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116 Pearl Street Then

116 Pearl Street Then
1920's Photo of Pearl Street

116 Pearl Street Today

116 Pearl Street Today
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Welcome To The Minden, Louisiana's Dorcheat Museum Blog

Thank you for visiting the Dorcheat Historical Association and Museum Blog. The Dorcheat Historical Museum is the only museum inside the city limits of Minden, Louisiana. The museum opened June 10th, 2008. Admission Free with donations welcomed. Our hours are, Tuesday - Friday from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., closed for lunch from 1 p.m. - 2 p.m., open again from 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. Saturday we are closed but open by appointment for special showings and meetings. We would like to invite you to visit our location at 116 Pearl Street in Minden, Louisiana. We look forward to sharing our history with you. For more information please contact museum director Schelley Brown Francis at 318-377-3002 or 318-423-0192.

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This Minden, Louisiana Webster Parish Muesum is Funded in part by a grant from the Webster Parish Convention and Visitors Commission.
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In return for your support, you will receive not only a tax deduction, but also, invitations to all museum activities. Please give every consideration to helping with this endeavor. Be a part of Webster Parish history by becoming a proud supporter of the Webster Parish Dorcheat Historical Association and Museum.

All contributions may be mailed to:

Dorcheat Historical Association Museum
PO Box 1094

Minden, Louisiana 71058.




Monday, July 14, 2008

Sons of Darkness, Sons of Light

“Night for the Museum Sons of Darkness, Sons of Light” with Marilyn Miller
“Night for the Museum Sons of Darkness, Sons of Light” with Marilyn Miller
The August 11th, 2008 “Night for the Museum” was a night to remember. Dorcheat Museum’s director; Schelley Brown stated, “We have never had a crowd this large before. People started to arrive at Christopher’s around 5:00 P.M. for the 6:00 P.M. historic venue event. These events just keep growing. In fact we have really outgrown Christopher’s. I am telling people to bring lawn chairs because of the limited number of chairs that we do have. It is great that people have made this monthly event a must do! We now have people traveling a great distance to come to Minden once a month to hear our speakers. Last night we had guest that had traveled from Alabama and Puerto Rico just to hear our speaker.”
Marilyn Miller one of Minden’s longtime citizens was the guest speaker at The Dorcheat Historical Association’s “Night for the Museum”. The large crowd was totally silent as Ms. Miller described in detail what took place almost 100 years ago. Ms. Miller shared historical aspects of her book, as well as her views on the social and political implications of the 92-year-old murders.
The story begins Christmas Day, 1916, John Nelson Reeves, his wife, Maud, and three of their four children were axed to death as they lay peacefully sleeping in their rural Webster Parish home. The gruesome slayings of the Grove, LA family members, and the next four years of trials and appeals of the accused killers, is the subject of a true-crime novel penned by Minden resident Marilyn Miller and published in October of 2000 by Sweet Dreams Publishing Company of Many (LA).
Ms. Miller graduated from Minden High School in 1970 and from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, LA in 1973 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Journalism.
She was executive editor of the Minden Press-Herald for 17 years. And just this month, after 18 years on the job, she retired from her position as director of Marketing & Public Relations for Minden’s Fibrebond Corporation.
From February of 1974 to September of 1990, she worked in different positions at the Alexandria Daily Town Talk in Alexandria, Louisiana and the Minden Press-Herald in Minden, Louisiana.
During her tenure with the Minden Press-Herald, Ms. Miller earned many awards for writing and photography. These included the Louisiana Press Association’s honored “Freedom of Information” Award for uncovering government scandal that resulted in the first recall of a mayor in the State of Louisiana. Her long list of journalism awards also includes those from United Press International and the Associated Press for feature writing, investigative reporting, editorial writing, and photography.
Ms. Miller left the position of Executive Editor at the Minden Press-Herald in October of 1990 to become director of Public Relations for Fibrebond Corporation, the worldwide manufacturing company headquartered in Minden.
She became reintroduced to Minden readers and viewers in February of 2006, when she was diagnosed with Transverse Myelitis, a rare neurological syndrome caused by damage to the spinal cord. Although there is no known cure for TM, Marilyn beat the odds and became one of the 1 in 3 victims of the syndrome who manage to walk again.
In August 2008, she retired from the position of director of Marketing and Public Relations for Fibrebond to focus more on her health.
After the riveting talk Ms. Miller had a book signing. The proceeds of her book were donated to the Dorcheat Museum. Betty Fowler was the winner of this month’s museum gift basket. The drawing was followed by a tour of the recently opened museum located on Pearl Street.
If you missed last night, a DVD is available for $10 today at the museum. The next Night for the Museum is scheduled for September 8th, 2008. “A night remembering the Hunter’s Playhouse era is already causing quite a buzz far and wide. Bring your own lawn chairs suggested for Hunter’s Playhouse event”, stated Ms. Brown.
Admission is free of charge and everyone is welcome. For more information on “A Night for the Museum” please contact Schelley Brown at 318-423-0192 or visit http://www.museuminminden.blogspot.com/ . Reservations not required first come first serve seating.
The August 11th, 2008 “Night for the Museum” will be a night to remember. Dorcheat Museum’s director; Schelley Brown, announces another special historic venue event. Monday, August 11th, 2008, Marilyn Miller one of Minden’s longtime citizens will be the guest speaker at The Dorcheat Historical Association’s “Night for the Museum”.
On Christmas Day, 1916, John Nelson Reeves, his wife, Maud, and three of their four children were axed to death as they lay peacefully sleeping in their rural Webster Parish home. The gruesome slayings of the Grove, LA family members, and the next four years of trials and appeals of the accused killers, is the subject of a true-crime novel penned by Minden resident Marilyn Miller and published in October of 2000 by Sweet Dreams Publishing Company of Many (LA).
Ms. Miller will share historical aspects of her book, as well as her views on the social and political implications of the 92-year-old murders, during “A Night at the Museum” on Monday, Aug. 11. The free event begins at 6:00 p.m. at Christopher’s on Main Street. The public is invited.
Marilyn is not a stranger to most Minden residents. She was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on January 28, 1952 to Webster Parish natives Major (USAF Retired) W.S. Miller (deceased), and Lea McCollum Miller, an elementary school secretary (retired). She and her family traveled extensively in the United States and Europe before retiring to Minden, Louisiana in 1962.
Ms. Miller graduated from Minden High School in 1970 and from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, LA in 1973 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Journalism.
She was executive editor of the Minden Press-Herald for 17 years. And just this month, after 18 years on the job, she retired from her position as director of Marketing & Public Relations for Minden’s Fibrebond Corporation.
From February of 1974 to September of 1990, she worked in different positions at the Alexandria Daily Town Talk in Alexandria, Louisiana and the Minden Press-Herald in Minden, Louisiana.
During her tenure with the Minden Press-Herald, Ms. Miller earned many awards for writing and photography. These included the Louisiana Press Association’s honored “Freedom of Information” Award for uncovering government scandal that resulted in the first recall of a mayor in the State of Louisiana. Her long list of journalism awards also includes those from United Press International and the Associated Press for feature writing, investigative reporting, editorial writing, and photography.
Ms. Miller left the position of Executive Editor at the Minden Press-Herald in October of 1990 to become director of Public Relations for Fibrebond Corporation, the worldwide manufacturing company headquartered in Minden.
She became reintroduced to Minden readers and viewers in February of 2006, when she was diagnosed with Transverse Myelitis, a rare neurological syndrome caused by damage to the spinal cord. Although there is no known cure for TM, Marilyn beat the odds and became one of the 1 in 3 victims of the syndrome who manage to walk again.
In August 2008, she retired from the position of director of Marketing and Public Relations for Fibrebond to focus more on her health.
You don’t want to miss the story of Sons of Darkness Sons of Light as told by someone that researched and investigated this 1916 tragedy.
Admission is free of charge and everyone is welcome. For more information on “A Night for the Museum” please contact Schelley Brown at 318-423-0192 or visit http://www.museuminminden.blogspot.com/ . Reservations not required first come first serve seating.