From the News-Star to This Old House - Check it out! Posted February 25, 2010
Quarterly
Meeting held at Elsong Garden meeting room.
The next GDNA membership meeting will take place on Monday June 13th at Lea's Restaurant on Louisville Ave. We'll begin about 6pm...anyone wishing to eat dinner there is urged to come abit earlier for that. We'll have new Monroe Police Chief Quentin Holmes as a speaker who'll inform us of some of the changes he's implementing which will positively impact our neighborhood and our city. We'll also have representatives of the business group that's in the process of purchasing Georgia Tucker school property. They will tell us of their plans for the building/property. Make plans to attend the Garden District Neighborhood Alliance mtg on Monday June 13th at 6pm. We'll even treat you to a piece of Lea's delicious pie!!! See you there and bring a friend!!!!
The Ouachita Parish Public Library's River Reads Event will be held at 5pm on Thursday June 2nd at the Main Branch on N. 18th Street. There will be FOOD, FUN, and LIVE MUSIC!!! Dallas saxophonist Vandell Andrew, who trained in New Orleans, will provide live Louisiana Jazz Music to spice up the event. At least 16 local restaurants will provide samples of their foods for the public to sample. There will also be information about the River Reads program of the library. Come on out and pass a good time at your library!!!
Garden District Neighborhood
Alliance News ... as
it becomes available.
Helping you stay in touch with what is happening in your neighborhood.
Take a stroll down memory lane. We were recently made aware of a reproduced publication online including parts of the Garden District from the 1940s. Enjoy...
Louisiana: a guide to the state By Federal Writers' Project Posted February 25, 2010!
At times we need to take a
look into our past, and to best describe how we feel about our beautiful Garden
District we need only quote a section from the National Trust for Historic
Preservation...
"Historic places help us understand where we have come from as a society
and where we should go in the future." Since its founding in 1949,
the National Trust has provided leadership, education and advocacy to protecting
these irreplaceable parts of our heritage. This work takes many forms and
involves many partners, but it always supports preservation of the places
that tell the story of America.
We should be sure to think
about this and not so quickly give in to government entities that stray
from a promised agenda.
Featured Property September 2001
"A Window in Time: The Monroe Garden District"
in the December 1996 issue of Preservation in Print with photos by
Donna Fricker and captions by Patricia L. Duncan.
The "Monroe Residential Historic
District" in Monroe, Louisiana was placed on the
National Register of Historic Places October 3, 1996.
The National Register of Historic Places
is the nation's official list of buildings, sites and districts
which are important in our history. Although the National Register
was created by Congress, it is administered by the states. Each
state has a historic preservation office which is responsible
for placing buildings, sites and districts on the Register. In
Louisiana this program is administered by the Division of Historic
Preservation, which is part of the Office of Cultural Development,
Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism.
Ordinance No. 9111 was adopted by the
Monroe City Council in Monroe, Louisiana on 12th day of December
1989. This ordinance created and delineated (3) Historical Districts
to be known as:
The Don Juan Filhiol Historical District
The Henry Bry Historical District
The Louis Alexander DeBreard Historical District
On February 10, 1995, Donna Fricker, the National Register
Coordinator in Baton Rouge notified the newly formed Garden District
Neighborhood Alliance that she would be willing to make an on-site
visit to determine if our neighborhood were a likely candidate
for the National Register. In a January 12th letter Gerri Hobdy,
Assistant Secretary and State Historic Preservation Officer in
Baton Rouge wrote to update the status of our nomination to the
National Register of Historic Places. Donna Fricker and Patricia
Duncan of Baton Rouge found on their preliminary survey that the
district may include the area bounded by Forsythe, Bres, Riverside
Drive, and North 6th Street.
On June 4, 1996, the Louisiana Division of Historic Preservation
approved Garden District Neighborhood Alliance neighborhood historic
credentials and has sent them on to the National Register of Historic
Places. The date of certification was in September
of 1996.
The Garden District Neighborhood Alliance
was formed to promote the quality of life in the area bounded
by Bres-Riverside-Forsythe-and-the railroad and bring about the
solidification of the neighborhood through communication, interest
in historic preservation, and the overall common goal of friendliness.
Part of the Garden District, Riverside Drive, has wonderfully
renovated grand mansions, and part of the district has the wonderful
bungalow and even one shotgun house styles within it. This makes
for a very interesting area, gardens come alive in the spring
and fall, with blooms and colorful leaves. The river sets the
mood for this neighborhood.
A drive through the area, or a casual walk, will provide the visitor
with enough charming interest that they will want to return.
Both Georgia Tucker and Neville Schools are on the National Register,
and Grace School, peacefully located in the middle of the Garden
District, give the area the solid foundation that has made it
a choice for young home buyers for a long time.
Because of the district's proximity to wonderful shopping and
great playgrounds, it has a feel of "suburban" character.
The Garden District offers the unique charm of urban life in a
setting free of typically urban congestion, and some day -- from
traffic and noise.
The district will become even more distinct when the Alliance
completes it's formation and the National Register designation
becomes a reality. The community spirit will be even more evident
when Georgia Tucker playground becomes the neighborhood park.
The attitude and kindness shown to the Alliance group by Dr. George
Cannon and others will certainly expedite this.
The Garden District Neighborhood Alliance will publicly represent
the interests of the neighborhood in civic matters important to
the neighborhood, will organize projects to benefit the district,
will publish a newsletter, offer educational events -- from historical
refurbishing of homes and of landscapes, and yes, even furniture.
Barbara and Errol Donovan, Coordinators
Thursday, June 20, 1996
The News-Star - Hometown by Andrew Standard
Monroe's Garden District moved one
step closer to making the national register a few weeks ago.
The Louisiana Division of Historic Preservation approved the neighborhood's
historic credentials June 4 and has sent them on to the National
Register of Historic Places.
Garden District Neighborhood Alliance Chairwoman Barbara Donovan
said the Louisiana Division of Historic Preservation board members
who reviewed the neighborhood's application were impressed.
"It makes us very happy to know that the things we see every
day haven't been taken for granted," Donovan said.
"In spite of all the negatives that go with owning an older
home, we know that it's special."
The National Register of Historic Places requires that a historic
building or area be at least 50 years old, have historical significance
and have structural integrity or be in a condition to be renovated
without losing historical character.
The area being considered for recognition is bounded roughly by
McKinley Street, Seventh Street, Hudson Lane and Riverside Drive.
Forsythe Park will also be included.
Historical research presented to the register's review board indicates
that the neighborhood developed in stages, with the areas at the
extreme southern end of the district and north of Forsythe Park
being the first to undergo subdivision and settlement in the late
1800s to the early 1920s.
The homes included range from 1908, when the first major subdivision
was created, to 1946, where the 50-year cutoff lies.
Donovan said the main appeal of the neighborhood is the variety
of styles and ages of homes. Colonial revival, Georgian revival,
bungalow and English cottage are the predominant styles identified.
Donovan hopes home and business owners will find new pride in
their properties and be encouraged to make renovations and restorations.
She said register recognition would not impose any restrictions
on modifications.
"I think you're going to see a whole new type of atmosphere
that the historic district will bring about," she said.
Donovan said she is also interested in seeing other areas of Monroe
receive historical recognition.
"There are many special places," she said. "I would
love to see them try something in another area of town. You won't
know where you're going if you can't look back and see where you've
been."
If all goes well, the Garden District could be on the register
by September.
Garden District residents will be able to find out more information
about the status of the area's historical review at an ice cream
social at 6 p.m. June 27 on the Georgia Tucker School grounds.
Residents are also encouraged to bring any historical information
or old photos or renovations pictures they have on their homes
with them.
For information, contact Hunt Neely at 325-5338 or Barbara Donovan
at 322-3012.
A Window in Time: The Monroe Garden District
From the December 1996 issue of Preservation
in Print
The Division of Historic Preservation is pleased
to announce the recent addition of the Monroe Residential Historic
District to the National Register of Historic Places. Known locally
as the Garden District, the neighborhood has over 600 buildings
on approximately 315 acres.
The district is located north of downtown Monroe
and is embraced by the Ouachita River on its northern and western
sides. Forsythe Park, a large and lushly planned public space
in the district's northern sector, has provided recreational amenities
to nearby residents since at least 1910. Development of the neighborhood
itself began earlier, in 1891. A second part of growth occurred
in 1908 and a third after the discovery of the nearby Monroe Oil
and Gas Field in 1916.
The district is something of a window in time,
allowing one a view of what an early twentieth century neighborhood
was like. When driving the streets, one sees buildings in the
Colonial/Georgian Revival, bungalow, English cottage, Spanish
Mission and other styles.
A drive through the Monroe Garden District
is well worth the time of any visitor to that North Louisiana
city. For those who cannot make the trip, it is hoped that the
photographs on this page will provide an enticing introduction
to the architectural treasures to be found there.
The Division of Historic Preservation wishes
to thank local resident Barbara Donovan for bringing the district
to our attention and Planning and Zoning Director Ann Daigle for
her assistance in researching the area.
Past Articles...
Frozen Fiesta 2007 photos
GDNA Fall Fest 2006, the neighborhood picnic was Saturday Oct. 13th at Forsythe Park.
Saturday,
June 17, 2000 News-Star Editorial
City
of Monroe - Historic District Map at DOTD per their website.
Bridge over troubled waters (Ouachita River) may be on
horizon... Oct 10, 2001 News Star
2001 Dogs
N' Doins'
See Perspective on Trash in the Sunday, August 19, 2001 News-Star.
Part
Avenue Power plant quiet for the time being. March
2004 - The plant on Park Avenue finally had the expected unexpected incident
everyone worried about... a fire that caught a transformer on fire and caused
it to pop, alarming the neighbors and calling out the fire department. This
closed down Park Avenue and scared the neighbors within ear shot of the plant
which reached several blocks. See report on meeting
at Neville 4/20/2004.
Visit Biedenharn's Elsong Gardens on
the Web
Grow
Monroe 2006
See the photos from the re-named Dogs n' Doins to the 2006 Garden District Fall Fest.
Check out the festivities at the Frozen Fiesta Social - August 2006 and watch for news of 2007.
Making the news... Group fights for neighborhood's rights July 26, 2006
We are in the news... Garden district blooms in style
lt is a great honor for a property to be listed in the
prestigious National Register of Historic Places.
The
Louisiana Division of Historic Preservation
has these listings by parish along with other information needed by historic
property owners.
The Preservation Resource Center