olla its first talking movies, and later a more modern theater was erected.{{cn|date=March 2025}}

Known for its excellent ground water, Olla was the site of the Olla Bottling Works. During the 1920s and 1930s, the Olla Bottling Works made and distributed numerous flavored carbonated beverages including [[NuGrape]] Soda. The Olla Bottling Works was purchased by a firm in [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]] and eventually merged with the Coca-Cola Bottling Company.{{cn|date=March 2025}}

The [[Southern Baptist]] encampment and the [[Civilian Conservation Corps]] Camp activities also left their mark on Olla. Each year Baptist campers gathered for two weeks of religious instruction, preaching, and recreation. The CCC Camp occupied the same facilities the remainder of the year, and the area is still crossed with public and private roads built by the CCC. Olla is also the site of Camp Olla, an annual [[Pentecostal]] summer camp, retreat, and hurricane evacuation shelter.{{cn|date=March 2025}}

In 1938, oil was discovered just outside Olla's boundaries. This was a tremendous boost for the local economy because the large sawmills had begun to slow production. The Olla Oil Field brought a fresh influx of people and is large producer of light sweet crude and [[natural gas]].{{cn|date=March 2025}}

On [[Tornado outbreak of November 22–24, 2004|November 23, 2004]], a [[tornado]] that reached F3 strength tore through parts of the town, destroying or damaging a large portion of the buildings, including LaSalle High School. Classes were held in an abandoned sportswear factory, known as Holloway Sportswear, until a new high school was constructed. In 2005, the town played host to many evacuees from Hurricanes [[Hurricane Katrina|Katrina]] and [[Hurricane Rita|Rita]].{{cn|date=March 2025}}