Friday, November 1, 2013

Saint Louis Cemetery No 1 on All Saints Day New Orleans 2013

While visiting Saint Louis # 1, I bumped into a Old friend William de Marigny Highland true New Orleans aristocracy! He is the great grandson of Bernard Xavier Philippe de Marigny de Mandeville. Bernard Xavier Philippe de Marigny de Mandeville, was a French-Creole American nobleman, playboy, politician, and President of the Louisiana Senate between 1822-1823.


When I had a antique shop on Magazine street in New Orleans William de Marigny Highland and his mother use to visit my shop and buy beautiful Old Paris porcelain from me. He stands and places a wreath on his family's tomb. Two of my friends are buried here in the de Marigny Tomb. William's mother and a truly good friend Lloyd Sensat. 



Pierre
Philippe de Marigny de Mandeville


William's Grandfather Bernard Xavier Philippe de Marigny de Mandeville at the age of 15 years old, became one of, if not "the", richest man in the new world. He inherited 7 million dollars (remember, these were '1800' dollars--he would have been a billionaire in today's currency!). 

Faubourg Marigny next to the French Quarter is named after him. The Marigny plantation was owned by one of the wealthiest families in the New World. Their plantation house stood near the foot of Elysian Fields and was described as being nearly twice the size of other plantation homes. 

 Money was spent freely by its owners. Legend has it that Pierre poured 1000 silver dollars into the melting pot from which his plantation bell was cast to give it a sweeter tone. The bell today is in the Cabildo Museum, property of the Louisiana State Museum.

In 1798, Louis Phillippe, Duc d'Orleans (who became King Louis Phillippe in 1830) and his two brothers, the Duc de Montpesier and the Compte de Beaujolais, visited the plantation fleeing from the French Revolution. They were lavishly entertained. It is said that the Duke broke at the time borrowed money from the Marigny family that was latter paid back when the Duke became the "Citizen King". 

Bernard Xavier Philippe de Marigny de Mandeville


 One story recounts that special gold dinner ware was made for the occasion of the Duc d'Orleans visit and was thrown into the river afterward because no one would be worthy of using it again! The Marquis de Lafayette was another famous person who was a guest at the Marigny Plantation in 1825.

Antoine Jacques Philippe de Marigny de Mandeville in the French officer’s uniform from the Orleans Lancers of the Louisiana Militia, by Jean Joseph Vaudechamp.



As early as the 1790's a few parcels of land in the Marigny Plantation had been developed, but in 1805 Bernard de Marigny began subdividing the plantation and Faubourg Marigny was created. New Orleans first Creole 'suburb', was settled primarily by Creoles, free men of color and new arrivals from Europe. — 

In the Old St. Louis No. 1, the oldest of the cemeteries, are seen almost in juxtaposition the tombs of Benedics Van Pradelles, an officer of the Revolution with Lafayette, who died in 1808 and of Paul Morphy, the world's greatest chess player ...

Will H. Coleman, 1885


The tallest monument in the St. Louis No 1 cemetery is the The Italian Mutual Benevolent Society tomb. It was common for immigrants in New Orleans to pool funds to lower the burial costs for individuals. The tomb has space for more than a thousand remains. It formed the background in a disturbing scene in Easy Rider. According to local legend a statue known as 'Charity' was vandalized by Dennis Hopper who supposedly tore the St. Louis Cemetery no 1, New Orleans head off the statue. 



Nice New Orleans Neoclassical Wrought iron!

A crypt like this can accomodate dozens of family members, so long as they don't arrive all at once and they all use wooden coffins. The local climate reduces organic matter to very little within a short time.

Grima Family - A prominent family descending from Albert Xavier Grima who emigrated from Malta in 1780. Descendants include a notary, a lawyer, a judge, an ophthalmologist, and a writer. Tomb #72.

Grima Family - A prominent family descending from Albert Xavier Grima who emigrated from Malta in 1780. Descendants include a notary, a lawyer, a judge, an ophthalmologist, and a writer. Tomb #72.

Grima Family - A prominent family descending from Albert Xavier Grima who emigrated from Malta in 1780. Descendants include a notary, a lawyer, a judge, an ophthalmologist, and a writer. Tomb #72.

Stepped tomb - of this tomb type, several variations exist, the simplest being a low structure with a flat top surmounting one or more stepped platforms. Modifications include the addition of an elevated pedimented or truncated facade, and the use of multiple vertical or horizontal chambers. 


The climate of New Orleans also wreaks havoc on many common building materials. Many tombs have disintegrated over the years as a result of moisture and wind. 

Many people were buried in wall vaults that would be far too small to use today. Centuries ago, people were smaller in height and frame, and burials were done with simple wood coffins. 

The burial place of Marie Laveau, the legendary “voodoo queen.” Believers and non-believers alike make pilgrimages to her tomb to make offerings to her spirit in return for what they hope will be blessings.

The burial place of Marie Laveau, the legendary “voodoo queen.” Believers and non-believers alike make pilgrimages to her tomb to make offerings to her spirit in return for what they hope will be blessings.

The burial place of Marie Laveau, the legendary “voodoo queen.” Believers and non-believers alike make pilgrimages to her tomb to make offerings to her spirit in return for what they hope will be blessings.


The burial place of Marie Laveau, the legendary “voodoo queen.” Believers and non-believers alike make pilgrimages to her tomb to make offerings to her spirit in return for what they hope will be blessings.

Ernest "Dutch" Morial (1929-1989) - New Orleans' first African-American Mayor. Tomb #2003 is a new tomb, which replaced an earlier family tomb. 


Ernest "Dutch" Morial (1929-1989) - New Orleans' first African-American Mayor. Tomb #2003 is a new tomb, which replaced an earlier family tomb. 

Nice New Orleans Neoclassical Wrought iron! 


19th century chess champion Paul Morphy

19th century chess champion Paul Morphy

The climate of New Orleans also wreaks havoc on many common building materials. Many tombs have disintegrated over the years as a result of moisture and wind. 

Nice New Orleans Neoclassical Wrought iron! 


Nice New Orleans Neoclassical Wrought iron!

Nice New Orleans Neoclassical Wrought iron!


Many people were buried in wall vaults that would be far too small to use today. Centuries ago, people were smaller in height and frame, and burials were done with simple wood coffins. 

Clasped Hands

Stepped tomb - of this tomb type, several variations exist, the simplest being a low structure with a flat top surmounting one or more stepped platforms. Modifications include the addition of an elevated pedimented or truncated facade, and the use of multiple vertical or horizontal chambers.


Clasped Hands

Greek Revival cast and wrought iron.

I small child's tomb

Tomb inscriptions are often in French not because the people buried there actually spoke the language, but as an tribute to their ancestral tongue. 

The urn, symbolizing the vessel for cremated ashes, Is commonly used in grave adornments. It can mean "the soul". The urn calls to mind the "dust to dust, ashes to ashes" aspect of the cycle of life. The drape is thought to symbolize the veil between the living and the dead, or simply sorrow and mourning. Draped objects of many kinds were used to show mourning.

anthemion, design consisting of a number of radiating petals, developed by the ancient Greeks from the Egyptian and Asiatic form known as the honeysuckle or lotus palmette. The anthemion was used widely by the Greeks and Romans to embellish various parts of ancient buildings. The Greeks originally decorated only pottery with the motif, but they soon adapted it to ornament architecture.

The inverted torch is a true cemetery symbol, symbolizing life in the next realm or a life extinguished. 

anthemion, design consisting of a number of radiating petals, developed by the ancient Greeks from the Egyptian and Asiatic form known as the honeysuckle or lotus palmette. The anthemion was used widely by the Greeks and Romans to embellish various parts of ancient buildings. The Greeks originally decorated only pottery with the motif, but they soon adapted it to ornament architecture. 


Oven Vault - Wall vault commonly known as an "oven" vault because of its arched shape. St. Louis No. 1 & No. 2 are surrounded by these vaults which serve as burial sites as well as the wall to the cemeteries. 

The urn, symbolizing the vessel for cremated ashes, Is commonly used in grave adornments. It can mean "the soul". The urn calls to mind the "dust to dust, ashes to ashes" aspect of the cycle of life. The drape is thought to symbolize the veil between the living and the dead, or simply sorrow and mourning. Draped objects of many kinds were used to show mourning. 


Society tomb - professional or benevolent societies were common in the early history of New Orleans and served to administer to the burial needs of the individuals who belonged to them. There are many historically important ethnic groups as well as volunteer firemen groups represented by this tomb style. A society tomb is a multi layered tomb wall that contains several burial vaults. They are like mausoleums in most ways, except that most people in a society tomb are connected in some way. 

The tallest monument in the St. Louis No 1 cemetery is the The Italian Mutual Benevolent Society tomb. It was common for immigrants in New Orleans to pool funds to lower the burial costs for individuals. The tomb has space for more than a thousand remains. It formed the background in a disturbing scene in Easy Rider. According to local legend a statue known as 'Charity' was vandalized by Dennis Hopper who supposedly tore the St. Louis Cemetery no 1, New Orleanshead off the statue.

The tallest monument in the St. Louis No 1 cemetery is the The Italian Mutual Benevolent Society tomb. It was common for immigrants in New Orleans to pool funds to lower the burial costs for individuals. The tomb has space for more than a thousand remains. It formed the background in a disturbing scene in Easy Rider. According to local legend a statue known as 'Charity' was vandalized by Dennis Hopper who supposedly tore the St. Louis Cemetery no 1, New Orleanshead off the statue.





Omnia Ab Uno or Come From One are the latin words on Nicholas Cage's St. Louis Cemetery Tomb... 




Burial societies were popular in the 18th & 19th centuries. One paid dues in exchange for the right to be buried in a communally supported crypt & have a funeral attended by society members. This is a Spanish burial society tomb

Society tomb - professional or benevolent societies were common in the early history of New Orleans and served to administer to the burial needs of the individuals who belonged to them. There are many historically important ethnic groups as well as volunteer firemen groups represented by this tomb style. A society tomb is a multi layered tomb wall that contains several burial vaults. They are like mausoleums in most ways, except that most people in a society tomb are connected in some way. 

Fenced in grave - a somewhat typical sight in a New Orleans cemetery. Resembles the iron work on most French Quarter building. Some tombs or grave markers are circled in a wrought iron fence with a gate. Most are black, some are silver and some are red with rust, but they all have beautiful and intricate designs. 

This tomb honors the fallen of the Battle of New Orleans, the final conflict of the War of 1812. 

Fenced in grave - a somewhat typical sight in a New Orleans cemetery. Resembles the iron work on most French Quarter building. Some tombs or grave markers are circled in a wrought iron fence with a gate. Most are black, some are silver and some are red with rust, but they all have beautiful and intricate designs. 

The palmette is a motif in decorative art which, in its most characteristic expression, resembles the fan-shaped leaves of a palm tree. It has a far-reaching history, originating in Ancient Egypt with a subsequent development through the art of most of Eurasia, often in forms that bear relatively little resemblance to the original. In Ancient Greek and Ancient Roman uses it is also known as the anthemion (from the Greek ανθέμιον, a flower). It is found in most artistic media, but especially as an architectural ornament, whether carved or painted, and painted on ceramics. It is very often a component of the design of a frieze or border. 

This tomb honors the fallen of the Battle of New Orleans, the final conflict of the War of 1812. 

The inverted torch is a true cemetery symbol, symbolizing life in the next realm or a life extinguished. 

WINGED HOURGLASS, a symbol representing the fleetness of life; mortality. Commonly used in the late 1700's and early to mid-1800's.

WINGED HOURGLASS, a symbol representing the fleetness of life; mortality. Commonly used in the late 1700's and early to mid-1800's.

WINGED HOURGLASS, a symbol representing the fleetness of life; mortality. Commonly used in the late 1700's and early to mid-1800's.


This is the French Society Tomb. Note the add on to the right for children. Society tomb - professional or benevolent societies were common in the early history of New Orleans and served to administer to the burial needs of the individuals who belonged to them. There are many historically important ethnic groups as well as volunteer firemen groups represented by this tomb style. A society tomb is a multi layered tomb wall that contains several burial vaults. They are like mausoleums in most ways, except that most people in a society tomb are connected in some way. 

This is the French Society Tomb. Note the add on to the right for children. Society tomb - professional or benevolent societies were common in the early history of New Orleans and served to administer to the burial needs of the individuals who belonged to them. There are many historically important ethnic groups as well as volunteer firemen groups represented by this tomb style. A society tomb is a multi layered tomb wall that contains several burial vaults. They are like mausoleums in most ways, except that most people in a society tomb are connected in some way. 




Tomb inscriptions are often in French not because the people buried there actually spoke the language, but as an tribute to their ancestral tongue.








Oven Vault - Wall vault commonly known as an "oven" vault because of its arched shape. St. Louis No. 1 & No. 2 are surrounded by these vaults which serve as burial sites as well as the wall to the cemeteries. 


The urn, symbolizing the vessel for cremated ashes, Is commonly used in grave adornments. It can mean "the soul". The urn calls to mind the "dust to dust, ashes to ashes" aspect of the cycle of life. The drape is thought to symbolize the veil between the living and the dead, or simply sorrow and mourning. Draped objects of many kinds were used to show mourning.


Burial societies were popular in the 18th & 19th centuries. One paid dues in exchange for the right to be buried in a communally supported crypt & have a funeral attended by society members. This is a Spanish burial society tomb 


The urn, symbolizing the vessel for cremated ashes, Is commonly used in grave adornments. It can mean "the soul". The urn calls to mind the "dust to dust, ashes to ashes" aspect of the cycle of life. The drape is thought to symbolize the veil between the living and the dead, or simply sorrow and mourning. Draped objects of many kinds were used to show mourning.

Tomb inscriptions are often in French not because the people buried there actually spoke the language, but as an tribute to their ancestral tongue. 


Tomb inscriptions are often in French not because the people buried there actually spoke the language, but as an tribute to their ancestral tongue. 

Pyramid - a variation of the stepped-tomb, in which instead of a flat or pitched roof, a pyramid form was used. The Varney Tomb in St. Louis No. 1 is an example of this rare tomb type.


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