Rare letters from a Former Monroe Mayor to his Brother.

This letter comes from the collection of the Tennessee State Library. https://dp.la/item/7e8ec396f9f15af0fd3f96f41953b620?q=Monroe%2C%20LA&page=6 It is a two page letter from Arthur Hambleton Harris to his brother George Carroll Harris in Nashville. The Civil War had just broken out and he was trying to get his brother in a regiment with his relatives. You really see how … Continue reading Rare letters from a Former Monroe Mayor to his Brother. →

1928 Dedication of Bernstein Park

https://louisianadigitallibrary.org/islandora/object/oplib-pho%3A5 I really love this one! Men in the photo, l to r: Mayor Arnold Bernstein, Dan Breard, Commissioner of Finance, P.A. Poag, City Treasurer and Will Atkinson, Commissioner of Streets and Parks. Of course, Bernstein Park is now the site of the Monroe Zoo.

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! →

Campaign Postcards

Another part of our political collection are some old postcards candidates mailed to registered voters. This one is for Monroe Mayoral candidate, Elmer Slagle (he didn't win!) https://louisianadigitallibrary.org/islandora/object/oplib-orv%3A80 How about David E. Brown for Congress? https://louisianadigitallibrary.org/islandora/object/oplib-orv%3A79 Harvey H. Benoit for mayor! This one was addressed to Sallie Humble (He won) https://louisianadigitallibrary.org/islandora/object/oplib-orv%3A75

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 →

Meet the 1915 Monroe City Council

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 →

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 →

Monroe Mayor Lewis Denison Allen, Jr.

I found the above photo several weeks back. I had never seen a photo of mayor Allen. Lewis was born in New London, CT April 19, 1838. His family later settled in the St. Louis, MO area where he grew up. After coming to Monroe and becoming a successful businessman, he served as Monroe's mayor … Continue reading Monroe Mayor Lewis Denison Allen, Jr. →

The Unsolved Murders of Crawford and Harris

I found this article several years back in the Ouachita Telegraph. It appeared Saturday, September 13, 1873. I incorporated this story into my Old City Cemetery tour. Harris was Monroe’s first popularly elected Mayor, elected at the youthful age of 23 in 1855. His death, unfortunately, was just a case of being at the … Continue reading The Unsolved Murders of Crawford and Harris →