Central City News

On Aug. 4, 1862, Central Served As Staging Area For CSA Forces by Woody Jenkins, Editor GREENWELL SPRINGS — In July 1862 — 150 years ago — Confederate Major Gen. Earl Van Dorn planned an expedition to capture Baton Rouge from Union troops, who had burned much of the city and looted the rest. He sent Major Gen. […]

GREENWELL SPRINGS ROAD — Everyday, tens of thousands of cars rush up and down Greenwell Springs Road.  At this time of the year, many are on their way to shop for Christmas gifts at the big malls or chain stores. Ironically, they are hurriedly passing by one of the best places to shop in the […]

Thanksgiving Day in Central, Nov. 24, 2011 Why Celebrate Thanksgiving? “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 After 66 days at sea in the hold of the Mayflower, the Pilgrims set foot on land on Dec. 26, 1620 — […]

40 Years Ago • 1971 to 2011 by Elva Jo Crawford CENTRAL — The school year 1970-1971 was one of many changes both for the Central community and the world.  Charles T. Kinsley was principal of Central High and had worked very hard to bring about compliance with the desegregation court order for East Baton […]

Delightful Resort with 3,600-foot Pavilion, Air Typhoon Cooling With a Restaurant, Dances on Sundays by Woody Jenkins, Central City News “On the banks of the Comite a short distance from Baton Rouge is located a pleasure resort equipped and furnished to meet the requirements of the most critical or exacting amusement seeker. We refer to Riverside Park to which […]

CENTRAL — In 1857, there were many close knit communities in the area now known as Central.  Huge farms and public lands are shown on a map of that period.  Some of the prominent names were Evan Vaughn, Nathan Baker, William Sullivan, Peter Delorroche, Joseph Carter, Rachael Dally, William Edwards, and others.  Waterways had been […]

by Woody Jenkins The Old Central Girls’ Gym at the corner of Sullivan and Hooper roads is about girls’ basketball and a lot more. Built around 1927, the gym was used as a community meeting place for everything from high school graduations to proms to a special celebration for Central’s only Medal of Honor winner, […]

GREENWELL SPRINGS — In May 1852, Richard Odom purchased extensive land holdings from the heirs of John Sims.  On August 6, 1853, Odom sold to his son-in-law, Robert W. Greenwell “250 acres of this land, containing several springs,” for the sum of $125.  Thereafter, the springs became known as “Mr. Greenwell’s springs.”  Within a short […]

By Olive Campbell, Central High Class of 1947 CENTRAL — We were born during the “Great Depression,” were teenagers during “the Great War” World War II, and are part of the “Greatest Generation.”  Times were difficult during the 1940’s.  We sent our young men off to war and lost a lot of them. Women went […]

CENTRAL — The Central School Complex is adding new prominence to a name that Central residents hear quite frequently: Jackson. Riding along Sullivan Road, we see BREC’s Jackson Park. Then a little bit farther north, we see Jackson Place subdivision and Virgil Jackson Avenue. Now the new School Complex is being built on the old […]