Abandoned Louisiana: The Village of Lettsworth

February 18, 2022

At a location where the Kansas City Southern Railroad crosses Louisiana Highway 1 on the polar opposite side of the Mississippi River from the infamous Angola maximum security prison farm lies many dilapidated structures that once comprised the Village of Lettsworth. As it sits Lettsworth isn't much to look at, just a group of rotting structures along the railroad tracks, and it's not a rare site here in Louisiana. There a numerous ghost towns all over the state. The only thing that makes this town different from the others is that one of the greatest Blues guitarists of all-time was born here. That's right, legendary musician Buddy Guy was sat on the steps of the structure above and strummed on a guitar he made himself honing the skills that would one day make him famous around the world.

The Facts:

Lettsworth is an unincorporated community located in the extreme northern tip of Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana, United States. It lies on the east bank of the Atchafalaya River near its intersection with the Mississippi and Red rivers at the Old River Control Structure. As of 2005, the population is 202. The town's zip code is 70753.

Blues musician Buddy Guy was born in Lettsworth in 1936. The father of journalist Howard K. Smith was originally from Lettsworth.

On the northern end of Lettsworth, bordering the Atchafalaya River, is White Hall Plantation House, an 1840s antebellum structure designed by architect Henry Howard, and once the home of state senator Bennet Barton Simmes (1811-1888), founder of the river town of Simmesport on the opposite bank of the river.

Buddy Guy:

Buddy Guy was born on July 30, 1936, in Lettsworth, Louisiana. At 7 years old, he made a guitar and taught himself to play. Muddy Waters discovered Guy while playing at clubs in Chicago, and helped him find work at the 708 Club. Guy recorded hits from the 1960s through the '80s. In 2003, he released his first acoustic blues album.