Holy Cross After Hurricane Katrina Gallery Photo Gallery by Coleen Perilloux Landry at pbase.com

Holy Cross After Hurricane Katrina Gallery

Holy Cross is one of the oldest boys' private Catholic schools in New Orleans. It is located on the Mississippi River a few blocks from the Industrial Canal which did not exist when Holy Cross was founded.
It is the high school alma mater of my father (late 1800's-early 1900's) and my three sons. My grandson will graduate in 2006.
The winds of Hurricane Katrina did minor damage to the school. However, it was the break in the Industrial Canal levee and its subsequent flood that has rendered the school unfit for use.
The class of 2006 were the last students to occupy the buildings on the campus and the class of 2007 attended all classes in portable buildings. The school will relocate but the memories will linger on at this place of hallowed halls and stately oaks. All of the live oaks are registered with the Live Oak Society and named for the priests and brothers who taught there. Thousands of Louisiana young men were educated here and until 1973 Holy Cross was also a boarding school. In the early years of Holy Cross a young man could obtain a high school degree, bachelor's degree and a master's degree from the school.
I have pre-Katrina photos in "My New Orleans" gallery.

If you CLICK ON THE SMALL PHOTO you will get a full screen photo. Scroll under the photo to read the story, also. I photograph with my heart as well as my eye.
LATEST PHOTOS ARE AT END OF GALLERY.

Holy Cross School and Historical Gazebo	Plaque on building	Holy Cross	Moreau Hall
The Old and the New	Middle School	Residence of the Brothers of Holy Cross and the Chapel	Reflection in a Mildewed Window
Another reflection	Grotto	Suspended in Time	Where My Father Walked....
If I Close My Eyes...	View of Middle School Building from Mississippi River Levee	Holy Cross Brothers' Residence	View from the Mississippi River Levee
Portable Classrooms	School Entrance	Let's Try It Again.....	Grandson--Holy Cross Class of 2006
Hallowed Halls	Holy Cross Emblem in Main Hall	The Traditional Walk to Baccalaureate Mass May 2006	Holy Cross Baccalaureate Mass
Traditional Walk Through Main Building May 2006	For Whom the Bell Tolls	Under the Oaks	Baccalaureate Mass Under the Oaks on Campus
Graduates of 2006	Christopher	Graduates Sing the Holy Cross Alma Mater	A Poem by a Graduate of 1977
Grandson and his godparents	The Site for the New Holy Cross School	Plans for the new Holy Cross	New Holy Cross Busses Begin School Year
First Day of School on New Campus	Holy Cross Begins Construction on New School in Different Part of the City	A New Holy Cross with An Historical Design	A New School Year - on Paris Avenue
New School Being Built in Background	Holy Cross School Tree Topping Ceremonies	Cross Placed on Top of Administration Building	The Cross Seen Through the Live Oaks
Holy Cross School Construction Moving Along	Holy Cross School Building with Double Cross in Windows	The Median on Paris Avenue in front of Holy Cross School	Entrance to the New Campus of Holy Cross School on Paris Avenue
Closer Look at Front of Administration Building	Entrance to Administration Building with Reflections of Front Courtyard	Front Gallery of Administration Building	Ironwork on second floor galleries
Entrance hall under the Rotunda in Administration Building	Looking down from second floor in Administration Building	Back of Administration Building	Back of Administration Building with Original Gazebo-work in progress
Original Gazebo being Restored	Library - one side of it.	Science Lab	Student Center and Gymnasium in Progress
The Tabernacle from the Brothers' Chapel on Dauphine	Gallery Between Administration Building and Palmer Hall	The Board Room	Little Theatre
Entrance on Paris Avenue	Founder of the Order	An Alum Remembers	My father's baseball team in the early 1900's.
My father at age 85, a few months before his death visiting his alma mater with his grandsons

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Coleen Perilloux Landry		29-Oct-2013 14:35
Julie Allan, you left me no e-mail address.

Guest		29-Oct-2013 07:49
Hi I am trying to get in contact with Carlos Zuniga....anyone have a contact for him ? We were friends in 1983 when he lived in Melbourne Australia for a year playing basketball. Thanks Julie Allan

Melanie Fallo-Smith		29-Apr-2013 06:51
Coleen, Who is your father? My father, Blake Fallo, was a boarder there at the old school beginning in 1948 at 8 yrs old. I am guessing he graduated in 1957 or '58. He attended a class reunion there years before Katrina hit. Thank you so much for posting these pictures. Although heartbreaking, it is nice to see where my father once lived and grew up into a "Holy Cross Man." Melanie~

Buz Kiefer		24-Jan-2010 13:01
Thank you for this fine bit of photojournalism Coleen; it is exceptional. Thanks too to the moving forces behind saving Holy Cross. Although I did not attend, my nephew did and I played against their basketball and football teams while in high school. I am so pleased to see this dedication to traditions which this effort exemplifies. This is so unlike what happened to my high school, St. Aloysius. In that poor display the powers that be chose to not only close the school (understandably) but to change the name of an institution which had been in existence in New Orleans since 1869. Shortsighted indeed. Bravo to all connected with this effort. Vote.

JAI		11-Oct-2007 01:24
Ben, I would like to echo Jacques' sentiments. To those who have never had the honor of attending Holy Cross, the loyalty and devotion shown to this institution by its graduates may not be fully understood by an outsider. Holy Cross holds an extremely important place in the hearts of its alumni. Many would say it is sacred. The history and tradition of this school is surpassed by no other and must remain an integral part of the remaining campus. To do anything else would be a disservice to our community and would serve no other purpose than to dishonor those who have so unselfishly given of their time, indeed their lives, to educate the young men of the New Orleans area. To many of us, the loss of this campus and the ideals and values for which it stands was a greater loss than our own personal loss as a result of the storm. I urge you to learn as much as you can about Holy Cross, its mission and its alumni. I can assure you that any graduate would gladly and proudly spend time with you to help you try and understand just what HC means to those who walked her halls, upheld her honor and are privileged to have had the opportunity to become a Holy Cross Man.

Guest		07-Mar-2007 05:18
Jacques, Thank you for your kind words of wisdom, your perspective, and your blessing. Your devotion to the school is certainly echoed by many. I have been moved by the countelss stories I've heard and read, and while I have no direct ties to Holy Cross, I feel a very different emotional and spiritual connection as an outsider looking in. I share your sentiments about architects, planners, and developers eager to capitalize on large swaths of vacant property after Katrina. This is why I chose the site for my thesis, because I see more for the redevelopment of the Holy Cross School than mere monetary investment. My goal is to learn all I can and propose the most meaningful design for the community. I believe whomever purchases the property is presented with an amazing opportunity, and responsibility, to offer something that will allow the community to invest in its own regrowth of housing and jobs. My proposal integrates a workforce training program and a vocational school that would occupy a portion of the site as well as preserve the historic main building for classrooms and public events. The rest of the property would be designed for community oriented programs like a co-op community kitchen, gardens, a corner grocery store at St. Claude, and a home for the newly formed Center for Sustainable Engagement and Development. That said, I pray that whatever the outcome, the property's ultimate redevelopment will honor its history and significance to the community, and make those who experienced a part of their lives there proud. It truly is a sacred place, and any proposal should reflect that fact. If its redevelopment serves to aid in the recovery of a community and encourages people to return, it will do just that. God bless.

Jacques Couret HC 1991		21-Feb-2007 18:35
Ben: As someone who went to HC from 5th grade through senior year ('91), who started going to that campus for summer camp at age 5, whose dad went there and who loves that campus more than anything else back home in New Orleans -- the thought of that campus being anything but Holy Cross High School breaks my heart to the core. It is especially galling and to me to think that architects, developers and planners from other cities with no spiritual or emotional connections to New Orleans or HC could ultimately decide the fate of this property. HC simply deserves better, much like New Orleans does. This piece of land has witnessed thousands and thousands of boys grow into men. This land is sacred to us Holy Cross Tigers and our families. I loved every minute of walking the same halls of learning as my father. The place is just too hard to describe with words. HC is a special place. Based on the examples you listed, I'd prefer it become a community center for the people who move back, as long as the main building, which was desiged by Freret, remains. I would absolutely hate to see it become anything but a community center or maybe a retirement home for the local Catholic religious. I would especially hate HC being turned into some sort of local triage or staging area for builders and others looking to make a buck on redevelopment of the Lower Ninth. Good luck with your work in the Ninth Ward. May God bless you and guide your heart and mind in the right direction for Holy Cross' future. Know that to many New Orleanians, in your hands is more than just some piece of land.

Guest		07-Feb-2007 22:02
I am a graduate architecture student at UVA, currently pursuing a thesis project for the existing Holy Cross School Campus. A year of research of the city and the Holy Cross neighborhood,, including two visits within the last year, has allowed to me to become more intimately invested in the potential redevelopment of the campus as a vital and viable ammenity for rebuilidng projects in the Lower 9th. In essence, I'm exploring the idea of a training facility and community center that will aid in the rebuilding of housing, jobs, and infrastructure after the storm. There is talk of developers expressing interest in buying the site from the Brothers. Can anyone shed light on this subject, or have opinions about the fate of specific buildings on the site?

Anthony Livano		27-Dec-2006 23:01
My names Anthony Livano, I am from Spokane Washington, and I was deployed to the 9th Ward N.O. for 2 months from September 05 to november after Katrina. I was stationed in the Holy Cross Convent up the road on St. Cluade blvd., and Every day and Night I patrolled past, around, and in this INCREDIBLE school. I cleared looters, and I felt the spirit of the place. I want to know what is to become of it now, though closed forever, I remember the damage only being to the first floor, and being so close the levee, there wasnt much black mold, if any. I would love to see this place saved, at least as a historical landmark. Its beauty and presence are forever with me in my memories. And I'd like to know the story behind the Blue Corvette I found in a garage there too! Seemed odd.

J. Alfred Potter '02		30-Aug-2006 20:18
Thank you so much for your photographs. As a graduate of the class of 2002, Holy Cross is a very big part of my younger years and it will be a part of my future no matter where it is located. My younger brother is going to graduate from there this spring and I am glad to see that this school is so loved by others. Tannk you so very much...

Raymond Doran '68		23-Jun-2006 19:15
Coleen, thank you for sharing your photos of the 2006 graduation and our beloved campus. I am a '68 graduate of Holy Cross and my two sons are members of the classes of '03and '04. I thank God everyday that my sons were able to experience the Holy Cross Mission on our historic campus. But most of all, I thank God that the Mission of Holy Cross will live on at its new campus, whereever that may be, for the future young boys of the New Orleans area, so that they too may become Holy Cross Men. God Bless you, and the entire Holy Cross family.

Guest		26-May-2006 12:10
Coleen, thanks for the record of graduation. It's nice to see the smiles on the faces. Armand Doize' class of '76

Penni Trent Childs		22-May-2006 21:49
Brother Robert Hampton forwarded to me a link for your site. I taught at Holy Cross from 1973 to 1980. In those 7 years I truly enjoyed being part of Holy Cross and its tradition. At the time, I was single, and the faculty, students, and Brothers included not only me, but also my parents, as a part of the Holy Cross Family. I am truly saddened about the school having to be relocated. However, I have faith that the Holy Cross spirit will flourish in its new location. With Mr. DiGange at the helm, the school will continue to be the Holy Cross we all know and love. I met Mr. DiGange years ago at Tulane in a graduate class It was due to his encouragement that I applied for a teaching position at Holy Cross. Charlie (Mr. DiGange) is a true Holy Cross Man and will faithfully lead the school in its rebirth. The old campus will be missed, but it is the people...the faculty, staff, administration, students, and alumni of Holy Cross that set it apart from other schools.

Coleen Perilloux Landry		22-May-2006 16:08
A message from Br. Robert Hampton who was headmaster and principal of New Orleans Holy Cross from 1965-1979:"On behalf of the Family of Holy Cross I thank you for the wonderful photo history of Holy Cross and the disaster of Katrina. I have taken the liberty of forwarding your work to our privincial and general headquarters and to many others who have labored at the school over the years. I hope that in the not-too-distant future you will record the rebirth of Holy Cross.

Guest		17-Jan-2006 03:28
Dear Colleen; I am deeply saddened after reading what you wrote about what they're going to do to holy cross. You have my deepest condolences on this and this is surely tragic for New Orleans. And I fear it may seem a victory for some in the chancery office. I will keep you all in my prayers, Al

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