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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!
Reading all the other comments have made me remember so many things from my childhood that I had actually forgotten like Cactus Jack on KALB and "Transistor Turtle" on KDBS. So many of us have the same wonderful memories. It was a great place to grow up during the 60s. Susan Worley Sir -- my father-in-law worked for the Texas & Pacific railroad during World War II. He trained soldiers in the Signal and Communications Corps. from the Alexandria area. I would like to find out more about them and see if there are any records about their training. Mickey Taylor
The website posts a collage of the town covering at least four generations. I remember my father telling me that horses and Model T's once crossed the Murray St bridge at the same time. Now I view such a picture on a postcard! I have roots in Alexandria that go back for generations. Everyone of those pictures has a family connection. My grandfather had a barbershop in the Hotel Bentley. My great grandfather was the architect of the Episcopal Church. Things I haven't thought about for years came back to me as I viewed these pictures. My family would picnic at Camp Livingston. I still have some family in the area, yet it seems like a long time ago. How things change! I graduated from Pineville High in 72. Most all of my friends went away to college and are living elsewhere. Joe Funderburk What great memories. I was as interested in the register entries (and who submitted them) as I was in the pictures. It reminded me that Alexandria used to be a place where even if you didn't directly know somebody in town, you usually knew their parents or one of their brothers or sisters. I was born in Alexandria in 1948 and grew up on Prescott Road right behind Cabrini Hospital (before the hospital began buying up the block) I attended St. Francis Cabrini grammar school, went to Maryhill Seminary in Pineville for 2 years, and graduated from Menard in '66. Things I remember from the 50's and 60's: Enough kids in the immediate neighborhood to field two complete football or baseball teams with some reserves (I was fit only for the reserves). Prescott Road was a dirt street until the mid-fifties when the city paved it. Before that the city would occasionally send a water truck down the street or spray a layer of tar over the surface. Since we spent most of the spring and summer running around barefoot, that made crossing the street an interesting and sometimes messy experience. Where the hospital parking garage and clinics are now was an open field with pecan trees on the side furthest from Prescott. You could fly kites, shoot of fireworks, or just waste time. For a few years the hospital grew corn in the field. Everyone had a HUGE back yard. Zoning / animal control laws were nonexistent. One neighbor had a pack of hunting dogs, a Palamino, and for a short time a fox that he had captured in the woods. The suburbs started on the other side of MacArthur Drive and the country started somewhere around where the Coliseum is today. Along MacArthur drive between the two circles were an airstrip for light planes and Jimmy Thompson's Arena, home to "rasslin" matches and rodeos. There were also two lakes along MacArthur, one at the end of Prescott and the other in the area near Jimmy Thompson's. Big cultural event were held in the Bolton High Auditorium before the new City Hall/Convention Center was built. Important school dances were at the Bentley Hotel. The decorations in front of the old City Hall at Christmas, which included a little house where Santa would wait to find out what we wanted for Christmas. Wellans had as good a bookstore as anyone in town. Double features at the Ritz theatre until the 1960s when it tried to improve its image by running first class movies (My Fair Lady with Audry Hepburn; Lawrence of Arabia) but refusing to sell popcorn because the noise was distracting. A trip to anywhere out of town. It took forever to get to Shreveport and even longer to get to Lafayette. A neighbor's summer vacation trip to San Antonio sounded as exotic as a journey to Nepal would today. We could walk to school and parents didn't have any problem if you got on your bicycle and went anyplace in town as long as you told them where you were going, who you were going with, and were back by dinner time. The view from the playground of St. Francis Cabrini was unobstructed by anything by a line of trees on the opposite side of huge fields. One year, after the hay in the fields was cut and baled, they were the site of the circus. You can imagine how exciting that was for a bunch of kids to see the circus tents going up right behind the school. Until its "renovation" in the late '50s or early '60s, St. Francis Cabrini Church had oscillating fans hanging from the walls for its cooling system. Four priests were in residence. If you served early morning mass at the convent, you would be treated to breakfast at the rectory before school started. Jim Swinnen
This is in answer to Diane Lewis, re: The Cove. I believe you may be talking about the bar at the Evangeline Hotel on 4th Street. Both my parents were desk clerks at the Evangeline, and the bar there was The Cove. To the best of my recollection, there was no Little in the name, but it was a small bar. I could only peek in, as I was just a child. :) I believe the building is still there? Marilyn Burnum I was stationed at England Air Force Base from 1964 to 1968. During those years I made a number of friends from the Alexandria area. I have not been back in the past 37 years but hope to in the not to distant future. Peter DiCicco I was born and raised in Alexandria and graduated from Bolton High School in 1982. I met my husband in 1986 who at the time was stationed at EAFB. All of my family still reside in the Alexandria area. A lot of great memories. Thank you for bringing back a few I forgot about. I try to make it back home every couple of years. The biggest change for me to Alexandria was I49 going through. I wasn't living in Alexandria when I49 was being built. When I visited Alexandria after its completion, I couldn't believe it when I was driving thru and took the wrong exit and got all turned around. Needless to say I did find my way to my parents house at Cotile Lake. Thanks again. Mary Mary Scott I ENJOYED THE SITE SO VERY MUCH. I LIVED IN PINEVILLE ALL MY LIFE, I WAS LOOKING FOR SCHOOL PICTURES FROM 1959 THRU 1971 CAROL DAUZAT My daddy worked for the City of Alexandria Engineering Department. He was very proud of the city. Ann Smith Lewis I was born in Alexandria, La July 19, 1960 at St. Francis Cabrini Hospital. My mother graduated from Peabody H.S.; married my dad who was stationed at what use to be England AFB. They married as we 3 migrated to Washington D.C. where I was raised. Each summer I returned to Alex to spend those summer months with my grandparents who lived on Dallas St. Those old pictures bring back so many happy memories. I can remember the smell of the chips being made by the Noahs company.
My great grandfather owned Pullens Grocery as he sold those chips in his store. Remember the Dr.Pepper factory where you would see the bottles rolling as you watched through the window? I enjoyed your tour down memory lane. Thank you, and God Bless. Rodney M. Williams,Jr I was born in Alexandria at St. Francis Cabrini Hospital in 1980. My grandparents were max and bess wilder who are both deceased and resting peacefully at greenwood memorial cemetery in pineville. my mom is cindy wilder who was a graduate of bolton high school. my uncle mike wilder was also a grad of bolton i moved to texas in 1992 right before england afb closed down. although a lot has definitely changed these past few years, it is still good to look back at some of the things i remember of alexandria. thanx for the trip down memory lane. Marisa Minnich
My Father was stationed at "Alex" during WWII. He is gone now but my Mother speaks of them going into "The Little Cove" (a military hangout) and the band would begin playing "their song" --"I'm Getting Sentimental Over You." Do you know whatever happened to "The Little Cove", i.e., does the building still stand?
Diane Lewis I was stationed at England AFB from 1980-1986. I was a weapons loader, first loading A-7D Corsair IIs, then transitioned to the A-10A. I went from working the flightline to working in the Loading Standardization Section training other loaders. I miss seeing the gators cross the flightline at night. Shaun Johnson I really enjoyed the photo tour. My father was an optometrist who had an office next door to the Don. Many memories there. Thanks, SW Steve Whiffen Hi. It was great finding this site. I hope someone can help me find a friend from high school. I am looking for claire mcghee who left bolton high in 1949. i last heard from claire after she had gotten married and had a baby named jackie in the early fifties.. she had moved to murfreesboro in either north carolina or virginia where she went to or worked at a music school. she had a great soprano voice. we were close friends and i think of her often. if anyone has any info i would greatly appreciate it. thank you like a blast from the past! Joan Broyles Wynne Carlin <philipcarlin
@ comcast . net> Nice site I am a 1958 grad of Bolton, played football at Tulane, and returned to coach 12 years and then open a business. I was the first coach at the "new"(1969) Alexandria Senior High. Who said you can't go home again? This is wonderful! Butch Crenshaw Thank you for the memories. Joe Lipsey, III I happened upon this site by accident. It was a true delight. I have lived away from Alex since graduating from Bolton in 1970. First living in Lake Charles to attend McNeese, then teaching in Cameron Parish for three years. I married and moved to the coast of North Carolina in 1976 and have lived here since. My parents are not longer with us but my brothers live in Alex. I try to visit at least once a year. Many happy memories in Alex! Thanks, Sharon Sharon Paris Baugus
St Francis Xavier School. I was there in the 2nd grade in 1963. I think it was torn down the next year. Patti Forde Attended Menard Military Academy in 1952 while my father was stationed at Polk. Will be going through Alexandria early next month and staying there overnight. Can anyone give me directions to location of where Menard was at that time? (Elliott Street) Would love to go back and remember. Thanks. John C. John Campbell I lived at England AFB and later in Alexandria while my father was stationed at the Base back around 1968. I loved the city and the warm and friendly people of Alexandria. I hope to return someday to visit. Terence Goodall
What a joy to reminisce through this website about the city that became my HOME, as a very young AIR FORCE brat in 1955. My memories, though some sad, remain a highlight as I finish "my" race in this period called life on earth!!! "Hi" to all of you within the sound of my email voice who might remember me then and now!!!!!!! I love coming home to Alex, because I land on the runway where my daddy, as an Air Force pilot, took off and landed so many times over the eight years he was stationed at England. Me, I lived amongst you 32 years before life took me to Seattle, WA and ultimately to Erie, PA, where my baby sister lives, too. Remember her? -Karen - 1963 graduate of Bolton!! I graduated in 1960!!!! Claudia Jube Kellogg As a native and resident of Alex for 22 wonderful years, I was so greatly moved by the pictures and narrations. I grew up close to Rugg Elem., Bolton, the bayou, the swimming pool and the zoo. THANKS for the memories! Carolyn Spence Although I've become a resident of Birmingham, AL, my fondest memories are of the close knit communities of Alex. As a child, I loved being able to walk the streets of our neighborhoods and everybody knew the names of your mothers , grandmothers, aunts and uncles. People in Birmingham sometimes tell me, "You're not from Birmingham are you"? They notice that I greet strangers with a warm smile; which is uncommon in Birmingham (unless the person happens to be one of my brothers or sisters in Christ). A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly..." (Proverbs 18:24) I am truly thankful for my Alexandria roots. Anita J. Brown Love the memories and have forwarded to everyone I know. I miss and cherish the simpler times. Mike Gremillion I would like some more information if possible.I am trying to find out what my great-grandfather built in Alexandria in the latter 1800's. His name was James Whitfield father of my grandmother Clara Whitfield Summerlin. Her daughter was Betty Summerlin Duke. She was the wife of Brian Duke Sr. He was a builder and I have been told had a part in building or was the builder for Bolton High School, Court House and train station. I would like to know if my facts or correct. Can you help me? Thanks and looking forward to hearing from you. Cleme' Dantin Cleme'Duke Dantin I grew up in Alexandria and went to college in Monroe. I found quite a few pleasant memories on your site. It also made me wonder if some other places are still there, like Lazarone's drive-in. Keep up the good work. Mark Williamson What a great trip back in time. Thanks for posting this. Tom Thompson
As I do at least twice a year, I passed through Alex on my way to visit my sister who lives in Lafayette the day after Christmas. I still feel a tug at my heartstrings as I gaze at the skyline. It brings back so many memories, especially the Christmas shopping trips downtown during the mid-1950's to early 1960's. Stopping off at Walgreens' for lunch to refresh for another round of shopping was a real treat. I wish you and your family a Happy New Year for 2005. A fellow Techster and Techster parent twice. Linda Henry Morris P.S. I still have a few more Rosenthal group class pictures to scan and send to you. Look out Roy Dunn! Were you able to get moved back to Alex? Linda Henry Morris
I was born and lived at 1430 Holly St. behind West End Grammer School. I miss hearing the bells of St. Francis Cathedral. James (Jim) L. Furby I was born in Alex at Cabrini Hospital in 1956. My grandfather was Guy Landry, who owned Landry's Garage on the corner of Lee St. and MacArthur (now a McDonalds and Service Station). I grew up as a child, visiting my grandparents every summer and learning mechanics from my grandfather. I remember many of the old things such as the Dr. Pepper bottling plant, Herbie K's (who my grandfather advertised for on a billboard over his shop), Effies, Ransbottoms trailer court, A&P and on and on. Thank you for having the information and old pictures which now have re-kindled my memories, I have lived away from LA. for most of my life and have recently returned. Keep up the good work! Randy Rodriguez I grew up in Alexandria. I have
not lived there in 12 years but I visit about twice a year.
Love the site. Keep up the great work. I just returned to this site for the first time in awhile and really enjoyed all of the new "old" pictures. They certainly bring back some nice memories from growing up in Alexandria back in the 50's and early 60's. Thanks for keeping this website up and running. Ernie Knobloch
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