Gaslighting New Orleans

The glowing history and appeal of gaslights

By KATHY BRADSHAW

The fluttering flame of a New Orleans’ gaslight adds to the city’s nostalgic feel and historic flair. Gaslights adorn homes and businesses all around the city, from the Cabildo to Commander’s, the Bywater to Bourbon Street.

And everywhere you see one, it’s like stepping back in time to the days when life was simpler, gas was cheaper, and flickering lights didn’t mean that you had an electrical short. We’re not gaslighting you when we tell you that there are many interesting things you ought to know about gaslights. Here are some of them.

OLD FLAMES

Back in the dark ages, things were very dark. But then came fire, then torches, then oil lamps and candles, and the world was a much brighter place. Lamps were burned with all types of oil—olive oil, fish oil, sesame oil, nut oil, and whale oil, which was especially popular until people finally caught on that whales make better ocean swimmers than lamp fuel. However, these prehistoric lighting methods were inefficient and shone minimal light—enough to read by or to recognize who might be standing next to you in the darkness, but not enough to light up an entire area, such as that of a street or house. Not to mention that the open flames of candles were dangerous and often led to major fires when cloak or curtain got in the way—including the Great New Orleans Fire of 1788, which started in this manner. As far back as the Middle Ages, residents of London and Paris were forced to put lamps in their street-facing windows with the goal of lighting up the streets outside. They risked being charged a fine if no light shone from within their homes. It was a crude version of street lighting; the feeble glow wasn’t even sufficient to prevent nocturnal wanderers from stumbling over those renowned London paving stones in the dark. The precursor to the modern gaslight dates back as far as ancient China. As long ago as 500 B.C., the Chinese began using bamboo pipes to bring natural gas into their homes to provide both light and heat. This is nearly the same concept still in use today.

PASSING GAS

Fast-forward approximately 1,200 years to the streets of London, where gaslights as we think of them now were first installed. Most people credit William Murdoch with the invention. In 1792, Murdoch discovered that coal gas, which is made by burning coal inside a closed container, would produce a nice, bright flame. He figured out that if the gas passed through a pipe and into a metal and glass lamp, and it was then ignited, the flame would burn continuously as it was fed by the incoming gas. The earliest gas lantern was born. By 1807, Murdoch’s new creation was lighting up the streets of London, with Pall Mall the first street to be fully lit by gas. Paris followed by installing gas-lit street lamps in 1820. When the famous Paris Opera House was built in 1875, it was constructed with 28 miles of gas piping and 960 gas jets. The Equestrian Amphitheatre in London had 200,000 gas jets.

VisitVisit www.goodwino.orgwww.goodwino.org toto findfind aa storestore nearnear you!you!

THE WANING OF WAX

Candles simply couldn’t hold a candle to gaslight and its slew of advantages. It was 75% cheaper and didn’t drip wax on heads. And with gaslight, 18th-century citizens were able to take back the night. The added light made for increased productivity, more fun, and better safety. People could work into the wee hours or enjoy late-night social activities, and crime rates dropped.

On the other hand, gaslight was far from foolproof as a method of illumination. It often resulted in leaking pipes, excess heat, and explosions. In the 1800s, hundreds of theaters burned down due to gaslighting misfortunes. And gaslights were also extremely laborintensive, requiring professional lamplighters to light every single lamp in the evening and extinguish them all come daylight.

NEW ORLEANS GETS GASSY

The first U.S. city to be graced by gaslight was Baltimore, followed by Philadelphia. New Orleans came next, with gaslighting arriving here in 1824, and it stuck.

The success of gaslights in New Orleans was thanks in large part to Andrew Bevolo Sr., of the famous Bevolo Gas & Electric Lights, located in the French Quarter.

During and just before World War II, Bevolo had worked building aircrafts, helicopters, and landing craft for the D-Day invasion. Following the war, he put his metalworking skills to work and opened a business. He repaired gaslights that had been damaged in the air raids in London, and also began building the handcrafted copper gas lanterns that still flicker on buildings around the French Quarter today.

Simply Riveting

Today’s gaslights no longer use coal gas, but usually propane, butane, or natural gas. Although gaslights blaze throughout cities around the world, there are probably tens of thousands of them just within New Orleans. Gaslights are much sturdier, safer, and cheaper to maintain than

Ingrid Bergman in they used to be. They are made from copper, which the film is pounded by

Gaslight. hand, and held together by exactly 97 rivets per light.

The term “Gaslighting,” Each light can last for up to 300 years. which has now attained Flambeaux, another gaslight buzz-word status, refers company out of Metairie, takes to the psychological the inspiration for manipulation of someone to their handcrafted lights from the make that person question flambeaux carriers that march in Mardi their perception of reality. Gras parades. This Carnival tradition derived from the enslaved people It derives from the classic who once carried torches to light the 1944 film Gaslight, based way for others, and Flambeaux on Patrick Hamilton's stage considers their lighting a tribute play, in which a husband to them and to the history of New convinces his wife that Orleans. There’s just she’s insane in order to something about make ripping her off easier. the romantic glimmer of a burning gaslight that draws

Every time her husband everyone in like moths to a flame. is up to something, the “People come from all over the gaslight in the house world come to New Orleans and flickers. fall in love with our city,” says Sarah Winston of Bevolo. “Gaslights are efficient and gorgeous, with a timeless beauty. They have become synonymous with the charm and old-world feel of the French Quarter.”