The area had a post office, general store, hotel, spa, and a dry goods and cotton storage facility.

The first faculty members consisted of Riley J. Wilson, Ms. Olla Mills, John Paul Jones, Missy Robertson, Rev.

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.

When the new site was chosen and incorporation paperwork was submitted naming the new community “New Castor Sulfur Springs”, their request was denied.

The legislature was not accepting new municipalities named in reference to springs, rivers, bayous, or creeks to avoid duplication and confusion.

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.

Built in Romanesque Revival style, the bank's structure is said to be influenced by Louisiana native and architect Henry Hobson Richardson.

In August 1900, unknown bandits built a fire on the tracks north of Olla and forced the train to stop.

The express safe was cracked, but the expected big money shipment from St. Louis, Missouri to New Orleans was not aboard.

Since its inception, the open space has served the parishes of La Salle, Winn, Grant, and 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.

Jena was subsequently chosen as the La Salle parish seat because of its central location.

During the 1920s and 1930s, the Olla Bottling Works made and distributed numerous flavored carbonated beverages including NuGrape Soda.

The Southern Baptist encampment and the Civilian Conservation Corps Camp activities also left their mark on Olla.

The Olla Oil Field brought a fresh influx of people and is large producer of light sweet crude and natural gas.

The Town of Olla currently serves as a regional hub for banking, commercial retail, and manufacturing and is heavily involved with the forestry and petroleum production industries.

On 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.

[6] According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 5.4 square miles (12.9 km2), all land.

The town of Olla is served by the Union Pacific Railroad, and U.S. Route 165 traverses north and south.