[Louisiana Cemeteries] Historic cemetery found in French Quarter 13 caskets found - St. Peter Cemetery
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- Date: Fri, 11 Nov 2011 08:35:00 -0800 (PST)
http://www.wdsu.com/news/29744746/detail.html
Man Unearths Historic Cemetery in French Quarter Back Yard
13 Caskets Found As Workers Dig Pool
POSTED: 8:38 am CST November 11, 2011
UPDATED: 9:28 am CST November 11, 2011
[EMAIL: Man Unearths Historic Cemetery in French Quarter Back Yard]
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NEW ORLEANS -- New Orleans is known by some as America’s most haunted
city, but what was found in the city’s oldest neighborhood isn’t
folklore or legend.
A man made a historic discovery in his historic French Quarter back yard
– he unearthed 13 caskets while workers dug a spot for a pool.
The discovery has deep roots in New Orleans history.
The caskets were found in the 600 block of North Rampart Street.
The block was the site of the first graveyard in the 1700s.
The owner, Vincent Marcello, suspected he would find something, but not human
remains.
“We didn't exactly know what we were going to find,” he said. “This is the
French Quarter. No telling what's underground.”
In this case, what was underground ended up being 13 burial caskets stacked
upon one another.
The discovery was made when Marcello decided to hire workers to dig a pool for
his back yard.
Knowing the area was the site of St. Peter Cemetery, where many were
buried in the 1700s, Marcello enlisted the help of archeologist Ryan
Grey from the University of New Orleans.
“Part of the reason why the cemetery was closed was because it was
overcrowded, and historical accounts and complaints can't dig anywhere
without hitting earlier remains,” Gray said.
Gray said the wealthier people in the city likely paid to have remains
removed and reburied at the St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 – the city’s first
above ground graveyard.
“We suspect people left behind represented kind of the poorest and most
marginalized elements of that early population,” Gray said.
As the city started developing the block, Gray said, the city basically stopped
worrying about what was underneath.
Marcello said he’s not too worried either when his residents realize they are
not alone.
“It's all part of New Orleans culture. I think they might even like it,”
Marcello said.
The caskets are believed to be made of cypress and are intact.
More forensic work is to be done on the remains. Gray said he hopes to
identify the family members if they exist and have a public reburial
ceremony.
In 1984, 36 bodies were uncovered when condos were built on the block.
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