Third Thursdays at the Jefferson Parish Library!
In This Issue
- A Little History… – Our feature story
- Notes from the Lakefront – Updates
- Ad of the Week – advertising blasts from the past!
- How you can help NOLA History Guy – Things you can do right now!
- NOLA Six Word Writing Challenge – Exercise your imagination!
A Little History… The St. Bernard Public Market
The St. Bernard Public Market
Established in 1854, the St. Bernard Market was the fourteenth public market licensed by the city. It’s located at 1522 St. Bernard Avenue, between Laharpe and Robertson Streets. The market began small, just a shelter, about 190 by 175 feet. The city purchased additional land to expand the market in 1931.
Public Markets
The first public market in New Orleans was the French Market. Before the arrival of Jean-Baptiste LeMoyne and his explorers, the indigenous tribes used the market area as a trading post and meeting place they called “Bulbancha,” the “place of many tongues.” As the city grew, so did the market system, into the American Sector, Garden District, and Faubourg Treme. the St. Bernard Market opened as the Marigny Plantation was subdivided and sold as lots.
Upgrade and Expansion
The market fell into serious disrepair in the 1870s. The Daily Picayune reported on 20-August-1874 that “the corner of the public well at the St. Bernard Market is completely decayed and is dangerous. Persons are constantly passing in that vicinity and are liable to fall in.” They city authorized a contract for repairs later that year.
The city screened in the St. Bernard Market in 1914. A year later, architect Sam Stone, Jr., drew plans for the market’s expansion. The city acquired additional property to expand the market in 1931. They hired Stone’s company to supervise the work.
Conversion of the market
The city started phasing out the public markets in 1940. The city sold half of the St. Bernard Market property in 1941, and the remaining half was sold after the war. Private owners converted the market into the Circle Food Store. While the store suffered extensive damage from Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the owners recovered and rebuilt. The store was sold again in 2010 and continues to operate.
Notes from the Lakefront
Changes to NOLA History Guy
We’re implementing some changes to our website and other blog postings. Starting 1-September, NOLA History Guy dot com will feature new content. We’ll be presenting a series of illustrations of the French Army during the Napoleonic period. The work of artist and uniformologist Lucien Rousselot offers historic background and writing inspiration.
Additionally, we will present more articles featuring structures in the New Orleans area that have been the subject Historic American Buildings Survey projects.
The podcast will also return next week!
Vintage Ad of the Week
Ad for the Kansas City Southern Railroad in the Times-Picayune, 27-August-1949. The “Southern Belle” route was the signature “name train” of the KCS. It operated daily from New Orleans to Kansas City. Prior to 1954, KCS trains operated out of the Louisiana and Arkansas Terminal on S. Rampart Street. After 1954, KCS joined all the other passenger service operating from Union Passenger Terminal.
How You Can Help NOLA History Guy
Things you can do RIGHT NOW to help us out!
- Buy my books! Edward Branley is the author of six books on New Orleans history. They’re available from local booksellers and all the usual online suspects.
- Book NOLA History Guy to speak at your event – Edward speaks to groups ranging in size to local groups like Kiwanis and Rotary to major conventions and trade shows.
- Buy me a Coffee on Ko-fi dot com. I just love this concept as a way to say thank you/tip creators you enjoy. Our idea of monetization is buying books and having us come to speak. If you see me at a coffee shop, stop and say hi. Otherwise, I’ll raise coffee cup to you if you treat me.
- Become a patron. Yes, we’re on Patreon. A lot of creators use the platform for direct monetization, and that’s great for them. We don’t have “exclusive content” for patrons. Still, if you think our history stuff is worth a dollar a month, go join!
NOLA Six Word Writing Challenge
In six words or less, write a story about this image. (Infrogmation photo)
Post your story to NOLAHistoryGuy.com on BlueSky, or to New Orleans Uncovered on Facebook. You can also email yours to nolasixwords@nolahistoryguy.com.
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