HOME SECURITY

February 19, 2013 by Charlie London

neighborhood-watch1If you were locked out of your house, would you still be able to get in? Maybe you keep an unlocked window in the back, or a hidden key in your mailbox, or on top of a window ledge.

You may think this is a good idea, but guess what? If you can break in, so can a burglar!

For a small amount of time and money you can make your home more secure and reduce your chances of being a victim. Many burgulars spend no longer than 60 seconds to try to breaking into a home. Good locks — and good neighbors who watch out for each other — can be big deterrents to burglars.
crime-prevention1
crime-prevention2click on the graphics for a larger view

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: best, burglar, crack head, crime, crime prevention, crook, eclectic, faubourg st, john, neighborhood, neighbors, New Orleans, new orleans best neighborhood, safe neighborhood, thief

Improvements at Fair Grinds

August 21, 2012 by Charlie London

August 21st, 2012

Dear Fair Grinds Community,

PARDON OUR DUST!
That’s what the construction signs usually say, but actually it’s not going to be that bad, and in fact I think all of you will find this special bulletin welcome news.

We’re fixing the balcony, “waterproofing” the outside patio, and preparing to open up more chairs, tables, umbrellas, computer electricity outlets, and space in our open area. How about that for an exciting addition as we prepare to celebrate our second year of “great coffee for a change?”

Here’s more than you want to know about what’s happening. We’re shoring up and replacing some of the piers and supports for the balcony. We’re replacing all rotten wood and redoing the decking on the balcony. We’re raising the wrought iron fencing on the balcony to the required 42 inches to assure safety for our customers. We’re surfacing the balcony so that rain doesn’t pour into the patio scurrying our customers when we’re facing our current deluge. We’re adding gutters to the balcony so that when the rains come then it will drain to the back, rather than spill over our sides.

Our contractor making these repairs is going to work in sections, so that only a couple of feet of the patio is unavailable at any time during the construction and so that in fact there really isn’t dust or disturbances on the first floor. Furthermore, this should be a quick process finding Labor Day back to normal with the balcony “open for business!”

Frequently asked questions include:

Will the common space be affected?
No. We will continue to operate the common space as usual.

Will dogs be allowed on the balcony?
This is a matter between you and your dog, as long as the dog is not a jumper!

What about smoking? The front sidewalk is not our property, so smokers will continue to enjoy this space. The patio though is going to move to a non-smoking area whenever practicable. Children and others run free in the patio and too often smoke clouds are trapped under the stairway making it less than ideal space. Instead we are going to make the balcony open to smoking, which actually means that our smoking customers will have MORE space to smoke and drink their coffee than they have now! “Whenever practicable” means that the community is self-policing, so when it is raining or inclement, then of course there’s going to be some smoking in the patio, but during the normal wonderful New Orleans weather, it’s balcony rules!

What about music? No music is planned for the balcony because we want to continue to be good neighbors while continuing to welcome musicians to give their time and offer enjoyment to our customers and, I’m not sure that would qualify.

We’re super excited about this huge improvement and its ability to open up more space for our more people who are joining the Fair Grinds community every day! Some pain, but lots of gain!

Thanks as always for your support!

Filed Under: More Great Posts! Tagged With: bayou, bayou st, coffee, construction, esplanade, Fair Grinds, fairgrinds, faubourg, faubourg st john, food, hangout, john, music, neighborhood, New Orleans, ponce de leon, rathke, wade

Who Lived in Your House in 1940?

April 13, 2012 by Charlie London

by Charlie London
Michelle Kimball of the Preservation Resource Center graciously sent out info about how you can find out who lived in your home in 1940. You can also check out what the people living in your home did for a living in 1940.

Jennifer Anderson posted instructions on the PRC’s blog on just how to find information on your specific address. Visit the link below:

http://blog.prcno.org/2012/04/12/1940censusrecordrelease/

http://1940census.archives.gov/search/?search.result_type=image&search.state=LA&search.county=Orleans+County&search.city=New+Orleans&search.street=Grand+Route+St+John#searchby=location&searchmode=browse&year=1940

Take a deep breath, follow the instructions very carefully and you’ll see some cool info about who lived in your home and what they were doing for a living in 1940.

Check out what I found out about my home at 3301 Grand Route Saint John:


In 1940, Mr. Anthony Mauro (46) lived with his wife Josephine (39) at 3301 Grand Route St. John. Their two children Jack (17) and Geornina (19) lived with them as well. Mr. Mauro was a plumber and his son Jack is listed as a plumber’s helper.

Filed Under: Featured, HISTORY Tagged With: 1940, 3301, bayou, bayou st john, census, Charlie London, faubourg, faubourg st john, grand, grand route saint john, grand route st. john, history, john, michelle kimball, New Orleans, route, saint

2800 Block of Grand Route Saint John

March 23, 2012 by Charlie London

reposted with permission of R. Stephanie Bruno
photos and article by R. Stephanie Bruno

History-laden Grand Route St. John is a delight


Published: Friday, March 23, 2012, 4:00 PM
By R. Stephanie Bruno NOLA.com

THE NEIGHBORHOOD: Faubourg St. John, in the Esplanade Ridge Historic District. The faubourg is bounded roughly by Bayou Road/Gentilly Boulevard/Belfort Avenue on the north, Orleans Avenue on the south, North Broad Street on the east and Bayou St. John on the west. The spot where Bayou St. John and Grand Route St. John meet is believed to be the point at which travelers disembarked from boats and began their foot journey into the city along a sliver of high ground used for centuries by American Indians (though the exact location of the spot is debated by scholars).


2800 block of Grand Route St. John gallery

Nonetheless, the old Indian portage along what is now Grand Route St. John and its extension, Bayou Road, was the 18th- and early 19th-century equivalent of Interstate 10.

THE BLOCK: The 2800 block of Grand Route St. John on the odd-numbered, or north, side of the street, between Crete Street on the east and North White Street on the west.

Esplanade Avenue’s cafes and restaurants are just a few blocks in one direction and the Fair Grounds a couple of blocks in another.

THE HOUSES: A collection of nine dating from the early 19th century to about 1940, including three large two-story homes, three single shotguns, a bungalow and two shotgun doubles.

********
Photo illustration by R. Stephanie Bruno

Houses on the 2800 block of Grand Route St. John date from the early 19th century to about 1940.

I never tire of walking the streets off Esplanade Avenue, near the Fair Grounds. They angle in and out, making for an aggravating maze if you’re trying to get somewhere in a hurry, but a pleasant meandering path if you’re lazily strolling along.

This week, the freshly leafed oaks on Esplanade Avenue attract my attention and beckon to me. Being more in the lazy-stroller than determined-traveler state of mind, I surrender to the crooked streets and choose the 2800 block of Grand Route St. John for a walk.

Anatomy of the block

It’s a long block, and I decide right away that I must paint my house descriptions in broad brush strokes if I am going to make it to the end. I start at the corner of Grand Route St. John and North White Street, where a lovely double-gallery home occupies a large lot surrounded by an iron fence.

With a style transitional from Greek Revival to Italianate, the house features fluted Corinthian columns on the second floor supporting the entablature and fluted Ionic columns on the first. Dentils on the frieze and modillions beneath the cornice add to the visual appeal. I peek around a large palm tree on the right side and can see a beautifully detailed double gallery facing the side yard.

The tall, two-story cottage I encounter next is much simpler in design than the grande dame on the corner, but therein resides its charm. With its side-gabled and steeply pitched roof, its box columns and plain millwork, the house eschews grandiosity in favor of uncluttered lines. A fence of wide, white wood pickets reinforces its unassuming air.

I find a single shotgun in the Eastlake style third on the block. Raised well above the sidewalk, it offers a full menu of delectable Eastlake details, including turned wood columns, an open frieze, turned balusters, quoins and drop-lap siding. The owner has maintained the home’s Hurricane Katrina tattoo, testament to its survivor skills.

Shrubbery completely obscures the front of the fourth house on the block, so I move on to the next, a Craftsman-style double shotgun. Deep eaves with angle brackets and a colorful gable window fit the Craftsman profile, as do short, stout columns atop tall brick pedestals. Cats wave their tails languidly at me as I pass.

Odds are that the fifth house has much to recommend it, but it’s impossible to tell because of the tall wood fence that conceals from view all but the tops of the columns and the roofline. I pass it up in favor of the block’s second shotgun single.

The millwork here is a little simpler than that on the first shotgun single, but the two share features including drop-lap siding and quoins, cornices over the front door and full-length window, and the gable-over-hip configuration of the roof. I am especially drawn to the garden gate set in the side-yard fence. It reminds me of those I see so often in old watercolors of 19th century New Orleans houses.

How do I describe the two-story house to the right of the shotgun single? It hails from the 20th rather than 19th century — that’s undeniable. But what style is it? Is it meant to be a single or multi-family house?

The front porch is centered on the structure but doesn’t stretch the full width — maybe half. The entry is on the right of the porch, with a bay on the left. The porch overhang is decorated with millwork garlands that are applied on the flat areas. But the most prominent feature is the roof dormer, detailed with a wide overhang, pilasters separating windows, and purple and aqua stained glass set in a diamond pattern. A red terra-cotta finial tops off the whole composition.

A shotgun double with Neoclassical Revival features completes the block. It appears to be under renovation, so I make a mental note to revisit in a few months — Jazz Fest maybe? — to see the progress.

Life on the street

Arthur Scully greets me early in my walk. A man of letters who wrote a biography of architect James Dakin in the 1970s, Scully has lived his entire life on the block in a Craftsman house built by his grandfather in 1923. He fills me in on everything.

“First of all, you know, Andrew Jackson rode down this path when he was entering New Orleans before the Battle of New Orleans,” Scully tells me. “Of course it wasn’t a street then, just a path the Indians used to use to get from the bayou to the river.”

He points to the double-gallery house at the corner of North White and asks, “Do you know whose house that was? You ever heard of Josie Arlington?”

I tell him I know she was a famous Storyville madame.

“The house used to be at the corner of North White and Esplanade, but then they decided to build the McDonogh School there, so they told her to take it away or it would be demolished,” Scully tells me. “The house was broken into pieces and hauled here down North White Street in 1925.”

And so the walk goes. Scully tells me about the Duvigneaud house — next door to Arlington’s — and that it dates to 1834. He makes Tommy Lewis get off his bike and come say hello. He brings Gloria Martin over from working in her garden to greet me. He tells me about Jeff Treffinger’s screened porch addition. And about architectural historian Eleanor Burke, who lives on the block with her husband and children.

By the time I leave, I feel like I’m part of the family, thanks to Arthur Scully.

********

R. Stephanie Bruno can be reached at [email protected].

Filed Under: HOME TOUR Tagged With: 2800, bayou, bayou st john, bruno, faubourg, faubourg st john, fsjna, grand, grand route, grand route saint john, john, New Orleans, orleans, route, saint, st.

Pitot House EVENTS

February 21, 2012 by Charlie London

photos by Charlie London

Join the Louisiana Landmarks Society for a unique Vino on the Bayou experience!

June 8
5:30 – 7:30 PM


1440 Moss Street | New Orleans


March 16
March 31
PRC Shotgun House Tour
Headquarters: The Pitot House10 AM – 4 PM

April 20
Vino on the Bayou, 5:30 – 7:30 PM

May 18
Vino on the Bayou, 5:30 – 7:30 PM

June 8
Vino on the Bayou, 5:30 – 7:30 PM

Filed Under: HISTORY, More Great Posts! Tagged With: bayou, event, faubourg, faubourg st john, house, john, moss, New Orleans, pitot, pitot house, st., street, vino

2012 Krewe dat Floats | 4 pm

February 16, 2012 by Charlie London

See you in 2013 | See You in 2013 | See you in 2013

information submitted by Jeff Lakey

Krewe dat Floats
*Float Time: 4 PM | Saturday | February 18
*Route: Begins by the Dumaine Street bridge and floats counter-clockwise towards the Esplanade Avenue bridge.

This is a “member’s only” Mardi Gras crew that floats down Bayou St. John 3-hours before the Krewe of Endymion rolls every year. It consists of paddleboards (SUP’s), kayaks, and all that floats!

Hope to see you along the route!

Cancellation Policy: If Endymion rolls, we float!
They cancel, we cancel!

For more information please contact Jeff Lakey at:
[email protected]

See you in 2013 | See You in 2013 | See you in 2013

Filed Under: More Great Posts! Tagged With: bayou, dat, endymion, faubourg st john, floats, fsjna, jeff, john, krewe, lakey, mardi gras, new, New Orleans, orleans, saturday, st.

It’s a Wonderful Life!

February 6, 2012 by Charlie London

inspired by Brenda London
In the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life”, the character George Bailey is shown how things in his town might have been different had he never been born.

The quaint town of Bedford Falls gets transformed into an anything-goes commercial enterprise called Pottersville.

My wife reminded me that “It’s a Wonderful Life” here in Faubourg St. John. One can easily draw comparisons between Bedford Falls and Faubourg St. John especially when zoning issues come up.

Zoning issues are by their very nature, contentious. A developer wants variances to do what they want and the neighborhood association wants to protect the interests of the residents.

Which begs the question: What if the Faubourg St. John Neighborhood Association had never been born? The Faubourg St. John Neighborhood Association has been around in one form or another since the 1920’s. The association was officially registered with the State of Louisiana in 1977.

In 1978, the Fair Grounds wanted to build a barn next to homes near their property. The smell alone from the barn would have negatively impacted the quality of life for those residents not to mention the runoff during rainstorms. The Faubourg St. John Neighborhood Association represented the neighbors’ interests and the barn was not built. You can read all about it in the Times Picayune’s
articles below:
Click here to read the article in the June 15, 1978 issue of the Times Picayune.
Click here to read the article in the June 20, 1978 issue of the Times Picayune.
Click here to read the article in the October 31, 1978 issue of the Times Picayune.
Click here to read the article in the November 18, 1978 issue of the Times Picayune.

In 1979, the Faubourg St. John Neighborhood Association took issue with the parking problems associated with Jazz Fest. The fight continued for years. The result was that Faubourg St. John has a security patrol paid for by the Fair Grounds that operates 24 hours each day. While parking during Jazz Fest is still an issue, imagine what it would be like if the Faubourg St. John Neighborhood Association had never been born?
Click here to read the April 7, 1979 article in the Times Picayune.
Click here to read the April 20, 1979 article in the Times Picayune.

In 1980, the Faubourg St. John Neighborhood Association addressed a zoning issue on Esplanade Avenue.
Click here to read the December 22, 1980 article in the Times Picayune.

In 1981, the Faubourg St. John Neighborhood Association continued to protect its interests and the Fair Grounds agreed to provide better sanitation and security.
Click here to read the May 1, 1981 article in the Times Picayune.

In 1983, the Fair Grounds wanted night racing. If the Faubourg St. John Neighborhood Association had not been around we would very likely have horse racing well into the wee hours of the morning right now.
Click here to view the December 4, 1983 article in the Times Picayune.
Click here to read the December 11, 1983 article in the Times Picayune.

An April 6, 1984 article in the Times Picayune details an incident where a former Mayor of New Orleans almost came to blows with a Faubourg St. John representative over night racing at the Fair Grounds. CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE.

1984: Night Racing and Off Track Betting
January 19, 1984 article in the Times Picayune concerning night racing.
February 8, 1984 article in the Times Picayune concerning off-track betting.
February 23, 1984 articles in the Times Picayune concerning night racing.
March 6, 1984 article in the Times Picayune concerning night racing.
April 6, 1984 article in the Times Picayune concerning altercation between Mayor Dutch Morial and FSJNA representative Alvin Bordelon over night racing.
April 7, 1984 article in the Baton Rouge Advocate concerning altercation between Mayor Dutch Morial and FSJNA representative Alvin Bordelon over night racing.
April 7, 1984 article in the Mobile Register concerning altercation between Mayor Dutch Morial and FSJNA representative Alvin Bordelon over night racing.
April 9, 1984 article in the Times Picayune concerning the neighborhood celebration of the end of the racing season. The party also included a demonstration against night racing. That’s Nelson Savoie with the peace sign and Warren Guidry next to him. Warren got a permit way ahead of the start of racing season for a block party on Mystery St. for the last day of racing. This essentially blocked entry to VIPs accustomed to using the Mystery St. gate. It called attention to the disregard for the neighborhood by the Fairgrounds. Nelson’s brother Sterling, brought his band, started up, police came, the permit was declared legitimate and neighbors who had been afraid of the Fairgrounds joined the party. Nelson’s brother played music under a tent in the driveway at 1509 Mystery St. There was great media coverage. The Fairgrounds had just hired a consultant to determine why they were doing so poorly and the number one issue was public relations. The notoriety of our actions brought the Fairgrounds to the table for the first time and an ordinance was the outcome.
April 19, 1984 article in the Times Picayune concerning night racing.
May 25, 1984 editorial in the Times Picayune stating night racing is unfair to the neighborhood.
November 16, 1984 article in the Times Picayune noting changes in the racing season.

In the link below check out the 1986 article about Zack’s yogurt. It would have been located where Santa Fe restaurant is today… https://fsjna.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Zoning-ZacksYogurt-1986dec9.pdf

The yogurt shop was originally approved by the City but the decision was overturned in Civil District Court.

Just one year later in 1987, Whole Foods proposed making the property where Santa Fe restaurant is today into an eight car parking lot. Please visit the link below to read more about it: https://fsjna.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Zoning-Giovannis-1987july18.pdf

Imagine how different that area would look today if the Faubourg St. John Neighborhood Association had never been born.

The Faubourg St. John Neighborhood Association was also busy watching out for you in 1988:
April 7, 1988 article in the Westbank News section of the Times Picayune concerning off-track betting.
April 7, 1988 article in the Metro section of the Times Picayune concerning off-track betting.
April 20, 1988 article in the Times Picayune noting resolution of issues with Faubourg St. John.“Leaders of the Faubourg St. John Neighborhood Association say they are pleased with the Fair Grounds’ agreement to reduce night outdoor lighting, provide free on-site parking and take other steps to avoid disrupting nearby residents.”

It’s easy to forget all the great things the Faubourg St. John Neighborhood Association has done through the years to prevent our “Bedford Falls” from becoming “Pottersville”.

Think about Voodoo on the Bayou, the annual fundraiser that was held each year for 25 years! And, how ’bout the association’s work to keep Faubourg St. John in the same council district as the Fair Grounds and like-minded neighborhoods?

What about all the home tours done during the 80’s and 90’s? And, what about all the abandoned cars the association has worked to get out of the neighborhood?

1992: Remember Christmas in October? Faubourg St. John neighbors painted and fixed several houses occupied by the elderly.

2008: Who could forget all the time, work, and money neighbors put into making the childrens’ play area at Stallings Playground what it is today?

Your neighborhood association has worked tirelessly for decades to keep fast-food outlets from locating here. All that is done by your neighbors who take care of things because they care. It isn’t about the money ’cause we all do this for no remuneration.

Noticed graffiti or bandit signs lately? That stuff doesn’t get removed by itself. The Faubourg St. John Neighborhood Association makes it happen!

There are so many more things the Faubourg St. John Neighborhood Association has done for the area. What do you remember? Send it to [email protected]

Bourbon Street is the classic example of “Pottersville”. It was once populated by Jazz Clubs. Would you want to live on Bourbon Street now?

Those that live in Faubourg St. John know that it much more resembles “Bedford Falls”. The Faubourg St. John Neighborhood Association’s mission is to keep it that way.

FAUBOURG ST. JOHN
“Where Big Dreams Grow!”

Filed Under: HISTORY Tagged With: activism, bayou, bayou st john, best, best neighborhood in New Orleans, blight, charlie, Charlie London, eclectic, fair, fair grounds, faubourg, faubourg st john, fight, grounds, john, london, neighborhood, New Orleans, rules, st., variance, voodoo on the bayou, zoning

Fresh from the Farm at SWIRL

February 6, 2012 by Charlie London


by Alexander Hancock at nola.eater.com

Starting February 11, fans of the weekly produce box from Hollygrove Market & Farm can now pick it up at Swirl Wines near the Fair Grounds. Pickup is Saturdays between 4-6, during which time chef Richard Papier will be cooking dishes with the box’s contents. The shop will offer half-priced glasses of wine to pair with those dishes. [EaterWire]

Reposted from:
http://nola.eater.com/archives/2012/01/31/hollygroveswirl-synergy-biblethumping-banned-on-bourbon-and-more.php

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: bayou, bayou st john, farm, faubourg, faubourg st john, food, fresh, fsjna, hollygrove, john, market, New Orleans, st., swirl, wine, wines

FAUBOURG ST. JOHN FIGHTS BACK

January 24, 2012 by Charlie London

The residents of Faubourg St. John are nothing if not opinionated.
We are fiercely protective of our way of life and our neighborhood.

I’ve been doing some research lately and ran across several articles you may find interesting.

Of particular note is an April 6, 1984 article in the Times Picayune detailing an incident where a former Mayor of New Orleans almost came to blows with a Faubourg St. John representative over night racing at the Fair Grounds. Look for the article near the bottom of the page…
https://fsjna.org/about/fairgrounds-patrol/

Of course you visit FSJNA dot ORG regularly because there is almost always new content and interesting articles to be had there. But, just in case you’ve been busy, here are a few articles from the past week that you may have missed…

CARNIVAL DESIGNS ONLINE
LaRC is very pleased to report that we have completed our two-year project to place online more than 5,500 original float and costume designs from the “Golden Age of Carnival.”
https://fsjna.org/2012/01/carnival-designs-online/

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RATE INCREASES AND DRAINAGE FUNDING
The Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans will conduct a series of public hearings to present information relative to future proposed water and sewer rate increases and drainage funding.
https://fsjna.org/2012/01/rate-increases-and-drainage-funding/

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POSTCARD FROM HOME
Look for a postcard from home every Sunday at FSJNA dot ORG.
https://fsjna.org/2012/01/postcard-from-home-10/

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CITY COUNCIL ACCEPTS FEDERAL FUNDS FOR MAGNOLIA BRIDGE
The Council passed Resolution 12-6, authored by District “A” Councilmember Susan Guidry, accepting $1.8 Million in federal funds for the restoration of the historic Magnolia Bridge on Bayou St. John and for the enhancement of portions of the St. Charles Avenue Streetscape.
https://fsjna.org/2012/01/city-council-accepts-federal-funds-for-the-magnolia-bridge/

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LIPS AND THE TRIPS AT FAIRGRINDS
Lips and the Trips has been a regular feature of Voodoo on the Bayou year after year.
They recently performed at Fair Grinds Coffeehouse on January 21st.
https://fsjna.org/2012/01/lips-and-the-trips/

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NEIGHBOR RELEASES BOOK
Neighbor Constance Adler recently release her book “My Bayou”.
There will be a reading at our own Maple Street Bookstore on March 8th.
https://fsjna.org/2012/01/neighbor-releases-book/

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HOMICIDE REDUCTION INITIATIVES
https://fsjna.org/2012/01/homicide-reduction-initiatives/

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ARE YOU FOLCsy?
It is time for the election of Friends of Lafitte Corridor (FOLC) Board of Directors. FOLC’s Board can consist of up to twenty-one directors that can hold office for three-year terms with no consecutive terms.
https://fsjna.org/2012/01/are-you-folcsy/

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Join the MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR tomorrow. The MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR is a weekly feature at FSJNA dot ORG that pops up every Wednesday.

***

Did you know that a plethora of information is available at FSJNA dot ORG? There are lots of links all around the main page for you to peruse. Take some time and enjoy all things Faubourg St. John at FSJNA dot ORG.

FAUBOURG ST. JOHN
“Where Big Dreams Grow!”

Charlie London
Your neighbor making FSJNA dot ORG
the place you want to visit.
https://fsjna.org

Filed Under: Week in Review Tagged With: bayou, bayou st john, best, eclectic, faubourg, faubourg st john, fsjna, john, neighborhood, New Orleans, oldest, st.

City Council Accepts Federal Funds for the Magnolia Bridge

January 19, 2012 by Charlie London

from http://neworleanscitycouncil.com

New Orleans, LA- January 19, 2012 – Today, the Council passed Resolution 12-6, authored by District “A” Councilmember Susan Guidry, accepting $1.8 Million in federal funds for the restoration of the historic Magnolia Bridge on Bayou St. John and for the enhancement of portions of the St. Charles Avenue Streetscape.

Councilmember Guidry said, “The Magnolia Bridge is an iconic structure in the Faubourg St. John and Parkview Neighborhoods. This neighborhood and Citywide symbol is in need of repair and restoration. These federal funds ensure that the bridge remains structurally sound for crossing pedestrians and continues as a historic and important touchstone along Bayou St. John. The enhancements planned along parts of St. Charles Avenue will complement the considerable private beautification projects that have been recently completed along this world famous New Orleans street.”

The Regional Planning Commission (RPC) has included both projects in the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and designated the projects of regional significance. TIP requires that the City provide 100% of the design, engineering, inspection and a local match of five percent for costs of construction.

The St. Charles Avenue Streetscape Improvements Phase I is designed to increase safety for pedestrians using the streetcar line. The scope of work includes replacement of lamps and updating of poles to create a more aesthetically pleasing environment for residents and tourists using the streetcar line.

The Magnolia Converted Pedestrian Bridge Rehabilitation Project will repair and upgrade the bridge to allow for a safe pedestrian crossing. The Magnolia Bridge, erected in 1850, was the first permanent bridge over Bayou St. John and was the Bayou’s only span until completion of the Esplanade Avenue Bridge. The bridge connected the City to Magnolia Garden, a German style beer garden. With restored iron work dating to the early 1900’s, the bridge originally swung on its center to allow boats waterway access. In 1936, Bayou St. John lost its status as a navigable waterway, and the swing mechanism on the Magnolia Bridge was stabilized. In 1989, the Faubourg St. John Neighborhood Association embarked on a three year project to repair the landmark structure.

Filed Under: HISTORY, More Great Posts! Tagged With: bayou, bridge, faubourg, federal, funds, historic, john, magnolia, New Orleans, preservation, st.

2012 Board Elected

December 14, 2011 by Charlie London

The 2012 Faubourg St. John Neighborhood Association Executive Board was elected at tonight’s General Membership meeting at the Fair Grounds:


***
Dean Burridge | Jimmy Fahrenholtz | Ali James | Linda Landesberg | Seth Levine | Brenda London | Charlie London | Steve Mardon | Gloria Martin | Pushpa Ramaiah | Rocky Seydel | Nancy Shepard | Kerry Tully
***

The following people were appointed to the FSJNA Advisory Board at the December 12th FSJNA Board meeting:

Conrad Abadie | Sara Landrieu | Vincent Booth | Richard Cahn | Mike Pearce | David Porretto | Suzanne Accorsi | Greg Jeanfreau | Keith Twitchell | Cynthia Scott | Rachel Dangermond | Bobby Wozniak

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: advisory, association, bayou, bayou st john, board, executive, faubourg, faubourg st john, fsjna, john, members, neighborhood

Magical Mystery Tour – Vignaud

December 14, 2011 by Charlie London

research by Charlie London

Vignaud Street is a one block street that runs
between Grand Route Saint John and Ponce de Leon.

Henry Vignaud (1830-1922)
Henry Vignaud was a journalist, diplomat, and historian. He was born and educated in New Orleans. His career as a journalist commenced with articles for the newspapers of New Orleans. With the outbreak of the Civil War, he became a captain in the 6th Louisiana Regiment but was imprisoned in 1862, when New Orleans was captured by the Union Army. He escaped, went to Paris, and never returned to the United States.

In Paris, Vignaud entered the service of the Confederate mission under John Slidell. In 1869, he was appointed to a secretaryship in the Roumanian legation at Paris. On December 14, 1875, he was appointed second secretary of the United States legation in Paris, and on April 11, 1885, was promoted to be first secretary. For thirty-four years, he was an indensable member of the Paris mission, frequently acting as chargé d’affaires, and serving always with distinction.

Vignaud’s distinction was achieved after the age of seventy. His special interest in Columbus grew out of his close association with Henry Harrisse and with the Peruvian scholar Manuel Gonzalez de la Rosa, and the publications of the Columbian anniversary in 1892. He published several works on Columbus and European exploration during the 15th and 16th centuries, including: La Lettre et la Carte de Toscanelli (1901), Toscanelli and Columbus (1902), Études critiques sur la vie de Colomb avant ses découvertes (1905), Histoire critique de la grande entreprise de Christophe Colomb (2 vols., 1911), Améric Vespuce, 1451-1512 (1917), and Christophe Colomb et la Légende (1921).

Vignaud also displayed a broad interest in the whole range of studies of aboriginal America and of the earliest European contacts with the new world. His work was recognized by the award of numerous honors and prizes, and by election as a foreign corresponding member of the Institut de France.

Vignaud’s library of many thousand books, pamphlets, and maps now resides at the University of Michigan.

Vignaud’s work also includes an unfinished history of cartography in approximately 650,000 words.

Biographical note has been excerpted from Dictionary of American Biography (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1936), s.v. “Vignaud, Henry”

Link to article above:
http://hdl.handle.net/10079/fa/beinecke.vignaud

1863 vignaud1863jan29 Written in french. I am not fluent in french but I believe the article says Mr. Vignaud occcupies a place of distinction in Louisiana literary circles. Anyone care to translate?

1876 vignaud1876feb20 Vignaud mentioned at the end of “Glimpses of Life in Paris” article.

1895 vignaud1895sep07 No Disagreement between U.S. and French Governments

1895 vignaud1895dec20 U.S would gain Canada in war with Britain

1895 vignaud1895dec20a

1895 vignaud1895dec21 “Our difficulties with France have always been easily settled.”

1899 vignaud1899july13

1900 Click here to view “A French Tribute to the Distiguished Orleanian” article in the February 25, 1900 issue of the Times Picayune.

1901 vignaud1901jul28 “American Tourists Have Their Troubles in Paris”

1901 vignaud1901sep30 “Columbus Knew, says Henry Vignaud”

1903 Click here to view “Henry Vignaud Argues Against Authenticity of Work” article in the January 12, 1903 issue of the Baltimore American.

1903 vignaud1903apr20 “Henry Vignaud Has Ended Controversy”

1903 vignaud1903apr20a “Vignaud Closes Controversy”

1903 vignaud1903sep07 “Henry Vignaud Replies to Dr. Ruge”

1904 vignaud1904mar24 “Was Columbus a Boastful Liar?”

1905 vignaud1905feb28 “True Family of Columbus”

1905 vignaud1905apr09 “Columbus Was a Humbug”

1906 vignaud1906feb22-napoleon Napoleon’s Tomb

1906 vignaud1906oct24 “Try to Suppress White Slave Trade”

1906 vignaud1906oct24-whiteslaves Vignaud Represents U.S. Against White Slavery

1907 vignaud1907june23 “Bones of Columbus Found at Last”

1907 vignaud1907aug04 U.S. Gives Statue of Lafayette to France

1908 Click here to view “Henry Vignaud to Receive Highest Literary Honor France Can Bestow” article in the January 12,1908 issue of the South Carolina State.

1909 Click here to view Henry Vignaud Resigns at 79 article in the February 16, 1909 issue of the Grand Forks Herald.

1909 vignaud1909feb16a Resigns

1909 vignaud1909feb16b Resigns

1909 vignaud1909feb18 Will Spend Last Days in France

1909 vignaud1909feb26 20 Prominent Americans Fund Retirement

1909 vignaud1909mar06 “University to Honor Vignaud”

1909 vignaud1909mar16 “Honorary Degree Conferred by Tulane”

1909 vignaud1909may14 “Vignaud is Honored”

1909 vignaud1909may23 “Henry Vignaud, American”

1909 vignaud1909july18 “The Secret of Columbus, Has Vignaud Learned It?”

1909 vignaud1909nov06 “VIGNAUD CASE IS STRONG PLEA FOR FEDERAL PENSIONS”

1909 Click here to view “Henry Vignaud’s Opposition to Canonization of Columbus Wins Him Title” article in the November 21, 1909 issue of the Fort Worth Star Telegram.

1911 vignaud1911mar03

1911 Click here to view “Henry Vignaud, After Fifty Years of Research, Issues Historical Work in Which Famous Explorer is Branded as Imposter and Humbug” article in the March 21, 1911 issue of the Ohio Plain Dealer.

1911 vignaud1911mar21a

1911 vignaud1911mar21b

1911 vignaud1911apr02 “SAYS COLUMBUS WAS A FAKER LIKE DR. COOK”

1911 vignaud1911apr11 “CALLS COLUMBUS A FOURFLUSHER”

1912 vignaud1912feb07 “Madrazo Painting Vignaud”

1912 Click here to view “Prince of Americanists” article in the October 27, 1912 issue of the Times Picayune.

1921 vignaud1921apr19 “Raps Columbus”

1922 vignaud1922feb09 “Henry Vignaud Praised” will write about Alcee Fortier

1922 vignaud1922sep19 Vignaud passes away

1922 vignaud1922sep19a “Henry Vignaud Dies”

1922 vignaud1922sep27 Letter to the editor about Henry Vignaud

1928 vignaud1928sep09 Henry Vignaud mentioned in “French City Dedicates Monument…” article

1948 vignaud1948oct10 “Experts See Double Over Columbus Ghost”

1948 vignaud1948oct10a “Experts Now Agree on Columbus Birthdate

1976 vignaud1976oct12 “Rare Columbus book visiting here”

Filed Under: HISTORY Tagged With: bayou st john, columbus, diplomat, faubourg, faubourg st john, france, french, fsjna, grand route, humbug, john, New Orleans, st., street, vignaud

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