Ouachita Parish History Tidbits

Author: Lora Diane Peppers

  • Natchitoches Street West Monroe Almost Had a New Name

    Back in 1953 a movement began in West Monroe to change the name of Natchitoches Street to Main Street. The DAR vehemently opposed the suggestion. You see, Natchitoches Street was…

  • Siesta Apartment-Hotel – 1963

    This rare postcard shows the Siesta, which operated at 5200 DeSiard Road (Street). The building still stands today, although the pool was long since filled in and covered. It is…

  • Your Hometown Tycoon Game

    About a month ago, this board game came up for sale on eBay. I had never heard of it! Apparently, in 1992, a company did a take off on the…

  • Selber Brothers Department Store Groundbreaking – 1967

    It was recently announced that the Main Branch of the Ouachita Parish Public Library will be moving next year into a building that was once part of the Twin City…

  • Jimmie Rodgers Performs in West Monroe!

    April 1st, 1930, the “Father of Country Music” himself, performed in a tent show in West Monroe. I never knew this! Here is what the Ouachita Citizen had to say…

  • Part Two of the Thomas Reynolds Murder, 1848

    Back in 2019, I found an article about a man on trial for the 1848 poisoning death of his father. He had ran to Texas for several years, but was…

  • Sterling Plantation

    Take a look at this picture of Sterling Plantation taken in 1941 before the plantation burned November 2, 1944! It was built by John Taylor Sterling in the early 1800s…

  • Royal Confectionary Interior

    Here is another rare postcard showing the interior of the Royal Confectionary in the 200 block of De Siard Street. Look at that tin ceiling!

  • The Ball Park and Race Track at Forsythe Park – 1911

    Here is a rare postcard showing the old Baseball field and race track at Forsythe park where the old golf field is now! Very few photos of this section of…

  • A Burglar at the Slagle Home

    In February, I was researching the history of the Masur Museum building, which was originally owned by the Clarence E. Slagle family. Clarence founded the Slagle lumber company. I suspect…