1947 Photo of DeSiard Street

This photo was labeled, “Negro quarter on Main Street, Monroe, Louisiana.” in the Louisiana Digital Library: https://www.louisianadigitallibrary.org/islandora/object/lsu-sc-p16313coll52%3A1163 . It is a photo from the LSU Special Collections. I did a little digging in the 47-48 Monroe City Directory, and the scene depicted here shows a strip of buildings that once stood next to the New York Furniture Building (T.M. Parker Building) where the Lea Joyner Memorial Expressway is now. The Columbia Hotel, Dew Drop Inn and Grant’s Pharmacy were all located at 623 DeSiard Street. Down the way was the Owl Taxi Co, Busy Bee Cafe, Genusa Electric Shoe Shop and Hilburn’s Friendly Store. Most of these businesses catered to an African-American clientele. What a photo!