Register Volume 14

Thank you for sharing your memories of Alexandria. Charles and I moved away some 26 years ago and we love to reminisce about the good old days. The only thing missing was the old Central grammar school. Again, thank you for sharing.
Wanda Johns Galligan
Oakdale, LA USA - Friday, January 30, 2004 at 20:54:30 (GMT)

Born there in 1941, Bush Ave Grammar school, Bolton grad 1959. Rode my bike past all those places, swimming in the pool one block from my house, catching crawfish in the bayou in front of the pool. This thing almost brought tears to my eyes. What nostalgia!!

My e-mail address is optla@bellsouth.net and I hope old friends will contact me. I would really like to hear from all.

Jimmy Sandefur
Oakdale, La. USA - Wednesday, January 28, 2004 at 15:49:42 (GMT)

Thanks for the memories. Much of my teenage years were pounding the streets or riding the bus around town in Alex. I used to work at a small dress shop on Third between Kress and Wellan's called Holly Dress Shop. I made about $3.00 a Saturday and thought I was wealthy. In those days, three bucks could buy a lot.

Those were the days. Sweet, innocent youth. Thanks so much for the photos. I totally enjoyed the tour.

Linda Welch Anderson
Benton, LA USA - Tuesday, January 27, 2004 at 00:12:25 (GMT)

You have made it possible for me to go back in time. Remembering the good ole days and the special people in them. Your family were a major influence in my life. I will always remember the nightly rides, ice cream cones, and being with your family. Ann Lanelle and I made our first venture down town on the city bus just the two of us. We went to Kress and bought our Mothers look alike earrings to thank them for their trusting in us. One pair was pink and one was blue. An experience I will never forget. Thank you for your hard work. I really enjoy this and will pass it along to others.

Jimmie Lynn Pourcy Gilchrist
Alexandria, La. USA - Monday, January 26, 2004 at 17:56:03 (GMT)

Great work

Van Provosty
Atlanta, Ga. USA - Monday, January 26, 2004 at 15:10:36 (GMT)

A very nice site. I have lived in and around Alexandria, Louisiana since July 1952. Alexandria Air Force Base (now England AFB) was my first duty station out of basic training. I married a local gal back in 1953 and returned here for retirement. Love it!

Louis Crusenberry
Pineville, LA USA - Monday, January 26, 2004 at 02:37:01 (GMT)

Editor's Note: Be sure to visit Louis' s great Web site on England Air Force Base

I grew up in Boyce but traveled to Alexandria and Bolton High for my junior and senor years. Have so many great memories and good friends for life. Our Bolton High 50th Reunion is coming up this Spring. It will be fantastic.

Ken McLellan
Dallas, TX USA - Sunday, January 25, 2004 at 23:07:28 (GMT)

I was born in Alex (1936), lived in Pineville on Main St. next to my grandfather's furniture store (Tullis Furniture). Attended West End in 1st grade for 1/2 year before moving to Oregon for a short time. Pat Givens Butler, my neighbor and friend from Pineville and a graduate of Bolton, told me about your Web Site. I'm looking forward to viewing it.

Fran Smith
Baton Rouge, LA USA - Sunday, January 25, 2004 at 18:08:34 (GMT)

I just found out about this site.

Patrick Sanchez
Sugar Land, TX USA - Sunday, January 25, 2004 at 12:40:20 (GMT)

I admired the enduring, but yet apalling description you explained the rich history of our ethnicity. The way we strive to become better in growing monterary, but can't beat the perfection of our maternal and paternal fiqures that helped reared us. For instance, waking up to homemade buttermilk biscuits with fig jelly, or going to church on Sunday mornings----knowing it was an obligation wheter than an option------ not only watching the pastor, but looking at a glance of madea or mama waiting for an opportunity to smack on across the lip if we fall out of line. I will personally like to thank you for keeping the enlightment of Central Louisiana alive. Thanks.

Ann Bush
Alexandria, LA USA - Saturday, January 24, 2004 at 14:31:42 (GMT)

I moved to Alexandria @ the age of 2 where I was raised and lived until I married in 1987. I have so many fond memories of the "old" Alex. I lived off of Jackson street near Rizzo Pak and Pearson's Drug store. I remember when it was nothing but fields and this one ole man refused electricity until the day he died. After his death, they built Delchamps, Fads & Frames and a multitude of places. I graduated from ASH in 1982. Thank you for the lovely memories!! DeeDee

Denise Patrick Burgner
Benton, Louisiana USA - Saturday, January 24, 2004 at 11:23:22 (GMT)

Neat!

Rebecca Flynn
Alexandria, La USA - Friday, January 23, 2004 at 16:49:24 (GMT)

I was born at Baptist Hospital in 1948. Went to Bolton, Emmanuel Church, and lived out Jackson St. Extension. I now have a home in the foothills of the Smokies in Tennessee and a home in Los Angeles...but boy, these pics make me want to come "home". Thank you.

Muse Watson
Los Angeles, CA USA - Wednesday, January 21, 2004 at 14:25:40 (GMT)

I really enjoyed this website.

Ellen Sasser
Ball, La USA - Wednesday, January 21, 2004 at 00:33:30 (GMT)

Thanks Ken, Having been born in 1937 and partially raised on Jackson and Wheelock in Alexandria before I married Jeannette Fonner and moved to Pineville in 1956, I think Joe Cicardo and I roamed all of the sites that you have so graciously provided to our mind's eye.

Really brings back "The Good Ole Days" to browse through the Alexandria Post Card Collection as well. Great Job!

Dr. Ernie McCullough
Margate, Fl. USA - Monday, January 19, 2004 at 20:42:50 (GMT)

Nostalgic and heartwarming. I so enjoyed the walk down memory lane as well as a few history lessons and facts about this area that I was unaware of. Thanks for taking the time.

Cheryl Malone Vanlangendonck
Pineville, LA USA - Monday, January 19, 2004 at 15:18:42 (GMT)

I enjoyed this picture guide down memory lane very much on one hand, but on the other it reminds me that I am getting old because I remember much of this as thriving and alive. Good job; however, will there be a sequel?

Sandra Sparkman
Minden, LA USA - Monday, January 19, 2004 at 03:21:02 (GMT)

Enjoyed visiting this web site. I graduated from Bolton High School in 1948 and went East to college and have returned rarely since. My parents ran Ginsberg's on Third Street, a business founded by my grandfather in the late 1800's. I particularly recalled the view in your 2003 Retrospective of Albert Street looking toward the Episcopal Church. That picture must have been taken at about the point on the block where I grew up. It is across the street from where Dick and JoBetty Styrx live.

Fred Goldstein
Stamford, CT USA - Monday, January 19, 2004 at 02:52:41 (GMT)

The trip was wonderful and brought back many memories. Born there in 1930, left in 1950, but still have family there.

Bill Ware
Haughton, La. USA - Sunday, January 18, 2004 at 19:10:10 (GMT)

EXCELLENT.........THANK YOU FOR DOING WHAT SO MANY OF US WOULD HAVE LIKE TO HAVE DONE. MEMORIES AFRESH!

JEANETTA MASON ADAMS
LOS ANGELES, CA USA - Sunday, January 18, 2004 at 04:23:14 (GMT)

Wonderful!! Bolton High School - 1944-1948.

Lorna Hamm Nelson
Pineville, La USA - Saturday, January 17, 2004 at 22:22:56 (GMT)

Once again you took my heart back to its roots. I really choked up at the old Murrell Clinic because that is where I was born. Thanks for sharing this with us.

Lauralie Normand Munson
Baton Rouge, LA USA - Saturday, January 17, 2004 at 18:43:49 (GMT)

I own a piece of Alexandria history in the form of a 1957 GMC PD 4104 model Continental Southern Trailways bus, #2012. I had never heard of Alexandria until I bought the bus; on the baggage doors is written "Owner: Continental Southern Lines Alexandria LA"

I enjoyed your site, as it puts some of the history of the bus into perspective. I would like to learn more about the Trailways Company that had its headquarters in Alexandria in the 1950 and 60's.

Anyone is welcome to contact me at the below e-mail address, or (614) 863-6431. Thanks.

Glenn Troyan <gtroyan@insight.rr.com>
Columbus, OH USA - Saturday, January 17, 2004 at 05:27:26 (GMT)

I AM AN ALEXANDRIA NATIVE. WE VISIT OFTEN TO SEE MY LARGE FAMILY IN THE ALEX AREA. PART OF MY LARGE FAMILY IS THE VERZWYVELT CLAN. WE ENJOYED LOOKING AT YOUR OUTSTANDING WEB SITE. I WORKED AT THE GUARANTY BANK FOR SIX YEARS. I MARRIED AN AIR FORCE MAN THAT WAS STATIONED AT THE AIR BASE. WE HAD SIX CHILDREN (IT IS VERY COLD IN INDIANA)

MADELANE BRYDELS BENDER
NEW HAVEN, IN USA - Friday, January 16, 2004 at 22:23:16 (GMT)

Great site! Thanks so much for hosting. I shall return!

Monica Dean
Amherst, VA USA - Friday, January 16, 2004 at 17:48:04 (GMT)

I am originally from Alexandria and presently have an address in Pineville with my wife Cherrie Malone Vanlangendonck and 6 week old daughter Jillian Grace. I am, and have been for two and a half years, living in Baku Azerbaijan where I work for a drilling contractor managing a rig in the Caspian sea. Cherrie will be joining me in March of 2004 when Jillian is three months old.

I too have fond memories of growing up in Alexandria; however apparently our family, being rather large, had to watch expenditures closer than the author of the article, as I can remember paying my way into the Don Theatre many times with bottle tops. We did, however, have dinner once at Herbie Ks accompanied by Mayor Bowden after my Father (Author Joseph "Man" Vanlangendonck) won Ideal Father of the Month. I can't remember the exact year but I know it was in the late fifties.

Thanks for the memories. There are a lot more.

Eugene Vanlangendonck
Baku, Azerbaijan - Friday, January 16, 2004 at 12:02:53 (GMT)

I enjoyed looking at the Alexandria historical Information. I will enjoy hearing from persons connected to our area.

Carol Ann Norsworthy Thompson
Alexandria, La USA - Thursday, January 15, 2004 at 16:46:33 (GMT)

My name is Annie Garnett Monteiro, and I am not from Alexandria; however, I feel close to everything I viewed, because I grew up in those times and viewing the Alexandria Retrospective (even the buildings and neighborhoods) made me nostalgic for the place where I grew up: Fort Worth, Texas!!

I have a dear friend from Alexandria, Vivian Kimble Johnson (who, incidentally, just completed a book about her days in Alexandria), so I do know a lot about the history and culture of your fair city. Your presentation profoundly validates the moods, times and places that she has shared with me and in her book. I thoroughly enjoyed this. It is evident that Alexandria produced a lot of talented people too!

God bless you.
Annie
January 13, 2004

Again I enjoyed viewing the pictures as it brought back many memories of my childhood and what Alexandria once looked like. Thank you for putting this together.

Annette Urban Stepp
January 12, 2004

Grew up in Alex. This was in 30's and 40's. Lived on Levin. Went to Rosenthal and Bolton and La. College. Delivered Town Talk. Played baseball.

J. W. Fleshman
Martinsburg, WV
January 12, 2004

What a treat. I received this from Carol Flowers Robinson.

Carolyn Fleshman Bollar
January 12, 2004

Several years ago, my younger brother and I went home to see my Mom, who doesn't live there any longer, and we toured Alexandria on our bicycles. We are 5 years apart in age, but experienced a very different Alexandria.

It was truly a very good experience. My dad's folks, the Gravels, had lived there all their lives and both of us had lived there until college took us a way.

Thanks for the Retrospective. For us two, other places that you did not show were the city park, and Bolton High School. All my siblings have moved away, now. Alexandria still holds fond memories.

Sam Gravel
January 12, 2004

Mr. Freeman, your photos were awesome and they brought back many memories. I grew up in Alexandria and just wrote a children's book about my growing up there in the 50s.

V Johnson
January 12, 2004

I have enjoyed reading and viewing the pictures of my old home town. I was raised on Oxford St. in what is now the Garden District of town. I remember walking to the City Park Zoo and playing in the rock garden. My sisters and I even walked to the Don Theater. We were more connected in those days. I started working at the age of 16 for Rapides Bank downtown, and continued with them until moving to Avoyelles in 1975... I am very fortunate that I can visit Alex. every week...I still drive through the residental areas. Brings back memories...

Marjorie Buchanan Guillot
Bolton High-1959
January 12, 2004

I first arrived Alexandria LA in April, 1953 when I was 20 years old. I had just finished basic training in San Antonio TX and was reporting to Alexandria AFB for my first U.S. Air Force assignment as a jet mechanic. Along with my young bride, we had driven from Floral, AR (our hometown) that day and arrived in Alexandria around midnight. Being hungry and tired, we looked for a place to eat and relax.

We drove down what I remember was 3rd Street all the way east until we were out of the city. Having seen only one place open along the way, we drove back west on 3rd street to the bus station that was open all night and had a restaurant inside. It was not until later that we learned that 3rd St. was a one way going east! We had driven all the way back to the bus station going the wrong way and had not met one car (thank goodness). I tasted my first chicory coffee that night and called the waitress over to ask her about the "strange" taste that I was experiencing. She said "well, did you want yankee or rebel coffee"? I had not heard of the difference.

Since having been born and raised in AR and spoke with the southern accent, she had just assumed I wanted the rebel coffee. After we left the restaurant, we found a place to park and slept the rest of the night in the car since we were very short on cash and could not afford a motel.

I spent the next three and a half years at the air base (we lived off-base in town) except for a six months assignment (TDY) overseas. I have so many fond memories of Alexandria I won't even try to go into now. I will just mention that some of the memorable names of local families we became close to at that time were the Funchies, Flowers, Petries, Brooks and others. I received your "Alexandria Retrospective" from Betty June Flowers, daughter of Ennis and Ethel Flowers that I spoke of. She now lives in Las Vegas and we have recently exchanged e-mail addresses.

Thank you for the opportunity to view and reminisce of times in Alexandria. It brings back so many memories.

Robert E Gay
San Pedro, CA
January 11, 2004

I am the daughter of Bette Carter and was originally born in Alexandria in 1962. We moved to New Orleans around 1970 and I was 8 years old upon leaving the city. I don't remember too much about Alexandria, just the history mom shares about her upbringing. I thoroughly enjoyed visiting your website and look forward to any future updates to come.

Thank you for preserving the past for all generations.

Kathi Carter Newlin
January 11, 2004

I was born in Baptist Hospital in August 1936. Attended L.S. Rugg Grammar School and graduated Bolton High School in 1954. My Dad worked at Paramount movie theater, Saenger Movie Theater (which sat between Schwartzberg's and Paramount Theater, across from Kresses and Lerner's. He later worked at the Don Theater. He was an elected Police Juror at the time the new Court House was built and his name is inscribed on the original plaque. My Mother was Ethel Welch Flowers now deceased.

She worked for many years at Modern Appliance Mart located on Third Street a block down from Hotel Bentley and Weiss & Goldrings. Thank you so much for bringing back so many fond memories of my home town. I left Alexandria after marriage and moved to Florida, back to Alexandria where my daughter was born at St. Francis Cabrini Hospital. Moved to New Orleans in 1970. I met my husband when he was stationed at England Air Force Base. He later worked for Texas & Pacific Railroad which was merged with Missouri Pacific which was then merged with Union Pacific. After my husband's death, I moved to Las Vegas, NV in 1987 and after I retired moved to Henderson, NV in 2002.

I am going to look through a lot of old photos that I have somewhere in a box and if I find anything of significance I will be sure to submit them to you. I will be returning to Alexandria the end of April for my 50th High School Reunion and look forward to the visit.

Like a lot of other people, Alexandria will always be home to me no matter where I roam.

Bette June (Flowers) Carter
January 11, 2004

I was born in Alexandria in 1934, graduated Bolton in 1951 and married Bill Butler, (graduated Bolton in 1950), in 1955. I lived on Hickory Street and went to Bush Ave. Grammar School.

A lot of your pictures were not familiar to me, but so many were. Thank you for bringing back memories of my childhood and growing up in Alexandria and Pineville. Too bad so many of the old places are no longer there. I well remember the Nehi Bottling Company, watching the bottles go by, and got my drivers liscense next to the Fire Station on Lee Street.

Thanks for the memories.

Patricia Givens Butler
January 11, 2004

I was touched by the memories prompted by your web site. Thank you. I was born and raised in Alexandria, graduating from Bolton High School in 1959. I was excited to see the Guaranty Bank where my dad worked, Bolton High, the Hokus Spokus sign (my dad kept books for that business), Wellans and Weiss and Goldrings where I worked Christmas vacations and summers during my college years, references to Gravel's Drug.

We moved my mother from there 4 years ago and thus do not get back very often. I look forward to sharing the sight with mother, hoping it will spark some memory in her. You have created a treasure!

Gerry Gravel Morris
January 11, 2004

Why not Pineville High School?

Peggy Ratcliff Doucet
PHS Class of 65
January 11, 2004

This is the house at 3216 Marye Street that my father, Edward J Barrett, built around 1949. It was one of the first slab-built home with a stone exterior built in Alexandria after WWII. My father was a builder, realtor, contractor, and later the manager of Hot Wells before going to work for the US Army Corps of Engineers.

Born and raised in Alexandria and a highly decorated WWII Army officer, he was well known in the community. The family moved to Texas in 1964. He died in 1974 at the age of 58 and is buried in the National Cemetery in Pineville. My mother, Frances Barrett, lives in Alabama now.

Ed Barrett
January 10, 2004

Editor's Note: Link to http://www.alexandria-louisiana.com/other-alex-08.htm to see the pictures of the Barrrett house.

I am still looking through the pictures and guest book entries, and the more I see and read, the younger I become. I was born at Texada Clinic in 1941. I went to school at Central Elementary, Brame, Bush, Aiken and Bolton. My mother and father worked at the Evangeline Hotel, and years later, Mother bought and ran the Louise Motel on Lee Street. It was previously the European Tourist Court.

We lived in several places in Alexandria, but the home I remember the most was on Texas Avenue, almost on the corner of Texas Ave and Masonic Drive. I worked at the Don Theater, and when I was around 9 years old, my sister Sue was shot in the foot as we sat watching the movie "Meet Me in St. Louis" at the Joy Theater.

I could go on forever with memories of Alexandria, but will leave room for others. Thank you....THANK YOU for this retrospective. I really needed this!

Sincerely,
Marilyn Burnum
January 10, 2004

As Bob Hope would sing - "Thanks for the memories!" It really brought back memories.

Charles Jackson
St. Louis, MO
January 10, 2004

Another fun trip through Alexandria via memories of others, postcards, and pictures. I love this site.

Jane Jeffress Thomas
Pleasant Hill, Louisiana
January 9, 2004

Wonderful spot....thank you....

My grandfather was Guy Weston Risley....604 Marye Street....Salesman.... My Dad Robert and his twin brother Richard worked at the A &P and during the war....were able to get special rations of toilet paper... My Great Grandmother... Guy's mother was Alice Cary Farmer Risley... one of the last remaining Civil War Army Nurses and DAR...

Many fond Christmas memories of sleeping upstairs and listening to the cars go down the brick streets....

Bless you for your hard work.... a labor of love...

Alice R. Owens
Alexandria, LA
January 9, 2004

I loved the look back into the city that I now call home and have for the past 20 years. I love history and am on the local chapter of the Historical Society and am very interested in preserving our past and interesting places. Thanks for a great look into the past.

Melissa Shelton
January 8, 2004

I want to say thank you for this web site. I visit Alexandria 2 or 3 times a year and have some wonderful memories of my hometown.

Time changes places, but not our memories.

Sandra White Burke
League City, Texas
January 8, 2004

Having grown up in Alexandria and graduated from Bolton H.S. in 1959, the places in your Retrospective are all a part of my growing up. Like so many other towns, the Wal-Marts, Loews and other big companies have crowded out the home-owned businesses. Thanks for the memories.

Susan Hixson Murphree
January 7, 2004

I graduated from Bolton in 66. I have been married 34 years. I was a Navy wife but we retired near Atlanta, Ga. I live in Peachtree City, Ga and we have lived in Ga. 15 years now.

Judith Harris
January 7, 2004

I really love your site. The picture of Noah’s Potato Chips really took me back as we took a class field trip there when I was in the first grade at Our Lady of Prompt Succor! Thanks for making this site.

I live in California, but get home at least twice a year (most of the summer, as I am a teacher) but Alexandria will always be “where I’m from”!

Susan Gremillion
Menard High School 1979
January 6, 2004

This was sent to me from Betty Bugsby. And I must say brought tears to my eyes. And so many memories I had growing up in Alexandria. I was born at Baptist Hospital in 1951 and spent all of my childhood in Alexandria. We lived on Monroe Street... 2119 Monroe Street to be exact.

And the grocery store picture called now I think Super 7 used to be our neighborhood grocery. The door to the left on the diagonal was a drug store. Sorry I can't remember the name now to save my life. But the grocery mart was owned and ran by Sonny Distanfino and his wife.

I left in 1974 after marrying a military man from England Air Force Base. I am going to send this on to all of my friends I still have contact with from Alexandria. They are all over but I know they will enjoy this as much as I did. If you add on to this please send a copy to me. I have saved this one to my favorites and I will return often just to "remember."

Thanks for allowing me to share this and see this. And even for the tears that flowed tonight.

Vicky Birchfield Cobb
January 6, 2004

Still call Alexandria home-visited many places but would not want to live anywhere else. It is home.

Betty Busby Pellerin
Bolton High class of 1966
married to
Leo W (Billy) Pellerin Jr
Bolton High class of 1961
January 6, 2004

Marsha (Wallace) Hawkins
Hampton, Georgia ... I am in the process of re-doing my Father's home on White Street (one of the historic areas). I will be getting married in 2004 and my husband-to-be (who is a contractor) will be overseeing the project.

Life has a way of going full circle and I cannot wait to come home to stay!

Scotty R. Hawkins
Roswell, Georgia
January 4, 2004

What a neat web site! My mother was born in Alexandria and lived there until she was a teenager. She attended school in Pineville and in Alexandria in the 40's. My aunt still lives in Alex and our family vacations were spent, mostly, in Alexandria when I was growing up visiting the Duncan Clan (The Huey Duncans of Eola Dr.)

I can remember the water tower being lit up at Christmas. We came after Christmas usually and I always thought that was a most beautiful sight.

My mother still talks a lot of places like Gravel's Drugstore. I have numerous photographs that have old time Alexandria in the background. I can send some if you like. Thanks.

Sharon
Hendersonville, TN, January 2, 2004

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