
Ouachita Parish History Tidbits
Explore fascinating little tidbits of lost Ouachita Parish history you probably didn’t know. I post every Tuesday and Friday. You can use the little magnifying glass at the top right of the page to search the past postings!
Current Blog Posts
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Early History of Baseball in Monroe
You can see I have updated the look and layout of the blog! I think it is easier to read and I hope you like it! This was published in… Read more ⇢
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Unmarked Slave Burial Ground in Sterlington
This one I stumbled upon Wednesday. I have told you about the Phillips family cemetery in Sterlington on 165 North. It is the one marked with a stone cross, just… Read more ⇢
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Resolutions of Respect for the Ouachita Parish Steamboat Buckeye Victims
If you have been following my blog a while, you know several years ago I posted a transcription of Narcissa Grayson Garrett’s experience aboard the steamboat Buckeye when it sank… Read more ⇢
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Gertrude Allen Ammons – Pioneer Educator
I decided to end my Black History Month posts with a connection to one of my first posts this month. In that post, I told you about Ben Allen, who… Read more ⇢
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Captain Ansley Reed: Monroe’s First Black Police Officer
Have you ever heard of Capt. Ansley Reed? You should. He is known as Monroe’s first black police officer. Mr. Reed grew up in Caldwell Parish and attended Southern University.… Read more ⇢
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Students Fight to Observe Black History Week in 1971
In February of 1971, six Wossman High School students, petitioned the City school board to declare Feb. 7 – 13 as Black History Week. Their petition was withdrawn. In a… Read more ⇢
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Harriet Gordan Foster – Pioneer Nurse
The name is unfamiliar to most of Ouachita Parish residents. You may have heard of her husband, Dr. Madison Wright Foster, son of Professor Madison James Foster. Dr. Foster was… Read more ⇢
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Bufferin and St. Timothy Cemeteries
Have you ever visited the two African American cemeteries at Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge? They are known as Bufferin and St. Timothy. Bufferin was once called Richland Plantation… Read more ⇢
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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… Read more ⇢
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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.… Read more ⇢