Dear Julia,
Some of our beloved oaks in City Park stand in a row all leaning in one direction. My question is this: did a strong, possibly hurricane force, wind sometime in their long history cause them to grow that way, or was it some other phenomenon?
Also, does Poydras, social distancing of course, ever visit his cousins in City Park? I haven’t seen the parrots lately; maybe they are visiting him. Thank you, Tamalane Blessey (New Orleans)
It is possible one or more storms shaped the trees long ago, when they were young and supple, but pinpointing an exact wind event that probably predates modern weather records might be difficult or impossible. Strong sunlight, gravity, soil erosion or damaged roots can also cause trees to lean, so wind is not the only possible explanation to consider.
You may have missed the Monk parakeets, but they are still living throughout City Park. There have been recent sightings in Scout Island, Couturie Forest, the old East Golf Course and the New Orleans Botanical Gardens. By the way, Poydras avoids interacting with others completely becaue he can’t find beak-sized protective masks.
Dear Julia and Poydras,
I have a question concerning a name I have seen many times, Collins C. Diboll. Who exactly was he? Also, what was his connection to the street around NOMA, the Vieux Carré digital survey and the passageway from Jefferson Highway to River Road by Ochsner Hospital in Jefferson Parish? Mike Staiano (Metairie, LA)
Collins Cerré Diboll, Jr. (1904-1987) was a local architect whose specialty was designing parking garages. An intensely private person, he died in 1987. Per his wishes, the Collins C. Diboll Foundation was created to provide support to nonprofit “…organizations that create sustainable community improvement in the areas of higher education, culture and the arts in the Greater New Orleans area.”
During his lifetime, Diboll was an architectural consultant to Ochsner and designed some of its buildings. The New Orleans Museum of Art and the Historic New Orleans Collection, which created the The Collins C. Diboll Vieux Carré Digital Survey, are only two of the many educational or cultural institutions which have benefited from and expressed gratitude for Diboll’s philanthropic legacy.
Dear Julia
Having just seen an advertisement in the latest issue for a bar on North Rendon street made me think about a watering hole my colleagues and I use to frequent on Fridays in the early 70s to celebrate the end of the week. I believe it was called the Rendon Inn. They served the coldest Regal beer on draft in huge ice-covered glasses stored in a freezer. Can you tell me a bit of the history of the place and how long it stayed in business? Once my office moved into the CBD from Jeff Davis Parkway I never went back for another Friday refresher. Steve Cassiani (Houston, TX)
In 1932, Harold Henry opened a grocery at the corner of Eve and South Rendon. When Prohibition ended and beer could flow again, Henry continued to run the joint under the name “Henry’s Bar.” In 1937, he sold the business to Mike Tusa, a native of Salaparuta, Sicily, who changed the name to Rendon Inn. The business remained in the Tusa family for about 60 years.
Dear Julia,
I am confused about your answer on the “Last Streetcar New Orleans” spoon. Especially the end of the answer saying, “St Charles cars remained until 1988....Riverfront line, the last and only streetcars in New Orleans.” What are you trying to say? Streetcars are running today. Are you referring to the type of car? Paul Forde (New Orleans)
It is hard to get good history from a spoon. From 1964 to 1988 the St. Charles line was the only surviving service. A Canal Street line and others had been closed earlier. The St. Charles line still uses the vintage Perley-Thomas streetcars that have always been used. Newer lines (the red streetcars) that have opened on Canal and Basin streets and the riverfront have more modern models. I think what the spoon was trying to say is that the St. Charles streetcars are the last of the early vintage trolleys.
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