By Dr. Jacquelyn Simmons
After fleeing to Denver, Colorado due to a very serious altercation with a supervisor, our Daddy decided to return his family to Monroe, Louisiana. Completing a third-grade school year at Mt. Nebo Elementary School located on Jackson Street, I was registered at Newtown Grammar School which occupied the building where the United Theology Seminary is presently located. During my attendance there and to my horror, my uncle, the late Dr. S.D. Hill told my parents I needed to report to his office located on the second floor of the Miller-Roy building two times per week. Wow!!! The Miller-Roy building is located on the corner of North eleventh and DeSiard Street. On the front of the corner facing DeSiard Street. were Hoston s Bootery and White s Tailoring Shop. Both were owned and operated by African Americans.
To enter the doctor s offices, we had to go through the eleventh street entrance. Behind the entrance is what appeared to me to be a pool hall. I could hear players fellowshipping while playing pool. I never had enough courage to actually look back there.
As I climbed the rickety stairs, I was kind of nervous as to whether they would fall due to old age and plenty of use.
On the second floor to one s left, was another set of stairs that led to the home of Dr. Roy and family-his wife and very young daughter. Tragically, the little girl died at a very early age. Even though I was a child, I mourned her lost with her bereaved family and others. On the right side of the stairs were several unoccupied offices. In fact, Dr. Hill s office was at the end of the hall. On the left side was an office occupied by Dr. McClanahan-next to his office was Dr. Thompson, who was a dentist. After Dr. Thompson s demise, a relative of mine new dentist asked to remove a very small portion of real gold which Dr. Thompson had placed in her mouth during her years he had served as her dentist. She gave consent. (Smile). All of these doctors wives were teachers in the Monroe City Schools and other places.
Eventually, a lawyer set up an office. On the third floor was a place where dances and other activities were held. The building also housed a beauty shop on the first floor.
Later, in 1969, Rev. Roosevelt Wright, Jr., answered God s call and his family to set up a publication in the Miller-Roy Building called the Monroe Free Press. The purpose of fighting corruption and exposing injustices. The offices were located where the pool hall was located during my earlier years as a forced patient (Smile). It was also the location where God eventually placed on Rev. Roosevelt heart s to constantly prod this person to serve as an untrained columnist for the Free Press. He ignored my no s of inexperience and most of all inability to type and continued interest to try and do so. As my late uncle, Dr Hill said to me on his death bed, carry on Rev. Wright, family and staff. God Bless.
Love,
Jacquelyn Simmons
P.S. Thank you for your tolerances.
