National Register of Historic Places

DeRidder USO Building

DeRidder, Beauregard County, Louisiana
Listed
February 25, 1992
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
92000037

About this property

The DeRidder USO was built in 1941 for the same reasons as all other United Service Organizations; to provide a relaxing atmosphere to members of the armed forces. The building is located at 250 Seventh Street and is across the street from the present day Beauregard Memorial Hospital. The DeRidder USO building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 25, 1992. The DeRidder USO opened November 28, 1941, was accepted by the United Service Organization on December 1, 1941, and served permanent party and visitor members of the armed services of the United States from DeRidder Army Air Base, as well as Camp Polk. More than 500 USO's were built for our service men during World War II and some in foreign lands. What sets this one apart is that it was the first USO not built on a military reservation and built specifically for, and donated to, the USO. The second USO in Galveston opened 24 hours later. Civic Center records show that 89,000 soldiers visited the DeRidder USO, 15,000 had showers, and 27,000 saw movies during the time it was an active USO. The building now serves as the community Civic Center for Beauregard Parish. Plaques commemorating Generals Bradley, Mark Clark, Eisenhower, Marshall and Patton, along with their pictures, hang on the walls near the entrances of meeting halls named in their honor. Fort Johnson or Louisiana does not have a USO at this time. The museum also boasts a Norden bombsight, a very rare item. Bay City USO Building, Bay City, Texas, also NRHP-listed East Sixth Street USO Building, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, also NRHP-listed Hawthorne USO Building, Hawthorne, Nevada, also NRHP-listed

Location

DeRidder, Beauregard County, Louisiana
30.84071, -93.28837

Categories

MILITARY
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

Hudson River Lumber Company General Manager's House
Industrial
0.3 mi
Toy House
Industrial
0.4 mi
Sills House
Industrial
0.4 mi
Beauregard Parish Jail
Industrial
0.4 mi
Beauregard Parish Courthouse
Industrial
0.4 mi

Questions about this property

When was DeRidder USO Building listed on the National Register?

DeRidder USO Building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 25, 1992.

What type of historic resource is DeRidder USO Building?

DeRidder USO Building is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for DeRidder USO Building?

The period of significance for DeRidder USO Building is recorded as the industrial era, specifically around 1941.

Can I research the history near DeRidder USO Building?

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