Ouachita Parish History Tidbits

Category: Uncategorized

  • Paul Revere and the Raiders at the Civic Center

    I found these two ticket stubs a couple of weekends ago in my parents’ collection, tucked into a photo album. They told me this was the night my Dad proposed…

  • Rev. Joyner Gets an Honorary Degree

    Just a few months before her death, Rev. Travis Lea Joyner got an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Centenary for her years of service in the ministry.

  • The Palace Going Out of Business Sale

    Here is a sad picture. It appeared in the newspaper in mid November of 1982. The Palace was in the middle of it’s going out of business sale.

  • Mayors of Sterlington

    Back in 2018, I compiled and posted a list of mayors of Monroe, Richwood and West Monroe. At the time, I was having trouble getting the 1980s-1990’s mayors of Sterlington…

  • Ronald McDonald Kidnapped in 1979

    Does anyone remember this prank pulled in early December of 1979? Someone removed the statue of Ronald McDonald from the local McDonalds and somehow placed him on top of the…

  • The Bentley Academy

    Here is something I never knew! Did you know that around the turn of the last century, there was a private school held in the DAR Chapter House called the…

  • An Early Congregation Photo of the First Christian Church

  • G.B. Cooley’s Yacht the Weto

    In the early 20th century, G.B. Cooley decided he needed a yacht. He was the son and brother of steamboat captains, so he knew what to look for. Cooley ended…

  • Shorty the Hot Tamale Man.

    If you were here during the time period of 1931-1969, you may remember the hot tamale man named Vincent “Shorty” Guiterrez. Mr. Guiterrez settled in Monroe from Mexico in 1919.…

  • Balsamo Esso Station – 1963

    Check out this 1963 ad of the Balsamo Esso Station, owned by Mr. James J. Balsamo across from the College in the 4000 block of DeSiard. I am assuming that…