Legends of Bryant’s Addition Documentary

Please forgive the short post today. I'm still recovering from Saturday's parades and my legs and hips are still in pain! OW! Riding a float hurts! A local filmmaker has produced an excellent documentary of three NBA/NFL players who grew up in Bryant's Addition on the Southside of Monroe: Larry Wright, Rubin Jones and Charlie … Continue reading Legends of Bryant’s Addition Documentary →

Pioneer West Monroe Figure Ben Allen

Monroe Morning World, November 18, 1934, Page 6. Ben Allen was born enslaved in Alabama. According to his death certificate, he was the son of Fed Allen and Willie A. Rushing and died in Monroe at the age of 95. According to the book, "Contributors of Ouachita Parish: A History of Blacks To Commemorate the … Continue reading Pioneer West Monroe Figure Ben Allen →

Monroe Academy Graduating Class of 1914

While going through our photo archives, I found this little gem I didn't know we had. It shows a graduating class of the Monroe Academy (1000 Texas Avenue), which I have talked about before. Using the list I have of students, which I have also posted about before, I suspect this was taken in 1914. … Continue reading Monroe Academy Graduating Class of 1914 →

DeSiard Street Looking East 1930’s

What a sight this must have been! It is hard to believe this area was once packed with shoppers!

Varino’s Grocery Building

Earlier this month, I saw a post on Facebook, announcing a historic grant was given to remodel the old Varino building at 200 Commerce Street in West Monroe, next to the Flying Heart Brewery. I'm very excited about this, since the building is probably over 120 years old! I have also heard it has a … Continue reading Varino’s Grocery Building →

City Grocery on Catalpa

This looks like it was taken in the 1920's. The store opened in March, 1921 at 104 Catalpa Street, "Behind the Phoenix Drug Store". It was owned by Mr. James L. Folmer, whom I believe is the man behind the register on the right. Later in the 1920's, "... & Market" was added to the … Continue reading City Grocery on Catalpa →

The E.E. Johnson Service Station

This postcard is a rare one from the 1920's. When I saw it come up for sale on eBay, I had to have it! It came in last month. The postmark on the back is dated 1929. The first mention of the E.E. Johnson Service Station in the local newspapers came in 1926. This site … Continue reading The E.E. Johnson Service Station →

The Dispenza Grocery

George Dispenza was born in Palermo, Sicily in 1881. When he was twenty, he came to America and settled in Monroe. George opened a store at 117 DeSiard Street, although I found evidence of another store of his at the corner of 14th and Washington. I think the above photo shows him and his wife … Continue reading The Dispenza Grocery →

UCV Marker Found

Over the Christmas break, I had a chance to wander the Old City Cemetery, looking for those markers the UCV placed to mark the graves of unmarked Confederate veterans back in the 20's or so (See the "I Broke a Code Tuesday" post for further info.) I found only one of them in the back … Continue reading UCV Marker Found →

Kansas Plantation is sold

I'm beginning to learn roughly where these plantations in eastern Monroe were (again...roughly). I found a front-page article in the News-Star June 22, 1920 headlined, "Plans for Transfer of "Kansas" Plantation Is Sold For $86,000: 436 Acres To Be Orphanage Site". Basically, John P. Parker, Sr. sold the plantation to the Baptist Church as the … Continue reading Kansas Plantation is sold →