Lake Pontchartrain (Images of America)

War and Peaceful Pursuits

 

WWII put plans for many residential and recreational developments along the New Orleans lake shore on hold. Instead, the reclaimed shore became the home of (from west to east) the U.S. Coast Guard Light House Station at West End, the adjacent U.S. Army Hospital (Lagarde) General Hospital, the U.S. Naval Hospital, the U.S. Coast Guard Station at Bayou St. John, the U.S. Maritime Commission (on Bayou St. John near the lake), the Naval Reserve Aviation Base Aircraft Carrier Training Center (between the London Ave. Canal and Elysian Fields Ave – now the University of New Orleans), the Navy Assembly Plant and Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Co. (east of Pontchartrain Beach), the German POW Camp, the U.S. Army Bombing Squadron/Camp Leroy Johnson (just west of the Industrial Canal), and the National Guard Hanger and Seaplane Ramp (between the Industrial Canal and the Shushan Airport.

 

Higgins Industries designed and built WWII vessels (including the famed LCVP landing boats) in plants located on City Park Avenue abutting Bayou St. John and along the Industrial Canal. The bayou, canal, and the lake were used during the war to test the boats. Evidence of wartime testing still exists in the high signal signs along Lakeshore drive; mile markers used to gauge speed.

 

Hurricane Katrina was not the first occurrence of a breach in protection of the 17th Street Canal walls. During a 1947 storm several breaks accounted for flooding in Jefferson and Orleans Parish (primarily along the lakefront and in Gentilly).

 

Lakefront attractions had enticed locals and visitors for more than a century before Lincoln Beach was opened exclusively for “Negroes”. Although Milneburg had allowed for mixing of the races it was somewhat unique in that respect. During the 1930’s the WPA planned a 10 acre park off Hayne Boulevard in New Orleans East. Lincoln Beach opened in the early 1940’s but it wasn’t until 1953 that the New Orleans Levee Board began a half-million dollar renovation that matched some of the amenities offered at Pontchartrain Beach. The renovation included fresh water swimming pools, a new bath house, picnic shelters, and an expanded and rebuilt midway. Noted musicians performed at Lincoln Beach including "Papa" Celestine, Fat’s Domino, and Sam Cook. The park was closed in 1964 by a federal order forbidding the operation of segregated facilities. Pontchartrain Beach Amusement Park moved from its original location near Spanish Fort to Elysian Fields Avenue on the lakefront in 1940. It closed in 1983.

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Other books by Catherine Campanella:

Excerpts from New Orleans City Park (Images of America)

Home
Introduction
The Beginning
Milneburg
West End
Back to the Bayou
Lighthouses
Literature
Jazz
Change
War and Peaceful Pursuits
Life on the Lake
Photo Gallery
Acknowledgments
More Lake Pontchartrain History

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A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book is dedicated to the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation's efforts to rebuild the historic New Canal Lighthouse.

Contact Catherine Campanella