Photos by Charlie London
The modernistic concrete bridge south of the Casino building in City Park is a monument to Thomas Day who in 1910 gave $1,500 to City Park.
Unfortunately, the cypress tree you see pictured above is pressing against the bridge causing cracks all throughout one side of the bridge.
As you can see above, the cypress tree is literally tearing the bridge apart.
The picture on the left is the side of the bridge where the cypress tree is pressing on it. Notice the crack all the way down the middle of that side of the bridge. The picture on the right is the other side of the bridge and has no such cracks.
Pictured above is the interior wall of the side of the bridge where the cypress tree is pressing against it. It clearly shows that action needs to be taken now if the century old bridge is to be saved.
From the September 19, 1910 issue of the Times Picayune
Thomas Day, One of the Bravest, Tenderest, and Truest,
Figuring Larger in Deeds Than in Publicity, Passes Away
at Seventy-One.
Thomas Day, aged 71, one of the most prominent members of
the Army of Northern Virginia, until 1902 one of the most
active cotton factors in the market, and one of the oldest
members of the Pickwick Club, died last night at 6 o’clock
in his apartments at the Grunewald Hotel. In his passing
New Orleans loses one of its most philanthropic citizens,
although his philanthropy was known only to himself and his
most intimate friends.
Mr. Day was born in Culpepper County, Virginia, and came
alone to New Orleans as a boy. When the Civil War broke
out he enlisted in the Louisiana Guard, in Company B, which
company was attached to the regiment in command of General
A.G. Blanchard. Afterward he was under the command of
General H.T. Hays and became a lieutenant. He later became
the adjutant to General H.P. Jones and served throughout the
war.
He was in many of the hottest conflicts throughout the war,
among them being the terrible battle at Gettysburg, Pa. He
was in the following notable conflicts: Seven Pines,
Frazer’s Farm, Malvern Hill, Cedar Mountain, Briboe Station,
Manasses (three days), Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville,
Winchester, Hagerstown, Hunterstown, Fairfield, Rappahannock
Bridge, Fort Gilmer, Williamsburg, Shirley, Mine Run and
Appomattox Courthouse.
When peace was restored he returned to New Orleans and engaged
in the cotton business. He was first with Jurey & Harris, then
with J.L. Harris & Co., Parker Co. and finally Day & Co. He
retired from active business in 1902.
He was a member of several of the Carnival organizations and one
of the oldest members of the Pickwick Club.
Mr. Day was a bachelor and talked but little about himself and
his affairs. Although one of the most ardent members of the
Army of Northern Virginia, he rarely referred to the army and
his war record. In order to foster educational matters, he gave
purses to the Normal School, and never discussed that. He was a
very kindly man and did things from a standpoint of duty and not
ostentation.
Directly after his death last night his body was taken to the home
of Norman Eustis, corner of Baronne and Berlin Streets. Mr. Eustis
was associated with Mr. Day for more than thirty years and was one
of Mr. Day’s closest friends and advisers.
At the residence of Mr. Eustis the funeral will be held this
afternoon at 3:30 o’clock. The service will be conducted by Dr.
Gordon Bakewell, the dean of the Episcopal clergymen in New Orleans,
and one of the most prominent members of the Army of Northern Virginia.