Uptown/Jefferson City
5323 Pitt St. De La Salle High School has applied to demolish Peck
Hall,
formerly known as Gilbert Academy, to be replaced with a vacant lot.
The
building dates to 1911 and is the ole remaining building from Gilbert
Academy’s New Orleans campus. RESULT: DEFERRED TO DECEMBER 4
The matter is deferred until Nov. 9th.
Gilbert Academy had grown from being an orphanage for black children from the Civil War period to the premier private school for blacks in the city.
Louisiana Weekly
This building is located on the De La Salle High School Campus. It was difficult to get photos since the landscaping is very overgrown, but I was struck by the Motto on the building and after doing some research on this building and the school that it housed, Gilbert Academy I was suprized that the Building was being considered for demolition.
I imagine the photo above shows some residents of Peck Hall.
I wondered who else had been educated at the School and came across the bio of Tom Dent an important member of the cultural Community, as well as Rev. Avery Caesar Alexander a notable figure in the Civil Rights Movement. In addition Elis Marsalis attended and graduated from Gilbert.
Since I have been following the demolition request post Katrina there have been a remarkable number of Schools and Institutions requesting demolitions for ‘vacant lots” which seems to be the indirect path to parking lots.
I would hope that since our recovery Funding efforts are relying on Planning that Neighborhoods would be able to view and participate in the Planning of the institutions that exist side by side with them.
6 responses so far ↓
J Stratton // Oct 6, 2006 at 4:49 pm
Karen–a nice bit of research there. I think this might deserve the attention of the Times-Picayune. It would be a shame for this to be razed without some public airing (beyond the readership of this blog) of its history, how De La Salle has used it and what their plans are.
Alan’s Blogometer » Squandered Heritage // Oct 16, 2006 at 2:01 am
[…] Squandered Heritage is a project of Think New Orleans that is focused on the issue of preserveration. Since hurricane Katrina, the city’s office of Saftey and Permits has been overwhelmed. They’ve been issuing permits for demolition without real notification. Property owners have taken advantage of this to demolish homes, historic homes, that were not damanged in the hurricane. […]
Lori // Oct 19, 2006 at 10:55 pm
As a note, this is the second time DelaSalle has applied for demo of this building. Last time it was denied. This time they were given a 30 day deferral. Public awareness needs to be raised on this issue. Louisiana Landmarks is trying to contact Dillard Alumni Assoc to try to spread the word about the demolition. Last time, Lolis Elie published an article on it, so we’re hoping he does so again.
Karen Gadbois // Oct 19, 2006 at 11:55 pm
I sent him an e mail link to this story. It would be nice if I could compile public comment here. I know that the Baronne Street Neighborhood Organization is involved. Thanks for your comment{s}
Lockett School | Squandered Heritage // Jun 14, 2008 at 11:13 am
[…] This demolition also made me take a look back at the Peck Hall demolition last year. […]
Not with a bang but a whimper | Squandered Heritage // Nov 18, 2008 at 9:58 am
[…] Would anyone show up at the hearing? Would we have another Gilbert Hall , one that the Neighbors fought to save? But in the end lost. […]
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