Ouachita Parish History Tidbits

Author: Lora Diane Peppers

  • The Monroe Furniture Fire

    I found this interesting photo on my computer and it was labeled “Monroe Furniture Company Fire 1939”.  I did a little digging online and found that the fire actually happened…

  • Confederate Soldiers buried in Three Cemeteries

    As an addenda to yesterday’s post, I found this list in the back of the Southern Cross of Honor book.  Apparently, in 1911, the UDC compiled a list of those…

  • Southern Cross of Honor

    In 1899, the United Daughters of the Confederacy created a commemorative medal called the Southern Cross of Honor.  It was a pin bestowed by the UDC to all known Confederate…

  • Lue Mattie “Mammie” Bass Shelbon

    Many, many long time Monroe area residents know Mrs. Mattie Shelbon.  She was Mildred Swift’s assistant on her KNOE cooking show.  For most of them, that is where their knowledge…

  • Union Oil Mill, West Monroe, circa 1920.

    The above is a very interesting shot of what is now Antique Alley.  The big building in the foreground is now Roma’s Italian Restaurant on Trenton Street.  Back then it…

  • Monroe’s First Newspaper

    This was printed in the News-Star on October 31, 1933.  It shows the front page of an 1823 Monroe newspaper called the Louisianian.  It is Monroe’s first newspaper and is…

  • The Daily Electric Letter

    I wish I could see what this particular newspaper looked like!  It would have been fascinating!  Unfortunately, no copies exist. Ouachita Telegraph, September 28, 1877, Page 3 The Daily Electric…

  • Known Ouachita Parish Newspapers

    I decided to make a list of all known newspapers that were published in Ouachita Parish.  It is by NO means a comprehensive list.  Some have no surviving issues, some…

  • Seige at Vicksburg heard all the way in Monroe!

    This just blew me away when I found it!   Washington Telegraph (Washington, AR) June 10, 1863, Page 2 The Monroe Register of the 2d estimates our forces within the…

  • Richwood, LA mayors

    Earlier this week, I was asked for a list of the mayors of Richwood, LA.  I was able to find them by going through the newspaper database on Newspapers.com.  Now,…