Legends of Bryant’s Addition Documentary

Please forgive the short post today. I'm still recovering from Saturday's parades and my legs and hips are still in pain! OW! Riding a float hurts! A local filmmaker has produced an excellent documentary of three NBA/NFL players who grew up in Bryant's Addition on the Southside of Monroe: Larry Wright, Rubin Jones and Charlie … Continue reading Legends of Bryant’s Addition Documentary →

The History of The Bright-Lamkin-Easterling Home

The land that the above home would be built on, was once part of Henry Bry's Mulberry Grove plantation. The Bry family sold the land to William A. Bright, a railroad baron, to build his home on. The Louisiana Review (New Orleans) April 18, 1890, page 1 Major W.A. Bright, of the H., C. A. … Continue reading The History of The Bright-Lamkin-Easterling Home →

Colorful Characters of Fort Miro Program

I just wanted to let everyone know that on this Thursday the 17th at 5:30 pm at the Main Branch of Ouachita Parish Public Library, I and three of my colleagues will present a program about four residents of colonial Ouachita parish. You will hear from Fort Miro's commandant and Monroe's founder Jean Filhiol, his … Continue reading Colorful Characters of Fort Miro Program →

“The Scroll and the Flame”

I have been playing around with AI and wanted to see what it could do. I gave it all the information I had on Monroe's black sheep couple, Sidney and Annie Saunders and told it to write me their story. Here is what it came up with. A few things are incorrect, but the story … Continue reading “The Scroll and the Flame” →

The Circus Comes to Monroe

150 years ago tomorrow, the Great International Menagerie, Museum, Aquarium, Grecian Circus and Grand Roman Hippodrome (Whew!) came to town. This ad appeared in the paper New Years Day. What a sight it must have been!

1893 Worlds Fair Edition Transcript

Years ago, I transcribed the entire May 15, 1893 Monroe Evening News World's Fair edition we have in our Special Collections department. I printed out a copy for the Genealogy Department to have and that has been the only access to it. Through the years I have shared some photos from it as well. I … Continue reading 1893 Worlds Fair Edition Transcript →

“FRIENDS”: A weekly News-Star Column

Back in October 1979, the News-Star decided to create a regular column where a local citizen would be profiled each day. It was called "Friends" and lasted till about 1987. I took it upon myself to index those columns, and this index contains the names of almost 2,200 individuals! The person's photo was included, along … Continue reading “FRIENDS”: A weekly News-Star Column →

The Golden Eagle Military Band

While browsing on ebay a few weeks ago, I saw this photo pop up on my list: I immediately recognized the photo as a member of the Golden Eagle Military Band. I bid on it and won. It is no bigger than the palm of my hand. The Golden Eagle Band was here briefly in … Continue reading The Golden Eagle Military Band →

Endom Bridge?

This is another postcard that claims to be the old traffic bridge (Now Endom) in Monroe. Some things seem "off" to me. For one, I really don't see the railroad bridge behind it. zooming in, I see some things that could be it, but not definite enough for me. The second thing is, what the … Continue reading Endom Bridge? →

A Pioneer’s Tale

As told by Daniel Armand Breard, Sr. to the News-Star, December 4, 1925, Page 5. BREARD HAS SEEN CITY GROW FROM VILLAGE OF 350Octogenarian Tells of Early Days in Ouachita Parish Seat. Recalling Monroe as a little village of 350 people, back when his memory first began to function, D.A. Breard, Sr., told reminiscently today … Continue reading A Pioneer’s Tale →