Register Volume 16

It was wonderful to see Alexandria as it was when I was a child. Back then you could walk down Bolton Ave. and your parent's did not have to worry about you as you went to the Don Theater on a Sunday afternoon. You could take the bus down town to go to the Paramount Theater for the Mickey Mouse Club for the price of R.C. Cola bottle caps. Even though I was born in 1956, I enjoyed the journey back. Thanks, Debi

Debi York
Pineville, La USA - Sunday, May 30, 2004 at 03:45:29 (GMT)

I really enjoyed traveling through the past with the material you have on line. I am looking for history on the Ruston Foundry. It operated from 1909 until 1985. If you have any information on where I can be directed to inquire about this Company and its people, it would be appreciated. chester.a.culley @ kcsr.com

Chet Culley
Kansas City, MO USA - Tuesday, May 25, 2004 at 14:53:50 (GMT)

Hey, this is great. I was born and grew up in Alex. Graduated from Menard in 1974. Played in the band. I remember going to Bill Kearns gas station and buying and selling coins, riding my bike in the rock garden at City Park, and watching the Aces. Anyone want to get in touch, mlanius @ aol.com.

Malcolm Lanius
Ponchatoula, La USA - Monday, May 24, 2004 at 15:48:37 (GMT)

Your website is very out of date. The closed but not forgotton are all open and thriving or about to open. The Kress building is now the Rapides Foundation Building - home to about 75 tenants. The building next door that had the cleaners sign has been beautifully restored and is the Coughlin Saunders Building. The old Masonic building is in the process of being restored for office rental by the same real estate company that has so sucessfully kept the commercial building at 100% occupancy. The old Wellan's site is the home to the almost completed 8 million dollar new performing arts center. The grand opening is August 27, 2004 and it already booked for over half the weeks in the next 12 months. The Schnacks building is renovated and will reopen as the Diamond Grill at about the same time as the Performing Arts Center. Get with it. We're not dead here!

Judy Jenkins
Alexandria, LA USA - Saturday, May 22, 2004 at 18:59:50 (GMT)

I was there between Nov 85 - Mar 89 with the 23rd EMS Armament Systems Banch

Michael Broach
Grand Rapids, MI USA - Saturday, May 22, 2004 at 15:45:00 (GMT)

I have enjoyed looking back at my first home away from home again. Alex was my first duty station with the Air Force back in 1985-1987. I was fresh out of tech school and about 18 years old when I got there. My times at the clubs there were great and I met a lot of great locals who really went out of their way to make us guys feel at home.We used to go in the middle of the night to an all-night diner that was at the end of the road coming from the back gate into town but I can't remember what the name is. Great coffee though. Great times and great friends there. Thanks for the memories!!! We need to do something like this for Savannah.

Fred Wiggins
Savannah, Ga. USA - Saturday, May 22, 2004 at 03:53:44 (GMT)

England AFB 1963-1966. 613th TFS, 614th TFS. Fighter Pilot

H. Louis Collomb
Annapolis, MD USA - Saturday, May 22, 2004 at 01:37:30 (GMT)

Reading all the messages makes me feel so good about my hometown!

I was born in Alex, attended Providence Academy, Cabrini, and graduated from Bolton, and lived here until l972. We moved back last year and although so much of the town we knew has changed, the photographs and messages help keep all my memories alive.

It is good to be home and to be in touch with others who remember, appreciate and love our hometown. The place I miss most has got to be Magnolia Park. Are there any old photographs of that magical place? Thanks for all the effort that has gone into this venture. Kathleen Bagley Foto katfoto @ mailstation.com

Kathleen Bagley Foto
Pineville, LA USA - Monday, May 17, 2004 at 16:18:24 (GMT)

Hi, I was born and raised in Alexandria on Sept. 3 1955. I always will be a southern girl at heart. I really enjoyed this web page.

My interest in my birth place will always interest me. I do have a question however. If I may ask my question concerning Camp Livingston's old Ice House, please let me know as I would love to continue reading more on "my home City."

Cindy (Cartwright) Early
New Whiteland, IN USA - Sunday, May 16, 2004 at 16:03:38 (GMT)

MICHELLE CROWELL, in reading your post, I note you are looking for relatives in or from the Alexandria area, some of whom were name Wright. My great grandfather was a Southerner who lived near Atlanta. During the Civil War he hid out and named my grandfather Abraham Lincoln Wright when he was born in 1865, the year the hostilities ended. To further express his dissatisfaction with the conflict, he later named another son Ulysses Grant. My grandfather subsequently lived in Poland, a farming community about 20 miles west of Alexandria for many years and died there during World War Two. If you believe there may be a connection between your relatives and mine, send me an email at mcgough3 @ cox.net, and I will ask a cousin who resides in Pasadena, California, to contact you. He knows much more about our family history than I do.

Larry Bringol
New Orleans, Louisiana USA - Saturday, May 15, 2004 at 23:51:29 (GMT)

What a wonderful site!

My father was stationed at England Air Force Base when I was born. Not having been back to Louisiana in some years (too many to mention) I was wanting to see if there was a place where I might find a picture of the base to add to my memorabilia when I found your site. Also wonderful were the postcards; my mom went into labor while she and my father were at a movie and didn't have time to get to the base doctor, so I was born at Huey P. Long Hospital.

Keep up the good work.

Marie Campbell
Eureka, CA USA - Tuesday, May 11, 2004 at 03:01:03 (GMT)

I'M STILL ENJOYING THE RETROSPECTIVE AND HAVE TRIED TO PASS IT ON TO FORMER CLASS-MATES. MY LOCATION HAS CHANGED AND WOULD LIKE TO ADD ANOTHER MEMORY.

DOES ANYONE REMEMBER THE CHRISTMAS SCENE THAT WAS ALWAYS PUT UP ON THE LAWN OF THE HOUSE ACCROSS THE HIGHWAY FROM THE MASONIC HOME? IT WAS A LITTLE CHURCH WITH LIGHTS INSIDE AND LITTLE TREES AROUND IT. THERE WAS A LOUDSPEAKER INSIDE AND YOU COULD HEAR CHRISTMAS CAROLS. MY DAD WOULD TAKE US OUT THERE AND WE WOULD SIT AND LISTEN. THE HOUSE ISN'T THERE ANYMORE BUT THE MEMORIES ARE, SWEET ONES. IF ANYONE DOES REMEMBER, LET ME HEAR FROM YOU AT MY E-MAIL ADDRESS - PMREER @ AOL.COM

ELOISE EAST RUDLOFF
JACKSONVILLE, FL USA - Monday, May 10, 2004 at 20:46:16 (GMT)

I was stationed at England AFB from 1968 thru 1970, and worked at the hospital. Would like to hear from some old buds. mtracey @ burkburnett.org

Mike Tracey
Burkburnett, TX USA - Saturday, May 08, 2004 at 23:50:38 (GMT)

Enjoyed the site. Grew up in Alec. Attended Rosenthal Elementary, and AJH. Lived in Enterprise. My Dad worked for Holsum Bakery. Remember spending a lot of time at Tony's bait stand that was at the corner of Rapides, and Bolton Avenues. I left Alec in 1965 or 1966. I went back recently and visited with some of my DeSoto buddies (Harry, Rodney, and Raymond). Sure was nice to see them again. Alec sure did change, but seeing the place once again did bring back some fond memories. My e-mail address is :locoman77373 @ yahoo.com if any remembers me.

Gary LaBorde
Spring, TX USA - Friday, May 07, 2004 at 20:33:34 (GMT)

My connection is that I was raised in the rural area about 20 miles west of Alexandria and taught school in Alexandria for 24 years, and would love to hear from some of my former students.

Patsy Coleman
Boyce, LA USA - Thursday, May 06, 2004 at 02:43:31 (GMT)

I just happened upon your website. I was born in Alexandria in 1944 and lived in Pineville for twenty-eight years before moving away. The postcards, pictures, and commentary brought back so many wonderful memories. Thank you for sharing them.

I look forward to referring my family and grandchildren to this website.

Marilyn Jo Humphries Curtis
Vicksburg, MS USA - Tuesday, May 04, 2004 at 15:03:28 (GMT)

I was born in Alexandria and raised there for 28 years. I attended St Rita's and Providence and graduated in 1963. I have visited over the years one of the things my husband and I found out in case anyone is interested that the Newcomb studio has lots of pictures and if I am not mistaken they can be purchased. I loved shopping as a little girl at Kress and going to the coffee shop and having a Grapette.

Rosa Brotherton
Barrington, nh USA - Friday, April 30, 2004 at 14:44:47 (GMT)

Hi, just wanted to commend you on the time and effort you put into this site.

We moved here from Massachusetts last summer and have spent quite a bit of time studying the old buildings and wondering what life must have been like in Alexandria during the past several decades.

Thanks for the detailed, firsthand explanation!

Natalie McDonald
Pineville, LA USA - Tuesday, April 27, 2004 at 21:22:56 (GMT)

Way cool!!
Julia
Greenville, SC USA - Sunday, April 25, 2004 at 21:15:48 (GMT)

Does anyone out there from Alexandria perhaps remember Robert "Buddy" George, born in 1927. Graduated from Bolton and attended Louisiana College and LSU Baton Rouge? That would be my father, and I was also born in Alexandria. So was my sister, Janet Faye George Suela, of Las Vegas, Nevada. Please respond if you were friends with my father or enemies! Hah! He is in Woodville, Mississippi and not faring well at all. It is a very sad situation. He used to be an Allstate Insurance agent and was good friends with Joe Villard, MD. raymondsmom @ earthlink . net

Helaine George Barrington
Merryville, La USA - Friday, April 23, 2004 at 05:01:06 (GMT)

Really great going down memory lane with the site.

I graduated from Menard in 1952 and married Agnes Converse. We travelled around in the military and retired in 1976. Our four children are grown and gone, replaced by four cats. Loved seeing the comments about Alexandria and the surrounding area, nostalgia grabbed me. Would love to hear from some old friends. eldrew @ eastex . net

Elmore Hynson Andrews >
Goodrich, TX USA - Thursday, April 22, 2004 at 19:48:58 (GMT)

Just looking around the net and came across this web page. Very nice site.

I was born and raised in the Alexandria area, went to Rosenthal, AJH, and Bolton High School. Last year in school as a graduate was 1963...hummm...long time ago.

Very good memories from that past...keep up the good work.

James M. Williamson III, Bolton High School 1963
USA - Wednesday, April 21, 2004 at 16:50:32 (GMT)

I am a beginning genealogist, researching my Wright, Taylor, Snowden, Brown & Hill ancestors who were from Cheneyville, Lecompte & Alexandria in Rapides county. Finding your site has helped me to replace my imagined views of Alexandria with reality. I visited Alexandria once when I was 6 yrs old, but don't remember it. I love the site and will probably visit it often to see if I can find any of my family connections... Thanks for sharing your memories! Michelle (Micki) Crowell

Michelle H. Crowell
Elk Grove, CA USA - Monday, April 19, 2004 at 16:37:31 (GMT)

I love this site, and you are so generous to share your efforts, and I appreciate it so much.

The faded sign on the side of the building on Lee, near the old Nehi bottling plant, says Thomas Camella Hardware I think. There was a small hardware store north of Simple Printing Co., and I think this it it. The Camella family had several businesses on both Lee St and Bolton Ave. In the mid 1940's Mr Camella had a fruit and vegetable wagon, pulled by a horse, that he drove thru the garden district every morning. It had a canvas roof and the scale that hung on a chain under the roof. He had a big brass bell which he rang to alert the cooks and housewives that fresh produce was for sale at their doorsteps.

Some time near the 1950's he bought a pickup truck and rigged it to sell his produce from. In the mid 60's he had a store on Bolton Ave between Marye and Elliott Sts. where he still sold produce. I can remember buying bananas from his wagon as a little girl. He'd cut them from a huge stalk of bananas hanging from the supports of the canvas awing on his wagon.

Elizabeth Grigsby Reimer
Alvin, TX USA - Saturday, April 17, 2004 at 19:54:24 (GMT)

Born at England Air force base in Alexandria in 1961. You've brought back memories of shopping with my grandma Pauline Allen. We would go to Wellans, Grants, J.C.Penney's downtown. She worked at Weiss and Goldring and moved with them when they moved to the mall. Eating a hamburger at the counter at Grants was always a treat. I miss her, she passed away in 2002 and was placed at Alexandria National Cemetary in Pineville. Thank you for this wonderful site. Dixie Berry Burlew

Dixie Berry Burlew
Deville, La. USA - Friday, April 16, 2004 at 22:00:03 (GMT)

WOW! Thank you so much for spending the time to produce this website. I was born and raised in Alexandria, Cabrini, Menard (2 years old school on Elliott, 2 years new school - which looks old now) graduated in '69. What you have done here made me feel good, OLD, but good. Thanks again.

Michael Paul Blank
Dallas, TX USA - Thursday, April 15, 2004 at 20:47:22 (GMT)

I grew up in Elic and still have family there. I love what you are doing here. If you could only add the sounds of summer afternoon locusts...

Jimmy Stafford
Jackson Hole, WY USA - Wednesday, April 14, 2004 at 22:30:32 (GMT)

Thanks for the great site. Too bad there isn't more about Pineville. Some of our parents who worked in Alexandria, lived in Pineville or other communities, even Fishville and Pollock. It would be great to see pictures of the whole CENLA area. Thank you for this site. It certainly touched my heart.

James W. McKenzie III
Evans, GA USA - Tuesday, April 13, 2004 at 14:45:45 (GMT)

GA USA - Tuesday, April 13, 2004 at 14:45:45 (GMT)

Thanks for bringing me back home. I really miss Alex. Graduating from Bolton High in 73, I left behind alot of good friends and memories. Cindy Garcia Daniels

Cynthia Garcia Daniels
ATLANTA, GA USA - Thursday, April 08, 2004 at 21:44:20 (GMT)

I graduated from Menard High in 1961 and was a boarder from out of state. Do you have pictures of the old Menard or Providence Highs?

Ted P. Crowley
Safety Harbor, FL USA - Tuesday, April 06, 2004 at 20:27:46 (GMT)

My interest in the Alexandria Retrospective is in the hopes that it will lead me to relatives in the Alexandria area. I have traced my ancestors back to Cheneyville and Alexandria. There were there since at least the 1820's. I'm hoping to get in contact with some of their living descendents, my distant cousins. Please let me know if you have any suggestions on how to find Snowdens from the Cheneyville/Alexandria areas.

Thanks,

Eric Snowden drsnowden @ comcast.net
Los Angeles, CA Thursday, April 1, 2004

• Back to the Register Index to view more entries