Ruston Louisiana Retrospective

Union Bus Depot, Ruston, Louisiana

Although not generally considered part of Central Louisiana, Ruston is less than 100 miles from Alexandria, and even less distance from the northern reaches of Pineville and Tioga. It's located in central North Louisiana on Interstate I-20 between Shreveport and Monroe.

The many rides I took on Salter Bus Lines from Alexandria to Ruston weren't really very far...a short journey through Pineville, Bentley, Dry Prong, Winnfield, Dodson, Jonesboro-Hodge, Quitman and then the arrival in downtown Ruston at the bus depot (see postcard shown to the right).

Ruston has a special place in my memory from four very good years attending Louisiana Tech University along with my wife-to-be. It was a still very much a small town during the mid-1960s when I lived there.

Among my favorite memories is exploring with my girlfriend the newly-built Tech Stadium in September 1968, barely ready for the first game in the stadium with East Carolina University.

I became involved with Ruston again during the early 1990s when my daughter and son-in-law graduated from Tech. We became multi-generational Tech supporters!

North Louisiana is also home to many of our other favorite communities: Farmerville, Minden, Grambling, Gibsland, Arcadia, Dubach, Spearsville, Haynesville, Homer, Springhill, Summerfield, Cotton Valley, Downsville, Choudrant, Rayville and so many others!

Ruston retains many historic buildings from the late 1800s. Postcards represent a media that enables us to visualize, and remember, the past. Knowing the value that such cards possess in documenting Ruston's past, I have assembled a small collection depicting the architecture of Ruston and Louisiana Tech during the first 50-60 years of the 20th Century, and am making it available to others via this site.

It is recognized that this is still not a complete collection, and I encourage those with postcards or photographs not yet posted here to submit them for inclusion in the collection, thereby offering everyone with Alexandria and Ruston connections an opportunity to enjoy, and appreciate, them.

Historic Ruston Postcards: Downtown

South Vienna Street Ruston Louisiana
Trenton Street, looking North, circa 1920s Ruston Louisiana
Vicksburg, Shreveport and Pacific Railway Freight Depot Ruston Louisiana
View of Business Section Ruston, Louisiana Circa 1938
View of business section, circa 1948 Ruston Louisiana
T. L. James and Company, Inc Building Ruston, Louisiana
U.S. Post Office, circa 1920s Ruston, Louisiana
Scene in Woodland Park Ruston, Louisiana
South Vienna Street, one of Ruston's Shaded Avenues, Ruston, Louisiana
Lincoln Parish Courthouse Ruston Louisiana
Ruston Louisiana Business District from the Air

Historic Ruston Postcards and Photographs: Louisiana Tech University

"New" Harper Hall Louisiana Polytechnic Institute, later Louisiana Tech Ruston Louisiana Circa 1960
The "LA TECH" Water Tower (Demolished 2009) Louisiana Polytechnic Institute Ruston Louisiana
Keeny Hall Louisiana Polytechnic Institute Ruston Louisiana
Howard Auditorium and Our Lady of the Mist Louisiana Polytechnic Institute Ruston, Louisiana
Howard Auditorium Louisiana Polytechnic Institute Ruston, Louisiana
The "Old" Education Building Louisiana Polytechnic Institute Ruston, Louisiana
Tech Stadium Under construction, March, 1968, in the snow
Tech Stadium Nearing completion, September, 1968 The first game in the stadium was played on September 28, 1968, against East Carolina University. Tech won the game 35-7, led by legendary quarterback Terry Bradshaw. In these photos, the scoreboard shows "LA TECH" and "E CAROL U", and details of the stadium are still obviously under construction. Neilson and Caruthers dormitories are seen the background of the upper and lower photos. The facility was renamed Joe Aillet Stadium in 1972 in honor of the highly successful coach of the Bulldogs for 27 seasons. The stadium is today often referred to by students, fans and alumni as "The Joe". In the north end-zone today is the electronic scoreboard and videoboard marvel known as "Dawgzilla", erected in 2009.   Photos © Copyright Epagentry Design Studios

Historic Ruston Postcards: Hospitals

Ruston Hospital, Ruston Louisiana
Ruston Lincoln Sanitarium Ruston Louisiana

Historic Ruston Postcards: Churches

First Baptist Church, Ruston Louisiana
Temple Baptist Church, Ruston Louisiana

Historic Ruston Postcards: Schools

Louisiana Methodist Orphanage Ruston Louisiana
Ruston Louisiana Schools High School, Hillcrest School, Eastland School

Historic Ruston Postcards: Motor Courts and Motels

Lincoln Hotel Courts, Ruston Louisiana
Lincoln Hotel Courts, Ruston Louisiana
Lincoln Hotel Courts, Ruston Louisiana
Holiday Inn Interstate 20 Ruston Louisiana
Motel Pines, Highway 80 West Ruston, Louisiana
Robert Louis Motel and Restaurant Ruston Louisiana