Ouachita Parish History Tidbits

Author: Lora Diane Peppers

  • Talking Headstones: Annie E. Livingston Saunders Hardin

    This was my performance of Annie Saunders, Monroe’s black sheep. She has been a lot of fun to do! This little performance has led into me portraying her life in…

  • Talking Headstones: Mayor Dr. Andrew Alexander Forsythe

    Back in 2013 just before Halloween, I and three colleagues portrayed four figures in Ouachita Parish History. We performed at the West Monroe Branch library on Cypress Street to rave…

  • January 2, 1983: President Reagan Visits Flooded Monroe

    The President’s visit last week got me to thinking about the last time a sitting President visited Ouachita Parish in 1983. Monroe was reeling from the effects of a devastating…

  • Paul Harvey Comes To Monroe

    In 1969, Paul Harvey visited Monroe and did one of his radio programs from KNOE studios. Stuffed in the vertical files of the Ouachita Parish Public Library were several flyers…

  • Crescent Bend Advertising Brochure – 1924

    Another old brochure advertised the opening of the Crescent Bend addition lands for homes. Included in the description was the below crude map showing where it was. That area is…

  • A Monroe Travel Guide

    This little brochure was printed in the early 1920’s. It showcased to businesses and travelers what Monroe had to offer. I copied the front cover and a couple of pages…

  • 1940 Traffic Regulations

    Stuffed in one of the files of the Ouachita Parish Public Library was a booklet detailing the traffic regulations in Monroe in 1940. I found this page on turning signals…

  • The Lotus Club, circa 1925

    The below page comes from a magazine called “Monroe “Life””, published around 1925. It shows a photo of the interior of the Lotus Club, which is still operating at the…

  • Lewiston, LA – The Ouachita Town That Never Was

    In 1819, the Louisiana State Legislature created the town of Lewiston in Ouachita Parish. It was just up the Ouachita from Monroe. No maps of it exist. The description of…

  • The News-Star Building

    Go down Art Alley sometime and look to your right. This beautiful building is still there! It is now the site of Aubrey Hall and Christian Radio Station, 88.7 FM…