Alexandria Register
Volume 2

Thank you for visiting the Alexandria Retrospective Web site. You can view more entries via the Register Index.

If you haven't already signed the Register, we would be pleased if you would join the many others with Alexandria connections who have viewed this site, and take a minute to sign the Register!

Loved looking at the old Alexandria.

Brought back memories of a bride from Oklahoma and her Georgetown husband paying a visit to the "big" city in Louisiana with her in-laws who thought this "big" city girl needed to see that Louisiana had big cities, too. LOL I have remained here and love my adopted state and area.

Thanks for this beautiful memory.

Elaine Berthelot
Pollock, la USA - Wednesday, January 15, 2003 at 12:48:31 (GMT)

Thanks for the memories, friend. I cried when I saw the shells of the Kress and old Wellan's Department Store, as I worked there part time while attending Bolton High in 53-54. I've been back to Alex within this past year, but didn't have time to really look around & see all that's been lost. But you can be sure I'll take a closer look the next time I'm "home". I can't wait for out 50 year reunion in 2005. Thanks again for the great memories. Adrienne

Adrienne Mouton Stevens
Mesa, Az USA - Wednesday, January 15, 2003 at 04:44:53 (GMT)

I wish you had included photos of Providence and Menard. Those are, for many of us, the real memories of Alexandria in the 40's and 50's.

I love your idea, and the joy many of the pictures invoked inside of me. thanks for sharing.

Joan Lanius
Alexandria, LA USA - Wednesday, January 15, 2003 at 04:41:01 (GMT)

I moved to Alexandria when I was in the middle of the eighth grade. Bolton High School had three (3) floors (I'd come from a school in Lafayette with only two) and I got lost every day for the first full week. There were so many students, from eighth grade through seniors (no Junior High's back then). The times were lots easier in the 50's, but we didn't know it.

The Air Base was in full swing, and "downtown" was still downtown. It mostly consisted of 2nd, 3rd, & 4th streets. All the stores shown on the Retrospective, plus many more unmentioned, were where everyone shopped, worked, and played. Bolton Avenue was in the picture as an "alternative" place to shop. The MacArthur Drive Shopping Center was still a field, only a plan in someone's mind, just around the bend of time.

I remember taking the bus to Suburban Gardens, then walking the rest of the way down Jackson Street Extension to the empty lot, and tending, watering and feeding my horse every afternoon. When my parents built a new house on Camille Street, Jackson Extension was still graveled and barely two lanes. No subdivisions, no offices, no Alex Sr. High, etc., just open and empty fields, except for the two large plantations (now gone) along the road. Our narrow vision kept us from seeing what was yet to come in the ensuing years.

I remember a trip to Suburban Gardens with my Dad every Friday night to share a half dozen raw oysters.

What a treat. When I started dating, the place to go with friends was Lazarones on Lee St., or Fuzzy's on Bolton Ave.. A burger and curley Q's was the only thing to order there. The Drive- In theater at the intersection of MacArthur Drive and Leesville Hwy. was the place to see a movie. Oooohhh, I can still taste the hot dogs loaded with chili and onions. Only memories now, that an "old stomach" would reject.

Progress?? I guess they call it that. What about you? We can't go back to those times. I don't regret the old days, but I miss them. We had lots of good clean fun. Times long ago, but not forgotten, for sure !!!

A. Stevens USA - Wednesday, January 15, 2003

Thanks for bringing back to me many memories.

The Gulf Service Station on Bolton Avenue was owned and operated by my dad in the late 1950s and through the 1960s.

It was of three stations he had in Alexandria. I worked at one time or another at all three when I was in high school and college in the 1950s.

Paul H. Bergeron
Knoxville, TN USA - Tuesday, January 14, 2003 at 20:03:37 (GMT)

This was a great walk back in time. My father, Otis Edgerton, loved taking before and after pictures all around Alexandria. He kept quite a good history on photographs.

Ann Edgerton Darling
Boca Raton, Fl. USA - Tuesday, January 14, 2003 at 19:55:26 (GMT)

I loved this web site and what a stroll down memory lane! I too was born in Alexandria in 1948, grew up at 2442 Alma Street, and went to Our Lady of Prompt Succor School.

I remember Sister Cordelia, Mrs. Knobloch, Mrs. Bledsoe, Sister Constance, Sister Miriam Dorothy (the principal), Sister Mary Linus, Sister Euphrosine, Sister Marcella Marie and Sister Helen Margaret (principal before Sister Miriam Dorothy).

Look at the list of Sisters that taught us, now there are very few sisters teaching. Our catholic schools have mostly lay teachers these days. I graduated from Providence Central High School in 1966, went to college and never really returned to live in Alexandria. I visit every few years and like the creator of this web site, I take trips down memory lane every time I'm there.

Adrienne Marie Dunham Bernhard
Slidell, LA USA - Tuesday, January 14, 2003 at 19:52:39 (GMT)

This was so exciting to be able to take another look at our past, here, in Alex....my Dad's name was mentioned...which made it more important for me and viewers, to look at this beautiful piece of artwork that was so nicely put together.

Thank you for including my family's name...it made it very special...

Mary L. Kearns Ducote
Alexandria, La USA - Tuesday, January 14, 2003 at 11:42:50 (GMT)

It's great to see pictures to accompany the stories I've heard all my life. Do you happen to have any of the D&H grocery owned by the Damicos and Hamms?

Lisa Nelson Bonfanti
Alexandria, LA USA - Tuesday, January 14, 2003 at 01:43:47 (GMT)

Never thought such a bunch of dilapidated buildings could evoke such memories.

Richly done and very strong. Thanks.

Rod Masterson
USA - Monday, January 13, 2003 at 23:51:05 (GMT)

This Retrospective was super. Thanks for taking the time to put it all together. I enjoyed seeing all the old pictures along with the commentaries which included my Dad with his service station and coin shop.

Thank you again for all of your hard work. Is nice to have such wonderful and warm memories of our youth.

Kathy Kearns Gawthrop
Pineville, la USA - Monday, January 13, 2003 at 22:45:54 (GMT)

I was born in Bunkie in 1941 and can still remember how we looked forward to trips to "Alex". During the summer, we would come to the City Park, as it was called, and swim at the old natatorium. This brought back worlds of memories.

Gail Bordelon
Marksville, LA USA - Monday, January 13, 2003 at 19:51:23 (GMT)

Thank You. Great Job! Lots of memories.

Jack Sleet
Los Angeles, CA USA - Monday, January 13, 2003 at 16:27:40 (GMT)

We have a lot to offer, as you show.

Sincerely, Jack Randall (Menard HS, '61)
Jack Randall
Alexandria, La USA - Monday, January 13, 2003 at 16:05:42 (GMT)

Great piece. One great institution you missed was 16 Bolton Avenue: Gravel's Drug Store and Cherry Nectors (I am prejudiced).

The building is now a furniture store.

Time goes so fast , thanks for putting this together.

Paul S Gravel
McLean, va USA - Monday, January 13, 2003 at 15:27:11 (GMT)

Very Good.

Maybe you can add Skippy's Lounge and Medica's Cities Service, Lee and Hill St.

John Medica Jr.
Baton Rouge , La. USA - Monday, January 13, 2003 at 14:55:38 (GMT)

Thanks for the great work.

Bill Miller
Baton Rouge, LA USA - Monday, January 13, 2003 at 14:54:36 (GMT)

I love the memories. On great spot was Holsum's bakery, late night hot bread spot after a few drinks at Skippy's. Thank you great memories.

Van Provosty
Atlanta, GA USA - Monday, January 13, 2003 at 14:22:57 (GMT)

I enjoyed the journey of reflection. Alexandria was my grandparents' home, my parents' home and my home. No matter where life takes me, it will always be home. I was born in 1942, graduated from Menard High School, USL and SMU. Thank you for preparing the "journey" back in time.

As I viewed the pictures, I remembered just about everyone of the sites, and reflected on some moment in my life where those places fit in. It also brought tears to my eyes as I remembered people who no longer are alive, and how special they were to me.

Alexandria was, and is, a different kind of town. When people ask me about the personality of Alexandria, I tell them you had to live there to appreciate it.

It was a great place to grow up during the years of my youth. Thanks so very much for sharing the Alexandria Retrospective.

Kind regards, Ken Ardoin. Most people remember me as Kenny.

Ken Ardoin
Flower Mound, TX USA - Monday, January 13, 2003 at 13:15:23 (GMT)

I was born in Alexandria and still have relatives there. I have been gone from there for almost 30 years, but still manage a trip home every few years. I enjoyed your Retrospective.

Sue Ledig Semans
San Jose, CA USA - Monday, January 13, 2003 at 05:42:41 (GMT)

So what's my free association: Wellans, how I joined the famous picketing of Wellans at Christmas, 1969, when an up-and-coming 'leader' of the black community organized a boycott because upper middle class white high school girls got jobs gift wrapping presents at Wellans, but black girls applying for the same jobs were turned down. How can I forget the day my dad left the Texada Clinic and drove directly to the Principal's Office at 'new' Menard, how puzzled I was at how Fr. Biggar tried to explain to me JUST how irate Daddy was, how this was a REALLY big deal, and how I learned a lot that day (during and after the threats to have all my college funding from my parents cut off) for having been so intemperate to put the family in an embarrassing situation. Yep, those are memories of 'coming of age' in Alex.

Too bad the author (who did a great job on this website) couldn't remember the name of Turpin Pontiac. Merrick Turpin spent many a night in our house playing poker, losing money hand over fist most nights, laughing delightfully, having FUN out with 'the boys', and not caring all that much about the monetary losses compared to the recreational gains.

Mike Miller
Madison, WI USA - Monday, January 13, 2003 at 02:09:30 (GMT)

Thanks for the memories....sad as they are. Yes, Alexandria is the people and not the buildings nor the neighborhoods. It was a great place to grow up.

Fran Aertker Barbato
Lafayette, LA USA - Monday, January 13, 2003 at 01:19:37 (GMT)

Born and raised in Alex, I remember all of these places. We also stood in front of that furniture store and watched the shows on their television set, especially when they had color. We had a black and white set which was only affordable because we gave up our family outing once a week to the Rex theater.

My dad decided since we could not afford the color, we would buy one of those 3 dimensional color papers to put over our TV so we would have color! Was that a waste of money! The hair was green, the face blue! What a laugh now and what wonderful memories!

Thanks for sharing this retrospective and all of your hard work.

Elaine LaJaunie Klibert
Marrero, LA USA - Monday, January 13, 2003 at 01:02:54 (GMT)

I spent many a happy time in Alexandria. Every Dec. 8th my parents would take us on a trip from Plaucheville to the city to see the Christmas lights and to do some shopping.

Since my grandmother lived there, I also spend time in the summer with her and my cousins. Thanks for the memories.
Karen Moise
Covington, La USA - Monday, January 13, 2003 at 00:26:27 (GMT)

Wow!

Bobby Thomas
Austin, TX USA - Monday, January 13, 2003 at 00:08:28 (GMT)

Wonderful memories. Alexandria was really such a great place for kids back in the '50s and '60s, though we often thought it was a really "square" dump by the time we were in high school.

I especially remember the Don, the Paramount, and the Joy theaters, Kiddyland, Reed & Bell, Nehi, cherry nectars, the Christmas decorations on the lawn of the old courthouse, the city swimming pool, Wellans, the hook and ladder fire truck at the city park fire station, Rizzo's grocery, Fuzzy's, and of course, Menard and Providence high schools.

I also remember you and your dad. You were a year ahead of me at Prompt Succor and Menard, and your dad sold insurance to my dad.

Does anyone remember the name of the Bakery located near the old Trailways station at the end of Elliott that sold a marvelous cookie that they called "sand tarts"?

Glen Saucier
Branford, FL USA - Sunday, January 12, 2003 at 20:45:04 (GMT)

Wow! What memories.

A 62 grad of Menard, I was transformed back to the best of times. THANKS.

Earl Yeomans
Kenner, LA USA - Sunday, January 12, 2003 at 16:15:04 (GMT)

Thanks so much.

R. L. Douglas
Meridian, MS USA - Sunday, January 12, 2003 at 15:56:47 (GMT)

The old red boarded up business on North Bolton Avenue was once a Gulf Service Station managed by my father, Lawrence Thiels in the 50's.

The old house on Main street was owned by my neighbors sister Ms. Edna Haynes.

Thanks for the trip back in time.

Nita Thiels Poole
Zachary, La. USA - Sunday, January 12, 2003 at 15:33:05 (GMT)

I have lived in Alexandria now for 42 years, born and raised a half block from Our Lady of Prompt Succor, a half block from the old Menard Memorial High School, which is now an empty city-owned lot.

I remember sitting outside my grandmother's house behind the school and selling lemonade to the football players after practice.

I also remember the old A&P on Bolton. Many times I rode my bicycle there to get cokes or candy.

Albert Parr
Alexandria, LA USA - Sunday, January 12, 2003 at 14:04:09 (GMT)

I lived next door to the Rapides Bank on Bolton Avenue (behind the bank) at 3 y.o, on Fisk Street before that.

I remember the Pack O' Fun Club at the Don, the CYO, Lazarone's, those old clubs just outside the city limits that stayed open after midnight, the Tiki, and I remember seeking who I was, finding meanings at every step.

Your photos are great reminders of the markers of our lives, of our dreams forming from little toy cars at Kress's to the first Grand Prix for sale.

All along those sidewalks, I think we were looking for happiness, seeking to avoid suffering, and now when I walk along the old streets, spirits speak. The parade of seekers moves like a wind along the old brick roads, and through the empty streets...our youth's spirits roam still in the night.

Glenn Guillory
Alexandria, LA USA - Sunday, January 12, 2003 at 12:35:29 (GMT)

Register Index