The Monroe New Moon Newspaper Editor

I found this in an Arkansas paper (Weekly Arkansas Gazette, May 1, 1839, Page 2) which shows the uproar over a newspaper editor in Monroe. This guy isn't the first newspaper editor to get run out of town. Back in 1824, the local sheriff did not like what the editor of the first Monroe newspaper … Continue reading The Monroe New Moon Newspaper Editor →

The Cost of Electricity in 1893.

This little article comes from the Opelousas Courier of April 22, 1893. It lists the cost to light a home in Monroe: The Monroe Electric Light Company shows up quite favorably in its charges, and as a consequence will prove a great public benefit. For 16-candle power all-night incandescent lamps at residences, the charge ranges … Continue reading The Cost of Electricity in 1893. →

DeSiard Street Circa 1926

This shows the 300 block of DeSiard Street, looking west towards the river. The first building on the left was T. John, which was a clothing store. It was located at 328 DeSiard. Of course, the prominent buildings in the shot are the Theater on the right and the Ouachita National Bank Building on the … Continue reading DeSiard Street Circa 1926 →

School Integration…in 1908?

This article made me smile! Daily Enterprise-Leader (New Iberia) December 19, 1908, Page 6 Whites in Negro School. Monroe, Dec. 19. - Two Italian children are attending a private negro school with a negro teacher, who says they presented themselves and that she sees no harm in it. I found another article (New Orleans Times-Picayune, … Continue reading School Integration…in 1908? →

A Grainy Photo of Philanthropist Mary Goss

My boss called me upstairs last week. She is still processing the Brinsmade collection. She had stumbled across a newspaper clipping stating a photo of Mary Goss had been found while going through her estate. I was astonished! A photo of the photograph was included with the article. So this is what she looked like! … Continue reading A Grainy Photo of Philanthropist Mary Goss →

Inventory of the Parish Archives of Louisiana

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015041287494&view=1up&seq=156 This is a great little history book, done in 1942, that gives a short history of the parish along with some statistics and a list of every Parish and City agency's records and where they could be found. Some of the records I SO wish I could get my hands on and look at! … Continue reading Inventory of the Parish Archives of Louisiana →

Elk’s Club Interior

Here is another very rare postcard of Monroe, showing the interior of the Elks Club House. It was located at 200 South Grand Street at the corner of Grammont. The site of this building is now a parking lot. This room looks GORGEOUS! Look for a postcard towards the end of next month showing an … Continue reading Elk’s Club Interior →

Front Street

Did you know Riverside Drive was once called Front Street? Here is a rare postcard I found showing Front Street. I don't know exactly where it was taken. From the font in the description (I have seen similar) it could have been taken around the turn of the century. I wish I could have a … Continue reading Front Street →

Neville High School – Circa 1950’s

https://www.louisianadigitallibrary.org/islandora/object/oplib-pho%3A491 Anyone recognize these men and women? None were identified. The clothing looks like the early fifties. We do know it was taken on the steps of Neville High School.

Sherrouse Elementary 1952 – 1953

https://www.louisianadigitallibrary.org/islandora/object/oplib-pho%3A489 This shows the second grade classroom of Mrs. Dorothy Bynum at Sherrouse Elementary.