November 16, 1925 was a great day in northeast Louisiana history. A grand opening banquet was being held for the Hotel Virginia in downtown Monroe. It was Monroe's newest and grandest hotel, filled with all the luxuries available at the time. A banquet was held for guests and area residents at the time to introduce … Continue reading Three Grand Openings in One Day!
Tag: Sterlington
Mayors of Sterlington
Back in 2018, I compiled and posted a list of mayors of Monroe, Richwood and West Monroe. At the time, I was having trouble getting the 1980s-1990's mayors of Sterlington to have a complete list for the town. Well, I think I finally have them all! Mayors of Sterlington, LA Dr. Calvin Folds 1961 – … Continue reading Mayors of Sterlington
A Glimpse of Life in Northern Ouachita Parish in the Early 1800’s.
I have told you about our dear friend Charles, who left behind a biography of his early life in the area that would become Sterlington. He was the nephew of John T. Sterling and the son of Robert Harris Sterling, of the Morgan/Morhouse feud fame. The documents he left behind now reside in California, but … Continue reading A Glimpse of Life in Northern Ouachita Parish in the Early 1800’s.
New Fear Unlocked: The Unfortunate Death of Ernie Young
Late in the evening of February 4, 1953, gas pipeline worker Ernie Young crawled into one of the large gas lines at Sterlington to clean it out. While he was cleaning, his fellow workers had no idea he was in the pipe. The men welded the pipe shut. By the time they found Ernie, it was too late. It … Continue reading New Fear Unlocked: The Unfortunate Death of Ernie Young
A Photo of the founder of Sterlington?
This is another photo found in the collection of Dr. E. Russ Williams. On the back was the notation, "Poss. John Sterling". That would be John Taylor Sterling, whom Sterlington, LA is named for!
Sterlington in 1932
Sterling Plantation
Take a look at this picture of Sterling Plantation taken in 1941 before the plantation burned November 2, 1944! It was built by John Taylor Sterling in the early 1800s and was the seed that planted the town of Sterlington! This is the first photo of it that I have ever seen. It was the … Continue reading Sterling Plantation
A New Treasure to Pour Over!
I found about a month ago, a collection in the Huntington Library in San Marino, CA that uncovered an entire lost history of the people who lived around Sterlington in the 1830's. It is the papers of Charles Boliver Sterling, the son of Robert Harris Sterling and Eliza Caroline Morhouse. Remember Robert? He was the … Continue reading A New Treasure to Pour Over!
Beloved Sterlington Principal Leaves Behind a 43 Year Legacy in Education.
Dedication page photo from the 1951-52 Smithy yearbook. Some of you from the Sterlington area may have had this gentleman as a principal. Mr. O.K. Bailey, Sr. served for 43 years as principal of Sterlington's Elementary, Jr. High and High School. The above photo was taken when he served as principal for A.L. Smith School. … Continue reading Beloved Sterlington Principal Leaves Behind a 43 Year Legacy in Education.
The Phillips Family of Sterlington
Going north on 165 to Sterlington, you may notice a large stone cross with a few low headstones around it. This is a family cemetery for a very powerful family in the area during the Civil War and into the turn of the century. The Phillips family were the owners of the Lonewa plantation in … Continue reading The Phillips Family of Sterlington
Ouachita Parish History Tidbits 