Back in 1930, the following article was published in the News-Star. It tells about an unlikely mascot of the Ouachita Parish jail! News-Star, June 27, 1930, Page 14 CHEE CHEE HAS FINISHED TERM IN PARISH JAIL Chee Chee, pet of the Ouachita parish jail, has gained his freedom. He finished serving his term yesterday afternoon … Continue reading Chee Chee: A Real Jailbird!
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A History of the Jewish Community in Monroe
I found this great little article about the history of the Jewish faith in Monroe! https://www.isjl.org/louisiana-monroe-encyclopedia.html To view a great photographic slideshow on the history of the Jewish Community, check out the Temple B'Nai Archives web page here: http://www.bayoujews.org/precious-legacy-museum.html . I particularly love the photo of DeSiard and Grand streets and the photo of Sig … Continue reading A History of the Jewish Community in Monroe
Ouachita Parish Public Library Historical Photos
I just wanted to take a moment and highlight what my boss has been working on. She has set up a new section on the Louisiana Digital Library to upload historical photos of the Ouachita Parish Public Library. I especially love the photo of Carver Library with the Miller-Roy Building in the background! Check it … Continue reading Ouachita Parish Public Library Historical Photos
Monroe Fire Department’s First Fire Truck
I love this one! If I had to guess, this was Monroe's first gas fire truck! At least, the vehicle is very old, so it is one of the first. We don't know who the man behind the wheel is. You can see the photo on the Louisiana Digital Library here: https://www.louisianadigitallibrary.org/islandora/object/oplib-pho%3A535 .
The Pet Deer of Holiday Inn
Did you know that an area hotel in Monroe advertised the attraction of having pet deer romping around that you could play with? Yep! They even put them on their postcards! This was roughly the 1960's era. In 1975 there were two of them named Bucky and Becky (male and female). Newspaper articles stated deer … Continue reading The Pet Deer of Holiday Inn
Another Lovers Lane Postcard
There seems to be at least a half dozen photo postcards of Lovers Lane! Those power lines are so low in this photo! I wonder if they are for the trolley?
Bayou DeSiard Country Club
I have been on a collecting binge here lately on Ebay! This is a real color postcard of the Bayou DeSiard Country Club which still sits across the bayou from Loop Road.
Census Help for the 1940 and 1950 Censuses.
In 2022, the 1950 census will be released. It will be several months before all the names will be indexed by the big databases. When the 1940 census was released in 2012, I remember the frustration of not being able to figure out just where on the census my family could be found. I have … Continue reading Census Help for the 1940 and 1950 Censuses.
Smoot Field
https://cdm16631.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/charm/id/13509 This photo was found in the collection of Mississippi State University. It was taken in August, 1926. Another photo showing a group of men posed around one of the planes is also in the collection: https://cdm16631.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/charm/id/13510 And an aerial view of the field: https://cdm16631.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/charm/id/13928 There are several other views in the same collection. Just … Continue reading Smoot Field
Rare letters from a Former Monroe Mayor to his Brother.
This letter comes from the collection of the Tennessee State Library. https://dp.la/item/7e8ec396f9f15af0fd3f96f41953b620?q=Monroe%2C%20LA&page=6 It is a two page letter from Arthur Hambleton Harris to his brother George Carroll Harris in Nashville. The Civil War had just broken out and he was trying to get his brother in a regiment with his relatives. You really see how … Continue reading Rare letters from a Former Monroe Mayor to his Brother.
