The Davis Market and the Central Cafe

What you are looking at is an ad for two businesses, owned by a very forward thinking young man named T.J. Davis. Mr. Davis was only 23 years old when he opened the only African-American owned grocery in Monroe around 1937. Next door there was a cafe, also owned by him. A little paragraph says … Continue reading The Davis Market and the Central Cafe →

I Finally Have Proof!

I have always heard that Louis Armstrong played at the Savoy in the Miller Roy building. I never found concrete proof of that. I found ads for him playing at Carroll's Gym at the Monroe Colored High School, but not the Savoy. Well....found it! March 6, 1937 ad in the Monroe Broadcast.

Fats Waller at the Savoy – 1936

I have been able to get my hands on a rare collection of Monroe African American newspapers from the mid 1930s. My jaw is continually on the ground from what I am finding! I'll be sharing some of the treasures in the next few posts. One of the first things I have found is an … Continue reading Fats Waller at the Savoy – 1936 →

A Short History of the Miller Roy Building and the Savoy Ballroom

Yesterday, I was honored to speak at the unveiling of a historical marker for the Savoy Ballroom at the Miller Roy Building. I was asked if I was going to post the speech here in my blog. I thought that was a good idea, so here it is. I would first like to thank Mr. … Continue reading A Short History of the Miller Roy Building and the Savoy Ballroom →

Ouachita Parish Public Library Historical Photos

I just wanted to take a moment and highlight what my boss has been working on. She has set up a new section on the Louisiana Digital Library to upload historical photos of the Ouachita Parish Public Library. I especially love the photo of Carver Library with the Miller-Roy Building in the background! Check it … Continue reading Ouachita Parish Public Library Historical Photos →

Sidney Saunders Monument, circa 1930

This photo is interesting due to what is in the background! The monument, of course, is the Sidney W. Saunders monument in the Old City Cemetery. What strikes me about it are all the buildings in the background that are no longer there! The only one still there is the Miller Roy Building, which is … Continue reading Sidney Saunders Monument, circa 1930 →

The First Mardi Gras Parade in Monroe

Happy Mardi Gras! It is parade day in Monroe! I'll be on one of the floats tonight, but I'll be in disguise! If you recognize me, yell, "Throw me something!" Here is a Mardi Gras themed article I wrote for Road Trips a couple of years ago. Many people in the area believe the … Continue reading The First Mardi Gras Parade in Monroe →

Miller-Roy Building

The Miller-Roy building is one of the most historically important buildings in Ouachita Parish. In 1929 two doctors, Dr. Dr. J.C. Roy and Dr. J.T. Miller decided that they needed a place where African Americans could do business without begin discriminated against. An African-American contractor named J.A. Beckwith was hired in 1929 to build it at … Continue reading Miller-Roy Building →