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.

Camp Stafford. Alexandria, Pineville, La. 1905

For those of you who do not know about Camp Stafford, it was located in Pineville where the Veterans Hospital is today. It was the main military camp for the Central portion of Louisiana in the late 1800′s up untill about 1914 or a little later. Camp Stafford was located across the road from the original campus of LSU. This photograph was taken in 1905. It shows a detachment from  Crowley, La. in front of the main building at the camp. Just another photo from Alex’s junk box.

It seems everything is running flawlessly in Cenla.

It seems everything is running flawlessly in Cenla. Ever since Greg had his health problem, things have just slowed down to a crawl.  It even seems someone has sprayed herbicide on the Briar Patch, because they have been much  less prickly as of late.. I have issues with a number of things, but none of them are worth really  bitching about. Ever since the leadership in the City council changed, things have been done in a business like pace and none of the prior officials have continued their jackass braying. (That in itself makes for more efficient government.)

I hope our council president, Mr. Silver has a quick recovery from his broken hip.  His presence seems to give a calming effect to some of the less stable members of the group.

Am I imagining things, or is our Mayor a little bit less verbose lately? (Notice I said, “a little.”)

Has anyone done a survey of bicycle traffic on Bolton Avenue lately? Or for that matter any other major streets in that area.  Bicycle paths or something along those lines seems a bit , stupid, idiotic, moronic??  (Can not come up with a suitable title.) I do realise there are more important ways to channel public or government funds , so wasting a bit on largess to favored contractors really is a minor  problem.

Anyone have any gripes about the way things are going right now?

Sound off!

Alex

Cowboy Town.

I find it interesting that no one has mentioned Cowboy Town lately, now that it has changed ownership. The two new owners are community businessmen with well established storefronts in Central Louisiana.They are both aggressive in advertising their endeavors and promoting them. They are having an open house this weekend to show the place off. What are their plans? There are a multitude of possibility with the area. Close to town and just off the interstate. Plus interstate visibility. They have invited realtors as well as interested business people to view the area.

Why…. from its beginning has it been jinxed? The possibility for the facility seems vast. Entertainment.Resturants…Shopping…all in one place. I truly believe the community should get behind the endeavor. I have been told that both men have extended themselves to the max on this project.

Instead of saying nay..for once let’s get behind something that could help tourism and employment in this area…

As a businessman and  former events promoter, I can see unlimited possibilities with the support of our community.

Notice: (I said support from our community.)

Will that happen or will it be the same old ……same old?

Wishing for the best! (expecting the worst.)

An add on note:

The TT said a number of people recommended the     property as an Outlet Mall.

Just a reminder to those of you who do not venture out-of-state. Outlet Malls are like Shopping Malls.. Pretty much in today’s world and economy a dead strip of land. It would take a multi- use approach to succeed..(Many different venues.)

Recommended:

A high visibility RV Park…

A major brand truck stop.

In conjunction with existing facility.

Something that could visibly pull traffic off the interstate.

Alex

P.S.

Lamar and Wesawthat..Good reporting.

Greg..Get well!

Briarpatch…Get back into the flow. (There is plenty to write about, I will be glad to give you a few ideas.) That is a good natured rib not a jab.

Is it still there?

I do not get out and about as much as I use to. I remember as a child the monument at Fort Buhlow. It disappeared long ago. I came across this photo of the Fort Randolph Monument a while back. Just wondering..Is it around or near the new museum there? It was erected in 1926.

I have been to the Randolph museum but I did not do any exploring at the site… The plaque was brass or  bronze and quite heavy I would think… Hope it’s still there, but one never knows.

Just another question that comes to mind that I can not check out myself….

Alex

Early interesting advertising contest using postcards. 1910-15 Time period. Alexandria, La.

This is the first type of involved advertising  use of a postcard that I have seen..( I have seen a lot of different postcards.)

It was issued in Alexandria, La. around 1910 or a little later. The pony and cart were the give away.

A salesman came to Alexandria and sold sponsorship to a number of business around town.

He then printed the back of the card with each store that had bought into the promotion.

Postcards were given to the stores to give out.

The person who wanted to win the pony and cart would pass out the cards to people they knew.

These people would bring or mail the card to one of the stores taking part in the contest.

At the end of the time period the person with the most cards  with  their name on the card was the winner of the cart and pony.

I have a feeling that more than the listed stores on this card took part in the promotion. Their were probably several more cards, but this is the only one to survive..

The salesman who peddled this contest would go from town to town with this promotion, probably making a fair living in doing so.

Just another item from Alex’s junk box.

Alex

Happy Easter!

May your Easter be peaceful and quiet and filled with the company of sober, intelligent relatives and  visitors.

Alex