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Pierre Dewey LaFontaine, Jr.

June 7, 2013 by Charlie London

sent in by Dean Burridge
musicalHis name was originally Pierre Dewey LaFontaine, Jr., and he was born on N. White Street between Dumaine and St. Ann in a small Creole French frame house that sat right on the street in New Orleans. His father later changed his own name, and Junior followed suit.

He started playing clarinet as a child at McDonogh 28 City Park Academy on Esplanade Avenue. As a child he was very sickly, frequently battling respiratory infections due to weakened lungs. He was given expensive medication but it proved to be not very effective. During a pharmacy visit, his father began a discussion with a neighborhood doctor who was also there shopping and talked with him about his son’s condition. The doctor agreed to see the boy the following day. After a short exam, the doctor confirmed the weak lung condition and advised the father to try an unorthodox treatment: purchase the child a musical instrument, anything he has to blow into. The same day, they went to a local music store and given his choice of instruments, he chose the clarinet (after first wanting the drums, which his father declined per the doctor’s orders). At first he was unable to produce a sound from the instrument, but he continued to practice and eventually not only made sounds and eventually music, but greatly improved the health of his lungs.

He took private lessons but also learned to play jazz by playing along with the phonograph records of first Benny Goodman and then Irving Fazola. Early on he played with the bands of Monk Hazel and Al Hirt. With his longtime friend, trumpeter George Girard, He founded The Basin Street Six in 1950.

Still don’t know?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbJgLmUGSS0

Filed Under: HISTORY Tagged With: bayou, bayou st john, best neighborhood in New Orleans, clarinet, dumaine, esplanade, famous faubourg st. john musicians, faubourg st john, new orleans best neighborhood, north white, st. ann

Make Monday Memorable

January 18, 2013 by Charlie London

photos courtesy Broad Community Connections


mlk_day_of_service

National Service Day
with Harambee Community Gardens


You can make a difference by getting involved one community at a time.. VOLUNTEER at the Harambee-Dumaine Community Garden of New Orleans. Laini Kuumba Ngoma Troupe, Inc. is hosting a Community Clean Up Day & Harambe-Dumaine Garden Work Day at 2720 Dumaine Street in New Orleans.

Monday – January 21, 2013 Meet Up Time – 9:30 am
Make a difference from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
at 2720 Dumaine Street in New Orleans.

To get involved call 281-806-0477 | email: lainikuumba@yahoo.com
NEEDED: donations of trash bags, gloves and bottled water
Please contact – Sistah Rfuaw Diarra –> 281-806-0477
***

Faubourg St. John will soon have another
Community Garden at 2720 Dumaine Street.

Parkway Partners’ Urban Gardening Program includes Urban Farms, Community Gardens and Orchards, and some gardens may incorporate all of the above. The type of garden that is created is up to the community of people who are working the land.

Whether a garden is strictly a Community Garden or an Urban Farm that produces food that is sold at market, each of our gardens is positively affecting the community around it through food production, food desert eradication, community building and beautification.

Parkway Partners does emphasize “community first” in our work with urban gardens. Thus, in order to become an affiliated Parkway Partners Garden you must first demonstrate that the community wants, and will support the proposed garden. All gardens are a lot of work and we want to make sure that the land is going to be cared for.

Our Urban Gardens Program offers support for starting and maintaining a garden. This support includes: Guiding the garden founders through the process of approvals, landowner agreements, getting neighborhood support, garden design, soil assessments, etc.

The use of our greenhouse to start seeds, which includes the use of any seeds we may have on hand, trays and pots, and soil. We ask in return that you donate a percentage of your starts for us to circulate to our Schoolyard Gardens or Second Saturday programs.

Tools for borrowing: from wheel barrows to tillers and shovels, we loan our tools to affiliated Parkway Partners Urban and Schoolyard Gardens. We provide checkout guidelines.
Assistance rounding up volunteers- ranging from large groups to individuals
Connections to suppliers – we often receive calls from people with extra mulch, chicken feed, plants, etc., and we link that resource to our gardeners

Grant writing partnerships | Acting as your fiduciary agent
Promotion of any upcoming events on our website, newsletter and facebook page
We are a grant and donation funded non-profit organization. There are no fees whatsoever to become a Parkway Partners Garden. If you are an existing Parkway Partners Garden, please stay in touch and let us know how you are doing. We are better able to support you if we know your needs.

While we encourage sustainable methods of fertilization, pest control, rainwater harvesting, composting and soil building, it is up to the individual farms and gardens as to what they grow, and how they grow it.

Please let Parkway Partners know if you are interested in starting an Urban Garden. They are happy to speak with you and help you begin the process.

You can contact Susannah Burley, Program Director of Urban Gardens, Schoolyard Gardens and ReLeaf at: sburley@parkwaypartnersnola.org or 504 620 2224, ext 4.

Gardeners – Please consider sending your extra garden produce to Healthcare for the Homeless (HCH). Contact Thomas Ecker at teckerhch@gmail.com for more information. See link below: http://www.nola.gov/RESIDENTS/Health-Department/Homeless-Healthcare/

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: best eclectic, day, dumaine, garden, martin luther king, MLK, national, national day of service, neighborhood, New Orleans, new orleans best neighborhood, service, volunteer

MASQUERAID

October 28, 2012 by Charlie London


Masqueraid / Re-Bridge’s 2nd Annual Fundraising Gala will be held Saturday, December 1, 2012 at the home of Eric Hess and Judge Frank Thaxton III, retired at 1001 Moss Street.

This year will be a masked cocktail affair! Guests will gather to support the rehabilitation of two historic bridges, while enjoying an open bar featuring two exclusive Re-Bridge drinks, gourmet bites from SoBou, and dancing to a master DJ set of tunes from the 70s to today.

Masqueraid is designed to raise awareness and funds for rehabilitating the Magnolia and Walter Parker Memorial (aka Dumaine) Bridges that cross Bayou St. John, a community effort led by the Faubourg St. John Neighborhood Association in collaboration with the Re‐Bridge organization. The Magnolia Bridge is considered the oldest in New Orleans and was recently named one of Louisiana Landmarks Society’s “New Orleans Nine.” The Sanctuary is a private residence, once Walter Parker’s home, who helped transform the squalid bayou and surrounds into the wonderful neighborhood it is today. Re-Bridge is continuing the vision that Mr. Parker initiated 80 years ago.

Masqueraid is open to the public (cocktail attire). All monies raised for Re-Bridge are under FSJNA’s charitable 501c3 status. The tickets are $100 each with all proceeds going to Re-Bridge to raise matching funds for city and state funding. SoBou has graciously donated the cuisine.

Masqueraid will also include five incredible raffle items for fans of the arts, fashion, dining, drinking, and sports. Get your tickets today!

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: bayou, bayou st john, best, bridge, bridges, dumaine, dumaine bridge, eclectic, faubourg, faubourg st john, magnolia, magnolia bridge, neighborhood, New Orleans, rebridge

Magical Mystery Tour

August 1, 2012 by Charlie London

1912 or 2012?



What do you think? Was this photo of the rear yards on Dumaine taken in 1912 or 2012 and why do you think so?

Go to Faubourg St. John on FACEBOOK —> http://facebook.com/faubourgstjohn to make a comment or if you are a Faubourg St. John Neighborhood Association member, make your comments on the yahoo group —> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FaubourgStJohn/

Filed Under: Magical Mystery Tour Tagged With: bayou st john, dumaine, faubourg st john, New Orleans

1873: Faubourg St. John Streetcar

December 2, 2011 by Charlie London

research by Charlie London

Reported in the Times Picayune newspaper:
April 28, 1873

ORLEANS RAILROAD.

– Owing to the energy shown by the officers and directors of this company, the double track on Broad Street and Grand Route Saint John is completed. In consequence of this wise improvement, the line of this company is now the shortest from Canal street to the Fair Grounds. The cars run without change as far as the turning-table, opposite the central gate of the Fair Grounds, fronting on Savage Street, between the third and fourth building, a few steps from the stand. The Orleans Railroad cars start without interruption, from the Clay Statue, corner of St. Charles and Canal Streets.
Click here to view the original article from April 28, 1873.

July 3, 1868

Inauguration of the Orleans City Railroad

The first trip over the Orleans City Railroad was made the occasion of a pleasant excursion yesterday.

About 6 o’clock p.m. the officers of the road – President, George Clark; Secretary, Jules Benit; Directors, G.W. Hynson, D.B. Macarthy, B. Saloy, Joseph Hernandez, L.E. Lemarie and Frances Mouney – together with a large number of stockholders and invited guests, proceeded from opposite the office of the company, on Dauphine street, in two of the bright, new and elegant cars provided for the occasion, to travel over the length of the road and make as thorough an inspection of the same as circumstances would admit.
The route of the road is down Dauphine to Dumaine, out Dumaine to Broad, down Broad and beneath the overhanging branches of the trees that line this street, to Laharpe, and down Laharpe to the terminus of the road, where the spacious though as yet incomplete stables, etc., of the company are situate.(now Stallings Playground)
The depot is located on two squares of ground situate at the head of Bayou Savage, and near the Gentilly Road.
Though, the buildings have not been completed, the stables will be ready to afford shelter to the animals by tomorrow, when twelve cars will be placed upon the line.
Returning to the city the route passes down Grand Route Saint John, up Dumaine street to Broad, and thence by St. Peter and Basin streets to Canal.
After the excursion there was a very delightful collation spread at the office of the company, at which the greatest good feeling prevailed, and many toasts were drank to the success of the road, etc.
Click here to view the original article from July 3, 1868.


Click on the map for larger view and to see the dotted lines where the streetcars ran.
***
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EsplanadeAveStreetcar1921-photobyCharlesFranck-websiteStreetcar on Esplanade in 1921. Photo by Charles L. Franck

Filed Under: HISTORY Tagged With: 1868, 1873, bayou st john, broad, dumaine, faubourg st john, fsjna, grand route, history, New Orleans, streetcar

Whatever Floats Your Boat

December 1, 2011 by Charlie London

by Charlie London
Over in Central Florida they are having a boat parade. Click on the photo for photo credit and more information.

Who thinks we could have a Holiday Boat Parade on the bayou?
Who is willing to make that happen?

Would a circular parade of boats between the Magnolia and Dumaine bridges be a good route?

Would you be interested in this?
https://www.facebook.com/winterparkboatparade/

Maybe in Big Lake by the Museum or in Bayou St. John between the bridges?

Maybe a bridge fundraiser? People pay to have their decorated canoe or rowboat in the parade? Best decorated canoe or rowboat wins a prize? Beads would be slingshot from the boats to the shore in wrapped packages that would float (maybe a wine cork in the bag) if they missed the mark?

OR, Krewe of Bayou Festival? Maybe on twelfth night to kick off Mardi Gras with a variety of king cake tables along the shore?

“Floats” on platforms that would be sea worthy? (catamaran-like with large barrels on either side)
***
UPDATE: JULY, 2012

The very first Krewe of Kolossos boat parade
was held July 4, 2012 on Bayou St. John


***
UPDATE: February, 2013
https://fsjna.org/2013/01/krewe-dat-floats/

Join the inaugural Krewe dat Floats parade on Bayou St. John. Weather forced cancellation last year. All SUP’s, kayaks, and canoes are welcome. Route begins at Dumaine Street bridge and floats counter-clockwise towards the Esplanade Avenue bridge which is the turn around point. Costumes, masks, and vessel originality are highly encouraged. Please do not bring any type of throws for the Bayou’s sake.

*Meet location: Grass field on Moss Street between Orleans Avenue and Dumaine Street (Carrollton side of the bayou)
*Meeting time: 12:30pm.
*Float time: 1:00pm.

More Info: http://www.krewedatfloats.org/

https://fsjna.org/2013/01/krewe-dat-floats/
***

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: bayou, bayou boat parade, bayou st john, best, boat, bridge, canoe, christmas, dumaine, eclectic, faubourg st john, festival of lights, holiday, kayak, magnolia, neighborhood, New Orleans, new orleans best neighborhood, paddleboard, parade, surf board

Mignon Faget Joins the RE-BRIDGE Team

October 18, 2011 by Charlie London


Mignon Faget and Re-Bridge have teamed up to raise matching funds to rehabilitate the Magnolia and Dumaine Street Bridges.

The Faubourg St. John Neighborhood Association has grave concerns about the structural integrity of the Magnolia (Cabrini) and the Dumaine Street Bridges that span Bayou St. John.

The Magnolia Bridge is an historic treasure and was recently named to the Louisiana Landmark Society’s coveted “New Orleans Nine” list. We believe it may be the oldest existing bridge in New Orleans, built in the late 1800s when Faubourg St. John was a thriving commercial
corridor. Today age and weather have taken a toll. The Magnolia Bridge suffers from significant deterioration in its under-girding that poses a potential safety threat.

The Dumaine Street Bridge was built in 1951 and needs concrete repair and beautification. In 2010 the Faubourg St. John Neighborhood Association established a committee to consider options for repairing and restoring these bridges; this committee later launched the Re-Bridge project.

Re-Bridge is now leading a collaborative effort that has garnered extensive public, private, and community support to address the structural and cosmetic deficiencies of the Magnolia and Dumaine Bridges. Although we love these historically significant bridges, we can’t put them in a museum. They to be strong, so that they may serve the community as originally conceived—as a solid path for everyone to walk. Re-Bridge’s mission is to support our bridges, so the bridges can continue supporting us.

In that spirit, Mignon Faget, a reknown jewelry designer based in her native New Orleans, Louisiana, has extended a generous offer of help. Faget’s family settled in the city in the 18th century, and she grew up along the banks of Bayou St. John.

Her jewelry, worked in gold, silver, precious, and semi-precious stones, often finds inspiration in New Orleans architecture and culture or forms in nature. Following Hurricane Katrina, Mignon Faget’s uptown gallery was one of the first businesses to re-open. She donated and continues to donate proceeds from the sale of her Gulf Coast designs to Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana.

Now, Mignon Faget has teamed up with Re-Bridge to help raise matching funds to rehabilitate these historic bridges that are so appreciated by neighbors, visitors, runners, cyclists and Jazz Festers from all over New Orleans and the world.

Mignon Faget is generously donating proceeds from the sale of her Magnolia Bridge AdornAment, which is available for purchase through rebridge.org or http://www.mignonfaget.com/shop/product/holiday/3238M.html.
For more information during business hours, call Rachel Dangermond, Chair of Re-Bridge at 504.309.2116 or visit mignonfaget.com.

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: bayou st john, bridge, dumaine, faubourg st john, fsjna, magnolia, New Orleans, rebridge

Faubourg St. John

September 6, 2011 by Charlie London

Film by “3515dumaine” on You Tube.

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: bayou st john, desoto, dumaine, faubourg st john, moss, New Orleans

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