Ask Blake

The grand Jung Hotel operated for almost 50 years on Canal Street, where the Radisson Hotel now stands.

Photo by Eileen Loh Harrist

Hey Blake,

I recently cleaned out a shed located behind a house that I purchased Uptown and found many fascinating old objects. One item is a silver soldered tray with the following inscribed on the back: 'Jung Hotel, New Orleans, LA, Gorham EP, 08874, 14m.

I have never heard of the Jung Hotel and was wondering what time period it operated in New Orleans and where it was located. Do you have any information about this? 

Christina I. Sprecher

Dear Christina,

The Jung Hotel, now the Radisson Hotel, was located at 1500 Canal St. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on Oct. 27, 1982.

This wonderful old hotel opened on Dec. 19, 1925. Right away it was proclaimed the 'largest and most magnificent hotel in the South.' At 10 stories high, the Jung was both fancy and modern. There were 323 guest rooms, and those lucky enough to get reservations were treated to such luxuries as baths, air conditioning, steam heat, and ceiling fans. Remember, this was almost 80 years ago! The fancy touches included a handmade fountain, chairs upholstered in tapestry, travertine walls, and Turkish baths.

After three years, the hotel added a special feature -- an 'all year room.' It was a garden ballroom with a roll-back roof. This splendid addition was part of the 18-story annex that included 375 additional rooms. With all this splendor and room, the Jung soon became one of the most desirable places for parties of every kind, from Mardi Gras balls to high school proms.

And the Jung just kept growing and growing, adding a very large banquet hall in 1936 that would seat 1,800 folks, another 18-story addition with 375 guest rooms in 1950, and a convention and exhibition center in 1963.

But times changed, and in 1971, the owners sold the Jung. And then it seemed that every time we drove down Canal Street, the hotel had a new name. For a while, it was Braniff Place, and then it was renamed the Grand Hotel. Sadly, in 1979, it had no name at all or visitors either, as it was closed.

After three years, however, the building was sold again, and this time it emerged as the Clarion Hotel. Extensive renovations had restored the historic site even as improvements were made. But just about the time we had gotten used to its new identity, it changed its name yet again. After more renovations, it was transformed into the Radisson Hotel, which opened in January 1995. And eight years later it¹s still there with the same name!

Hey Blake,

When were the names of the two streets -- Bagatelle and Morales -- changed, and what are the present names? Are any street maps of New Orleans in the 1850s and 1860s available?

Audrey

Dear Audrey,

Bagatelle -- the part in the Second District -- was changed to Bourbon Street on Nov. 20, 1852. Then part of Bourbon Street in the Third District was changed to Pauger on Feb. 20, 1924. Morales Street was also among those that got a new name in 1852 when it became Marais Street.

I rather like the name 'Bagatelle' and the other streets named by Bernard Marigny in his early suburb of New Orleans that in 1808 was a separate community. Among the street names that no longer exist are Morales, named to honor one of his two wives, Anne Mathilde Morales, and Antoine after his son Antoine James. There were others that were changed, too. There used to be Peace and History streets -- now changed to Kerlerec -- and streets named Love, Victory, Great Men, Craps, Casa Calvo, Poets, Enghein, and Good Children.

In 1852, when the fortifications were gone that separated Faubourg Marigny from the original city, Ordinance Number 395 changed many of the street names in Faubourg Marigny to match those that were already in place in the Vieux Carre.

Street maps of New Orleans during the 1850s and 1860s are not the easiest things to find, but a good place to look would be the third floor of the main branch of the New Orleans Public Library. The experts in the Louisiana Division will help you.

Question for Blake? Email blresponse@gambitweekly.com or mail to 3923 Bienville St., 70119.

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