What Plantation?

This is a bit frustrating. I am familiar with the names of plantations, but I don't really know the exact area they stood in. I can tell you exactly where Limerick Plantation stood (on the site of Sherrouse House), but some of the others in that same area, nope. That is frustrating at the moment, … Continue reading What Plantation? →

Selecting the Site of Ouachita Junior College

Back in 1930, the Ouachita Parish School Board and Police Jury decided to bring higher education to the Parish. The first problem, was selecting a site. A July 18, 1930 article listed the suggested sites: Dr. E.G. Calvert suggested 15 acres west of the railway, west of West Monroe and running through to Stella street. … Continue reading Selecting the Site of Ouachita Junior College →

Hotel de Flournoy

This one stumps me. I find no references in the newspapers to "Hotel de Flournoy". Is this just the farm of the Flournoy family? Who knows!

The Cantillon Settlers

Tuesday's post had me thinking about the Cantillon settlement, established over three hundred years ago. Who were these people? If you remember my post a while ago on it, I said this appeared to be the first real effort by the French at settling the area now known as Ouachita Parish. They set up residence … Continue reading The Cantillon Settlers →

Fort Miro/Ouachita Settlement Semiquincentennial Coin

I found this curious coin for sale on eBay and bought it. I have it in a holder, hence the white "fingers" holding it in place. After a little research, I found that the Louisiana Numismatic Association produced different metal coins each year commemorating different Louisiana historical events and sites. They honor whatever city they … Continue reading Fort Miro/Ouachita Settlement Semiquincentennial Coin →

Biographical Sketches of the European Immigrants of Northeast Louisiana, 1880-1900

The above book, compiled by William Francis and Debra Nance Lawrence in 1982, is a treasure trove of biographical information on northeast Louisiana European immigrants of the late 1800's. I decided to share the names of the Ouachita Parish immigrants listed in it. The entries are mainly by the male's name, but their families are … Continue reading Biographical Sketches of the European Immigrants of Northeast Louisiana, 1880-1900 →

Portrait of Abraham Morhouse

A few weeks ago, stumbling around the internet, I found this little gem. It is identified as Abraham Morhouse and it is in the collection of the National Portrait Gallery of the Smithsonian. You can see the book it came from here: https://npg.si.edu/bache/book . The image is on page 26 on the right hand side, … Continue reading Portrait of Abraham Morhouse →

The Baron de Bastrop

Bastrop is more closely associated with Morehouse Parish and Texas, but did interact with Ouachita parish and is an early settler of Colonial Ouachita Parish. The Texas State Historical Association has a great write up on the self-styled "Baron". https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/bastrop-baron-de Another article about him is found here: https://www.tshaonline.org/texas-day-by-day/entry/765 64 Parishes has a great article about … Continue reading The Baron de Bastrop →

Ouachita Parish Runaway Slave ads

These have been collected over the years from area newspapers. It was quite common for the local law enforcement to advertise captures of runaway slaves in local newspapers, and hope word got back to their enslavers. If they were not claimed, the captive would be resold. I have always wondered how many of these men … Continue reading Ouachita Parish Runaway Slave ads →

Crystal Springs

The above photo, taken around 1922, was used on the front cover of the "Images of America: Monroe and West Monroe Louisiana" book. This spring was located between Kiroli Park and Good Hope Road in West Monroe. It was owned by Dr. Henry David Catlett. In 1925, it was rumored that the nearby Hasley Cemetery … Continue reading Crystal Springs →