Ouachita Parish History Tidbits

Tag: African-American History

  • The Rhythm Nightclub Fire of Natchez, MS

    You may be wondering why I would talk about a fire that happened in Natchez, MS on a Ouachita Parish history blog. There is a Monroe connection. On the night…

  • February 25, 1984 Black History Month Parade

    Carroll High School Drum Majors Daniel Kidd and Todd Johnson lead the band down DeSiard during the 1984 Black History parade, 41 years ago today.

  • Ouachita Parish Runaway Slave ads

    These have been collected over the years from area newspapers. It was quite common for the local law enforcement to advertise captures of runaway slaves in local newspapers, and hope…

  • Marbles Barbecue

    Mention the above restaurant around long time Monroe resident Boomers, Silent or Greatest Generations and I guarantee a smile will creep over their face and their mouth will start watering!…

  • Obituary of Frank W. Barrington

    I was VERY surprised to find an obituary for Prof. Barrington in state white owned papers. This was found in the March 6, 1896 New Orleans Times Picayune on page…

  • Contributors of Ouachita Parish book

    A colleague pointed this out to me late last year! Back during the Bicentennial in 1976, a group of prominent local African Americans researched and compiled a comprehensive history and…

  • Pierce’s Pharmacy – The First Black Pharmacy in Monroe

    This is an ad from the News-Star in the mid 1920’s for the first African American pharmacy in Monroe, founded by R.O. Pierce.

  • Men of the F.D. Thompson Post American Legion

    This photo shows the first members of the F.D. Thompson post American Legion just after WWII. I have never found out who the men were in the photo. Thank you…

  • WWII Soldiers Making a New Year’s Meal

    In honor of Monday’s upcoming Veterans Day, I give you this photo, which includes a Monroe soldier named Arzellous Howard: https://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/fsa.8e02776/ . I think the order is wrong and the…

  • Teachers of Monroe Colored High School – 1944

    There are some heavy hitting names in this photo! Those identified starting in the bottom row: Unknown, Katie Black Williams, Mrs. McClanahan, Henry Carroll (principal of the school), Clara Andrews,…