Very early Baptist Hospital (Alexandria Sanitarium) now Rapides Hospital, photograph.

Interesting photograph, (circa 1905-06) with the horse-drawn ambulance at the front door. As I often say to anyone and everyone, if you have or know of anyone who has old photographs of Central Louisiana, the older the better.  Please E-mail me and let me put them in the hands of an organization that will protect and preserve them for our future to enjoy.

Alex

The Yellow Kid…. Circa 1920-30

I enjoy doing off the wall post’s.  I have been known to criticize our city government for their  lack of ability to function. I do not blog for attention.  I blog for fun and once in a while to educate. Normal viewing for Alex Cenla is any where from 50 to 200 hits a day.  If anyone visits my blog it is by links from some of the local blogs or by search engine results for a specific subject.

Genius Antiques who sell only on line are a supporter as well as  the folks at the Louisiana History Museum.

Now for the past  eight or ten years Genius Antiques has had the Yellow Kid sitting on their desk. This little fellow was probably made in the 1920′s to early 1930′s. He is smoking a cigar and is suffering from the effects of it, with his hand on his stomach. Has not thrown up yet but looks like he might do so at any moment. So for the bobble head collector or cigar fan, Genius Antiques  is going to let this little rascal be adopted… (Maybe, if someone wants him.) Then give all the proceeds to the Louisiana History Museum. I will be the go between as the saying go’s. This is strictly for fun and the only person to benefit from the whole thing will be the museum.

He is cast pot metal with the original paint. The bobble head works and he stands on his two feet. He is very rare. He can be considered a smoking collectible or a vintage toy.He is 3-3/4 inches tall. First donation of over $50.00. (amount you wish to give is up to you.)   , check made out to the Louisiana History Museum.

Contact me to make the transaction.  alexcenla@gmail.com.

If more than one offer to buy..The highest offer will be the adoptive parent….

I reserve the right to  pull this post at any time.

But I can not imagine anyone objecting.So ..Meet the Yellow Kid.  Comments, as always are encouraged.

One way or the other enjoy a photo of a fairly rare childrens toy in original condition..

Alex

Memorial Day 2012

They fought for us.

Photo taken on Military Highway in Pineville.

April 1915

Alex

Stop and look around you.

I know that I tend to dwell on the old..History, etc.

But, once in a while..I like to stop and look at the new..here for a brief moment and then gone.

Sorta like life is.

Nature is an artist and she or he, makes it look so easy.

Enjoy!

Alex

1802…July 5…What if?

What if you would find a document written on July 5th, 1802..Not a copy..not a photograph, but the original sheet of paper. Written with a quill pen. Very good penmanship. Easily read.

Yellowed with almost 210 years of age. Handwriting on front and back.

Two years before the Louisiana Purchase.

You read the content and come to the signature.

You realize who the person is who signed this document.

He is not a well-known figure of the 1800′s. Yet he played a tremendous role in the beginning of Central Louisiana.

What would you do with it?

Given the almost zero interest of the media in Alexandria, both print and electronic.

How would you make people aware of an astounding relic of our Central Louisiana  history?

Thats a decision a good friend of Alex is pondering right now  and he can not figure out the anwser.

Thats  sad and pathetic that he can gauge the outcome before an attempt to make it public.

It really should not be that way. (But  it is.)

Alex

Steamboats on the Red & Mississippi of the early 1900′s.. Alexandria, La.

Why the steamboats fascinate me, I have no idea. Their majestic beauty chugging down the river, I can just imagine. I can remember riding on the old Baton Rouge ferry and  on a steamer that docked briefly here in Alexandria.

As a young child, I remember riding on the boat that was owned by the Billups Oil Company. Buddy Billups  and my father were room mates at LSU, many years ago. He established the Billups Service stations of the 1950′s.

So with that in mind, Alex started rummaging through his photo junk box, to see what he could find. I did find quite a few very early photographs of boats on the Red River and the Mississippi.

I have posted a few before, if I remember correctly. I am sure you can find them going back to old post.

This first one is of the W.T. Scovill..If you look at the wheel house, you can just make out the name. It is docked on the Pineville side of the river with what appears to be a barge attached to its side. There are bags of some type stacked on the deck. Produce or material of some kind. On the right you see the Murray Street bridge.   To the center the Guaranty Bank building and several other establishments of the time period. The year of the photo is hard to pin down, but we know it is early 1900′s. I do not know much about the history of this boat. It was one of the many shallow draft steamboats that navigated the Red during the early 1900′s to the late 20′s. If you know more about it, please comment.

Now this next photograph  is rare and unique. It shows a life style long gone. River merchants who went from town to town and set up their trade in the small river towns along the Mississippi and other rivers branching off the main river.

This photograph was taken across the river from Natchez, Mississippi. Probably before 1910 at the latest. Mr Webster was a man of many talents, as you can see by his signs. A jack of all trades. From the looks of things he was very succesful.

One can only take note of his many abilities. The rest is up to your imagination.

Back  then, you did not have to go to medical school, nor did you need a licence of any kind to do the things that Mr Webster was so proficient at.

I have more. If you enjoy these, please let me know. I encourage comments.

Alex

Looking for a copy of “Alexandria, way down in Dixie” Harry & Elizabeth Eskew

Alex is looking for a copy  of  ”Alexandria, way down in Dixie”  By Harry & Elizabeth Eskew… If you have a copy or know someone who has one..printed in about 1950..please contact me at    alexcenla@gmail.com.

Alex

Alexandria, La. July 1904. Parade, Rapides Hotel.

The Rapides Hotel was located  on 2nd Street across from the old Rapides Parish  Court house. It was  destroyed in the late 1950′s. Today the  Town Talk buildings are on its location at the corner of Washington and 2nd Streets.

This photograph was taken from the Old Court House front…. It was taken in 1904…. It is probably the First Louisiana Calvary in a 4th of July parade..The 1st Louisiana Calvary was stationed at Camp Stafford. Camp Stafford was where the current Veterans Hospital is now located in Pineville, La.  Just another trip back in time in Alex’s time machine.

I encourage comments or suggestions. Please take the time to let me know what  you think!

I have access to  well over 1000 photographs of Central Louisiana, dating from the 1860′s to the 1960′s.  If you would like to see a specific photo of an old building or business, let me know, I may be able to find it. Photography is one of my many hobby’s

Alex

Second season Cajun Pawn Stars starts Sunday June 6th…..

Word is on the street, as the saying go’s. The second season of Cajun Pawn Stars is scheduled to start  June 6th…I did see them filming Friday. I have talked with some of the cast members, but I am sworn to secrecy.. From what I have been told, it is going to be as the younger set says..”Awsome!” Or as I would say..educational, informative and very interesting!

Alex

Louisiana’s 200th Birthday. Join the celebration!

You are invited to celebrate our state’s 200th birthday by visiting the Louisiana History Museum here in Alexandria at 503 Washington Street. Find out how it all began and how our history progressed over the last 200 years in displays throughout the historic building housing the history of Louisiana and Central Louisiana, built in 1907. We will be open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm, with free tours through out the month. You are invited to learn what this birthday is all about and how this

wonderful state came to be. Visit the web site at www.louisianahistorymuseum.org

for just a small sample of the amazing thing’s you can see for free at Alexandria’s best museum.

Note from Alex:

It takes over an hour and a half to see everything.

Then you want to go back to see if you might have missed something.