Capdevielle Gets Hen Pecked

October 2, 2016 by Charlie London

capdevhen1
Robert Thompson sent in this photo and comment:

Cry Foul!
This poor girl lives in Capdevielle Park now.
She has managed to scratch all the pine straw from around the trees,
but we are seeing a lot fewer grubs!

***

Paul Capdevielle (1842-1922)

Paul Capdevielle, the forty-second Mayor was of French descent. He was born in New Orleans, January 15, 1842. His father, Augustin Capdevielle, was born in France, but settled in New Orleans in 1825, becoming a prominent merchant in the commission business and active in politics. It was from his father’s interest in politics that young Paul inherited his interest in governmental affairs. His mother, Virginia Bertrand, was born in New Orleans in 1816.

Paul Capdevielle was educated at the Jesuit’s College in New Orleans from which he was graduated in 1861. He served with credit in the War between the States, enlisting in the New Orleans Guard Regiment of Infantry, but in 1862 joined Boone’s Louisiana Artillery, and was wounded at Port Hudson.
After the close of the war he returned to civil life, taking up the first employment that offered itself, studied law in April 1868 was graduated from Louisiana State University. In 1892, he gave up law to accept the presidency of the Merchant’s Insurance Company. He served as its President for sixteen years, until it was liquidated and sold.

His political history began in 1877 when he was appointed to the School Board. Later he was a member of the Orleans Levee Board, a Commissioner of Prisons and Asylums and Chairman of the Finance Committee of the drainage commission. Mr. Capdevielle was an outstanding figure in Louisiana politics from the time of his election as Mayor of New Orleans in 1899. He was appointed auditor of Public Accounts in 1904, and re-elected three times, and held this office up to the time of his death. He survived the political storms attending the fall of the state administrations, the last in 1920, when Governor Parker was swept into office.

The Flower administration was a turning point in the history of New Orleans. It closed one epoch and opened another. With it began the period of commercial prosperity which extends into the present time.
Mayor Capdevielle’s administration was noted for two events, both inseparably connected with the beginning of New Orleans’ industrial development; the installation of the modern sewerage system and the organization of the Public Belt Railroad. The Board of Port Commissioners also began to function actively during this period.

City Park stands as a monument to his energy and civic spirit. The upbuilding of the park was his constant care, and he served continuously as President of the City Park Improvement Association for more than two decades, holding the office at the time of his death.

The new administration went into office May 9, 1900, at the beginning of the twentieth century when a wave of prosperity passed over the country and was felt in New Orleans. Mayor Capdevielle in his inaugural address spoke of the drainage system about to be constructed and stated if the city desired to have its own electric light plant it could do so without great additional cost by using the power house of the drainage system.

The contract to erect a modern jail, to be called the House of Detention, was awarded for $112,800 and the site of the old Marine Hospital, on Tulane Avenue and Broad Street, was selected.
The Clay statue, being in the way of safe operations of the street cars, was removed from Canal Street to the Lafayette Square on January 12, 1901. The consolidation of various street railways into one corporation under the name of the New Orleans Railways Company was an important factor of the years 1901-1902.

On May 1, 1901, New Orleans was honored by the visit of the President of the United States, William McKinley, accompanied by Mrs. McKinley and Secretaries John Hay, Charles Emory Smith, and E. A. Hitchcock. He was received in the Cabildo by the Governor of Louisiana, attended by his staff in full uniform. The bells of the Cathedral of St. Louis announced the arrival of the President and his cabinet, escorted by Mayor Paul Capdevielle, and a committee of distinguished citizens. As the cortege entered the Supreme Court Hall, Chairman Zacharie announced in a loud voice “The President,” and the assembly arose and remained standing while the Chief Justice conducted the President to a seat of honor at his right on the Supreme Court Bench. The Governor of Louisiana took a seat on the left of the Chief Justice, and the Mayor of New Orleans the one on the right of the President, the Justices occupying seats immediately in the rear of the bench. Chairman Zacharie then conducted the members of the cabinet and their wives to places on the left of the dais, where a seat, filled with roses, had been reserved for Mrs. William McKinley, who, at the last moment, was too ill to attend.

In 1873, Paul Capdevielle married in New Orleans, Miss Emma Larue, who died several years ago. Three sons and two daughters blessed this union; the sons are Christian, Auguste and Paul, Jr., and the daughters are the Misses Edith and Yvonne Capdevielle.

Paul Capdevielle was found dead at his home in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, August 13, 1922, following a long illness, at the age of eighty years and six months and is buried in St. Louis Cemetery No. 2. Besides his children, a sister, Mrs. Virginia Buddecke and five grandchildren also survived.

***
article below by Robert Thompson

capdeville5It’s been a long hot summer since our last get together at Capdeville Park. The progress begun at that Clean-up day has begun to give the park that “cared for” look which in turn lifts our neighborhood, discourages further littering and vandalism, and may even make our area safer.

During the summer, I sought some help from professionals who can guide us in our next phase of park uplifting – no sense spending our small resources of time and money on anything that doesn’t have the best long term success rates. A good plants person can steer us toward appropriate choices in selecting items for our park beds.

I approached Greater New Orleans Master Gardeners program looking for assistance. Their group consists of persons who completed training from a LSU Agcenter outreach program and who give some of their time in community service. I haven’t yet found a Master from the area willing to take this project on, but a very valuable contact was made through this connection. Tammany Baumgarten, a professional horticulturist from BaumGardens Landscape & Design, is a major resource for Master Gardeners, and in response to my begging she graciously provided me with a plan and a strategy for the planted beds in the park.

Below is her drawing, which I am also sending to our friend Tica H. at Parkways, for your comments (and Parkways approval). The price tag for the venture, if fully planted straight away would be about $1700 in materials. Labor was assessed at $1400. Of course we are a volunteer effort, and some plant materials and supplies may be scrounged, and much of the labor should be our own sweat equity.

A November time frame is being targeted for our next volunteer effort. Bed clean-up and prep, some planting and landscaping – this will be determined by our practical limitations and what we can raise in funds. I am also working to find us an organization to be a part of where fundraising can include business solicitations and grants. But for the moment the burden is on us.

Please review the plan below. If you are able to commit to a donation toward its achievement, please contact me at the info below.

Thanks neighbor for caring about our community and beautifying New Orleans!

Robert Thompson
2653 DeSoto
(504) 292-1065

capdeville-plan

 

*******************************************************************************

Neighbors got together in 2012 to help make some improvements in Capdeville Park.
Robert Thompson would like to once again add some plant life in Capdeville Park.

Thanks to 8 neighbors that spent time in 2012 to divide and plant 48 gallon sized Monkey Grass, yellow lantana and purple duranta (to bring in butterflies), and ardesia crenata (Christmas berry, a shade lover).

photo below by David Armond

photos below by Brenda London
We mulched, amended soil, divided Paper Whites to replant this fall, and trimmed 5 Natchez Crape Mytles that we planted maybe a dozen years ago. $500 went quickly from 5 trips to 3 Home Depots!

Unfortunately 10 bags of soil and 6 bags of mulch disappeared into a white pickup. I had too many loads of stuff to manage in a Subaru and left it out at the park the nite before, gone at 6:30 am. I vented my disgust by hoeing weeds vigorously! Neighbors report frequent plant thefts near Broad. We replaced what we really needed, and will wait to augment soil in another phase.

So thanks to people from all over our neighborhood who worked, found their garden Zen, and had a good time:


Steve Mardon
Brenda London (Grand Rte St John)
Deena Bedigan (Delgado-she did a perfect job separating monkey grass)
Danny Akers (worked and treated us to fresh squeezed lemonade) also involved with Café Amelie on Royal, (Crete St)
Helen Ball (rode her bike from St John’s Court)
David Armond- N Lopez
Katy Smith (new young neighbor from Jackson) Bell St

The soaking rain this weekend insures that this project is off to a great start. We have promises from Andy Romero, David Lapene and Danny Akers to keep the new plantings watered thru the summer. We can always use extras…

Future needs include a streetlight (way to dark here),repair some crumbling interior sidewalk, sprinkler system, a creative welcome to FSJ sign, sculpture. These are LONG term dreams. Very open to input and help make the connections. I do better with my hands in the dirt!!

I will be asking Parks and Parkways to remove a phoenix palm growing at the base of an oak.

Love this neighborhood!
Bobby

capdeville5

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: bayou st john, best, best neighborhood, best neighborhood in New Orleans, faubourg st john, hen pecked, New Orleans, new orleans best neighborhood, robert thompson, winner winner chicken dinner

Timeless Message from Charlie Chaplin

December 26, 2013 by Charlie London

I’m sorry, but I don’t want to be an emperor. That’s not my business. I don’t want to rule or conquer anyone. I should like to help everyone – if possible – Jew, Gentile – black man – white. We all want to help one another. Human beings are like that. We want to live by each other’s happiness – not by each other’s misery. We don’t want to hate and despise one another. In this world there is room for everyone. And the good earth is rich and can provide for everyone. The way of life can be free and beautiful, but we have lost the way.

Greed has poisoned men’s souls, has barricaded the world with hate, has goose-stepped us into misery and bloodshed. We have developed speed, but we have shut ourselves in. Machinery that gives abundance has left us in want. Our knowledge has made us cynical. Our cleverness, hard and unkind. We think too much and feel too little. More than machinery we need humanity. More than cleverness we need kindness and gentleness. Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost….

The aeroplane and the radio have brought us closer together. The very nature of these inventions cries out for the goodness in men – cries out for universal brotherhood – for the unity of us all. Even now my voice is reaching millions throughout the world – millions of despairing men, women, and little children – victims of a system that makes men torture and imprison innocent people.

To those who can hear me, I say – do not despair. The misery that is now upon us is but the passing of greed – the bitterness of men who fear the way of human progress. The hate of men will pass, and dictators die, and the power they took from the people will return to the people. And so long as men die, liberty will never perish. …..

Soldiers! don’t give yourselves to brutes – men who despise you – enslave you – who regiment your lives – tell you what to do – what to think and what to feel! Who drill you – diet you – treat you like cattle, use you as cannon fodder. Don’t give yourselves to these unnatural men – machine men with machine minds and machine hearts! You are not machines! You are not cattle! You are men! You have the love of humanity in your hearts! You don’t hate! Only the unloved hate – the unloved and the unnatural! Soldiers! Don’t fight for slavery! Fight for liberty!

In the 17th Chapter of St Luke it is written: “the Kingdom of God is within man” – not one man nor a group of men, but in all men! In you! You, the people have the power – the power to create machines. The power to create happiness! You, the people, have the power to make this life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure.

Then – in the name of democracy – let us use that power – let us all unite. Let us fight for a new world – a decent world that will give men a chance to work – that will give youth a future and old age a security. By the promise of these things, brutes have risen to power. But they lie! They do not fulfill that promise. They never will!

Dictators free themselves but they enslave the people! Now let us fight to fulfil that promise! Let us fight to free the world – to do away with national barriers – to do away with greed, with hate and intolerance. Let us fight for a world of reason, a world where science and progress will lead to all men’s happiness. Soldiers! in the name of democracy, let us all unite!

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: bayou st john, best neighborhood, best neighborhood in New Orleans, faubourg st john, holiday, New Orleans, new orleans best neighborhood, peace

Plenty to See in Faubourg St. John

May 4, 2013 by Charlie London

photos by Charlie London
sites

There are so many wonderful things to see in Faubourg St. John!

***

Moving Slowly, and Socially, in the Post-Fest Afterglow

Ian McNulty

As each day of Jazz Fest ends, a great rush ensues, with buses and cabs, the SUVs of VIPs, flocks of bicyclists and thousands of pedestrians all pressing out from the Fair Grounds vicinity. People are headed home, to their hotels, to the late dinner reservation or to next show across town.

But this is the phase of the Jazz Fest experience when I like to take my time. I like to soak in the scene as the sun slips below the shade of live oak tops and as the beautiful old neighborhoods around the Fair Grounds fill with people. It’s like being at a beach town at sunset, when the singed, happy, buzzed masses start streaming back from the shore, lugging their chairs and gear, with a coat of aloe and the evening’s plans on their minds.

The ideal vantage for all of this is a friend’s porch, with an open rocking chair, a neighborhood band within earshot and a cooler at the ready. But a good runner-up is a bar nearby, someplace within walking range for people who also find themselves more interested in festival afterglow than hurrying off somewhere else. Even on days when I can’t make it to the festival itself I like coming by after work for this evening shift.

Liuzza’s by the Track is the landmark locale for this type of post-fest hang. There’s usually a garage band jamming or a brass band blowing somewhere, a veritable bazaar of vendors hawking crafts and latter-day hippy wares along the sidewalks and clusters of people all around comparing notes on the day. Liuzza’s clears the decks for the crowds, emptying its dining room of tables and chairs and functioning as a big, walk-up bar, with food served outdoors around the corner. On the Gentilly side of the track, the Seahorse Saloon similarly comes to life as the fest lets out. And, like Liuzza’s, this big corner tavern does banner business in the morning and early afternoon with people grabbing drinks on the way in to the fest, too.

Both places are go-to watering holes thanks to their locations near Fair Grounds entry points. But there are also plenty of less obvious spots that assume new Jazz Fest identities as the crowds ebb and flow around them.

The entire 3100 block of Ponce de Leon Street is a case in point. Here the wine shop (and wine bar) Swirl, the bar at the French bistro Café Degas, an ad hoc backdoor service bar from the Esplanade Avenue pizzeria Nonna Mia and even the non-alcoholic option of the Fair Grinds Coffee House line the street. They all offer drinks to go and together constitute something of a block party.

Keep going just a bit, past Esplanade and the micro Fortier Park, and you’ll find Pal’s Lounge in full bloom. This is the neighborhood joint incarnate, with a coterie of local characters, bartenders who have been here long enough to feel a part of the place and an easy but charismatic vibe that makes regulars out of people who might live across town. During Jazz Fest evenings, look for food trucks parked just outside for snacks.

Across the bayou, up on Carrollton Avenue, the Parkview Tavern – not to be confused with the nearby Parkway Bakery – is an old-fashioned neighborhood bar, solidly on the B list, that happens to own a big, covered apron of picnic tables under the avenue’s oaks. This is a good spot to sit and watch the streetcars and fest traffic pass by while you pass around cheap pitchers of beer. And though it’s really a restaurant, Toups’ Meatery just across the street can offer a similarly satisfying perch on the same route, especially if your tastes run more toward a glass of wine and a small sack of cracklin’s from its Cajun kitchen.

New and nearby in the American Can apartment building is Pearl Wine Co., the wine shop previously known as Cork & Bottle, which operates its own attached wine bar, which was previously known as Clever.

Back on the other side of the bayou, the bike path that winds away from the Fair Grounds neighborhood takes you past the Bayou Beer Garden, where the shotgun cottage-turned-pub upfront expands dramatically into a huge covered deck and open patio in the back with its own bar, a tavern menu and an area for live bands.

Keep going along that bike path and you’ll see the doors of the Holy Ground Irish Pub inviting you in for a cold pint and, after that, d’mac’s Bar & Grill, a music club and tavern with a road house feel. It’s the last stop before the Jeff Davis overpass.

Sure, hitting even a few of these stops can make for a long return trip from the Fair Grounds. But remember that Jazz Fest is a marathon, not a sprint. And sometimes the way back home is a relay.

Here’s where you can find all of these post-Jazz Fest spots:

Bayou Beer Garden
326 N. Jeff Davis Pkwy., 504-302-9357

d’mac’s Bar & Grill
542 S. Jefferson Davis Pkwy., New Orleans, 504-304-5757

Café Degas
3127 Esplanade Ave., 504-945-5635

Fair Grinds Coffeehouse
3133 Ponce de Leon St., 504-913-9072

Holy Ground Irish Pub
3340 Canal St., 504-821-6828

Liuzza’s by the Track
1518 N. Lopez St., 504-218-7888

Nonna Mia
3125 Esplanade Ave., 504-948-1717

Pal’s Lounge
949 N. Rendon St., 504-488-7257

Parkview Tavern
910 N. Carrollton Ave., 504-482-2680

Pearl Wine Co.
3700 Orleans Ave., 504-483-6314

The Seahorse Saloon
1648 Gentilly Blvd., 504-218-4217

Swirl Wine Bar & Market
3143 Ponce de Leon St., 504-304-0635

Toups’ Meatery
845 N. Carrollton Ave., 504-252-4999

http://www.myneworleans.com/Blogs/After-Hours/May-2013/Moving-Slowly-and-Socially-in-the-Post-Fest-Afterglow/

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: bayou st john, best neighborhood, faubourg st john, New Orleans

Newsworthy

July 22, 2012 by Charlie London

Today’s big news is the building implosion that took place at 8 a.m. this morning. Removal of the building continues the trek toward completion of the biomedical corridor. More on this on every news station today. A random news link is below:
http://www.fox8live.com/story/19082879/sunday-implosion-efforts-successful
***
Today’s POSTCARD from HOME
Look for a POSTCARD from HOME every Sunday at FSJNAdotORG
https://fsjna.org/2012/07/postcard-from-home-33/
***
Beer Olympics on Bayou St. John on July 28th
https://fsjna.org/2012/07/beer-olympics-on-bayou-st-john/
***

Friends of City Park raffle 2012 FIAT to support new entrance to Botanical Garden and Storyland

Win a Fiat | Help City Park
https://fsjna.org/2012/07/win-a-fiat/
***
The Magical Mystery Tour Continues
https://fsjna.org/2012/07/magical-mystery-tour-22/

Do you have a photo of something in or around
Faubourg St. John? Why not share it with your
neighbors? Send it to info at fsjna dot org and
it could be the next stop on the Magical Mystery Tour!

***
Opportunity is Knocking for Small Businesses
https://fsjna.org/2012/07/ten-thousand-small-businesses-2/
***

NEW ORLEANS CITY HALL PHONE AND EMAIL DIRECTORY

How Can Your Government Help You?
https://fsjna.org/2012/06/i-need-something-from-government/
***

Hurricane Season is Still Here
https://fsjna.org/2012/06/are-you-ready/
***

Energy Smart
https://fsjna.org/2012/06/energy-smart-2/
***
Have You Been to the Desoto Street Library?
https://fsjna.org/2012/06/desoto-street-library/
***
Support a Stage Door Idol on July 31st
https://fsjna.org/2012/07/erin-mcquade-is-a-stage-door-idol/
***
It’s That Time Again
Each month when you receive your water bill, consider cleaning
the catch basins near your home. You’ll be glad you did!
Before and after every rain, clean the drain near your home.
https://fsjna.org/2012/03/gonna-come-a-flood/
https://fsjna.org/2012/05/free-protection/
***
Buy Yourself Some Property July 26th
https://fsjna.org/2012/06/sheriff-sales-june-july-august/
***
Shell Station at Moss and Esplanade Could Get Improvements
https://fsjna.org/2012/06/proposed-facade-improvements-at-shell/
***
Who’s Been Living in Your House?
https://fsjna.org/2012/04/who-lived-in-your-house-in-1940/
***
Are You Catching This?
https://fsjna.org/2012/04/foreign-species-invades-bayou-st-john/
***
What Makes Faubourg St. John So Great?
https://fsjna.org/2012/04/what-makes-a-neighborhood-great/

Filed Under: Week in Review Tagged With: bayou, bayou st john, best neighborhood, best neighborhood website, faubourg, faubourg st john, fsjna, neighborhood, neighborhood news, New Orleans, news

HISTORY

April 10, 2012 by Charlie London

Several neighbors have graciously given me old newsletters and papers about Faubourg St. John. Among those papers were two unsigned articles that are fascinating historical accounts.

You can see both articles by clicking on the HISTORY tab at FSJNAdotORG or just click on the link below:

https://fsjna.org/happy-birthday-grand-route/

Filed Under: HISTORY Tagged With: 1708, bayou, bayou st john, best neighborhood, faubourg, faubourg st john, first neighborhood, history, magnolia, New Orleans, oldest neighborhood, tivoli

What You Can Expect

October 27, 2011 by Charlie London

SATURDAY | Oct 29 | 8:30 pm | PITOT HOUSE | 1440 Moss | New Orleans

More at: http://voodooonthebayou.com



Photos and video by Charlie London

New Orleans District A City Councilmember Susan Guidry and her husband Hervin at the 2010 Voodoo on the Bayou at the Pitot House.



Videos by Charlie London

See Conrad Abadie’s photos in the link below:
http://www.voodooonthebayou.com

See photos by Charlie London in the link below:
http://neworleans.smugmug.com/Events/2010-Voodoo-on-the-Bayou
Keith Christopher deserves many thank yous from all of us for his over-the-top effort to make the 2010 Voodoo on the Bayou wonderful for all of us.

Filed Under: More Great Posts! Tagged With: bayou st john, best neighborhood, costume party, event, faubourg st john, fsjna, halloween, neighborhood party, New Orleans, nola, party, Voodoo, voodoo on the bayou

VOODOO on the BAYOU

September 12, 2011 by Charlie London

CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION ON VOODOO ON THE BAYOU IN 2014.

SATURDAY | OCTOBER 29 | 8:30 pm |
PITOT HOUSE | 1440 Moss Street | New Orleans

Tickets available NOW at Terranova’s Superette at 3308 Esplanade.

In the background you are listening to the sounds of Los Po-Boy-Citos who will be playing this year at the 22nd annual VOODOO on the BAYOU at the Pitot House at 1440 Moss Street in beautiful Faubourg St. John!

For more information about the 22nd annual VOODOO on the BAYOU please visit the link below:
http://business.fsjna.org/2011/09/voodoo-on-the-bayou-22/

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Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: bayou st john, best neighborhood, costume party, event, faubourg st john, fsjna, halloween, neighborhood party, New Orleans, nola, party, Voodoo, voodoo on the bayou

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