G.B. Cooley’s Yacht the Weto

In the early 20th century, G.B. Cooley decided he needed a yacht. He was the son and brother of steamboat captains, so he knew what to look for. Cooley ended up buying what was called an "oyster lugger" which had been used to haul oysters and shells to market. It had been in use for … Continue reading G.B. Cooley’s Yacht the Weto →

XYZ Club Mardi Gras Program

When I saw this program come up for sale on eBay on Shrove Monday, my eyes popped out of my head! It even had a "buy it now" price, which surprised me. I thought surely, something like this would be up for bid. You'd better believe I bought it as soon as my fingers could … Continue reading XYZ Club Mardi Gras Program →

History of Mardi Gras in Monroe program tomorrow!

Just a heads-up! Tomorrow morning at 10:30 on the Ouachita Parish Facebook page, I will be going live to talk about the history of Mardi Gras in Monroe! I'll touch on the Mardi Gras Ball in 1869, the XYZ club parades of the 30's and 40's all the way up to the Krewes of Janus … Continue reading History of Mardi Gras in Monroe program tomorrow! →

The First Mardi Gras Parade in Monroe

Happy Mardi Gras! It is parade day in Monroe! I'll be on one of the floats tonight, but I'll be in disguise! If you recognize me, yell, "Throw me something!" Here is a Mardi Gras themed article I wrote for Road Trips a couple of years ago. Many people in the area believe the … Continue reading The First Mardi Gras Parade in Monroe →