Ouachita Parish History Tidbits

Author: Lora Diane Peppers

  • Lynchings Reported in Ouachita Parish Newspapers: The 1800’s

    Many years ago, after I had indexed most of the known Ouachita Parish newspapers for deaths up until the 1930s, I was curious as to how many were due to…

  • A Little-Known Cemetery Index

    In the 1950s, the Daughters of the American Revolution undertook the task of indexing many state cemeteries.  They didn’t get all of them, but what they did index is a…

  • African-American Education in Ouachita Parish Near the Turn of the Century

    This is a tiny little key hole glimpse into the history of education in the African-American community of Monroe.  It talks about a trade school that had been started by…

  • The Diary of Martha Frances Surghnor Part III

    September 10, 1889:  “Yesterday Mrs. McFee’ last son George was so badly scalded that he died last night and has just been buried.  He was the victim of a railroad…

  • The Diary of Martha Frances Surghnor Part II

    March 6th, 1887:  “Since last writing, John McFee, the twin brother of Frank who was killed August 23, has died.  It was just six months after Franks death,.  He died…

  • The Diary of Martha Frances Surghnor 1886 – 1899 Part I

    Long ago, someone typed a transcript of the diary of Martha F. Surghnor.  She lived in Monroe and was buried in the Old City Cemetery.  She details the comings and…

  • Logtown Legend

    The WPA writers project in 1937 interviewed John B. Filhiol, who told the following story.   Paul and Agatha were two of the slaves owned by Edward Landry Grammont Filhiol,…

  • Miscellaneous Ouachita Parish Related Collections

    I was interested in knowing what Ouachita Parish items are in other collections around the country and was surprised at what I found! Isaiah Garrett’s business ledger is at the…

  • Endom Bridge

    This is a great shot of the Monroe Traffic Bridge (now known as Endom Bridge) which opened April 27, 1899.  Notice the toll booth on the right!

  • Grace Episcopal Church

    This very beautiful church stood on the corner of St. John and Oak streets, right across the street from the Courthouse.  The cornerstone was laid with great pomp and ceremony…