The Naming of Lake Beulah

The Times-Democrat (New Orleans, LA) June 7, 1906, Page 10 The engineering corps of the Municipal Street Railway and Forsythe Park have asked the privilege of naming the beautiful lake which will be the chief attraction and ornament of the city when the park is completed, and have, out of compliment to the wife of … Continue reading The Naming of Lake Beulah →

Windmill at Forsythe

Did you know that Forsythe Park once had a big windmill? It was built to hide something. In the February 20, 1930 issue of the Monroe News-Star was the following article: Windmill at Forsythe Monroe citizens yesterday read with approval that the city is building a rustic windmill enclosing the salt water well at Forsythe … Continue reading Windmill at Forsythe →

Dr. Andrew A. Forsythe and Sister Sarah Jane Forsythe Carter

https://louisianadigitallibrary.org/islandora/object/oplib-pho%3A463 This one just doesn't feel right to me. I believe it is misidentified, although that happened a long time ago. The man does not look like Mayor Forsythe. Compare that photo with this one of Forsythe and his sister and you can DEFINITELY tell that is him: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/26784034/sarah-carter

DeSiard Street is Paved!

...or about to be! Back in November, 1898, Mayor Dr. Andrew A. Forsythe had just been elected. It seems he hit the ground running! This appeared in a New Orleans newspaper: MONROE.Dirt Broken for the First of Many Improvements. Monroe, La., Nov. 23. - At noon to-day, Mayor Forsythe broke the first dirt on DeSiard … Continue reading DeSiard Street is Paved! →

A Political Postcard featuring Mayor A.A. Forsythe

https://louisianadigitallibrary.org/islandora/object/oplib-orv%3A62 This is a postcard from our collection showing a rooster and a photo of Mayor Forsythe. Why a rooster you may ask? The symbol of the Democratic party was once the rooster. As a matter of fact, in one election, the opponent's slogan was "Turn the rooster!". Political ad from a local paper in … Continue reading A Political Postcard featuring Mayor A.A. Forsythe →

“Moving Pictures of Monroe, La.”

I found this article in The Shreveport Times, August 18, 1913 and it made me ill! I want to see this SO BAD! The Palace Theatre (note: Not the Monroe Palace Theater) has the following announcement: Moving pictures of Monroe, La.; the Salt Water Natatorium and street scenes of Monroe and the Saenger enterprises of … Continue reading “Moving Pictures of Monroe, La.” →

Talking Headstones: Mayor Dr. Andrew Alexander Forsythe

Back in 2013 just before Halloween, I and three colleagues portrayed four figures in Ouachita Parish History. We performed at the West Monroe Branch library on Cypress Street to rave reviews. Some of the video done of our performances is only just now coming online. Here is the first of the videos, portrayed by Larry … Continue reading Talking Headstones: Mayor Dr. Andrew Alexander Forsythe →

Monroe Electric Light Plant

This rare postcard shows the Electric Light Plant in Monroe. This one one of Mayor Forsythe's projects.

Mayor Forsythe Lying in State

Mayor Forsythe's coffin - 1914 The above photo is from the collection of the Ouachita Parish Public Library's Genealogy and Special Collections Department. It shows the coffin and funeral offerings for Mayor Andrew Alexander Forsythe lying in state in Monroe's City Hall. Mayor Forsythe had passed away on September 29, 1914. He was buried in … Continue reading Mayor Forsythe Lying in State →

The Shooting of W.S. Wade

Written for Louisiana Road Trips back in 2013: August 22nd of 1909 was an exciting day in the little town of Monroe. A fire burned down Capt. L.D. McLain's lumber mill, just north of where the old cotton seed oil mill still stands. It was estimated that the loss would exceed $100,000. People were … Continue reading The Shooting of W.S. Wade →