Ouachita Parish History Tidbits

Author: Lora Diane Peppers

  • A Monroe Connection in Westminster Abbey

    Did you know there is a window in Westminster Abbey dedicated in memory of Governor James A. Noe and Anna Grey Noe? I was in London last month and took…

  • 1939 Christmas Fiesta Parade on DeSiard Street

    These last two parade photos I will share show the parade as it was passing by the Style Shop. The first one shows a Drum Major leading her band! I…

  • 1939 Christmas Fiesta Float on Elysian Fields

    https://www.louisianadigitallibrary.org/islandora/object/oplib-pho%3A558 I love this one due to the old car pulling the float. The floats lined up along Elysian Fields street next to the Old Monroe City Cemetery. You can…

  • 1939 Christmas Fiesta Queens and their Maids

    https://www.louisianadigitallibrary.org/islandora/object/oplib-pho%3A556 This photo looks to be taken on the steps of the old Ouachita Parish City Hall on St. John. It shows all the local school queens and their maids…

  • St. Matthew’s High School and the Christmas Fiesta Parade

    I found this little booklet in an antique shop last month and knew we had to add it to our collection! Apparently, the city issued booklet invitations to the schools…

  • Monroe Hill Citys Baseball Team

    A couple of years ago, I found a photo for sale on Ebay of a Monroe team called the “Monroe Outlaws”. I posted the photo and then the next day…

  • 1915 Monroe Shriners Initiation

    Another magazine photo I found shows some local men being hazed as they are initiated into the Shriners. The News-Star’s front page article on that date was about the Shriner’s…

  • 1961 Rodeo Parade on DeSiard Street.

    I found this photo in an old magazine. It shows some area Shriners riding horseback down DeSiard Street in the 1961 Monroe Rodeo Parade. The man with his back to…

  • Cemeteries of Ouachita Parish

    The last map from the book I would like to highlight shows the location of all known cemeteries (at that time) in Ouachita Parish. None are labeled, but you could…

  • Plantation Homes of Ouachita Parish

    Another map to come out of the 1976-77 Historical Preservation Study, showed the plantation homes that stood along the Ouachita River. A lot of them are still standing.