The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1896-08-05

was uanSer Vi capture ny Cne SOll.
federates in pursuit. In this di.
lemma an engineer connected with
the fleet by the name of Bailey
constructed a dam made of timber,
stone and brick as we'll as machin-
cry of large sugar mill situated
OH what was then the plantation of
Mrs. Thomas, thus narrowing and
deepening the channel and allow.
ing the fleet to pass. The two
forts above town were erected 10
1864 by the Confederates.
The town was almost destroyed
by fire in 1864, during the retreat
of the Federals. The records of
the parish persisted in the flames.
At the end Of the war Alexandria
was desolate and the people pros.
trated.
The storm of 1861 blew down
the Alexandria Market house, car
ried away part Of the Ice House
Hotel and caused considerable de-
struction. The hail storm of 1870
destroyed many windows in the
city but did no serious injury.
Red river flooded the town in
1914, 1S40, 1866, 1867, 1884, 1856.
The river rose $685. feet in 1893
and 1892, but did not flood the
town, the levees being guarded
day and night by the citizens. The
fifty four hours rain caused the
food Of 1856. 1t was the heavies;
continued rainfall ever known
here.
The National Cemetery was es-
tahlished in 1867.
In this connection 1 may say
there are five other GENE.
teries. The Catholic, Rapides,
Episcopal, Methodist aud Jewish.
Among the oldest graves are those
Ut Gen'I. Meuillon and bis wife
Jeanette, join B. Heno, William
+. Dent, John w. and Tabitha
Jet, Auguste Baltic, John r.
Mead and many other pioneers are
buried there.
Alexandria was incorporated in
49,, but is now operated under
charter granted by the Legislature
of 1868.
The first record of the Catholic
church of Alexandria is dated III
1917. The church building that
was destroyed by fire last year,
was erected iu 1895. The ven.
cradle 7. B. Bellier defended the
church single handed against the
Federa|s in 1864. Father Mena1d
is now resident Priest. Under his
supervision beautiful and expen.
pensive church building is being
erected On what is -krewRR as the
Casson square. st. James Church,
protestant EpiscopaD Of Alexan.
dria, was organized in 1874 and
the first church building Was cree
ted in 1854. 1t was burned by the
Federal army in 1864. In Oct.
1871, a new church was completed
but in 1872 a tornado swept it
away. On May Oath 1874, the
corner stone Of the third building
was placed and the house was
completed iu Oct. following. Tae
building was consecrated May II,
1883. Rev. Herman @. Duncan
became Rector in 1880 and is still
Rector of st. James. The Metho-
dist Episcopal Church South, was
established early in the forties.
During the war the old church
building was destroyed, but a few
years after the Methodists of this
circuit erected a substantial house
Of Worship, which continued III
use until Sept. Z, 1890, when the
new church building was dedicat.
ed by Bishop G. B. Galloway.
Rev. L. L. jackson is now the
minister in charge. The Baptist
Church of aute.bellum days is a
memory in Alexandria. Rev. w.
A. Robert was pastor Of the church
from it's organization up to May
1861, when he resigned. In 1880
the church was burned. There is
quite an elegant church being
erected on the corner Of Fcafth
and jackson streets. Rev. Hen.
bricks is resident minister. The
Presbyterian Church was organ.
lied in 1880. Rev. Ford was the
minister. There is splendid
church building being erected on
the corner Of Casson square. Rev
B. l.. Price is pastor in charge
The Synagogue was built in 1866,
aud dedicated same year. The
first services were read by Rev
NJ. Klein. A few of the Rabbits
are Rev. Mayer, Sclismery, SAT,
and Rosenspitz, who now occupies
tue pulpit.
NEWSPAPERS.
The first newspaper, Planters'In
telligencer dates it's beginning late
in 1927. No. As, Vol. 9, issued il
Alexandria in- 1886. The annual
subscription was So.
Alexandria Gazette was publish
ed by Il. Smith aud - Mccoy in
1923.
Red River Republican was es,
tablished in 1889 by Louis Zimm