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Bro. Arsenius founded the De La Salle Catholic Boys' High School in 1949; the Uptown school welcomed girls in 1992.
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Photo by Eileen Loh Harrist
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Hey Blake,
Can you tell me about the history of my alma mater, De La Salle High School, and the history of the area?
Elizabeth
Dear Elizabeth,
It's only recently that you could identify yourself as a graduate of the high school at 5300 St. Charles Ave. The school, which had its beginning in 1949, started with a freshman class of 74 boys, but it wasn't until 1992 that girls entered the student body.
The Brothers of the Christian Schools had arrived in Louisiana as early as 1817. When they arrived, the brothers taught in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Galveston and Pass Christian. For a while the brothers left the area, but then returned in 1918 at St. Paul's School in Covington. In 1936, Brother Arsenius received permission to raise funds for a new school in New Orleans.
The school acquired Gilbert Academy on St. Charles Avenue; however, the building was unacceptable and, therefore, demolished. While they were waiting for a new school to be built, the brothers lived and the boys learned in an old mansion on Pitt Street. And in September of 1949, four brothers opened the doors of opportunity at De La Salle Catholic Boys' High School for the first time. Named for St. John Baptist de La Salle, founder of the Brothers of the Christian School, the school had Brother Ernest Cocagne as its first principal.
Two years later, the school was built in its present location, erected by the Youth Progress Program of the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Archbishop Rummel officially dedicated the school on March 2, 1952, and the first senior class was graduated in 1953.
And since that time, the school has continued to expand. Classrooms, a gymnasium, and a student chapel were built within 10 years. In 1980, the three-story Brother Arsenius Center was completed. Many academic programs were added, and in 1996, the school earned national recognition as a Blue Ribbon School for Excellence in Education.
Your alma mater is located in the 'Uptown' neighborhood of New Orleans. At one time the site consisted of a series of wedge-shaped plantations fanning off the river. Eventually, the plantations were all carved up, and streets laid out for residential development. From 1850 to 1870, the area was part of Jefferson City, a municipality in its own right, bounded by Toledano and Joseph streets, Freret Street and the river. It began as a combination of seven privately developed faubourgs -- Avart, St. Joseph, Delachaise, Plaisance, Rickerville, and East and West Bouligny -- and received a charter from the state legislature in 1850.
For 20 years after, Jefferson City had its own mayor, aldermen, courts, public schools, cemeteries, public market and port. Then in 1870, by legislative decree, along with Algiers on the West Bank, Jefferson City was annexed to New Orleans.
Hey Blake,
What do you know about the castle at Irish Bayou?
JR
Dear JR,
Actually, 'Fisherman's Castle' is a reproduction of a 14th-century castle, built in 1981 by Simon Villemarette. He intended it to be a secondary tourist attraction for the New Orleans World's Fair in 1984. However, plans to get tour buses and boats to stop at the castle were not very successful.
The castle has had several owners since it was sold at a sheriff's auction more than 10 years ago. Peter and Pamela Egan bought it and used it as a weekend camp for about four years. Then in December of 1995, they sold it for $62,000 -- cheap as castles go -- to a defense contractor who said he had noticed it in a showcase of homes. So now it is owned by Charles and Jean Kuhl of Virginia Beach, Va.
For a while, his daughter lived there, and several friends have spent time in the castle. But Mr. Kuhl is waiting until he retires in a few years before he moves in himself. In the meantime, he visits a couple of times a year, mostly to keep the castle in shape. Termites are doing their best, and vehicles passing by shake the foundations. I'll bet Mr. Kuhl is looking forward to being king in his own castle.
