On July 18, 1825, the president of the Board of Trustees for Monroe, Robert F. McGuire, on behalf of the town of Monroe, accepted the gift of an “American Acre” of land from Hypolite Pargoud. Pargoud had bought the land from Gramond Filhiol for $20. Mr. Pargoud stipulated the land be used as a community burying ground. This was the birth of the Old City Cemetery, one of the most historic burial grounds in the parish. The acre of land, roughly where the McGuire graves are, has expanded into about four acres. Soldiers, mayors, judges, founders and rogues are all resting within the fence line. There are stories yet to be told. Lets keep looking!
You can take a virtual tour of some of the highlights of Old City Cemetery with Google Maps here: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1tFn_ffTvOKbUCT_tGeofVc9r8G1Jtk80&usp=sharing
Ouachita Parish History Tidbits 