A National Revival Movement Comes to Monroe

Imagine if Billy Graham ever came to Monroe for a revival. Back in 1895, the Methodists had that level of a national revivalist. His name was Sam P. Jones, and he was planning on coming to Monroe. I had never heard about this preacher before, until I looked at a Sanborn map from 1898. (You … Continue reading A National Revival Movement Comes to Monroe →

Loyalty

Have you ever heard Jerry Clower's bit about how Delta Airlines kept their board meetings in Monroe? It is guaranteed to put a smile on your face! https://youtu.be/3hI6j2TPGho

The Biedenharn Family Opens Monroe’s Coca Cola Plant

The last picture I will share of the Mac Ward collection, is one showing Mr. Ward interviewing the Biedenharn family for the grand opening of the Monroe Coca Cola plant in 1968. Only Representative Otto Passman is identified. He is the man on the far left. Mac Ward is the dark haired man, second from … Continue reading The Biedenharn Family Opens Monroe’s Coca Cola Plant →

The First American in Space Makes a Stop in Monroe

Here is another photo from the Mac Ward collection, showing Mr. Ward interviewing the great astronaut Alan B. Shepard, Jr. in Monroe. I found a newspaper article that stated he stopped in Monroe with his family on the way to Houston, TX where they were moving! The stop happened July 29, 1962, a little over … Continue reading The First American in Space Makes a Stop in Monroe →

Mac Ward, Claire Chennault and Whiting Willauer

This picture was found in the collection of Mac Ward, housed in the Special Collections Department. Mac was a beloved fixture of KNOE News for many years. https://www.louisianadigitallibrary.org/islandora/object/oplib-pho%3A746 The man on the far left remains unidentified. The man on the far right, Whiting Willauer, was a cofounder (with Chennault) of the Civil Air Transport (CAT) … Continue reading Mac Ward, Claire Chennault and Whiting Willauer →

The Monroe Country Club, Circa 1913

Australia comes through again! This time, with two exterior shots of the Monroe Country Club. https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-150289157/view https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-150289352/view I have posted in the past links to some interior shots of this building also found in Australia. What brought this to mind, is that in January, my boss Cyndy brought down a file she found in Special … Continue reading The Monroe Country Club, Circa 1913 →

The Negro Motorist Green-Book – 1940

Lets say you were an African-American living in the United States decades before the Civil Rights movement. You wanted to take your family on vacation out of state, but didn't know what businesses were safe to stay at. You couldn't just walk into any hotel and ask for a room! This little guide became a … Continue reading The Negro Motorist Green-Book – 1940 →

African-American Woman Fishing In Monroe

Some photos leave you wanting more. This one does for me. It is a photo taken in Monroe circa 1930 of a woman sitting on the bank of a bayou/river fishing. Who was this woman? What was her story? What has she been through and seen? It is important that we record our family stories … Continue reading African-American Woman Fishing In Monroe →

Queen Janus I

Last month, I went to visit the Biedenharn Museum and Garden, and for the Mardi Gras season, they had some past Krewe of Janus royal costumes on display. I think they will be up a few days more if you want to go see them! What immediately caught my eye was a painting of Kay … Continue reading Queen Janus I →

A Proposed New Building For the Monroe Academy

Wouldn't this have been a gorgeous building? This was published in the Monroe News Star back in 1913. Professor Foster and the trustees of the Monroe Academy were looking to expand the school space and the following conceptual drawing was made. It never happened to my knowledge. Ten years later, Monroe Colored High School would … Continue reading A Proposed New Building For the Monroe Academy →