Researched by Twin Blends
Researched by Twin Blends
— Vincent Van Gogh
— Jimmy Cannon
Researched by Twin Blends
We are twin brothers and best friends who grew up in Southern Hills in Shreveport and played sports together. Neither of us were really interested in history when we were younger, but we always loved looking at old photos. As we got older and retired from sports, we started to get more interested in old pictures of our city’s history. We search through thousands and thousands of old pictures from the past, go to the exact location where they were taken, snap our own picture and then combine those two pictures to form what we call a “Blend.” We then use those photos to tell the history of that location in a fun and exciting way! Since we are “twins” and “blend” the old and new photos together, that’s where the name Twin Blends comes from and you can find us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and now the web at twinblendshistory.com.
Researched by Twin Blends
Come As You Are
Dine In Your Car
Street Car Trolley
Records Unlimited
The Gang's All Here
How About a Victory Lap?
Conoco Service Station: A Look Back!
We all remember Conoco stations from the past but do you remember this one that sat on the corner of Kings Hwy and Centenary Blvd across from Centenary College of Louisiana?
Today we met the son of the man that once ran this station back in the day! We didn't catch the man's name that we talked to today but we did catch his dad's name. It was James Ashley! After digging through our photo collection (that we researched at the Northwest Louisiana Archives at LSUS) we found several aerials and even some ground shots of this old station from back in the day! How cool is that!!??
***We colorized 2 of them using A.I. to bring them back to life! ... See MoreSee Less
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Major General Richard Taylor surveys the aftermath of the day’s battle in the dark woods of Mansfield, Louisiana, April 8, 1864.
Mansfield State Historic Site
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A Chilling Walk Through Civil War History
I figured going down to the Mansfield State Historic Site for the Ghosts of the Battlefield program would be a good experience, but I never expected it to be this powerful!
Our tour guide, Gary Stephens, in full period uniform, led us from station to station through the dark woods, with the trails lit only by candlelight.
Seeing the scenes depicting what things might have looked like the night after the Battle of Mansfield in 1864 really put things into perspective.
Walking through those woods with nothing but a lantern lighting the way made it easy to imagine what the soldiers experienced on that battlefield.
As soon as we entered the dark woods, we were immediately greeted by the sound of musket fire in our direction and a Confederate soldier warning us to stay back. He then demanded to know who we were. Gary answered, telling the sentry we were friendly and had come from town to help the wounded. After a moment, we were cautiously allowed to pass.
As we walked from station to station, we witnessed scenes that townspeople might have encountered that night following the Battle of Mansfield.
I’m not going to lie. Walking through those woods in pitch darkness, with only the moonlight to guide us, gave me chills. It really made me stop and think about what those soldiers must have experienced that day—the fear, the uncertainty, and the reality that their lives could be over in an instant.
Then we came upon the confederate’s “headquarters”. Major General Richard Taylor himself was reviewing the day’s events and giving orders on how to proceed next as the federals retreated toward Mansfield.
I could have stayed at that one station all night because that moment seemed so real to me. Most of the men in that scene were friends of ours but seeing them like this made me believe they were the men they were portraying!
It’s one thing to read about history in a book or look at an old photograph, but it’s something entirely different to walk that ground and experience even a small glimpse of what it might have been like.
That’s what made this experience at Mansfield State Historic Site so powerful.
A big THANK YOU to Gary Stephens for a great tour and to Katelyn Calhoun and Amy Boone for all their hard work making this program a success.
Well over 200 people attended last night!
That's an incredible turnout!
If you've never experienced Ghosts of the Battlefield, put it on your calendar for next year. And if you haven't visited the Mansfield State Historic Site Museum, you're missing out! It's just a short drive from Shreveport, and the $6 admission is well worth it.
At Twin Blends, we love discovering the stories behind the places we visit, and tonight was another great reminder of how much history we have right here in our own backyard!
#TwinBlends #MansfieldStateHistoricSite #GhostsOfTheBattlefield #BattleOfMansfield #LouisianaHistory #CivilWarHistory
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Fantastic trip back in time tonight at the Ghosts of the Battlefield event!! More photos coming! ... See MoreSee Less
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Theodosia: Shreveport’s Most Mysterious Mansion!
Also known as the Bridges-McKellar Mansion, this is one of Shreveport’s most talked-about historic houses, and we get asked about it ALL THE TIME!
During our research at the Northwest Louisiana Archives at LSUS, we uncovered some fascinating history about this mysterious old home. Built in 1885 by Reuben Neil McKellar, who later served as Shreveport’s mayor from 1896 to 1899, the house was named after his wife, Theodosia. Located at 1324 Oakland Street, just a short distance from downtown, this historic mansion has captured people's imagination for generations.
So, why does everyone seem to love this old house? We think it’s the combination of its rich history, layers of mystery, and strange, almost ominous beauty. Even though she’s seen better days, there’s something undeniably special about Theodosia!
During our research into Shreveport’s past, we came across some fascinating photographs of the house taken in 1984. One interesting detail is what might look like a carport today. Remember, this house was built in 1885! That covered area was actually a carriage entrance, where carriages could pull up to let their passengers out. We even discovered a photograph showing the carriage stable directly behind the mansion!
We’ve been fortunate enough to receive permission for several private tours of the property, where we’ve filmed and documented its remarkable story. Dr. Cheryl H. White served as our guide, sharing fascinating stories about the house. Be sure to watch our Part 3 video to see and hear some of those stories for yourself!
A HUGE thank-you to our friends Allen Rogers and Marcus Mebes for helping make these special tours possible. Because the property is posted No Trespassing, please respect the signs and remember that our visits were made with permission.
We’ve spent so much time researching, photographing, and exploring the history of this incredible place that we almost feel like Theodosia has become a part of us!
Want to see more? Just Google “Theodosia Shreveport” or search Facebook for “Twin Blends Theodosia” to find more photographs, videos, and historical discoveries. You can also search “Bridges McKellar” along with “Shreveport Times” to uncover even more about this wildly popular house.
WATCH OUR VIDEOS!
Part 1:
www.facebook.com/mike.mangham/posts/10211319790700216
Part 2:
www.facebook.com/twinblendsphotography/videos/566729740366525/
There’s so much more to discover about Theodosia! And believe us, this is one Shreveport landmark whose story deserves to be told.
Twin Blends: Northwest Louisiana History Hunters — Connecting the dots of history, one discovery at a time!
#TwinBlends #Theodosia #BridgesMcKellarMansion #ShreveportHistory #NorthwestLouisianaHistory ... See MoreSee Less
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A RARE LOOK AT TEXAS STREET IN THE EARLY 1950s!
Finding old photographs of the 200 block of Texas Street in Shreveport has always been a challenge. For whatever reason, other areas of town seem to have received more attention over the years. So, you can imagine our excitement when we came across this incredible photograph in the Thurman C. Smith collection!
Thurman captured SO MUCH history in this one image! Although the photograph isn't dated, we've determined it was likely taken in the early 1950s. Since the Washington Youree started operating as two separate hotels in early 1953 we know that this photo was taken before it became the Captain Shreve Hotel. We're sure some of our car lovers will help us confirm that—or correct us if we're off, LOL!
Look closely, and you'll spot several familiar names from Shreveport's past, including:
The M. Levy Building
The Washington Youree Hotel
Drake Printing
Castle Printing
Planter's Seed Company
McNee's Diner, now home to the psychic business!
Just imagine walking down Texas Street when all these businesses were part of everyday life in downtown Shreveport!
We decided to colorize this wonderful photograph and bring it back to life, but we also wanted to share the original black-and-white version so you can appreciate Thurman's remarkable work.
Another incredible piece of Shreveport's history preserved for future generations thanks to Thurman C. Smith!
What catches YOUR eye in this photograph? Do you remember any of these businesses, or can you help us narrow down the date? We'd love to hear your memories and thoughts!
#TwinBlends #ShreveportHistory #DowntownShreveport #ThenAndNow #ThurmanCSmith #NorthwestLouisianaHistory ... See MoreSee Less
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