Program

Legends & Lore®

Subject

Legend

Location

628 N Railroad Ave, Merryville, LA 70653, USA

Lat/Long

30.7542495, -93.5416399

Grant Recipient

Merryville Historical Society and Museum

Charles Smith was believed to be the name (or alias) of a hired gunman nicknamed “Leather Britches”. While stories about him often conflict depending on the source, one is that Smith was hired to protect labor activists during a strike against non-union mill workers at Galloway Lumber Co. Others saw him as nothing more than an outlaw and troublemaker. During the strike gunfire broke out, leading to several deaths including that of Smith. Some say it was an ambush. Others pointed fingers at Smith. Merryville residents were sharply divided, as evident in their treatment of Smith upon his death. Some wanted him buried in the local cemetery while others did not. It is believed they reached a compromise when Smith was buried on the edge of the cemetery, face down.