Ouachita Parish Schools and the People They Are Named For.

Do you read the Ouachita Parish Public Library's newsletter called Cattails? If you do, you know that in the back of every issue is an article about local history, written by Cyndy Robertson. The latest newsletter article is about some of the Ouachita Parish schools and the people they are named for. You can read … Continue reading Ouachita Parish Schools and the People They Are Named For. →

The Grave of Unalaska

Last week I had the opportunity to visit the old Georgia Tucker Elementary building and I made sure to hunt for the grave of the sled dog Unalaska. I was VERY happy to find it at a prominent place in the flowerbeds! The current property owners have done a fantastic job of preserving these pieces … Continue reading The Grave of Unalaska →

The First School Bus in Monroe

How about this old newspaper clipping? It shows an early Monroe school bus, circa 1915, parked in front of Kern's Blacksmith Shop, which had built it. Kern's Blacksmith was located on Jackson Street right where Grammont comes in.

Unalaska: the Sled Dog Buried in Monroe

This article was written by me for the July, 2007 issue of Louisiana Road Trips magazine. It was later republished in the September, 2016 edition of Southern Calls: A Funeral Director's Perspective. Tucked away in the flowerbeds of the old Georgia Tucker schoolhouse, is a large tombstone, which marks the final resting place of Admiral Richard Byrd's … Continue reading Unalaska: the Sled Dog Buried in Monroe →

A Priceless Artifact of Monroe Colored High School History

A couple of weeks ago, while browsing Ebay, I found an autograph book for sale from 1941. Looking at the pictures of the pages, I soon realized it was an autograph book owned by a Senior of Monroe Colored High School, class of 1941! When the bidding ended, I was the highest bid. It arrived … Continue reading A Priceless Artifact of Monroe Colored High School History →

Concerts at Neville Auditorium.

I am amazed at the national level talent that came through Monroe in the middle of the last century. I just browsed around searching instances where Neville Auditorium was mentioned in the papers and I was floored. I know this is not a complete list but just look at the names! Neville was one of … Continue reading Concerts at Neville Auditorium. →

The First Kindergarten in Monroe

The Times (Shreveport, LA) June 2, 1894, Page 4 THE KINDERGARTEN. A Highly Satisfactory Exhibition at Monroe.[To the Times.] MONROE, La., May 31. - Some eight months since the first Kindergarten School ever carried on in Monroe was opened by Misses Potts and Trousdale. To-day they gave an exhibition at the opera-house which demonstrated the … Continue reading The First Kindergarten in Monroe →

School Integration…in 1908?

This article made me smile! Daily Enterprise-Leader (New Iberia) December 19, 1908, Page 6 Whites in Negro School. Monroe, Dec. 19. - Two Italian children are attending a private negro school with a negro teacher, who says they presented themselves and that she sees no harm in it. I found another article (New Orleans Times-Picayune, … Continue reading School Integration…in 1908? →

Neville High School – Circa 1950’s

https://www.louisianadigitallibrary.org/islandora/object/oplib-pho%3A491 Anyone recognize these men and women? None were identified. The clothing looks like the early fifties. We do know it was taken on the steps of Neville High School.

Sherrouse Elementary 1952 – 1953

https://www.louisianadigitallibrary.org/islandora/object/oplib-pho%3A489 This shows the second grade classroom of Mrs. Dorothy Bynum at Sherrouse Elementary.