Norman's New Orleans and Environs: Containing a Brief Historical Sketch of the Territory and State of Louisiana and the City of New Orleans, from the Earliest Period to the Present TimeNorman, Benjamin Moore
History
Norman's New Orleans and Environs: Containing a Brief Historical Sketch of the Territory and State of Louisiana and the City of New Orleans, from the Earliest Period to the Present Time
Norman, Benjamin Moore
New Orleans (La.) -- Guidebooks
Although the public squares in New Orleans are neither numerous, nor
upon a very extended scale, they are located with good taste, and are
exceedingly convenient. The centres of Canal, Esplanade, Rampart and
Basin streets have a very considerable space set apart for
embellishments. Shrubbery, and other ornaments, are in progress, and
they already begin to assume a beauty that does much credit to the
city authorities. Nothing is more conducive to health than these
pleasant resorts for wholesome exercise. Here the toil-worn citizen,
the wearied scholar, and the confined artizan, may breathe the fresh
air, enjoy a delightful morning or evening promenade, and catch an
imaginary enjoyment, in miniature, of the blessed country.
WASHINGTON SQUARE is in the third municipality; is bounded by the
Elysian Fields, Great-Men's, Casa Calvo and Frenchmen streets.--Though
admirably situated, owing to the distance it stands from the denser
portion of the city, it has not yet received those attentions which,
at some future day, will render it a beautiful promenade.
PLACE D'ARMES, or _Parade Square_, is still more prominent, and is
embellished with fine trees; but, as it is in the centre of the first
municipality, with the public buildings on one front and the levee on
the other, it is a matter of surprise that it has not been improved in
a style worthy of the inhabitants; who, certainly are capable of
appreciating the advantages of such delightful grounds.
CIRCUS PLACE is below Rampart street, with St. Claude on the rear, and
St. Ann and St. Peter streets on its sides. This is the square once
known as _Congo Park_; and is the place where the negroes, in olden
times, were accustomed to meet to while away the cares of servitude.
Many an old inhabitant can remember when he beheld these thoughtless
beings dancing "Old Virginia never tire," or some other favorite air,
with such a hearty gusto, upon the green sward, that the very ground
trembled beneath their feet. Though the loud laugh, and the
unsophisticated break-down, and double-shuffle of these primitive days
have ceased, the spot yet remains, with all its reminiscences, as
original as ever, with its capabilities of improvement still
unimpaired.
LAFAYETTE SQUARE is decidedly the handsomest in the city. It is in the
second municipality, and has St. Charles and Camp streets in front
and rear, and several public buildings in its immediate neighborhood.
It has a handsome and substantial iron railing around it, based upon
well laid blocks of granite; is well laid off in regular walks, and is
ornamented with beautiful and rare shrubbery, set out with geometrical
accuracy on a raised surface, calculated to make it dry and pleasant.
ANNUNCIATION SQUARE, in the same municipality, is the largest, and,
consequently, may some day become the most elegant in the city. Orange
and Race streets are on its front and rear--and facing are some very
tasteful private residences.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account