Where did the town of Raceland, La., get its name?
Plus.. the New Orleans German Protestant Orphanage and the story of the Godchaux family
Where did the town of Raceland, La., get its name?
Robynn Sturm
Dear Robynn,
If you guessed that its name might be descriptive, then you are right. The name originated in the early 19th century because at one time there were horse races held on the banks of the bayou and at a local track in the heart of what is now the town.
Hey Blake,
I am looking for information on the New Orleans German Protestant Orphanage from the late 1800s to possibly the 1900s. I have had little luck with searching the Internet and figured you might be able to help me. Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Erica Marcello
Dear Erica,
I'm glad to be of service, my dear. I have received several requests for information about this home.
This institution was located at 920 State St. between Camp and Chestnut streets. It was through the leadership of Dr. L. P. Heintz, rector of the Jackson Avenue Evangelical Church, that the orphanage was built with funds donated from 1860 to 1866. The doors opened to welcome children in 1867. In July 1869, a very happy crowd gathered to lay the cornerstone of a new building for the 38 children then cared for. As you might guess at such an occasion, there were speeches, prayers, orations, and songs sung by the children.
An association was chartered to operate the orphanage on a non-sectarian basis, and in 1870, a women's aid society was formed with Mrs. Wilhelmina Jackson as president.
Over the years, the home cared for many children, some of whom attended the nearby LaSalle School, and it remained at its State Street location for more than 100 years. Hey Blake,
As a child in the late 1920s and '30s, I remember an area, maybe a block or two long, across from where Charity Hospital now stands, known as "China Town." My uncle Mike had his tailor shop on Tulane near St. Joseph's church, and when visiting him with my parents we passed this area. But I can't remember exactly where this "China Town" was. Can you help clear this up for me? Clara Dear Clara, During the time you were a young girl, there was an area that was called "China Town" by some, but it was just a small Chinese center. Located on Tulane Avenue just off South Rampart Street were several stores where you could purchase native foods and supplies.
The Chinese community in New Orleans was not very large. Chinese immigration to America began in 1820 and increased rapidly during the 1848 Gold Rush. But after more Americans moved to the West Coast, there were anti-Chinese riots in the late 1870s and 1880s. In 1882, the Chinese Exclusion Act prohibited the immigration of Chinese laborers into the United States for 10 years, and further immigration laws continued the ban until 1943, when the act was repealed and limits on Chinese immigration were lifted. Even in 1882, only certain Chinese merchants and their families were allowed to enter the country, and these immigrants faced strict regulation and laws that considered them ineligible for citizenship.
Hey Blake,
After reading the story about Leon Godchaux, and being a descendent, I have been thinking of writing up the Godchaux story down to my generation, starting with Leon. I am a writer now living in Madrid, Spain. Do you have any more information, perhaps the town in France that Leon came from?
Sharon Smith Godchaux
Dear Sharon,
Your famous ancestor -- planter, sugar refiner, businessman -- was born in Herbeville, France, on June 10, 1824. He was the son of Paul Godchaux and Michelette Lazard.
For the benefit of those who might have missed the column, Leon Godchaux was a poor boy of 12 when he immigrated to America. In New Orleans he became wealthy in the clothing business. Then after the Civil War he became even richer when he started the central factory idea to refine sugar from his plantations. He established Elm Hall, the first central sugar refinery in the sugar belt.
Leon died in New Orleans on May 18, 1899.
