WhiledrivingdownTulane Avenue,Ispottedan interestingoldbuildinga fewblocksawayonGravier Street.Itsfacadesays itwasonce“McDonogh SchoolNo.30.”Whatcan youtellmeaboutit?

Dearreader,

WITHADESIGNMUCHMOREORNATE THANMOSTSCHOOLBUILDINGS,the former McDonogh 30 school wasbuilt in 1894 in the2200block of Gravier, just offofSouth Galvez Street.

According to thePreservation Resource Center,the building waslikelydesigned by architect William Freret.Itincorporated a mixoflateVictorian-eraarchitecturalstyles,including Italianate arched windowsand elaborate parapets.Therewerealso Romanesque-style turretsand an Eastlake-style porch

Thethree-story building housed McDonogh 30,one of morethan threedozen localschools named forphilanthropistJohn McDonogh. Theschooltaughtkindergarten throughsixth grade students up untilthe 1930s. Thebuildingthen served as thelocationfor some city offices, including theDepartment of Public Health,and as apolice training facility.In1953,the building wasonceagainusedasa school, before closing again in 1976

Blakeview

In 1982,the Orleans Parish SchoolBoard sold theproperty at auctiontoadoctorwho planned to renovate it formedical student housing or adoctor’soffice, but thoseplans nevermaterialized. Instead, WYLD,one of thecity’s oldestBlack-owned radiostations, movedits studios into thebuilding. Theradio stationleftafter several years, and thebuildingsat vacant forsome20years

A$7million renovation and rehabilitationcompletedin2019 by L+MDevelopmentand the architectural firm Rome Office transformed theproperty into The Schoolhouse,a 14-unitapartment buildingand commercialspace Many of thebuilding’s historic architectural featuresthatwere removedordestroyedoverthe years, includingthe porch,turrets and parapets with an ornamental frieze,wererestored.

THISWEEKEND,THEMID-CITYBAYOUBOOGALOOWILLDRAWTHOUSANDS of people to BayouSt. John forthree days of music, food,art andmore, on the banksofthe historic bayou.

Oneofthe most recognizable symbolsofthe area,datingbacktothe late 19thcentury,isthe Magnolia Bridge,also knownasthe CabriniBridge or BayouBridge. Thehand-cranked swivel bridge wasbuilt in thelate 1800swhenBayouSt. John still served as acommercialwaterway.

Thebridgeoriginally crossedthe bayouatEsplanade Avenue.In1909, at acostof$30,000,itwas movedtoits currentlocationconnecting HardingDrive and thecampusofCabrini High Schoolacrossthe bayou on Moss Street.That’sexplainsthe “CabriniBridge” name.Itreplaceda smallerpedestrian bridge called Magnolia Bridge,which referred to apark andentertainment area along thebayouoncecalledMagnolia Gardens.

Thebridgeoriginally pivotedatthe center to allowcommercialvessels andbargestopass throughthe bayou. It wasrefurbished in 1934 when pedestrian walkways were added and againin1936bythe Works ProgressAdministration.

Priorto1972, thebridgewas open to vehicular trafficbut is nowlimited to pedestriansand bicyclists.

In 1990,a City Councilordinance made “MagnoliaBridge” thestructure’s officialname, butthe names“CabriniBridge” or “Bayou St.John Bridge” arestill oftenusedfor it.The bridge is apopularspotfor photo shoots and weddings, includingthe 2008 wedding of Saints star Steve Gleason and hiswifeMichel Thebridgerecentlyunderwenta$1.3million renovation and repainting.

AFTER 45 YEARS IN THE JEWELRY BUSINESS, I’M RETIRING! As a thank you to t community that has g en

As athank youtothe Metairie communitythat hasgiven us so much supportoverthe years, we’rehavingthe biggest jewelrysaleinour history! ALLMUSTGO! Comecelebrate with us duringthisonce in a lifetime sale before we close the doorsfor thelasttime!