 Hurricane Havoc, USA
Like many properties, Longue Vue was underinsured for the damage but its staff and volunteers are determined that it will be rebuilt again. However, the cost of works to the gardens alone is $1,625,000 – money which needs to be raised at a time when it cannot expect many visitors.
To donate to Longue Vue, go to www.longuevue.com
In HGR 12 we reported on how Save our Cemeteries had restored more than 80 of the 750 tombs, some dating back to 1789, in the St Louis Cemetery No 1 in New Orleans. Post-hurricane inspection showed that this cemetery had fared remarkably well, the main damage being limited to water-staining and lost trees; but the team also noticed a variety of personal items, which suggested that the graveyard had become a temporary home for some living New Orleans residents.
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Other historic cemeteries in the city were also hit. Trees were lost and a wall collapsed at Lafayette I, a park-like cemetery unusual in that no distinction was made between race or religion in the space allocations. There was a lot of debris at St Roch, especially in its 1875 chapel, which was inspired by that at the Campo Santo dei Tedeschi in Rome; and Holt, used primarily for the indigent, with most graves marked only with a small wooden marker or with home-made memorabilia, was completely submerged.
Save our Cemeteries itself suffered greatly. Its office was flooded, as was the home of director, Louise Saenz Fergusson, only days after she had given birth to a baby boy. In spite of this, the organisation’s volunteers quickly managed some debris removal in Holt, Lafayette and St Louis, and secured a $50,000 grant for Lafayette I which will be used to target hurricane-damaged tombs.
To help Save our Cemeteries, go to www.saveourcemeteries.org
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