Louisiana Cultural Vistas - Winter 2007 - (Page 30)

The Great Ouachita The floodwaters spared neither poor nor rich, though the sandbagging seen here on McKinley Avenue is notably absent from photographs of rural West Monroe or more humble Monroe residences. “Experience in the last few weeks seems to prove conclusively that the public either cannot or will not voluntarily contribute any adequate sum for welfare added to the Salvation Army relief roles in the first week of and unemployment relief,” and suggested that requests for the new year. “We will take anything,” said Workman, federal aid might be necessary. “groceries, clothing, bedding, and distribute it without cost The pressing needs of the local indigent population soon to the city … We are working 18 to 20 hours a day, and on proved even more challenging to local agencies. In the first insufficient funds and donations, we cannot meet the needs two weeks of January, almost 2,500 refugees — of our requests.” constituting 349 families — registered with the Red The dire situation prompted Mayor Cross, headquartered on Cotton Street Arnold Bernstein to create a central in West Monroe. By February 5, the committee to coordinate area relief. relief agency was aiding 1,646 Arkansas Governor John E. W.L. Ethridge chaired the committee, families (representing more than Martineau countered that which included John Breard, 6,500 people) in eight Northeast “control of the floods of the president of the Ouachita Parish Louisiana parishes. Non-traditional Police Jury, as well as the president of Mississippi and its tributaries relief agencies also contributed to the the Ouachita National Bank, the effort. The Paramount Theater hosted is a national responsibility, the mayor of West Monroe, and the City a variety program sponsored by the cost of which should be borne Commissioner of Finance and Public Monroe Playground and Recreation Utilities. The flood, the committee solely by the federal Department with proceeds to go to noted, was not creating a relief flood victims. On January 13, government and not by the burden; it was adding to an already members of the American Legion, led states or local communities difficult regional financial situation. by John Bailey, began transporting which lie along these rivers.” The committee divided the refugees from newly inundated areas problem of unemployment relief — to higher ground. They rescued an ongoing problem in depressionalmost 500 on the first day, using 35 ravaged north Louisiana — and flood relief, and wagons and an equal number of trucks. The Veterans of concerned itself solely with the economic problems Foreign Wars followed the American Legion’s lead, existing before the water began to rise. The new committee launching refugee rescue efforts throughout the parish. estimated that “an irreducible minimum” of $31,000 would Though the Emmanuel Baptist Church of West Monroe was be needed over the next four months to provide a base of inundated, Rev. H.L. Driskell pledged it as a refugee shelter adequate care for those in need. The Morning World noted, as soon as area water pumps made the building habitable. 30 LOUISIANA ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES\Winter 2007-08 OUACHITA PARISH DIGITAL ARCHIVE, OUACHITA PARISH PUBLIC LIBRARY, MONROE

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Louisiana Cultural Vistas - Winter 2007

Louisiana Cultural Vistas - Winter 2007 Contents Friends Editor’s Column Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities Katrina: Days of Terror, Months of Anguish Paintings by Rolland Golden The Historic New Orleans Collection The Great Ouachita River Flood of 1932 Jazz Notes Louisiana Architecture Louisiana: Where Land Meets Water Louisiana State Museum Through A Lens Sharply: An Interview with Michael Lewis MR-GO: A “miracle” mired in controversy Louisiana Foodways Louisiana Association of Museums New Orleans: An Autopsy Bookstand Sound Advice Forum

Louisiana Cultural Vistas - Winter 2007

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