Selecting the Site of Ouachita Junior College

Back in 1930, the Ouachita Parish School Board and Police Jury decided to bring higher education to the Parish. The first problem, was selecting a site. A July 18, 1930 article listed the suggested sites:

Dr. E.G. Calvert suggested 15 acres west of the railway, west of West Monroe and running through to Stella street. He asked for $25,000.
George Weaks stated 40 acres a half mile east of Bernstein park. No price given.
Judge Percy Sandel and his wife wanted to sell 40 acres of Magenta plantation near Spanish City for $12,000.
E. Fudickar wanted to donate 40 acres of Ciloden plantation six miles east of the city.
E.G. Tugwell wanted to donate a tract of 6, 9 or 10 acres in the Cole addition.
C.D. Brooks, Inc. wanted to donate a 20 acre tract south of the city on Dinkgrave lane.
Robert Fennell wanted to donate 15 acres on the gravel road north of Selman airport. If they wanted more, he had some of Ingleside plantation land he was willing to give.
Robert Layton offered land opposite Spanish City for $1,000 an acre.
T.E. Flournoy had land in the Cotton Mill addition on or near the old Smoot field he was willing to donate. He also had two tracts in West Monroe bounded by Linderman, Austin, Fifth and Seventh streets, totaling four city blocks he would sell for $25,000. He also had another available on Filhiol Avenue.
Slagle-Johnson lumber had land they were willing to part with on Loop road near the bayou.
H. M. McGuire had five acres of West Monroe’s Traveler’s Rest plantation he was willing to donate and any added acreage for $400 an acre.
Later, the Sherrouse family offered property they were willing to sell at $600 an acre right on Bayou DeSiard.

Two front runners quickly became apparent: the McGuire property and the Sherrouse property. On January 15, 1931 the School Board and the Police Jury met together to vote on the Sherrouse property. The President of the School Board, Joe Renwick, stated they were not allowed to vote on the McGuire property or any other sites unless the Sherrouse property was voted down. In a contentious vote the sum total ended up thirteen for and twelve against the Sherrouse property. Seven of the thirteen police Jury members and six of the twelve School Board members voted for. One School Board member couldn’t make the meeting due to sickness. The Police Jury then officially accepted the site 10-2 and thus, ULM was born!