For one night, the Norla Preservation Project will take Shreveport back in time with their 1920s-themed fundraiser to pay tribute to preservation in Northwest Louisiana.

The second annual Prohibition Party is set to take place 7 to 11 p.m Oct. 3 at the historic Remington Suite Hotel in downtown Shreveport. The theme of prohibition was a natural fit for the organization aimed to preserve, restore and revitalize the historic shotgun houses in the neighborhood commonly known as the “bottoms” – located just outside of downtown.  

“Last year, we had our first Prohibition Party when Norla was just six months old,” Kelly Rich, director of the Norla Preservation Project, said. “The theme came from the musical history that is prevalent in the ‘bottoms’ neighborhood. We are honoring the musicians that played in the area by naming each house a musician significant to the neighborhood. The ’20s prohibition theme went right along with the neighborhood in its heyday. People had so much fun and asked us to make it our signature fundraising event. We didn’t argue. We decided to keep the time period theme consistent but we’ll vary the venue, food, and band each year just to make it interesting.”

This year’s event will give guests the ultimate 1920s experience, complete with live music that embodies Louisiana’s rich history, drawing attention to the cause of the evening.

“The Prohibition Party will be at the beautiful and historic Remington Suite Hotel downtown with Drake Catering providing the food,” Rich said. “We have an amazing band The Messy Cookers Jazz Band coming up from New Orleans that plays traditional big band/jazz that will definitely fit the ’20s vibe. We’ll have a silent auction and a few Norla items for sale as well.”

All of the proceeds from the event will go toward the mission and purpose of the Norla Preservation Project.

“The money raised goes directly toward the rehab and repurpose of six of the last historic shotgun houses in the ‘bottoms’ into a small business commercial development in the West End of downtown,” Rich said.

The Baker Street Bottoms Shotgun Development project will turn six shotgun houses (currently located on Peabody Street and move them to Baker Street) in Shreveport into retail and dining establishments, and also create a courtyard set up for live music and patio dining. The common area project is set to take place on Baker Street, bordered by Texas Street and Sprague Street in what is also known as the Ledbetter Heights neighborhood. 

As downtown Shreveport grows and continues its own revitalization, the Norla Preservation Project aims to capitalize on its close proximity to the Shreveport Common cultural arts district – which includes the Historic Strand Theatre, the Shreveport Municipal Memorial Auditorium, artspace and Central ARTSTATION and the Robinson Film Center. 

The history of Shreveport’s cultural richness and the connection it has to the “bottoms” was a main driver in the creation of Norla Preservation Project. While the organization has big plans for the future, a consistent goal has always been to first and foremost bring awareness and education on their mission. 

“Norla Preservation Project was created in response to the news of some of the last historic shotgun houses downtown were set to be demolished,” Rich said. “Norla was created as a nonprofit to teach preservation awareness to the region and to teach by example that historic buildings that might have outlived their original use still have value and purpose. Norla’s first project will be to rehab and repurpose six shotgun houses into a small business commercial development. After the shotgun project is finished, we’ll then search for another adaptive reuse project and continue working to increase appreciation of our local historic architecture.”

To learn more or to become a contributor to their cause, go to www.norlapreservationproject.com.

Want to go?

Tickets to the 2014 Prohibition Party can also be found online. The cost is $60 per ticket. A Prohibition Party package is also available which includes a suite at the Remington Suite Hotel and two tickets to the party. To reserve a room, call the Remington at 318-425-5000.