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Proposed Demolitions: City Council Appeals for September 2nd
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2741 Bienville in Mid City - A modified single shotgun house
The owners of the following properties were denied permission to demolish these properties by the Neighborhood Conservation District Committee and have chosen to appeal (property owners reserve the right to appeal decisions of the NCDC to the City Council).
These properties will be reviewed this Thursday, September 2nd:
1541 Mazant (NCDC Appeal, on deadline) Cn. Palmer’s district
2760-62 Conti (NCDC Appeal) Cn. Head’s district
2741 Bienville (NCDC Appeal) Cn. Head’s district
318 N. White (NCDC Appeal) Cn. Head’s district
What Will Become of the Landmark Booker T. School Building? Meeting TONIGHT!
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New Orleans' African-American leaders chalked up another victory when the much lobbied for Booker T. Washington High School, with its emphasis upon vocational training, opened in 1942. But it took federal funds to make it happen.
Meeting to discuss Booker T. Washington School Building
Thursday, August 26, 2010
6:30 PM
Sylvanie F. Williams School Cafeteria
3127 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
The opening of Booker T. (as it is affectionately known) in September 1942 was a cause for great rejoicing in New Orleans’ large African-American population. After all, in 1900 the New Orleans School Board had voted to limit black education to the first five grades. Now a splendid new high school was opening that rivaled any white school—not a hand-me-down school but a state-of-the-art facility built specifically for black secondary education—a first in the city.
How had it all happened? Through decades of sustained activism from black leaders and bailout from the federal government.
Lacking political power, black leaders worked through civic, religious and educational organizations to press their concerns before the school board, being first with the total lack of public education beyond the fifth grade, as mandated by school board policy in 1900. The sixth was restored in 1909, the seventh in 1913, and the eighth in 1914. With these milestones under their belts, black leaders began the campaign for a high school. The much sought after school opened in 1917 as McDonogh No. 35 in a recycled former school for whites.
The next item on the activist agenda was a sorely needed vocational school. But where to find the money? The Rosenwald Fund had expressed an interest but only if the school board shared the cost. In 1930 the school board sold bonds for school construction and allocated $275,000 toward construction of a black trade school. The Rosenwald Fund pledged $135,000.
In response to concerns that a black trade school might threaten white jobs, a public statement was issued, assuring everyone “that the trades to be taught at the school would be exclusively those which are largely occupied by colored labor at this time.”
But it would still be another dozen years before Booker T. became a reality. After purchasing a parcel of land for the purpose, the school board announced that it did not have the money to match the Rosenwald offer. Instead, in 1934 they built on the site a wood frame elementary school for blacks for $21,000.
Although disheartened by this broken promise, black leaders continued to champion their goal through the 1930s. But it was federal, not local funds, which made Booker T. possible.

Booker T. Washington's cavernous auditorium was used for much more than school functions. It became in effect the city's black municipal auditorium, housing legendary entertainers like Louis Armstrong, labor rallies, conventions and the like.
In the twilight of its existence, the New Deal’s Works Progress Administration funded the project to the tune of some quarter of a million dollars. Like other similar schools across the South, it was named for booker T. Washington, the famous black educator whose name is synonymous with what was called at the time “industrial education.”
But the opening of Booker T. gave the African-American community much more than a new high school. Accompanying the school (and attached to it) was a huge auditorium that became in effect the city’s black municipal auditorium. In the age of segregation, the roughly 2,000 capacity auditorium was indeed “separate but equal.” Soon after its opening, the facility hosted Paul Robeson in his first New Orleans appearance. The Louisiana Weekly reported that blacks turned out “en masse” to hear Robeson, although with “a fair sprinkling whites.” There were seven encores, and the audience was “almost shaking the roof with its thunderous applause.”
Other greats who graced the stage include Marian Anderson, Dizzie Gillespie, Mahalia Jackson and Louis Armstrong.
Booker T’s immense importance made it a natural for the National Register of Historic Places. The project was undertaken by the Division of Historic Preservation at the request of Booker T. teacher Mark Wuirk. The black leaders who pushed so hard for its construction would have been thrilled at the delegation of Booker T. graduates who attended the public hearing in Baton Rouge. In testimony after testimony folks spoke passionately about all Booker T. had given to them—from discipline to Bach, and everything in between. On Saturday, September 7, 2002, they celebrated the 60th anniversary of the school and the listing with a historic marker dedication at1201 S. Roman Street.
Written by PRC board member Donna Fricker for Preservation in Print, September 2002
Walgreens to Retain Neon Lights
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According to the Historic District Landmarks Commission staff, Walgreens will not appeal the HDLC Architectural Review Committee’s denial of the request to replace the iconic neon sign with LED lights. Thanks to everyone that posted opinions about this proposal to Facebook, Flickr and Twitter — you opinions were critical in the decision to retain the neon lights!
Thanks to all of our Flickr friends that contributed to the “NOLA in Neon” photo collection.
August 24-28th, Rebuilding Together New Orleans invites you to commemorate the fifth year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina with a renewal of a promise and a rebirth of a community. Rebuilding Together’s Fifty for Five will be one of the largest rebuilding efforts undertaken since the storm and the largest event in Rebuilding Together’s history. With volunteers from across the country and from all walks of life, the event will pay tribute to all of the heroic men and women who have come to New Orleans since the storm to rebuild. Rebuilding Together’s Fifty for Five event involves 50 houses, five days, over 1,000 volunteers and a chance to make an unforgettable difference in the lives of 50 New Orleanian homeowners and their families. LEARN MORE.
Proposed Demolitions: City Council Appeals for Aug. 26, 2010
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2760 Conti St. in Mid City
The owners of the following properties were denied permission to demolish these properties by Historic District Landmarks Commission or the Neighborhood Conservation District Committee. They have chosen to appeal and the hearing date has been set for August 26, 2010. (Property owners reserve the right to appeal decisions of the HDLC and NCDC to the City Council.)
2535 Esplanade (Partial Demolition, HDLC Appeal) Cm. Guidry’s district
BRIGHT NEWS! HDLC: Walgreens Neon Should Be Retained
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Today, the Historic District Landmarks Commission Architectural Review Committee rejected the request to replace the neon lights on the iconic Walgreens sign with LED lights. Walgreens reserves the right to appeal the ARC’s recommendation to the full Commission. We’ll post updates if the case progresses.
PRC’s Rebuilding Together & HGTV Partner On 50 For 5
Posted by: | CommentsThis August 24-28th, Rebuilding Together New Orleans invites you to commemorate the fifth year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina with a renewal of a promise and a rebirth of a community. Rebuilding Together’s Fifty for Five will be one of the largest rebuilding efforts undertaken since the storm and the largest event in Rebuilding Together’s history. With volunteers from across the country and from all walks of life, the event will pay tribute to all of the heroic men and women who have come to New Orleans since the storm to rebuild. Rebuilding Together’s Fifty for Five event involves 50 houses, five days, over 1,000 volunteers.
Rebuilding Together New Orleans is a program of the Preservation Resource Center.
City Council Approves Master Plan
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Yesterday, the City Council formally adopted the new citywide master plan. “The Master Plan is a significant victory for the residents of New Orleans, who want to continue rebuilding our City with proper urban planning, preserving our treasured historic past, protecting residential integrity for our unique neighborhoods, and providing for investment and economic growth in the future,” said Councilmember-at-Large Clarkson, who authored the 2008 Charter change that mandated a master plan with the force of law.
The Preservation Resource Center proudly advocated for the master plan charter change. We serve on the Zoning Technical Advisory Committee, which is working with the consultants on the crafting of the comprehensive zoning ordinance. Please email us with your ideas and concerns.
Learn more:
The Lens article by Ariella Cohen
Living With Jazz History: Emmett Hardy’s Home & Music
Posted by: | CommentsEmmett Hardy (1903-1925) cornetist and machinist, lived at 237 Morgan St. from 1920 until 1923. He played in the Brownlee’s Orchestra, The New Orleans Rhythem Kings, and in small groups with violinist Oscar Marcour, the Boswell Sisters, and drummer Arthur “Monk” Hazel. During his short life he attained a legendary status as a musician, and is said to have been an influence on cornetist Bix Beiderbecke, as well as having an “informal” cutting contest with Louis Armstrong.
PRC places commemorative plaques on the houses where Jazz musicians lived.















