Checking Out New Orleans

Walkin' to New Aulins

   If some of you don't understand the title, it is the way Fats Domino sang that line of his famous song, one that stikes home at this tenative moment in history.
    I moved to New Orleans when I was nine. I'm now 59, so I figured it was time for another little recon mission of at least my old neighborhoods.
    The ride was taken on May 24 and has produced two other writes, one on Fort Pike and vacinity and one on Fort McComb.
    I left Fort McComb, taking this last picture of the old bridge. It very well may be "the last picture" as something is going on. I believe the old US 90 bridges that crossed Chef Manteur Pass and The Rigolets are "history" as if they weren't already. That saddens me.

Walkin' to New Orleans
(Domino/Bartholomew/Guidry) Travis Music Co. BMI

It's time I'm walkin' to New Orleans
I'm walkin' to New Orleans
I'm going to need two pair of shoes
When I get through walkin' to you
When I get back to New Orleans

I've got my suitcase in my hand
Now, ain't that a shame
I'm leavin' here today
Yes, I'm goin' back home to stay
Yes, I'm walkin' to New Orleans

You used to be my honey
Till you spent all my money
No use for you to cry
I'll see you bye and bye
Cause I'm walkin' to New Orleans

I've got no time for talkin'
I've got to keep on walkin'
New Orleans is my home
That's the reason why I'm goin'
Yes, I'm walkin' to New Orleans
FADE:
I'm walkin' to New Orleans
I'm walkin' to New Orleans
I'm walkin' to New Orleans

US 90 enters New Orleans from the east through an area known as East New Orleans. It was in bad shape prior to the storm and now is basically a ghost town. The traffic lights only blink with four way stops and no police in sight. It was tense. I didn't know what to expect and planned for the expected unexpected.

This is the deal on this one. You are going to see my landmarks. Landmarks that you'd expect a kid of ages 9 to 12 to remember. My parents became New Orleaneans very quickly and submerged themselves in the city. Maybe that's not a good word right now. In other words, they soaked it up. They were both from north Louisiana, but you wouldn't know it. We had lived in Houma, 90 miles away and New Orleans was a constant commute. That's what you do when you have the courtry's only European city so close.
Above is the orphanage I passed each day when let off by the school bus.
It was the place I'd be sent if I didn't straighten up. Very visual.

Our first rent house was the center one. I caught the bus down on Broad Street.
The house is right by the pumping station canal on Gentilly, close to Dillard University.
The garage was in the back and an alley led to it. We had fig trees. My sentences are reverting to third grade level, which introduces the next picture.

"McDonough, Oh to Thee We Sing" was sung every morning during assembley where all students would line up in class rows. The lady principal would conduct the song and we'd be ready for another day. The teachers were excellent. The activities were what you'd expect in a private school. Being in New Orleans, history was a main course. Shakespeare did not take a second seat and the symphony was a twice a year event. Mrs. Barr and Mrs Thibeaux are two I remember. Mrs. Thibeaux won teacher of the year while I was in her class. Believe me, that only proved her worthyness.
    Back to the song. Mcdonough was from Baltimore and did a lot to help the new New Orleans school system. Many schools were named for him. Crossman, my school was not, but if you passed you moved on to McDonough 28, a very scary place which we took a field trip. .
     And, did you know, at one time Baltimore, Maryland and New Orleans were sister cities? No kidding. That was McDonough's home.
     Next we go to one of the two major New Orleans playgrounds. The yards in NO are not large, if any. People use the parks. We certainly did. My brother and I would go all over while my father painted (on canvas). I think he wanted to hang out on Jackson Square.
     PS, if you know the song, "Maryland, My Maryland", you know the tune to which the McDonaugh song was sung. This knowledge is rare. I doubt if the McDonaugh Song is sung anywhere anymore. Stump the band?