History Algiers, New Orleans

others claim connection arabs or egypt , algeria , tunisia in far past area. arab groups , related not north africa , moors, asia india. columbus reported flags on ships of other powers on of travels americas. towns in south named egypt or little egypt or tunica real. possible, likely, of tradition real.

a powder magazine built here safety reasons , because stood on higher ground. slaughterhouse established , algiers went name of slaughterhouse point time.

with importation of african slaves in 18th century, area used holding area until survived sea voyage recovered enough dispatched across river sold. algiers holding area cajuns survived great upheaval, when british expelled them nova scotia. oldest part of algiers algiers point, across river french quarter.

old duverje plantation house before destruction in great algiers fire of 1895

the duverjes built plantation home in algiers in 1812. become first family of algiers , home later become algiers courthouse. algiers point has been connected foot of canal street in downtown new orleans canal street ferry since 1827. 1 oldest continuously operated ferry services in north america. part of battle of new orleans, in january 1815, fought on west bank in algiers. original earthworks remain, marked historical marker on general meyer avenue in aurora neighborhood. land in algiers , elsewhere in south louisiana owned john mcdonogh, 1 of world s largest private land owners until death in 1850. estate willed public schools in baltimore , new orleans.

mcdonogh s home located on river south of algiers point, land has since been washed away. mcdonogh s grave in mcdonogh cemetery in gretna. algiers incorporated city in 1840. shipbuilding important industry here.

in 1850s, algiers became major railroad center , eastern terminus of new orleans, opelousas , great western railroad. ferries utilized century carry passengers, freight, , rail cars across mississippi river between west bank (including algiers) , east bank (central business district of new orleans). later, railroad yard @ algiers eastern repair shop southern pacific railroad. sprr shop employed 4000 , had capability build mechanical parts steamships.

troops head old u.s. marine hospital building in algiers

in april 1862, during american civil war, flames arose shipyards in algiers confederate officials destroyed property might benefit invading union troops. historian john d. winters, in civil war in louisiana (1963), notes new orleans populace amazed , scarcely realize awful fact, , ran hither , thither in speechless astonishment. . . . shocked out of dumb disbelief, many people joined in destruction. cotton rolled warehouses, ships loaded produce boarded, , fire set lot. crowds of city poor broke open warehouses , carried away baskets, bags, , carts spilling on rice, bacon, sugar, molasses, corn, , other foods. not carry away attempted destroy dumping in river, burning, or throwing open gutters. mob broke powder , gun factories in marine hospital , carried away rifles , ammunition. city frenzy of disorganized activity.

in 1870, algiers annexed city 15th ward, arrangement has remained although there have been repeated discussions of secession. until latter 1930s, rail yards housed large amounts of freight , rolling stock, brought , forth across mississippi river barge. then, huey p. long bridge, included railway bridge, built upriver @ bridge city, louisiana. largest railroad presence had been southern pacific yard. location still known algerines sp yard. decades largely vacant strip. portions of tract redeveloped housing in 21st century. in yard s active days, steam-powered southern pacific train ferry brought railroad cars there across mississippi river. algiers rail yards known ability repair or create replacements part needed type of locomotive , mechanical parts ships.

after great fire of 1895

a fire destroyed of buildings in algiers in 1895. of gingerbread-fronted houses seen in neighborhood today date rebuilding began after fire; although small number of older buildings still survived. in decades of twentieth century, algiers home of martin behrman, longest-serving mayor of new orleans. in 1901, u.s. navy established naval station in algiers. 1966 until 2009, site 1 of 2 campuses of naval support activity new orleans base. shuttered facility s west bank campus being redeveloped federal city. centuries, intensive settlement in algiers extended little beyond algiers point. completion of greater new orleans bridge across mississippi river in 1958 (now crescent city connection) , construction of victory drive (now general degaulle) , general meyer avenue made significant new development possible, , algiers grew rapidly next 25 years.

the algiers/canal street ferry on mississippi river, new orleans: ferry thomas jefferson seen approaching algiers side , ferry frank x. arminger docked @ right foreground

an history of algiers story of algiers william h. seymour, published in 1896. book republished in 1971 , has been referenced in new orleans , louisiana histories. index of book online @ new orleans public library website.