Three Grand Openings in One Day!

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! →

Monroe Grammar School Band

The above parade of fifth and sixth grade boys was taken in the mid 1930's on St. John Street. The boys in the band were selected from Sherrouse, Georgia Tucker, Lida Benton and Barkdull Faulk elementary schools. You can see on the right is First Baptist Church and next to it is the old U.S. … Continue reading Monroe Grammar School Band →

Monroe Police Department Cars on St. John

Not a Good Idea…

This was part of the Monroe Jaycees collection we received. It is an advertising flyer about a radio program on KNOE in the 1950's where you could call in and basically complain! NOT a very good idea in today's climate! LOL!

Virginia Hotel Roof Lounge

Did you know the Virginia had a Rooftop lounging area? There was a garden right outside too. Many a banquet and dance were held here! Vantage has fixed it back up. One of the companies that worked on the restoration, Lincoln Builders, has some photos of the building (including the lounge area) up on their … Continue reading Virginia Hotel Roof Lounge →

The Virginia Hotel – 1927

This postcard caught my eye on eBay because I had never seen such a wide angle shot of the Virginia. A later postcard using this exact same angle, crops everything close to the building (I have posted it before). Everything about it is fascinating! You can see all the way to DeSiard on the right … Continue reading The Virginia Hotel – 1927 →

Hotel Virginia Menu

The Virginia was the place to see and be seen. In the Ouachita parish Public Library's collection, we have an old menu from the hotel restaurant. Quite interesting to look at! https://louisianadigitallibrary.org/islandora/object/oplib-orv%3A2

The Virginia Hotel Building Restoration

I remember this building when it was used as a state office building. At the time, I marveled at the white marble staircases and knew there was a jewel hidden beneath all those dropped ceilings! Vantage has done an incredible job of restoring the Virginia to it's former glory! https://youtu.be/ggD2hPadH0g

Hotel Virginia Postcard

What a great old postcard photo of the Virginia Hotel in it's heyday! The building (now owned by Vantage) is absolutely gorgeous inside!

Virginia Hotel Restaurant

Postcard showing the Virginia Hotel Restaurant. It was the place to be seen in it's day!