Ouachita Parish History Tidbits

Author: Lora Diane Peppers

  • Unalaska: the Sled Dog Buried in Monroe

    This article was written by me for the July, 2007 issue of Louisiana Road Trips magazine. It was later republished in the September, 2016 edition of Southern Calls: A Funeral Director’s Perspective.…

  • The Ouachita/Key House: Monroe’s Confederate Hospital?

    The Ouachita Hotel, was located where the park is now at the corner of 3rd and DeSiard. It was built in 1861 by Sloan and Mason. In 1890, F.G. Key…

  • The Sad Death of Neecy Hardin, Alias Ethel Hunt.

    I wrote this article in 20015 for Louisiana Road Trips Magazine. I still don’t know anything about her. This article haunts me for some reason.  Suicide is nothing new.  It…

  • The First Telephone in Ouachita Parish

    I wrote this for Louisiana Road Trips Magazine back in 2013: In late spring of 1878, Monroe experimented with a new invention called the telephone.  The April 26th edition of…

  • The Naming of St. Frederick

    Did you know that St. Frederick High School was named for a college kid? Back in 1935, young Rae Frederick Rinehart, Jr. was attending Northeast Center Louisiana State University (later…

  • U.S. Post Office in Monroe.

    I don’t think I have ever shared a photo of the old post office. Some old time residents remember getting their vaccines here in later years. What a beautiful building!…

  • The Safari Lounge

    How about this rare photo? It is the Safari Lounge inside the Italian Village, located at 2400 Louisville Ave. Very 50’s décor!

  • Elvis in Monroe – 1974

    I found a few candid shots and a description of Elvis’ visit to Monroe back in 1974. It comes from an Australian fan site! https://www.elvispresleymusic.com.au/pictures/1974-march-7.html My Dad has told me…

  • Etta Moten Performs at the Carroll Auditorium

    Never heard of Etta Moten? Neither did I until I looked her up. Ms. Moten was the first black actress to appear on screen in a roll other than as…

  • Fats Domino at the Red Dog

    I would have LOVED to have seen this! Fats was among the first inducted class of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Among that first class who have also…