Lets not lose sight of the fact that most of the time, and for most of its history, New Orleans has been a great place to live. But, like any place, there have been some bad times too. Here are my picks of the worst.
5.UNION OCCUPATION/ RECONSTRUCTION. It could have been worse. We could have been Atlanta. That New Orleans was spared the torch may have been because the city surrendered easily. Nevertheless, the period from 1862 to 1877 when Reconstruction ended was one of political upheaval and violence frequently under the direction of rogues and thugs The state¹s agriculture economy was in ruins. New Orleans may have slipped badly in comparison to other cities except that the rest of the south was equally unstable. (One good result: The Union won. Had it not, New Orleans would have likely been the capital of a small weakened nation subject to subsequent conquering and denied the largesse of United States support and funding.)
4. HURRICANE BETSY. After pushing across the Bahamas and a swath of Florida, Betsy entered the gulf and then turned toward the mouth of the Mississippi crushing Grand Isle and then leveling destruction, as a Category 3 hurricane, on eastern New Orleans, Gentilly and St. Bernard parish. The 1965 hurricane was at the time the costliest hurricane ever and came to be known as ³Billion Dollar Betsy.² In its second landfall the storm flooded approximately 164,000 homes. There were seventy-six fatalities. The rest of New Orleans was left able to operate. As a result of the storm, the Corps of Engineers started its Hurricane Protection Program and began rebuilding levees in New Orleans that were to be higher and stronger.
3. THE GREAT FIRES. Only six years apart these two fires combined to level most of the French Quarter which at the time comprised most of the existing city. The fire in 1788 destroyed over 800 houses and public building within hours. (Spanish Governor Esteban Miro wrote to authorities about the “abject misery, crying and sobbing” of the people.) Then in 1794 with rebuilding still on the way from the previous fire, another blaze leveled 212 Vieux Carre buildings, many more valuable than those lost in the previous fire. That year the city had also suffered through two hurricanes. Building techniques (more reliance or bricks instead of cypress) would change. The city was rebuilt, but began to look different.
2. HURRICANE KATRINA. We know the story, and it is continuing. New Orleans¹ history from then on would be marked as beginning on August 29, 2005. We are now in The Year 1 AK.
1. PESTILENCE. Katrina was terrible, but it you can read this at least you know the storm did not kill you. During the frequent outbreaks of infectious diseases, a person could be healthy one day and stricken the next. In 1804 Louisiana’s first territorial governor, William V.C. Claiborne lost his wife, daughter, private secretary and co-workers to the yellow fever.
Smallpox was the worst. During the 20-year period from 1863 to 1882 there were, according to state estimates, 6450 deaths due to the disease just in New Orleans. The era of infectious disease outbreaks lasted until 1914 when a hospital specializing in smallpox cases was closed for lack of business. Finally, life in New Orleans seemed more secure. Between challenges, people could enjoy the good times.
Just thinking about New Orleans.
Let us know what you think. Do you have some reasons that you would like to add to this list? Or some that you would like to take away? Let us know. Write toelaborde@renaissancepublishingllc.com. For the subject line use WORST CALAMITIES. All responses are subject to being published, as edited, in this newsletter. Please include your name and location.
