Ouachita Parish History Tidbits

Author: Lora Diane Peppers

  • Allen’s Pharmacy

    Allen’s Pharmacy was a very well known drug store in Monroe. It was located in the 200 block of DeSiard street. I love the fact you could buy your medicine…

  • A.S. Kuhn Whiskies & Wine

    This building was located in the area where the Paramount theater would be built. Just look at all that dark wood and carving detail on the bar! I wonder what…

  • Monroe skyline, 1905

    Our first photos from the Monroe Illustrated were labeled, “BIRD’S-EYE VIEW OF THE CITY.” The first caption stated it was a view of City of Monroe from City School Tower.…

  • Monroe Illustrated

    Back in 1905, a businessmen’s club in Monroe called the Progressive League decided to showcase what Monroe had to offer. Inside this little newspaper was 76 pages chocked full of…

  • Salt Water Natatorium Flood, 1912

    Very interesting shot of the flooded Salt Water Natatorium at Forsythe park, dated 1912. The pavilion would eventually be lost to a fire, but it would be another flood, the…

  • The Union Church

    Did you know that Monroe’s Protestant faiths once shared a building? The building was called the “Union Church”. Here is how it got started. In 1853, Mr. James S. Ray…

  • African-American Funeral Programs – The New Index

    Several weeks ago, I published the index to the first fifty volumes of Ouachita Parish funeral home programs the Genealogy Department has collected over the years. When my colleague retired…

  • OPPL Photo Index Part IV

    1501 Gahagan House – Bettie PFister 1982 1502 Edgewood House – Bettie PFister –  May, 1983, Farmerville, LA 1503 West Hill House circa 1876 – Bettie PFister 1982 1504 Lincoln…

  • OPPL Photo Index Part III

    1001 Monroe Colored High School Reunion 1002 Monroe Beauticians Local No. 130 1003 American Legion members – original members first out of WWII 1004 Madison James Foster – educator, minister,…

  • OPPL Photo Index, Part II

    501 Bayou DeSiard – one photo dated 11/14/1946; some others taken of algae overgrowth 502 NY Hardware & Furniture Co. -625 DeSiard St. – photos taken 10/28/1980 503 Community Band…