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Alexandria
Register 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! Memories! Bill Heinberg This is a wonderful and loving tribute to a place of the past. Long-buried memories bubbled to the surface as I examined this retrospective. I didn't realize that Wellan's was now an empty lot; the ability to instantly restore it with my mouse brought feelings of both joy and great nostalgia. We grew up on Chester Street and walked to Prompt Succor and later Providence. I remember charging the groceries at Owl's and pulling them home in my red wagon. The walk to Don Theater along beautiful Marye Street is still a vivid memory, and probably the reason that the movies still hold magic for me today. Thanks for taking the time to share these memories. Mimi Methvin
Your picture "Former Service Station" did have a clock. It is/was located at the corner of Bolton and Lee. It was service station # 12 built by Esso Standard Oil. During the 40's it was operated by Larry Beason's (Bolton Hi, Class of '47) father. Larry operated a hobby shop on the Lea street side selling mostly model airplanes. Rudy Cannon Grew up in Pineville/Alexandria -- P'ville High School 1964 Mike Young Bruce, MS USA - Friday, January 17, 2003 at 17:48:40 (GMT)
The photographs of the buildings on 3rd Street, particularly of Wellan's, bring back wonderful memories: being thrilled when Wellan's established the Generation III floor, just for teenagers, and being able to take clothes home, on approval; the escalator and the vacuum tubes at Weiss's; every Fall, when in high school at Bolton, going to People's to buy new Weejuns; Homecoming parades; movie dates at the Paramount; glancing furtively at the poster for "Darling" out front of the tiny foreign movie theater (memory fails as to what it was called); dances at Convention Hall, sponsored by K"Dixie"BS; shopping, with my mother, for wedding presents at Schnack's and at Koblem's; as a little girl, having to wear white gloves to lunch at the Bentley. Apart from 3rd Street, I used to love to go to Gorden's Travel Agency to visit the minah bird and to Allen's Bicycle Shop to see their latest offerings. Going to the Saturday Matinee, at the Don, was fun, too, especially if a trip to the Jack and Jill Shop, around the corner, on Jackson Street, was in the offing, afterwards. Going to the Cream-ee for soft ice cream.
I still worship at St. James Episcopal Church, on Bolton Avenue, and live in what we now call the Garden District, mere blocks from where I grew up. Bridges' Drug Store, at the corner of Polk and Bolton, is now Fowlco Printing, although Annell Bridges Lewis still lives in the family's Polk Street home, right behind. The Bottle House, in her back yard, remains a marvel (some of my wedding champagne bottles, along with my sister's and my mother's, are part of the walls) and I'm still intrigued by the elevator in the main house. A few things haven't yet faded away and I am grateful. Elizabeth Weber Levy Alexandria was my home from 1966-1988. Friends and family still live there, and I visit several times a year. Frank Chenevert Flowood, MS USA - Friday, January 17, 2003 at 16:12:19 (GMT) This is a WONDERFUL site..have put it into my favorites to keep..so many memories, so much that I had forgotten. I can't thank you enough for taking all the time it must have been, to put this together. It was also fun to go thru the Register..THANKS FOR ALL THE MEMORIES AND CARING!!! P. K. Cheek Alexandria, La. USA - Friday, January 17, 2003 at 15:46:36 (GMT)
I was born in Alex in 1966, at England Airbase hospital. At various points throughout my childhood, I grew up in Alex: I came back for 7th grade and stayed through high school (2yrs at Menard and 2yrs-graduating from Bolton in 1984). My mom, Judge Swent, my Grandmother, Marion Donaldson, my Sister and her husband, and numerous more distant family and friends still live in Alex. My grandfather, Col. Donaldson bought Tyrone Plantation on Bayou Rapides, half a century ago, and my family still owns it today. We were just in town for Christmas with my 4yr old and 7 month old. Mat Matherne was my grandmother's sister's husband who owned the Esso, my mom worked in the Guaranty Bank building downtown at the Provosty firm when I was in high school. I have been in the buildings. I know the nostalgia. Thanks for putting this together. I want a CD so I can show my kids some day--this is where daddy grew up. Thanks again. William Swent It was nice to take a trip down memory lane with you. Growing up in Alexandria, a place I considered where time stood still, where everyone knew everyone's family name and were some how connected one way or another. Memories of walking to school with
our neighborhood friends, treating ourselves to a frosty root
beer at Reed and Bell's on a Sunday afternoon It is heartbreaking
to return to see how things have changed and how those around
there have forgotten how safe it was to walk the streets with
out fear of being mugged or murdered. How leaving your doors
unlocked and stopping to help those in need are a thing of
the past... Well, you're a little older than I, but I remember most of your landmarks. Both my husband and I grew up here and remain here (except for four years in Baton Rouge at LSU), raising our family in a wonderful place. I'm sending your retrospective on to my kids (who won't remember most of your pictures), to give them a sense of where their parents and (in Brian's case) grandparents grew up. Brian's great-grandfather Whitfield was an important contractor after the War Between the States and re-built much of Alexandria, so he has truly deep roots. Thanks for your work and energy. Kristin Hufford Duke GREAT WORK! BRINGS BACK MEMORIES OF THE WAY THINGS USED TO BE. Lauren Chatelain Marksville, LA USA - Friday, January 17, 2003 at 15:10:54 (GMT) This was great. Thanks for taking the time and effort to do something like this. There are many more memories, but not enough space....The Paramount, Sanger, Rex theatres. The pool hall on 2nd street, and many more. Thanks for sharing. Ken McLellan dallas, TX USA - Friday, January 17, 2003 at 14:42:17 (GMT) This was a lot of fun! Thanks so much. It brought back many fond memories of my childhood days. I lived next door to you and certainly have wonderful memories of your family. I attended Prompt Succor and graduated from Providence High in 1959. Thanks again for the tour down memory lane. Carole Baker Bennett I've only been a visitor to Alex (my late husband's hometown), but I think this is an outstanding piece of work. Mary Fillette Pinola, MS USA - Friday, January 17, 2003 at 03:52:54 (GMT) I was raised about 15 miles West of Alexandria in a community by the name of Wilda. I enjoyed looking an reading you retrospective. I have shopped in a large number of those old stores and have fond memories of them. Thanks for refreshing those memories. Patsy Coleman Boyce, LA USA - Friday, January 17, 2003 at 03:37:18 (GMT) Grew up there. Graduated from Bolton in 1959. Many good friends and great memories. Thanks for the tour. Charles Heinberg Tulsa, OK USA - Friday, January 17, 2003 at 03:12:07 (GMT) Enjoyed seeing old sites of the city I grew up in. L McCarty Alexandria, LA USA - Friday, January 17, 2003 at 02:17:32 (GMT) ENJOYED LOOKING AT ALL THE OLD PICTURES AND REMEMBERING. MY DAD AND UNCLE HAD A BARBER SHOP ON JOHNSON ST, AND ALSO HAD ONE ON BOLTON AVE. MAMIE CAMPO CROXTON BATON ROUGE, LA USA - Friday, January 17, 2003 at 02:13:27 (GMT) I really enjoyed your walk down "memory lane". Many thanks. Donna White Ruston, LA USA - Friday, January 17, 2003 at 01:02:56 (GMT)
My father designed the Fire Station #4, and also renovated the Schnacks downtown in the early 30's. I'm glad someone has put these memories together. Jerry Heinberg This was great I am not as old as you, but I remember most of these stores. My mom worked at Weiss & Goldring. I used to walked to Kress & Grants, A&P on Bolton with my cousins, brother & sister. We each had a bag to carry home LEIGH G MITCHELL pineville, la USA - Friday, January 17, 2003 at 00:47:24 (GMT) This trip back brought tears to my eyes. Even my mom was mentioned in one of the slides. I'm forwarding this to the people who I know grew up in Alexandria and moved away. Thanks for some great memories. Ernie Knobloch I was born and raised in Alexandria. It was really nice to look back on my home town. I live in Lafayette now, but still visit Alexandria when I get a chance!! Leecie Chicola Kennedy USA - Thursday, January 16, 2003 at 22:00:59 (GMT)
Was disappointed you didn't include Peoples Shoes in your photos of downtown and the past! Did enjoy the comments and pictures. J. Mykoff Being in only my early forties, I have cherished memories of many of the same sites pictured here. It's amazing how my memories and my fathers memories are so closely related to those of many others. It certainly puts a new light on my feelings towards Alexandria and the closeness of the community. Buying my first bag of marbles from Kress, taking my first bus ride with my great Aunt Olivia, and watching the Christmas parade from my fathers office near the top of the Guaranty bank building. Thanks for taking the time and energy to put together such a nice presentation. Emile P. Oestriecher, IV What a wonderful trip back in time. My mom used to say that time got faster as you grow older. Somehow it's hard to argue that now. It was great fun looking at the photos and reading the captions. You did a super job and also did a great service to the community. Traveling back to Alex from time to time to see family, I have looked through many of the windows of change. But, it's always fun to see the things that don't, like brick streets and old alleys where I use to ride my bike..... Let's have coffee sometime. Gene Baker (Menard '69)
I, too, attended OLPS for 8 years before moving on to Menard and graduating in 1979. My father, Robert J. Gremillion, Sr. - an Alexandria native, attended St. Francis Xavier Cathedral Academy, St. Rita's and Menard Memorial. I have lived in Calif. for the last 13 years, but Alexandria still is and always will be home. Thanks for the beautiful memories this retrospective brought back. Susan Gremillion West Congratulations on creating a lovely and touching retrospective. Thank you for helping to preserve images from our town that are quickly disappearing and memories that a slowly fading. Patrick Randall
Thanks for the memories. Your web site is a wonderful idea and jump started a lot of thoughts. The old Murrell's Clinic on Murray Street at Bolton Avenue (building still stands and houses a radio station and other businesses) was where I was born. I lived in Alex, graduated from Bolton High in '68, married, moved away in '69, moved back several times over the years for short periods, and moved back again nearly 12 years ago. Family activities in the 50's included viewing the animated Christmas displays in Wellan's windows each year, trying out the newfangled fast-food joint called Burger Chef on MacArthur Drive, driving around to gasp at the new autos each year through the showroom windows at the dealerships, & going to the old drive-in theater ('Twin Theater'?) on South MacArthur. Joe Ellis with the Weather Bureau gave us the weather forecasts by telephone on KALB evening news (he later became my father-in-law).
Other memories include eating at Herbie K's on Lee Street, and their sign that read "World's Best Food, World's Worst Service", collecting bottle caps to see free Saturday morning movies at the Paramount and Don Theaters, ordering curly-q's at Lazarone's Drive Inn, shopping at our first discount store, (Gibson's on MacArthur Drive), and going to work with my Dad at the Standard Printing Company downtown (where the Holiday Inn in now standing). Most memories of buildings seem larger than life, but the massive and statuesque building that is Bolton High School looks the exact same to me today as it did over thirty years ago. Rita Litton Ellis Editor's Note: Read more about Herbie K's I grew up in alexandria. My father owned S & J Chicola Grocery on Lee Street. I remember so much of what you talked about. How fun to get this. Wanda Chicola Ozier Thanks for the Great Pictures down memory lane. My family is from Alexandria - My father owned the Burger Chef back in the 60s (before there was ever a McDonalds). Some of you might remember my brother - Bobby Ball - he went to Menard, graduated in 1964. He dated Cathy Chandler and ran around with Leon Medica all thru H.S. Unfortunately he was accidentally killed at the age of 52. He was a great guy and I really miss him. My sister Linda Ball, was a cheerleader at Bolton in the late 60's, she married Joe Brocato and they still make their home there.
Some of my memories of Alex - that I see no one else has mentioned was of Castor Plunge and the City Park and the rides and Zoo. I also remember at the ripe old age of 7 - serving hamburgers and sweeping the parking lot of the Burger Chef while all the H.S. kids were cruising around the parking lot - I think a few of you might have tried to run over me - but I thought I was really something big and was really trying to impress you guys. I now live in Tomball Tx, a suburb of Houston, but would give anything to move back to Alex or Natchitoches (I played baseball at NSU from 1976 to 1980). Thanks again for the site and would love to know if anyone out there might have a picture of the old Burger Chef. God Bless. Randy Ball Editor's Note: Click here for more contributions from Randy Ball on this site. Ah! Nostalgia... ain't it grand? You have skillfully presented the ragged edges of what was once a more congenial spot -- a very different place to live -- or was it? Roy Dunn Dallas, TX USA - Wednesday, January 15, 2003 at 21:54:44 (GMT) Christy Alexandria, LA USA - Wednesday, January 15, 2003 at 21:44:55 (GMT) Very interesting! Christen Brocato-Bernard Houston, Tx USA - Wednesday, January 15, 2003 at 21:37:24 (GMT) I moved to Alexandria in 1954 at the age of 14 when my Father was stationed at England AFB. It has pretty much been home ever since, although I have traveled away several times and stayed away for several years I have always come back.
All of your photos bring fond memories of cruising Bolton Ave, curley-Qs at Fuzzy's, A&W root beer, pep rallies on the steps of old city hall and much more. Things have changed and not always for the best. Thanks for the memories. Cecil Myers Excellent Site!! Kim Donaghey Alexandria, LA USA - Wednesday, January 15, 2003 at 21:06:07 (GMT)
This is a wonderful tribute to alexandria. i hate to see that so much of downtown is gone. it must have been so nice in its day. i think a picture of ol' bolton high school would be a pleasant addition to this site. erin norton spisak Thanks for the memories! Wayne R. Parker Houston, TX USA - Wednesday, January 15, 2003 at 20:28:00 (GMT) Lived and grew up in Alex from age three until I joined the U. S. Navy in Jan 1959. Attended Our Lady of Prompt Succor Elementary, Menard Memrial High (the original one on Elliott), and Bolton High. Great memories of the growing up process. Attended the Class of 1958 Bolton High School reunion in May of 2001 which was the last time I visited Alex. Terry J. Tassin It was before my time but I really enjoyed it. Laura Luneau USA - Wednesday, January 15, 2003 at 19:38:44 (GMT) Gosh, this brought back so many memories. I was raised in Alexandria and still live here. Things have changed so much, but it's good to look back and see where we've come from. I have forwarded this web site to our relatives in Belgium. Thanks for all the hard work!! Janel Thiels Gaines I know it will never be the same. Katherine Erny Gaar Lafayette, LA USA - Wednesday, January 15, 2003 at 19:05:16 (GMT)
Graduated from Menard. Class of 59. Received this link from one of my brothers. JOB WELL DONE. David M. Blalock Just this morning I had been thinking that I lived less of my life in Alexandria than in Baton Rouge. Then someone sent this site. I realized that maybe the BEST years had been spent there! Thanks for doing this for all of us. Lauralie Normand Munson Baton Rouge, LA USA - Wednesday, January 15, 2003 at 18:12:10 (GMT) I lived on the corner of 15th and Magnolia until 1953. I was the last graduating class (7th grade) to go to West End Grammar School. Started the 8th grade at Bolton High (before there were any junior high schools and graduated from Bolton High in 1958. Retired from the Town Talk after 30 years in 1991. Moved to my present home in Elmer (other end of Twin Bridges Road) in 1995. Do you remember Magnolia Park and Castor Plunge? Whitey Parker
Need some shots of the park... the old zoo ... rock garden... and the swimming pool.... thanks for the tour.... Harry M. Brown This is great, will forward to some friends who were in business back then. George R. Davis Alexandria,La., USA - Wednesday, January 15, 2003 at 15:42:52 (GMT) I loved seeing all the old buildings, etc. I was born in Alex, moved when I was 5 & lived all over the world, and decided when I was 18 to move back to where my roots were. Best thing I ever did!! Melanie McGraw Nunnally Pineville , LA USA - Wednesday, January 15, 2003 at 14:59:37 (GMT) You did a GREAT! job on this web site. It brought back many fond memories. Thank you. Joe Carbo, III
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