Miserable in Monroe... (Many, Delta: best city, for sale, how much)

[LaLady77]

Originally Posted by exitor98

How old are your kids? If they're of the right age Drew Elementary is a great school. I went there but that was a hundred years ago. Carol George was the principle and really cool.

They are 15 (she goes to WMHS), 14 (she goes to West Ridge), 10 (he will go to Drew), and 2 6 year olds (they will go to Drew). Blended family

[FS250]

I'm saddened to think you can clearly see an adult book store billboard from the Lea Joyner Memorial bridge. She was our pastor until she was murdered by amod cut young man she was counseling. There is no way on earth she, nor the other influential citizens of Monroe would have allowed a porn business ad to be adorn a public billboard. In retrospect I am very thankful for the conservative society in which I grew up rebelling against. I only wish State Farm & Guidelamp wouldn't have left. Had they had stayed AND the trash washed upstate because of hurricane Katrina would have returned to new Orleans Monroe might well be a lot more like the wonderful town it was in the 70's & 80's I cherish in my memory.

[FS250]

If anyone has any pics of 1970's-80's Monroe please post them.

[annie_himself]

mod cut
Monroe should be happy that the billboard is making money. Your little town had problems way before New Orleanians showed up. Don't blame the companies for leaving, blame your towns leadership values and "conservatism."

[FS250]

I just don't understand how an area as fun as Monroe was in the early/mid 1980's turned so negative and regressive. I guess its no different than a lot of other similar towns in the US. The disappearance of State Farm & Guidelamp really damaged Monroe a lot. The economic downturn & influx of Katrina refugees did the rest. Monroe does have a definite "ghostown" feel. I spoke w/ Willie Buffington himself and we agreed its now depressing to drive down Lousiville Ave. now. From the pecan farm out in Swartz to Forsythe park very little remains. I can clearly remember taking a date to Cucos on a rainy evening sitting under the glass at one of those tiny tables eating some really good Mexican food watching the cars go by thinking "this is very nice". Now < that's gone. I remember when Eastgate Cinema was a first rate theater showing Raiders of the Lost Ark & The Empire Strikes Back. I remember drinking an Orange Julius in Twin City Mall. < Those were IMO Monroe's glory days (little did I know then). I remember seeing Johnny Huntsman jogging around NLU campus before the grove was basically a "hood". I used to look up to professors in the CBA w/ such awe & respect. Those were the days when a bachelor's degree in business from NLU was essentially a quick ticket to a successful life in the Monroe area & elsewhere. The finance & commercial banking program at NLU was HUGE in those days. Campus life at NLU was as big a party as could be found anywhere in the country. I remember Larry Bates & the prep staff were sooo much fun.

I think on a national level or possibly global economies are centralizing. Pockets of economic prosperity are gone. Its fun in a way to think of how during the early 80's Monroe was a damned good life. Maybe I'm thinking negatively.

[annie_himself]

Monroe had issues way before Katrina.

[FS250]

There are thousands who would agree w/ me on how fun life was in early to mid 1980's Monroe, La.. From Swartz to Forsythe Park, from sterlington road to south 2nd street, from the Ark-La-Miss Fair to summer days spent at Critters Creek - Monroe had it all. Hopefully it will again...someday soon. Elvis Presley himself put on a concert at the Civic Center & stayed at the Ramada Inn before it was torn down (pointlessly) to build the State Farm building.

I'll take those ^ "issues" anyday to the issues Monroe has today.

[annie_himself]

I don't think any of that will be back in this decade.

[FS250]

Its too bad Mother Helen didn't foresee the collapse of Monroe.

[Innotech]

This thread is depressing. Where is Louisiana legend at?