Alexandria Register
Volume 5

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I am a lifelong native of Alexandria.

Diane Durham Melder
Alexandria, La USA - Thursday, January 23, 2003 at 03:28:00 (GMT)

You have captured our past well. Alexandria was a great little city in which to grow up and it is so sad to see it age.

I really enjoyed the picture of Wellans at Christmas. You can almost see the mechanical figures moving in the display windows and smell the new clothes inside as you walk over the creaking wooden second floor.

I also attended Cabrini, Prompt Succor, Brame, ASH and Bolton.

Thank you for sharing these moments with us.

Brett Bell
Virginia Beach, VA USA - Thursday, January 23, 2003 at 02:41:14 (GMT)

My Grandmother and Grandfather raised 6 children on Bush Ave in Alexandria.

I remember going to visit and walking to the park, zoo and natatorium in the summer heat. The evenings were spent watching the little league games in the ballparks near the pool. I remember it well!!!

Lois Laine
PASADENA, MD USA - Wednesday, January 22, 2003 at 23:52:54 (GMT)

This is such a beautiful and memorable collection of Alexandria's past. I was not born until the late '50s, but my parents and grandparents constantly told stories of their childhoods and adult lives in Alexandria.

What I am not part of physically, I am part of through their memories. Thank you for the chance to see their memories.
Mona Kelly
Alexandria, LA USA - Wednesday, January 22, 2003 at 18:52:51 (GMT)

I really enjoyed the pictures - they brought back wonderful memories. I grew up up in Alexandria and graduated from Bolton in 1956. (married Dennis "Doody" Dinnat). My father was in the construction business (W.R. Aldrich & Co.)

I would love to have the Dinnat Bakery, Bolton High School, Lazarones Drive Inn, the corner lot of Marye & Jackson streets (where all the guys played football on Sunday) included. These were all fun places in the 50's.

Thanks for your time and effort in putting this together for so many to share.

Janice (Holland) Dinnat
Alexandria, LA USA - Wednesday, January 22, 2003 at 18:34:41 (GMT)

Thanks a million. If you wish to add to your collection, you may want to check into Joe Dellman's collection at NSU in Natchitoches.

I worked for many years at the Town Talk, and vividly remember Joe's extensive photo collection. His wife Myrtle was a major owner and president of the TT for years, putting Joe in position to become curator of a real great collection.

In closing, your work brought many, many good memories to me. Gosh, I love that town and its people.

Tom Ledet
Detroit, MI USA - Wednesday, January 22, 2003 at 14:41:41 (GMT)

This brought back wonderful memories. Where was Bolton High School in the 50's?

Ann Lambert Snyder
Alexandria, La 71303 USA - Wednesday, January 22, 2003 at 07:12:02 (GMT)

This was a great memory lane...the picture of Holsum Bakery on Bolton Avenue was the start for my father, Meade Palmer; then later he oversaw the building of the bakery on MacArthur drive. Will be passing this on to many others.

Eddie Palmer
Alexandria, la. USA - Wednesday, January 22, 2003 at 04:19:44 (GMT)

I have lived in many parts of this country, but the lazy days and the memories you have invoked are wonderful. I went to St. Rita's, Providence and graduated from Menard in 68. College and did spend a few short years after marriage. Left in 77'. My husband and my 2 children have fond memories as do my brothers Joe and George. We have gone back to visit from time to time and always seek out the places and haunts of times gone by. I see familiar names and remember what a great and wonderful time in Alex.

Dad worked at all the A&P's in town and finally ended up at the one in Pineville. Well just to say thank-you, and a toast to the memories....

Marlene Tullier Willimann
Katy, Tx USA - Wednesday, January 22, 2003 at 03:18:46 (GMT)

Enjoyed every bit of your work. My grandmas house was on the corner of 5th and Holly. I remember the trains and the depot. That house seemed so high off the ground and I could play under it all day and never get hot!

Thanks for bringing back those memories!

Anna Lawless Hulin
Tioga, LA USA - Wednesday, January 22, 2003 at 02:35:31 (GMT)

Thanks so much for the memories. I was born in the then Baptist Hospital and attended Rosenthal, Cherokee, Brame Jr. High and graduated Bolton in'65. What about Puckett Mattress Co., Bridges Drug Store, Paramount Theatre? This was super. Thanks so much. I am passing it on.

Edwina Linn Palmer Morrison
Mesilla Park, NM USA - Wednesday, January 22, 2003 at 01:40:59 (GMT)

I grew up at Camp Beauregard 1948-1967 when I went in the service. I attended Tioga High School.

I can remember taking the long 14 mile trip into town across the O.K. Allen Bridge.

Window shop with mom, dad, brothers, and sister. Seem my older brother always twisted my arm and mother would make a sling out of her scarf for me. Thanks for the memories.

Teddy Morrison
Mesilla Park, NM USA - Wednesday, January 22, 2003 at 00:22:09 (GMT)

Sincerely,

Henry Bayonne, Asst. Principal, Peabody Magnet High School
Alexandria, LA USA - Wednesday, January 22, 2003 at 00:11:46 (GMT)

I too remember the old days of Alexandria. The Semple Printing Company that is now on Lee Street in the large two story brick building, was once the Sam and Mary Medica Family residence and grocery store. My mother, who is still living, was one of twelve children that my grandparents raised on Lee Street.

I would like to see someone do a similar retrospective just on Lee Street, that would include the families that lived in the old Pearson Furniture brick building, Camilleri building one block down, the NeHi Bottling building, Semple Printing (Medica Estate), the old Hilton Drugstore on Lee, the Quality ice cream place on Lee with the Drugstore next to it that was on the corner and across from Hilton Drugstore (Mr. Hilton was kin to Sheriff Hilton).

Also the Brick two story building (Chicola Family) across from the old Medica's Cities Service Station. (John and Leon Medica were my uncles). Two or three more brick buildings were on Lee going toward Southern Chevrolet and how about the old Panzica's Hardware Store? I enjoyed your web site. It brought back many memories.

Pete J. Rizzo, Jr.

P.S. My father was Pete Rizzo, Sr. who worked many years for Holsum back in the fifties, had a small grocery store and home on Culpepper Road in Sundale Subdivision where my brothers Jasper, Sam and I grew up. This was the small subdivision that is still located next to the now closed K-Mart. He retired with the City of Alexandria as a City Bus Driver many years ago.

Pete J. Rizzo, Jr.
Lafayette, LA USA - Tuesday, January 21, 2003 at 23:50:43 (GMT)

Memories!
Thanks for bring back so many for me with the photos, etc. Hurricane Lili tore off 3 walls and the roof from a large storage building I had in Alexandria filled with family and Alexandria memorabilia, including wonderful old photos.

Thanks for letting me know about this site.

Judy W-S Karst Campbell, PH.D.
JUDY WARD-STEINMAN KARST CAMPBELL
Hiawassee, GA USA - Tuesday, January 21, 2003 at 22:34:50 (GMT)

What a wonderful book of memories. We just celebrated our 50th Bolton reunion ( Class of '52) in November which brought back so many of the same "the good ole days".

I had desperately looked for a picture of Central Grammar School and found one - which is not good- but I can still remember playing on the front steps and all the wonderful life long friends that I have today not only from Central but Bolton. Old friends are forever.

This was a great undertaking, and we can all be grateful for your dedication and time in organizing this for us.

Frances O'Quin Anderson
Pineville, La USA - Tuesday, January 21, 2003 at 20:10:26 (GMT)

I too, was born (1965) and raised here in Alexandria. I attended Cabrini and Menard. I really enjoyed the "Mom and Pop" segment of the presentation. My Grandfather and later my father owned Bruno Electric on Lee St. Though a lot of the old buildings are gone now, due to I-49, I still get the same warm feelings of my youth.

The simplicity and the manpower that people put into their livelihood is just amazing. Thank you for a great presentation and the appreciation that you share for our fine city.

Kenny Bruno
Alexandria, La USA - Tuesday, January 21, 2003 at 17:21:48 (GMT)

Do you have photos of the old Menard and Providence High Schools?

My six brothers went to Menard and my two sisters and I went to Providence. Also, Bolton High. I'm sending this to old my friends throughout the country to enjoy.

Thanks so much for your hard work in this creation.

Alice Andries Cosenza
Baton Rouge, LA USA - Tuesday, January 21, 2003 at 16:43:59 (GMT

Although I lived in Glenmora, I feel like Alex. was home because of attending Menard 1979-1982. Our class had its 20 yr. reunion last Oct. with a memorial mass at Prompt Succor. I was amazed at how many people are moving away from the Prompt Succor neighborhood.

There were for-sale signs on so many houses in what was one of the nicest places to live in the 70's and 80's. A friend told me there has been a lot of trouble with drugs and gangs in that area recently. I hope something is done about it soon. I have so many good memories of that neighborhood because of the many friends and classmates that lived there. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

Kevin McNicoll
Baton Rouge, La USA - Tuesday, January 21, 2003 at 14:17:50 (GMT)

Sylvia Hayes Kirkland
Houston, Tx. USA - Tuesday, January 21, 2003 at 14:13:03 (GMT)T)

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