Leeville, La is about 45 minutes or so from my house, almost to the very end of our parish that extents out into the Gulf of Mexico. I found this cemetary since I started making deliveries way back in August, but I just never took the time to stop to take any pictures. Well last week the temptation was killing me so I pulled over to take these pictures. I was done with the delivery and I had some extra time......
I was totally entraulle
d in this cemetary. For the history that here and the history that has been washed away. Yes the whole cemetary is cemented down. That's due to flooding which has caused this once very large cemetary to be lessened to only a portion of the persons that was once buried there.
I am going to now type the inscription that was at the curb about the history of this cemetary:
1905
Leeville Cemetary
On June 5, 1905, during the yellow fever epidemic, three Leeville residents:Joseph Piccoila, Camille Rebstock, and Adrien Lafont purchased the land from the Martin family for the Leeville Cemetary Co. for $25.
It became a large cemetary but with each hurricane graves were demolished and washed away. On September 2, 1905, Joseph Picciola died of yellow fever and was buried where his tomb still stands.
(The tomb of Joseph Picciola).
Located below a little compare and contrast shot on my part (ya know I can't help myself when it comes to these sorts of shots). I snapped this shot on purpose to compare the concreted cemetary to the waterway/bayou behind it. The waterway rising is why concrete had to be laid down in the first place. Hopefully the souls who are resting here can now rest in peace forever.
The water in the above shot is also pretty significant in the fact that Leeville is 99% dependent upon the water for thier livelihood. For the most part the residents are fishermen of some sort, work in the seafood industry, or the oil industry. There are a couple of convience stores in the area as well as seafood markets and cabin rentals, but they are also dependent upon the water for thier livelihood as well.
The photo below was taken because I found it so interesting how deep into the concrete those two concrete crosses are buried. I am going to assume that underneath the concrete these two people with the crosses are laid to rest. I say this because neither of the crosses have tombs. Or maybe the coffins were lost in the storms and the crosses are all that remains, so the crosses were put into the cemetary as a memorial of sorts.
The whole cemetary has about 25 marked graves, with about 1/2 of the tombs being marked as unknown. All photos in this essay were taken with my Sony cybershot dsc-w70.
I hope ya'll enjoyed my little excursion here and I hope to share more at a later date.
Thanks,
Stephanie
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Comments: 42
Then there are markers, but no tombs/graves, go figure. This is a very small town, probably about 500 people at most today, so back then was more than likely alot less than that.
Interesitn shots, and information.
You have been to leeville, La? Where was the orphanage at? I am sure it's not there now, but I would be curious to know. Also there's another cemetary more up the bayou about 2 miles or so, but there is not enough curb in the area to stop there with my truck to take pictures, so who knows what I will find there if I ever get the chance to stop.
Yeah, many people being killed and left unidentifiable does explain alot of the some of the unknown graves. Thanks for stopping by, glad you enjoyed the shots and info.
Ghostal erosions....do I dare ask??
Thanks deb for stopping by. I hope to get another photo essay done sometime in the near future.
Amy, there is also another cemetary which is cemented in as well.
Durham, thanks for stopping by, glad that you enjoyed my photo essay.
Thanks for stopping by and leaving me your thoughts/wisdoms.
I will be around, sip one of those for me.....
Thanks for stopping by. I am thinking along the same lines as Jan here, if they cement very large areas, I am worried that the whole cemetary will sink. Most of Louisiana sits on marsh land, just some of the land is higher/dryer for the time being that other areas.
I thought the last of the person's had been found, well I guess that was the ones that were reported missing huh? Such a very sad situation. I saw on the news that the final plan is approved for the rebuilding of New Orleans. I take that with a grain of salt though because I live in Louisiana and I know how slow things go around here when dealing with politics and the government in general.
I passed through slidell the other day, I saw where they are currently bulldozing several of those shopping centers along 10 and it looks like some of those apartment complexes are at the beginning stages of demolition as well.
As far as cementing the cemetaries,since New Orleans is basically a soup bowl, I tend to agree with you that the tombs are just going to sink due to the ground underneath, but then again what are the other options?
One day I was lost and I stumbled upon a cemetary, can't remember exactly where, but it was marked Charity Hospital, call this phone# to enter, is that the Potter's field you are referring to? I wanna say that I got off of I10 and went around and I had a large cemetary to my left with a firemen statute out front.....Do you know where I was?? I want to try and get back there to take some pictures, but for the first time, I found a cemetary when I really was "lost". I was running late and had to hurry up to get back to I10 to get the delivery made.
Thanks!
I think this whole Hurricane Katrina/Rita situation is one that can't be understood unless it was lived. I am wondering how long has this leeville cemetary been cemented?
I love black and white, just not sure if my shots would do black and white any justice.
I hope that those floating coffins were replaced to thier resting place or at least buried somewhere.
Lovely little history about this cemetary, Joseph Picciola and friends. Nice pictures too. Thanks for sharing. My aunt took pictures of relative's graves in Italy and there are similarities to the ones in the cemetary near the Louis Armstrong Park.
Stephanie and Mariana, I can't even fathom the devastation of those storms. I pray always for all those families and souls who had to face such a disaster. Sincerely.
Leeville is right below Golden Meadow as you are heading down towards the Fourchon/grand isle area.
If you ever can put your hands on those photos from your aunt, I would love to see those. Which cemetary is near armstrong park?? I know one of those New Orleans cemetaries is having alot of problems with theives/muggers stealing from the cemetary visitors. I wanna go, but I ain't going alone and I can't find anyone to go with me.
Thanks for the prayers. I actually didn't experience the devastation first hand, I was in the loop after so to speak. Getting supplies shipped in from private companies, helping at the shelters, manning the food stations etc.
Thanks for stopping by Laurun.