Author: Lora Diane Peppers
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Harriet Gordan Foster – Pioneer Nurse
The name is unfamiliar to most of Ouachita Parish residents. You may have heard of her husband, Dr. Madison Wright Foster, son of Professor Madison James Foster. Dr. Foster was…
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Bufferin and St. Timothy Cemeteries
Have you ever visited the two African American cemeteries at Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge? They are known as Bufferin and St. Timothy. Bufferin was once called Richland Plantation…
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Legends of Bryant’s Addition Documentary
Please forgive the short post today. I’m still recovering from Saturday’s parades and my legs and hips are still in pain! OW! Riding a float hurts! A local filmmaker has…
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Pioneer West Monroe Figure Ben Allen
Monroe Morning World, November 18, 1934, Page 6. Ben Allen was born enslaved in Alabama. According to his death certificate, he was the son of Fed Allen and Willie A.…
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Monroe Academy Graduating Class of 1914
While going through our photo archives, I found this little gem I didn’t know we had. It shows a graduating class of the Monroe Academy (1000 Texas Avenue), which I…
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DeSiard Street Looking East 1930’s
What a sight this must have been! It is hard to believe this area was once packed with shoppers!
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Varino’s Grocery Building
Earlier this month, I saw a post on Facebook, announcing a historic grant was given to remodel the old Varino building at 200 Commerce Street in West Monroe, next to…
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City Grocery on Catalpa
This looks like it was taken in the 1920’s. The store opened in March, 1921 at 104 Catalpa Street, “Behind the Phoenix Drug Store”. It was owned by Mr. James…
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The E.E. Johnson Service Station
This postcard is a rare one from the 1920’s. When I saw it come up for sale on eBay, I had to have it! It came in last month. The…
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The Dispenza Grocery
George Dispenza was born in Palermo, Sicily in 1881. When he was twenty, he came to America and settled in Monroe. George opened a store at 117 DeSiard Street, although…
Ouachita Parish History Tidbits 