Ouachita Parish History Tidbits

Author: Lora Diane Peppers

  • Flooding in West Monroe

    I have no clue where in West Monroe this was taken. I don’t even know when. I don’t see any levees, so this would be before 1935. I saw this postcard for sale…

  • The Strange Disappearance of Faye Southall

    Just after midnight, on the cold morning of March 10, 1962, 35 year old Faye Southall started home in her 1957 pink and grey Pontiac. She was five foot seven inches…

  • The Layton Castle Collection

    Layton Castle has a massive amount of records in it’s collection. Some documents even date back to the 1790’s! As the current owner of the castle has been organizing the…

  • New Fear Unlocked: The Unfortunate Death of Ernie Young

      Late in the evening of February 4, 1953, gas pipeline worker Ernie Young crawled into one of the large gas lines at Sterlington to clean it out. While he was cleaning,…

  • The Future “Killer” Performs in Neville High School Auditorium

    Back in 1950, the nationally known “Ted Mack Amateur Hour” came to Monroe. Think “American Idol” but kinder. It is said Ted Mack’s show originated the idea for talent shows…

  • Riverside Sanitarium

    This building stood at 3001 South Grand Street (where the Riverside Nursing Home is now). It was built in 1925 by the pastor of First Baptist Monroe, Rev. Tripp. The…

  • Jack McCall Performs at the Village

    Was I the only one who didn’t know this? I found this ad in a 1967 paper stating that Jack McCall would be performing at the Village Restaurant & Lounge.…

  • Swartz Saw Mill Store, 1913.

    This clipping came from the Monroe Morning World in 1965. Note the caption misspelled “Cosper”. J.Y. Cosper was the grandfather of Anna Grey Noe. Cosper cemetery was named for him…

  • The Ritz Theater

    The below photo shows a rare view of the old Ritz theater, which was the only African American theater in town during segregation. It was located at 911 DeSiard street,…

  • Ouachita Parish High School Homecoming Parade, circa 1959

    I found this photo in the 1960 Roarer yearbook. I think it was probably the homecoming parade, since the float has something about “Ski Bearkats…” Ruston perhaps? The float and…