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Lake Pontchartrain (Images of America) |
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New Canal Light - 1838 |
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 Established in 1838 and first lit in 1901, the New
Canal Light sat at West End and what was the entrance to the New Basin Canal. Francis D. Gott was awarded the contract to
build this light as well as the Port Pontchartrain and Pass Manchac lighthouses. In 1855 a new lighthouse (pictured) replaced
the original.  The current
West End/New Basin Light was built in 1890 and moved to its current location in 1910. It was one of the few structures to
survive the 1903 Cheniere Caminada storm when its female keeper Caroline Riddle housed survivors there. It was damaged during
hurricanes in 1926 and 1927, after which it was raised on raised on concrete piers. In 1936 the breakwater around the station
was filled in, placing the light on dry land. During Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, in 2005, the lighthouse was badly damaged
and lack of care resulted in it collapsing months after the storms. At the time of this writing, the Lake Pontchartrain Basin
Foundation was seeking funding to restore this historic treasure.
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Excerpts from New Orleans City Park (Images of America)
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