The Uptown home of the Little Sisters of the Poor at 3618 Prytania St. When it opened in 1883, five sisters cared for 230 elderly residents; the occupancy rate averaged around 200 residents the entire time it operated as a home for the aged poor. The Little Sisters took vows of poverty, and were dependent on gifts and charity to fund operating expenses, including food and care for their residents. This image was taken for property sale purposes in 1957.
The Little Sisters of the Poor, a religious order whose mission is to house and care for the elderly poor, arrived in New Orleans in 1869. They established their first home at 1501 N. Johnson St. The demand for elderly housing increased, so they established a second home Uptown at 3618 Prytania St. in April of 1883.
A golden jubilee celebration of the Prytania house held in December of 1932 featured a mass and benediction. The chapel and home were decorated in golden yellow and white, including large baskets of white narcissi and yellow chrysanthemums at every dining table. Donated cakes with 50 candles were received from various businesses and supporters.
St. Joseph’s Day was an annual celebration, as St. Joseph is the patron saint of the Little Sisters. The 1941 menu featured oyster soup, salmon, vegetables, beer (noted to be a frequent donation from the Fabacher family), tobacco products, and ice cream, as well as candy arranged in the shapes of 180 small bales of cotton.
The Prytania Street home was forced to close in 1957 due to new state regulations; the order was unable to pay for renovations that would include ramps, elevators, and a sprinkler system. The residents were moved to other homes across the US, including Nashville, Chicago, and Mobile. Forty residents were moved to the N. Johnson home, living in temporary dormitories until renovations could be made on that house, partially with money made from the sale of the Prytania property.
In 1958, a group of local businessmen, including architect Arthur Q. Davis, purchased the property for $600,000. A year later they demolished the existing buildings and a new $1.5 million medical office center was erected. Designed by Curtis and Davis Architects, the mid-century modern building featured one level suspended over an underground parking garage with open air courtyards connecting a series of buildings. It opened in 1960 with doctors quickly filling the offices and remains a medical complex today.
The Little Sisters of the Poor remained at the N. Johsnon St. house until 1972 when they moved to Algiers. They resided there for another four decades until closing after Hurricane Katrina.
