Ouachita Parish History Tidbits

Category: Uncategorized

  • The Falling Picture

    Many years ago, I was told the story of the falling picture.  The story fascinated me, because I love a good ghost story and there was a local angle.  It…

  • Veranda Hotel

    Before the Civil War, the best known hotel in Monroe was called the Veranda Hotel.  It was located in the middle of the block where the post office/U.S. District Court…

  • Accounts of Death in the Diary of Dr. Robert Forbes McGuire Part II

    June, 1844                               Sis Louisa died on the 12th in Charitan County, Missouri. March, 1845                            Dr. Thompson’s wife died in Orleans. April, 1845                              The people are healthy here, a few cases…

  • Accounts of Death in the Diary of Dr. Robert Forbes McGuire Part I

    In the files of the Ouachita Parish Public Library’s Genealogy Department, can be found the transcript of the diary of Robert Forbes McGuire.  Years ago, I pulled out all the…

  • Paramount Theater

    Many long – time residents of Northeast Louisiana have fond remembrances of the old Paramount Theater building, once located at 301 DeSiard Street. The building started life back in 1912…

  • DeSiard Street in the 1920’s

    Nice color postcard looking up DeSiard Street from Endom Bridge.  Notice the trolley tracks in the streets?

  • The State of Our Cemetery

    When I found this, I thought, “The More things change…” The Ouachita Standard Friday, April 5, 1839 Page 2, Column 1 OUR CEMETERY.             We would call the attention of…

  • The Wedding of the Girl in the Iron Coffin

    What a title!  I knew that would catch the eye!  I found this wedding announcement in a very old Monroe newspaper and figured out that Mary was who historians had…

  • Monroe/West Monroe Funeral Homes

    Year of first appearance Name of Funeral Home Address in Monroe in the City Directory 1936 Acme Funeral 722 Adams 1956 Burton 1617 DeSiard 1957 Burton & Bowie 1617 DeSiard…

  • Alumni of the Monroe City High School, 1888 – 1929

    In 1929, the Alumni Association of the Monroe City High School published a list of all known graduates of the school.  The Special Collections Department has a copy of it…