St. Matthew Catholic Church and St. Hyacinth Academy

I was lucky enough to win this postcard last year, which shows St. Matthew Catholic Church and St. Hyacinth School on the left. St. Matthew still stands on the corner of Jackson and Grammont streets. The building did not get the church tower until 1917. The first brick for the church was laid in May, … Continue reading St. Matthew Catholic Church and St. Hyacinth Academy →

U.S. Post Office in Monroe.

I don't think I have ever shared a photo of the old post office. Some old time residents remember getting their vaccines here in later years. What a beautiful building! Can you see St. Matthew without it's steeple peeking out from the side?

The Founders of the Young Catholics’ Friends’ Society of Monroe, Louisiana – 1870

Here is another little gem I found, in the collection of Villanova University in PA. It is the "Articles of Incorporation, Constitution and By-Laws of the Young Catholics' Friends' Society of Monroe, Louisiana". A librarian there was kind enough to scan the little pamphlet and send it to me. One thing I loved was that … Continue reading The Founders of the Young Catholics’ Friends’ Society of Monroe, Louisiana – 1870 →

The Sacrifice and Death of Father Louis Gergaud

I have written about Father Gergaud before. He is considered one of the hero martyrs of the Shreveport Yellow Fever epidemic. While looking around on the internet for info about him, I stumbled across this podcast about him by the Rector of St. John Bachman's Catholic Church in Shreveport. https://shreveport1873.wordpress.com/2018/11/22/episode-4-fr-louis-gergaud-october-1-1873/ There are other podcasts on … Continue reading The Sacrifice and Death of Father Louis Gergaud →

St. Matthew’s High School

In the mid twentieth century, most Catholics in Monroe sent their children to St. Matthew's High School. It is the ancestor of St. Frederick's. The building is no longer there unfortunately. It was gorgeous!

He Died a Hero: The Life and Death of Father Louis Gergaud

This was written for Louisiana Road Trips Magazine in 2008: A call went out in France. Priests were needed in Louisiana. Louisiana was still mostly a frontier in the 1850's, and the Catholic Church needed willing clergy to go into the backwoods to minister to the congregation. Louis Gergaud was one of six priests who … Continue reading He Died a Hero: The Life and Death of Father Louis Gergaud →

Jackson Street at the Turn of the Century: Another View

On November 30 of last year, i posted a view of Jackson street taken probably between 1906 and 1910: .https://ouachitaparishhistory.com/2018/11/30/jackson-street-at-the-turn-of-the-century I found this second view, probably taken pre 1906 due to no trolley tracks in the street. Prominent in the foreground is St. Matthew's Roman Catholic Church. You see that it doesn't have a steeple … Continue reading Jackson Street at the Turn of the Century: Another View →

Jackson Street circa 1945

Judging by the dress and automobiles, this was taken in the mid to late 1940's. It shows a view of Jackson Street taken from DeSiard. You can see Monroe city buses lined up next to the Central Savings Bank & Trust Company building. The sign on the front bus says they are going to Bernstein … Continue reading Jackson Street circa 1945 →

Jackson Street at the Turn of the Century

This is one of my favorite old photos of Monroe! What you are looking at, is a shot down Jackson street. On the left you can see the Jewish Temple with the ten commandment tablets at the top. the white building is St. Hyacinth Catholic School, with St. Mathew Church sitting next to it. Notice … Continue reading Jackson Street at the Turn of the Century →

The Courthouse Square and St. Matthews

The upper photo was one I had never seen until we were given the scrapbook. It shows the courthouse, mostly hidden behind trees. A slightly blurred woman in her bonnet passes by on her errands. To the left is the John G. Sanders Machine Shop with South Grand Street running in front of it. Directly … Continue reading The Courthouse Square and St. Matthews →