West Monroe Salutes Industry

How about this little pamphlet listing some of the industries in West Monroe in the 1950's? Here you will find information and photos of Bancroft Bag, the Union Oil Mill and Monroe Sand and Gravel, to name a few. https://louisianadigitallibrary.org/islandora/object/oplib-orv%3A114

HISTORIC HASLEY: Secrets From The Grave

Last year, the Ouachita Parish Public Library’s Genealogy and Special Collections Department applied for and won a Rebirth Public Library grant* from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Our project was to create a virtual cemetery tour of some of the burials in Hasley cemetery, West Monroe. The fruits of that labor are now available to the public. … Continue reading HISTORIC HASLEY: Secrets From The Grave →

The last link in I-20 is dedicated: 1965

On May 11, 1965, the Stella Street interchange on I-20 was dedicated. We have a rare program from that day in our collection. You can view it here: https://www.louisianadigitallibrary.org/islandora/object/oplib-orv%3A82 . this was the last part of I-20 to be opened in northeast Louisiana.

Glenwood Hospital Opening Program

Another one from the collection is the dedication program for Glenwood Hospital, West Monroe in 1962. There is a lot of historical information in this little booklet! https://www.louisianadigitallibrary.org/islandora/object/oplib-orv%3A106

A Fascinating Scrapbook For Our Collection

Last week, a scrapbook full of pristine candid photos was given to the library. It was about to be thrown into the garbage when it was rescued. What it contained were the personal photos of Inez Marie Schneider Dickinson, taken between 1927 and 1932. Inside were scenes of the 1927 and 1932 floods in Monroe, … Continue reading A Fascinating Scrapbook For Our Collection →

Ouachita Parish History In a Calendar

These were done in the 1980's by the West Monroe Historic Preservation Project. Each month featured a photo and info about the area's past. They are rare, but if you would like to see them, come by the Special Collections Department at the Ouachita Parish Public Library and ask!

A Letter to His Mama

This one comes all the way from Missouri. A radio host asked for people to submit letters from service men writing to the folks back home for a collection. This particular letter was submitted by Mrs. E.C. Mallett, a West Monroe Mother. It was written by her son Earl from the Pacific theatre during WWII. … Continue reading A Letter to His Mama →

The End of Old Trenton

I have always wondered what happened to all the buildings that once made up the town of Trenton. The town was so important before and after the Civil War and then one day, *poof* it is gone. All that is there now are family homes and a historical marker. I happened to stumble across a … Continue reading The End of Old Trenton →

Cottonport becomes West Monroe

The Daily Telegraph (Monroe, LA) October 3, 1883 Page 2 "West Monroe." Why should not Monroe and Cottonport [Note: where Antique Alley is today.] be consolidated? The Railroad Company has christened its depot in the latter place "West Monroe" and that is a step towards it. The old name may cling to the place for … Continue reading Cottonport becomes West Monroe →

A Very Good Boy – The Legend of Buddie The Dog

Perhaps you have wandered around Kiroli park near the amphitheater. On the right side of the amphitheater, past the end of the sidewalk is a grave marker marked with the following: BUDDIE1928 - 1941Born a dogDied a gentleman The legend goes that back in the early days of the park, it was known as a … Continue reading A Very Good Boy – The Legend of Buddie The Dog →