Past & Present: The Miller Roy Building
The Miller Roy Building is one of the most historically significant buildings located in Monroe, Louisiana but especially in the black community. The building was built in 1929 by Dr. Roy and Dr. Miller, a dentist and doctor respectively, and was located on DeSiard Street in an area once known as Five Points.
![](https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/Miller-Roy-1939-copy.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=240&q=80&w=320&s=483130a433af5cf62068f335eafdbed4 320w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/Miller-Roy-1939-copy.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=405&q=80&w=540&s=d388cc84efd94b7a387c8540a9249f0e 540w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/Miller-Roy-1939-copy.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=576&q=80&w=768&s=3bd304c443e6af17cfcf058f7011c853 768w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/Miller-Roy-1939-copy.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=768&q=80&w=1024&s=a03ceffb9c62e8ea0a4e9ffa20e3f7ec 1024w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/Miller-Roy-1939-copy.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=900&q=80&w=1200&s=b42108b8c7c68436396ef95d3f725c88 1200w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/Miller-Roy-1939-copy.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1080&q=80&w=1440&s=5c8dfc0de200eec3a5db617f450bd1e5 1405w)
![](https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/IMG_0493-copy.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=240&q=80&w=320&s=78eb7ae4ddca03df87550a4fe8375991 320w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/IMG_0493-copy.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=405&q=80&w=540&s=abc0aaa74db338e475f362dc7664793c 540w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/IMG_0493-copy.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=576&q=80&w=768&s=5c3af446f301a23987f0ba07335959a3 720w)
![](https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/SM_5857.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=240&q=80&w=320&s=444ab266421a5160db14476601fa252e 320w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/SM_5857.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=405&q=80&w=540&s=acadc8fa30937f2575c5455d3d42d5dd 540w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/SM_5857.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=576&q=80&w=768&s=de88190ca9f95c858da67cd1d6de395d 768w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/SM_5857.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=768&q=80&w=1024&s=dd18aadfd2e14cadfabdcc9a8df94dfe 1024w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/SM_5857.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=900&q=80&w=1200&s=1122d28f6abad9be296f92c4864eab15 1200w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/SM_5857.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1080&q=80&w=1440&s=1ecff84f2da11134ed0ae35e10cf319c 1440w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/SM_5857.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1440&q=80&w=1920&s=8236b7979bc1ccffd3b5882009502bcb 1920w)
In addition to their offices, the first and second floors housed a pharmacy, beauty shop, boutique, and insurance office to name a few. This hub of commerce and activity was vital to the black community in Monroe and Northeast Louisiana.
But if these walls could talk, they would sing! Located on the 3rd floor of the building was the Savoy Ballroom. This entertainment venue was a stop on the popular Chitlin Circuit and played host to Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Fats Domino, Lena Horne and so many more. It was here that many artists even got their first break. The Savoy Ballroom was honored with a marker on the Northeast Louisiana Music Trail for its impact and importance in the legacy of music in Northeast Louisiana.
Today the building is once again vital to the community that surrounds it. The building was revitalized thanks to the vision of Michael & Christie Echols and Ben Marshall. The first floor is now home to several nonprofit organizations addressing economic opportunity, housing programs, and workforce initiatives. Eighteen affordable homes are located in the top two floors of the building.
![](https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/SM_5836.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=240&q=80&w=320&s=d6f6e975ac6045a11983c47e76cfd4c1 320w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/SM_5836.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=405&q=80&w=540&s=e9cf26a3b379ae34a51cfe32526bed19 540w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/SM_5836.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=576&q=80&w=768&s=5ebde680c4c0ae7b310fe27d020a6831 768w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/SM_5836.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=768&q=80&w=1024&s=ae6317d192cb25fc547eeda22933df58 1024w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/SM_5836.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=900&q=80&w=1200&s=253a0fd4b45aada46ffb63f9a672a7fb 1200w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/SM_5836.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1080&q=80&w=1440&s=52977c2618203198127423a4f018d9ee 1440w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/SM_5836.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1440&q=80&w=1920&s=7de4e4f351d4d9c0e54674f504b45b6d 1920w)
![](https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/SM_5862.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=240&q=80&w=320&s=ebea8bc0feb5da7f75dca85eba0ab3f0 320w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/SM_5862.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=405&q=80&w=540&s=7c3546b550e066052d0bb376ba351592 540w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/SM_5862.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=576&q=80&w=768&s=6aa7bb8b25c44d167c0dc98350233b51 768w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/SM_5862.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=768&q=80&w=1024&s=2b3134aa31c6a6d1228d0b3e584692d0 1024w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/SM_5862.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=900&q=80&w=1200&s=2aa73e83a4bd64f6cbdf7a579c58b4f2 1200w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/SM_5862.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1080&q=80&w=1440&s=2af9712636201e175193fafc3a30a2ea 1440w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/SM_5862.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1440&q=80&w=1920&s=59dac7e33e0a0032834db9082e722929 1920w)
![](https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/SM_5860.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=240&q=80&w=320&s=15cecbd7c2fc3c0df2aa2fb05729b664 320w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/SM_5860.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=405&q=80&w=540&s=a699c2907b331c50381971d9f71b823e 540w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/SM_5860.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=576&q=80&w=768&s=bad3630e711ec90911ea28d2b26cc7ef 768w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/SM_5860.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=768&q=80&w=1024&s=f2485958ebb4c4ddb83f2e0eb952e307 1024w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/SM_5860.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=900&q=80&w=1200&s=ba41382a0583f7485f1132030cb36d7f 1200w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/SM_5860.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1080&q=80&w=1440&s=243088ede8ef02ed0404a4626a9811eb 1440w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/SM_5860.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1440&q=80&w=1920&s=cbc7f9e79b81c0f5d8b947cb6cbf72c6 1920w)
Photo Credits: Michael & Christie Echols with Echo Development, United Way of NELA, and Ouachita Parish Public Library.