After the Civil War, a French immigrant established a store along the Old Spanish Trail. It was called Pouppeville, after the merchant. In 1880 the Louisiana Western Railway was moving westward from New Orleans to the Sabine River.

A local doctor bought land adjacent to where the Old Spanish Trail crossed the path the railroad would follow. Many others followed his lead moving their businesses on rollers to the new location. One of the travelers was Mervine Kahn who witnessed these businesses being moved and decided to stay. He became a promoter of southwest Louisiana, and a successful mercantile.
His store is in the center of this photo.

Rayne hosts the Frog Festival, and is known aas the frog capital of the world.

Today the old Mervin Kahn store has been transformed into "The Crossing at MK" as a wedding venue
For more information see their website http://www.crossingmk.com/